47 pages • 1 hour read
An Unquiet Mind
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Key Figures
Kay Redfield Jamison
Jamison, the author, is a Professor of Psychiatry at Johns Hopkins University and a lifelong sufferer of manic-depressive illness. Jamison grew up in a military family, and while she appreciated some of the more ornamental and traditional elements of that kind of life, she also rejected some of the norms and what she perceived as more arbitrary rules. This dichotomy follows her throughout the book, as Jamison simultaneously rejects illogical institutions and norms (such as patriarchal elements of medicine and academia) while often finding comfort in stability and romantic tradition. She is a woman of many intellectual passions, an avid reader and lover of poetry, and a prolific researcher.
Jamison has always been given to moods, but it was as a teenager that her mood swings became more intense, a time period which coincided with a general loss of stability and comfort in her life. Her mood swings grew more difficult to manage through her time at UCLA, both as an undergraduate and doctoral student, but she did not experience psychosis until she began her career on the faculty at UCLA. During this time, she grew erratic and impulsive; although a colleague finally convinced her to see a psychiatrist and start taking lithium, the effect of the medication on her ability to pursue her passions—and importantly, to read—made her reluctant to continue taking it, ultimately leading to a suicide attempt. However, she eventually began to take her medication regularly, experienced a leveling out, regained her ability to focus, and ultimately managed to control her manic-depressive illness.
During this time, Jamison published frequently, founded the UCLA Affective Disorders Clinic, and earned tenure at UCLA before joining the faculty at Johns Hopkins. She remains passionate, believing that love and kindness have contributed heavily to her recovery and control; nonetheless, she believes that, despite the negative elements of her illness, her life has been much more interesting with it.
Kay’s Brother
Kay’s brother, an economist, played an important role in her life and, in particular, in her recovery. As a child, Kay looked up to her older brother, who in turn protected her. He continued to do so when they were older, helping her to sort out her bills and debts when she first began treatment for manic-depressive illness, promising to always come to her anytime she needed him through her struggles, and later saving her life when he realized she had attempted suicide.
Kay’s Father
Kay’s father was an Air Force pilot and meteorologist who was himself given to erratic mood swings and esoteric impulses and passions. He eventually left the Air Force for private industry, but his mood swings grew worse, eventually giving way to alcoholism, and he ultimately lost his job and his marriage. Given the genetic component of the illness, it is strongly suggested that Kay inherited manic-depressive illness from her father.
Kay’s Mother
Kay’s mother is described as warm and friendly. Like her brother, her mother was always there for her, and Kay credits her, too, with helping her through her illness, including following her suicide attempt.
Kay’s Sister
Kay had a contentious relationship with her older sister. As kids, her sister rejected military life and withdrew from Kay even further following their transition to civilian life. Kay suggests that her sister always felt insecure, as academics generally came easy to Kay and her older brother, but not to her sister. Later, Kay describes her sister as anti-medication and suggests that she had to push her away, in order to avoid being influenced by her sister’s views during a time period when she was more susceptible to such ideas.
Kay’s First Husband
Kay’s first husband, unnamed in the book, was an artist who offered a dispassionate counterpoint to Kay’s budding mania and the highly-charged time period. Their relationship was impulsive and quick, but loving, and she describes him as being one of the kindest people she has ever known. Their marriage began to deteriorate as her illness grew worse; although they attempted reconciliation later on, they ultimately separated and divorced.
David Laurie
David, a psychiatrist with the British military, first met Kay at UCLA; however, they did not begin dating until after Kay and her first husband decided to separate for good. Kay and David fell in love, and he accepted her and her illness fully and kindly, seeking only to understand it and help in any way that he could. However, David died of a heart attack at 44; in the context of the narrative, the event and her subsequent grief serves as a counterpoint to differentiate between grief and depression.
Richard Wyatt
Richard was Kay’s second husband, a schizophrenia researcher and professor of neuropsychiatry. Richard was more moderate in temperament; like David, he was understanding of the illness, but Kay describes his interactions with it as more frustrated and human on a daily basis. However, she writes that this often helps to ground her, writing that “his imperturbability is worth three hundred milligrams of lithium” (174-5). At the time of writing, Kay and Richard were still married, but Richard has since passed away.
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