Madness: a memoir by Kate Richards

[Merilyn]

The literal meaning of psychiatry is healing of the soul. Kate Richards bravely lays bare her own soul and takes us on a journey deep into the inner workings of her fragmented mind. Although plagued by the demons of depression since her late teens she managed to complete high school and then go on the finish a medical degree with honors from Monash University before completely succumbing to psychosis that eventually sees her institutionalized. During her periods of complete madness she would live on a diet of chocolate, booze, pills and cigarettes. She would not sleep, she would wear layer upon layer of clothing in an attempt to cover her shame, she would cut herself, burn herself with incense sticks, cigarettes and acid, anything to distract her from the pain that was coming from inside her head. And all the while she still managed to mostly turn up for work as a medical writer and appear, for most of the time, to be coping normally. 

It was 16 years of suffering before she met the psychologist who Kate attributes with saving her life. Winsome Thomas was the first therapist she learned to trust and it is with her that she is able to slowly unravel the layers of her damaged psyche. This is not a self indulgent account nor is it a poor me account. It is simply a book about a woman’s experience with madness told honestly and with startling clarity. I loved this book and could not put it down. Kate is testament to the fact that sufferers of mental illness with the right treatment can live perfectly normal and productive lives but the road to recovery is far from easy.