" An excellent book, written with a deep sensitivity for all of us, wounded psychically, in some ways, and struggling to come through the whirlwinds we call life. Altman DuBrul writes of these complex matters with remarkable clarity of prose and moral force. Why moral? because, he envisions these problems not as just individual but interwoven and emergent....emergent from social, economic, political structures of human societies. ...of our selves and of our experiential worlds. Crucially and repeatedly, the book demonstrates how intertwined are both psychic woundedness and psychic creativity.
For instance, the description of The Icarus Project, an radical online educational and support community, which he co-founded with Jacks McNamara over a decade ago (in 2002. Accessible to all, internationally, it is a rich resource for those seeking to navigate the eruptions of disturbing mental states in themselves or others. Pathological symptoms are redefined as dangerous gifts. Ones that require, understanding, mentoring, and a home in the hearts of others who provide varieties of friendship experiences. A relational home can often do what medications cannot.
How to strengthen communities of those who share similar psychic experiences while deftly pulling on the threads of the brilliant resources that those often are called mad have, is the strongest suit of this book, I believe. There are friendship "maps"- demonstrated through the personal telling of his own evolution. There are Dubrul's vision of 'T-Maps, Transformative Mutual Aid Practices,' which empower people to take better care of each other; there are workshop formats; and, also, how Dubrul thinks of the use of medication and alternative treatment modalities. ..all practical and accessible ideas.
It is a "horizontal" communal model, rather than a vertical, top-down, healthy doctor, sick patient model.
Dubrul demonstrates convincingly that, as H.S.Sullivan writes, we are all more human than otherwise and that, with the sorts of personally-experienced guidance DuBrul offers, we, all, potentially, can sustain and come through, seemingly unbearable mental states.
Bravo!
Barbara S. Kane, PhD, LCSW
Psychoanalyst Psychotherapist
New York City
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