I don't want to belittle the author's experience, but I can't help but think of the modern version of this story. Girl gets sick, doesn't have health insurance, cannot afford treatment. Or: Girl refuses treatment and legally cannot receive the help she needs and cycles in and out of jail and homelessness.

Lori put a lot of work into her mental health -- but she should be damn glad she didn't get sick 20 or 30 years later. And she should also realize that many of her contemporaries without money didn't get the same level treatment she received. ( )

Recommended ... working with he writing right now ( )

It’s no secret I like memoirs by people who have mental illness, but The Quiet Room goes deep. Lori Schiller is schizophrenia and manic depression (bi-polar) and the way she is able to write about her disorders brings great insight. She doesn’t remember it all and parts she felt were important that she didn’t remember she had family members or doctors write what she was like during that time. She hears voices and experiences mood swings, she lived a normal life at first with these issues, she graduated high school when it first started and did great in college before it took over her life. She tries to commit suicide, she is hospitalized and develops a drug problem.

Lori does not hold back on her emotions and actions that occurred. It allows the reader to learn and empathize with her. I liked that it is addressed there is no cure, you will always have your mental illness, so the best people can do is fight the symptoms so they can live their life. I think many people dismiss lesser disorders as being something that can be stopped and cured, that a person isn’t trying hard enough, but this book shuts that down and explains how it actually works. Lori explains the treatment process and how medications are guess work until doctors find the right combo. Her experiences at hospitals vary, some want to cure her and get her out to have a high turn over rate, but this doesn’t work for her. It’s not until she goes into long term care does she start to improve. Highly recommend reading ( )

Schizophrenia is such an unusual illness and difficult to understand. This was an interesting look into the mind of schizophrenic. It began at the very start of her break down up through the present time when she is nearly recovered. I say nearly because schizophrenia is incurable and Schiller will never be completely well, but she was able to get her illness under control and is now living a happy, peaceful life. Very inspirational. ( )

While spending the summer as a camp counselor at the age of 17, Lori began hearing the Voices. They repeatedly told her she was worthless, everyone hated her, and told her to die. She tried to hide her symptoms as long as possible, believing that everyone else heard voices also. She was able to make it through college, before she became overwhelmed and attempted suicide. At first her parents though she was under stress, that she was going through a phase and expected her to snap out of it after a bit of rest and relaxation. Instead, Lori began the revolving journey from hospital, to half-way house, and back again as she struggled in a seemingly hostile world.

From shock therapy, to talk therapy and endless medication Lori spiraled rapidly out of control. Told from multiple point of views, the book explores the effect of schizophrenia on the patient, their family and friends. I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in mental health, or affected by the disease. ( )