Through the Withering Storm
By Leif Gregersen
Book Overview
Through the
Withering Storm: A Brief History of a Mental Illness is the autobiography of a boy who becomes a man in a cold and
seemingly impossible world. This book, with foreword by prominent psychiatrist
Dr. Brian Bishop, takes the reader through the true life horror of growing up
mentally ill. The author shows us what it is like to juggle school, a
dysfunctional family, a ‘career’ as an Air Cadet and all the emotions and
troubles that come with adolescence – until genetics throws in a curve ball and
the worst imaginable happens.
This book also takes
the reader inside the hallways and chambers of a hospital treating the violent,
criminal and institutionalized in a place built for ‘shell-shocked’ World War I
veterans.
As with many
illnesses, there is denial and the struggle doesn’t end in these halls. Despite
delusions, fights, arrests, reprisals and being institutionalized, years are
wasted fighting treatment and refusing medications.
From the cold and
frozen north country of Alberta, through the Rocky Mountains and coastal cities
of Vancouver and Los Angeles, the author constantly struggles to shake off the
demons that haunt him. He loses friends and possessions, becomes estranged from
his family and relinquishes every shred of dignity. Each time he is beaten
down, he struggles back to find a small piece of sanity, just enough to keep
him going. Finally, with acceptance of his illness, comes treatment and peace.
For any parent or
caregiver living with a troubled teenager, this book provides valuable insight
into the behaviours of mentally ill youth. For others, such as healthcare
professionals, family members or those that suspect they may have an illness
themselves, this book sheds light on the symptoms of being bipolar and the
all-too-common journey through madness.
Ultimately, this work demonstrates how precious
and precarious our lives and relationships are. In the profound words of Dylan
Thomas, this book simply says to all who open it and take part in the tragedy
that is the human condition, “Do not go gentle into that good night. Rage, rage
against the dying of the light.”
My Review
My Review
Through
The Withering Storm is Leif Gregersen’s autobiographical story about living
with mental illness. Leif recounts showing signs of his illness when he was a young adolescent. He struggled with anger, mood swings, and social interactions. As
he got older, his bipolar disorder escalated and Leif found himself being
institutionalized. Soon after each release, he would get wrapped up into more delusions and depression. He traveled while manic and met various people in his
life, many who tried to help him.
I
found Leif’s writing to be brave and honest. He shows readers how mental
illness is genetic. The family dysfunction and trauma that he experienced
trigger his mental illness to rage even harder. Leif’s life has been an intense
roller coaster ride of treatments and medications. He expresses how his book is
not meant to retrieve sympathy, but for people to refrain from judging those
who are having a hard time.
I
was left with a feeling of compassion for those who struggle. It’s a life long
journey for many people who live with mental illness. While you may reach a
point of feeling well, the illness is always there lying dormant.
About the Author: Leif
Gregersen
I grew up somewhat
isolated from the harsher forces of the world in St. Albert, a small town just
outside of Edmonton, Alberta. Most of my younger years were filled with images
of very happy times – trips everywhere from California to Copenhagen, constant
school successes and football games in the field near my house that seemed to
last forever.
But all was not
okay. There were times when my father would discipline me severely or I would
come home to find an ambulance in our backyard taking my mother to the hospital
for yet another suicide attempt. Although I knew that depression ran in our
family, I had no clue of the fearsome beast that was growing inside me.
At that time, I was
more concerned about my growing collection of comic books, bought with money my
sister would give me for doing her dishes or earned as a bean-picker or weed-
puller on a farm not far from town. To be able to buy more comics, I even lied
about my age to get a paper route and picked up more money by shoveling walks
that hadn’t been done on the route.
Somewhere after the
end of elementary school, there was a profound shift. It seemed the wind ran
out of my sails and the transition to junior high was not a smooth one. I gave
up on sports and I began to hate school and the people in it.
The remaining school
years became a painful, out-of-control descent into madness. Gripped by mental
illness, my thoughts, actions and behaviours became increasingly bizarre. My
world became a true life horror movie of growing up mentally ill. Despite
delusions, fights, arrests, reprisals and being institutionalized, years were
wasted fighting any form of treatment, denying the illness and refusing
medications.
Fortunately, for the past 15 years, my life has
stabilized. I have accepted treatment and medications. Today, I have steady
work and can afford some of the things I only dreamed of before. My computers,
my 1994 VW Golf, a decent apartment and, above all, my books. From the age of
three, my father exposed me to literature of the highest quality. Today, he is
a much kinder, gentler and alcohol-free 72 year-old. I have him to thank for my
passion to read and write.
