2008-07-17 Recovery is possible!

I've read many memoirs of mental illness in my life and I truly believe this one is the best. It's gripping, moving, well written, and a great source of hope and inspiration.

It must have taken an incredible amount of courage to write a book like this. Rachel doesn't shy away from showing the uglier sides of borderline personality disorder, and many reviewers have dismissed her as a "spoiled brat". However, I was impressed by her strength and determination in overcoming her problems, and her guts in sharing her story to help others.

One thing that struck me when I read the book was Rachel's financial situation. From previous reviews, and from the knowledge she had psychoanalysis three times a week, I had assumed she must be a very rich woman who could afford to see her therapist as often as she wanted. This turned out not to be the case at all. In order to pay for her therapy, Rachel had to accept handouts from family members who'd abused her, get into debt, and at one point make a deal with her psychiatrist where she cut back on sessions and he lowered his rates. I think it was this resolve to get the help she needed and pay for it however she could that allowed Rachel to recover, where many others would have given up.

I have just discussed Get Me Out of Here with a friend who has BPD, and who read the book herself a few years ago. She told me it was Rachel's memoir that encouraged her to get back into work, so that she would be able to afford to choose her treatment. She is now seeing a private therapist and well on the way to recovery.

I would recommend this book as a source of hope and insight to anyone who has BPD, and as a source of understanding to anyone who doesn't. Just be prepared to read it with an open mind.