Posted by Dinah on November 30, 2002, at 0:02:18
In reply to Re: Anyone read Awakenings?, posted by Sienna on November 28, 2002, at 21:50:03
I've finished reading it, but I'm not sure quite what to say. I haven't decided whether it's uplifting or depressing. I think I've figured out a bit what dopamine does to the brain. But I still have lots of questions, especially about the relationship between life circumstances and the symptoms the patients showed. Obviously it was a neurological condition, so I found it amazing that the patients could predict whether or not they were going to experience this side effect or that, or their ability to postpone it. It was intriguing to me. The book left me with as many questions as answers.
The most moving story, to me, was the woman who became delusional on the medication, and when the medication was removed accused the doctor of taking away the only thing she had left, the delusions, and without those delusions found she had nothing left to live for. It actually reminded me a bit of The Heart is a Lonely Hunter.
The number of deaths at each upheaval at the hospital was not something I was aware of, and I found that rather disturbing.
poster:Dinah
thread:722
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/books/20020616/msgs/761.html