LIFE AFTER DARKNESS
a doctor’s journey through severe depression
2006240 pages Paperback
ISBN-10 1 85775 729 7
ISBN-13 9781857757293
Cathy Wield, Specialist Registrar in Emergency Medicine
Foreword by Chris Thompson and Keith Matthews, Respectively Director of Healthcare, Priory Group, Surrey and Visiting Professor, University of Southampton and London Institute of Psychiatry; Professor of Psychiatry and Head of Advanced Intervention/Neurosurgery for Mental Disorder Service, University of Dundee
Description
Life After Darkness is the remarkable and moving story of a doctor and mother of four who endured seven years of severe depression. Self-harm, attempted suicides and admissions to psychiatric units culminated in her resorting to brain surgery as a final attempt to escape her illness.
The story of Cathy Wield covers the horrors of time spent in archaic institutions and the loss of any hope, to a full recovery following surgery. Today she has returned to her career and rediscovered the joys of life and her family.
This story is one of hope from an often hidden and stigmatised disease.
‘Important. Compelling and thought provoking. There are so many important messages in Cathy’s story, I believe it should become required reading for every medical student, every doctor, every nurse, every health service manager and every politician. This story should engage and concern healthcare staff, health service managers and politicians. It will surely also engage and outrage every reader. Listen to Cathy and keep an open mind.’ Keith Matthews, in his Foreword
‘Outstanding. Cathy’s story very ably and touchingly describes many of the features of a chronic depression that are so damaging, not only to the sufferer, but also to their family and social networks. I think anyone who reads this would want to congratulate Cathy on her courage in adversity, her recovery, and her service to mental health through being brave enough to revisit those terrible years and to set it down on paper for the benefit of everyone suffering from or caring for someone suffering from this grossly misunderstood illness.’Chris Thompson, in his Foreword
For information on other patient experiences please click here
Review Quotes 'A shocking portrait of Britain's mental health services is unveiled in this hauntingly honest book. Life After Darkness exposes the horrors of the archaic hospitals in this remarkable account.' THE OBSERVER
'Reveals unpleasant truths about the NHS but is, ultimately, a moving account of redemption.' THE SUNDAY TIMES
'Harrowing. Remarkable. Unmissable.' THE MIRROR
'Works against the stigma that mental illness brings.' THE TELEGRAPH
'I have read many true-life stories about women who have battled with depression, but none of them touched me as much as Cathy Wield's. It's an amazing story.' WOMAN
'The first work on personal depression by doctor, Life After Darkness also sheds new light on our own psychological attitude towards this illness.' HAMPSHIRE CHRONICLE
'Cathy Wield's openly honest account of her therapy makes extremely uncomfortable reading. Parts of this story are harrowing and make distressing and uncomfortable reading. Descriptions are simultaneously upsetting and riveting. It promises a compulsive read, full of lows, occasional highs and flashes of humour. Reading cannot fail to induce huge empathy for those patients who have passed our way in this situation. Cathy's honesty in painting a true picture of what her life and those around her was like is to be applauded. Having spoken to many doctors and nurses who have read her book I can offer Cathy one concrete piece of praise: our practice will change because of what you have written.' EMERGENCY MEDICINE JOURNAL
'An incredibly honest, brave and disturbing account. One cannot read it without feelin a sense of outrage at the way in which this humorous, intelligent and courageous woman is treated by a system that consistently fails her. Accessible for those without a medical background, this book provides information about depression and neurosurgery in a way that is both understandable and relatable. This book should become required reading for every medical student, doctor, nurse, health service manager and politician.' PRIMARY CARE MENTAL HEALTH
'Full of hope. Important. This is a book that should be of great interest to psychiatrists and psychologists working with depressed individuals, as well as to persons suffering from depression.' SOCIETY OF CLINICAL PSYCHIATRISTS
'Absolutely brilliant!' LORRAINE KELLY, GMTV
'Compelling. Chilling. Should be required reading for new residents and mental health providers to demonstrate the awful toll that mental illness can take. A remarkable read that will leave readers with a new understanding of what patients experience.' DOODY ENTERPRISES
'Reads like the best fiction with drama, love, loss, and bright ending. However this is not fiction! It is a tale of the endurance and courage of a fellow doctor with a young family and a career ahead of her. It is a tale of the sad state of the mental services in England. It is a heartfelt plea to end the stigma of mental illness. Here one finds clear description of nihilistic delusion, descriptions of the thought processes accompanying deliberate self-harm. One also experiences the love of a mother for her family and life itself. There are helpful comments by her consultants, including information for patients from the Neurosurgery for Mental Disorders Unit in Dundee. The book is not an appealing tale, but it must be read by anyone who deals with depression and mental illness. Patients with depression can find comfort from Cathy Wield's story. I predict that Cathy Wield's book will become a classic and essential reading for all healthcare professionals.' RCGP BEDS AND HERTS FACULTY NEWSLETTER
'A remarkable story. Succeeds in producing a graphic account of the impact of severe depression. I found this book very sobering. Although Cathy Wield is careful to thank mental health workers and is always appreciative of genuine efforts to help, even when unsuccessful, I don't think any provider of acute care could come away from this book without feeling distinctly uneasy. Particularly painful reading, Life After Darkness is also about the triumph of hope over hopelessness. It is a powerful, moving and sombre book that will not be easy to forget. I recommend it.' OPENMIND
'Powerful, upsetting and exhausting. Extremely well written with a surprisingly light touch. Excruciating, courageous, honest and eloquent.' HUMAN GIVENS
'Dr Wield writes her diary with passion and insight into the contradictions in today's NHS. This powerful book ought to be read by all those working in the mental health field and others who wish to understand the sorrow and hopelessness caused by severe depression. It is a distressing read, full of pain and frustration. But her eventual recovery seems almost miraculous and could inspire others who suffer from depression.' HEALTHMATTERS
'This book examines the shocking experience of a patient with depression and the shameful state and level of modern mental health care services in the UK. This is a painful and passionate, but ultimately positive portrait of mental illness. Recommended reading!' CANCER CARE NEWS
'The power of Wield's story lies in her dual perspective: she is a doctor, and most recently worked as a psychiatrist. Last year she wrote Life After Darkness, a powerful and illuminating account of the seven years she was treated for chronic treatment-resistant depression in Southampton and, for a short period, in Dundee. Reading her account, and the details of the many occasions when she tried to kill herself, you understand that this was a woman who felt lost, lonely and worthless, her depression fuelled further but the guilt that she felt at being apart from her husband and their four children. So it is heartening to meet a calm, gentle and dignified woman of 47 who says at once that her experience of being a patient has shaped her attitudes as a doctor.' TIMES ONLINE
‘Harrowing’,’Remarkable’, Unmissable’. Three adjectives that describe the most moving account I have ever read of a fellow sufferer's journey through severe depression. The story, as the book quite rightly states, is of hope, from an often hidden & stigmatised disease. Well done, Dr Wield. You are truly an inspiration.' IMPACT
 A promising future Working mother Falling into the pit Time is no great healer Freely consenting? Concerns for everyone Torture made perfect The therapeutic environment Attempt at a slow death Last resort Winter of discontent The new millennium Summer, pain and shame Dear diary North of the border The padded cell Impatient and in disgrace Interminable battle The health commissioners’ visit Mayflower or high security prisoner A date at last Never a dull moment The end of the road Light at the end of the tunnel What on earth is email? Future considerations A taste of the past Postscript: in sickness and in health Neurosurgery information sheet Directory of organisations
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