Surrounded by Madness

A Memoir of Mental Illness and Family Secrets

By: Rachel Pruchno PhD

Narrated by: Gabra Zackman

"What was the likelihood my adopted daughter would have my father's hazel eyes and my mother's mental illness?"

In this fiercely candid memoir, Dr. Pruchno, a scientist widely acclaimed for her research on mental illness and families, shows how mental illness threatened to destroy her own family. Not once, but twice. As a child, she didn't understand her mother's episodes of crippling sadness or whirlwind activity. As a mother, she feared her daughter Sophie would follow in the footsteps of the grandmother Sophie never knew.

Unraveling the mysteries of her mother's and daughter's illnesses, Pruchno fought to preserve her marriage and protect her son. But it was not until she came to terms with her own secrets that she truly understood the destructive and pervasive effects mental illness has on families. Surrounded by Madness is transforming. It will empower families to stop hiding and start talking when mental illness strikes.

©2014 Rachel Pruchno, PhD (P)2018 Audible, Inc.

Good read and hard to put down.

This is such a tragic story. Sophie was adopted as a newborn by a couple who were loving, kind, responsible , and thrilled to finally become parents. Both of Sophie's biological and birth grandmothers were diagnosed with severe mental illnesses. Despite the love and seemingly perfect upbringing, Sophie was diagnosed with an SMI that became dangerous and nearly out of control as the years passed. It made me wonder if Sophie was doomed to suffer from the start due to circumstances outside anyone's control. What treatment could have helped Sophie and the thousands of others homeless and suffering? Meds help with the symptoms, but the person has to be willing to take them. Lots of stigma and lack of access connected to treatment.

I felt ALL of this and more

Surrounded by Madness is a mother's story. A family's story... a story about mental illness, the damage it causes to the sufferers and to those around them. I am a mother too- of a very mentally ill child- who is now an adult. This was my story in many ways. My own thoughts were racing as I listened, waiting to hear if her outcome would be better than my own. It is a story of a mom, who loves her child and never- not even after everything, loves her daughter with all of her heart.

I feel that.
I, too, am right there with you.

I also lost my own mother to suicide when I was young- younger even than the author's own. This is a story everyone can benefit from hearing... so you know you are not alone.

surprisingly good!

It was as if
my story with my daughter had been told. Very well written and the delivery of narration was a bit robotic at first, was also quite good.

Couldn’t turn it off

I don’t usually read the descriptions of books before I purchase one, if the audio sample interests me I go from that so I can end up surprised. That being said I thought I was about to listen to something about life with a adhd child, I got so much more!! This was a incredible listen I didn’t want it to end...

Solid read

I was hooked by the first chapter and struggled to put it down. Great read!

great read. I would definitely recommend it.

I loved this book. it was hard to put it down and would recommend to anyone that is looking for a good read regarding memtal illness

Sad but true

Sophie’s story is extremely sad. What could her parents have done differently?
I think waiting until she hit rock bottom was a mistake. I think more time and compassion may have slightly helped.
There very strict rules did not help her, only there household.
Sure, there are limits but making her clean her room is a bit much in that situation. Both parents have busy working careers and little time for their children.
Perhaps stricter rules on taking her meds and using street drugs, but again difficult to enforce. Perhaps impossible after the age of 18. I totally agree, the mental health system is broken, and mostly dysfunctional.
Let’s please try to pass laws and provide more resources to care for those struggling with severe mental health issues.

Recommended for anyone raising a “difficult” child.

I went to school with the author’s husband so I thought I knew the family, but the story begins after graduation. As it turns out, I had no idea the hell they were going through. If you or someone you know is raising a “difficult” child this is a must read. It is billed as a memoir but it reads like a mystery. With every chapter I kept thinking surely they will figure this out! Pruchno exposes not only the difficulty of raising a child with mental health issues but the shortcomings of our system for supporting such families. It is raw, emotional and personal.

Great listen.

Informative, real, insightful, and interesting. I would recommend this book for professionals and anyone interested in the confusing world of mental illness.

A courageous memoir

This is such an honest and heart wrenching account of loving someone with severe mental illness.