Official Review: The Quicksand of Agoraphobia: A memoir o...
Posted: 08 Jul 2020, 03:46
[Following is an official OnlineBookClub.org review of "The Quicksand of Agoraphobia: A memoir of panic disorder" by Diane Mengali.]
In her telling memoir, The Quicksand of Agoraphobia, Diane Mengali begins by sharing staggering statistics: "...6 million people suffer from panic disorder each year, and 15 million have a lifetime prevalence of the disorder. Only one in four people who experience panic attacks receives appropriate treatment." She chronicles growing up in a dysfunctional family during the 1950s, her marriage and subsequent confusion about her sexual identity, and eventual diagnosis and treatment for agoraphobia. By sharing her story, Mengali hopes to bring awareness and understanding about panic disorder while offering hope for treatment.
Mengali's memoir is well written, professionally edited, and uncompromisingly honest. The book is organized chronologically and divided into five sections. Mengali provides the most insightful account that I have read to date regarding the thought process and sheer terror that those suffering from panic disorder experience. From growing up in a dysfunctional family characterized by alcoholism, depression, infidelity, and intolerance and internalizing her mother's insecurities to being plagued by guilt over an affair, the end of her marriage, and accepting her sexuality, Mengali bares all. Amazingly, she does so without blame. Given her father's controlling and manipulative role in the family, I admire her willingness to forgive, as she concludes: "In the end, before they let go, my parents were capable of recognizing the damage they'd done and asking for forgiveness."
Mengali's eloquent writing style is what I like most about the book. This eloquence is evident in the way she crafts sentences and poignantly conveys her experiences. For instance, Mengali's description of her mother's parenting conjures a stirring visual: "Believing that children, like zucchini, grew and flourished with sunshine and very little oversight, she permitted us to behave like uncaged animals until my father came home from work." In another chapter, Mengali expresses how meaningful it was to be able to confide in a compassionate teacher. Throughout the book, she gives readers a glimpse into her panic disorder by illustrating her fears and irrational thoughts and giving details about the types of therapy she practices to manage them. "It now became clear that running from panic-producing situations or avoiding them had only reinforced the fear."
There isn't anything I dislike about the contents of the book. However, I will note the erroneous page count that is listed as 190 pages on Amazon and is actually 276 pages. The discrepancy may not be an issue for some readers, but there may also be readers like me, who consider page length for a variety of reasons when selecting books. Amazon is usually accurate, hence the note.
I am pleased to rate The Quicksand of Agoraphobia 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend the poignant memoir to readers who are struggling with depression and panic disorders, as well as those desiring to learn more about treatment. Mengali discusses her sexuality, but the emphasis is on her initial confusion about being bisexual; there is no explicit sexual content. The book contains a few instances of profanity.
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The Quicksand of Agoraphobia: A memoir of panic disorder
View: on Bookshelves
In her telling memoir, The Quicksand of Agoraphobia, Diane Mengali begins by sharing staggering statistics: "...6 million people suffer from panic disorder each year, and 15 million have a lifetime prevalence of the disorder. Only one in four people who experience panic attacks receives appropriate treatment." She chronicles growing up in a dysfunctional family during the 1950s, her marriage and subsequent confusion about her sexual identity, and eventual diagnosis and treatment for agoraphobia. By sharing her story, Mengali hopes to bring awareness and understanding about panic disorder while offering hope for treatment.
Mengali's memoir is well written, professionally edited, and uncompromisingly honest. The book is organized chronologically and divided into five sections. Mengali provides the most insightful account that I have read to date regarding the thought process and sheer terror that those suffering from panic disorder experience. From growing up in a dysfunctional family characterized by alcoholism, depression, infidelity, and intolerance and internalizing her mother's insecurities to being plagued by guilt over an affair, the end of her marriage, and accepting her sexuality, Mengali bares all. Amazingly, she does so without blame. Given her father's controlling and manipulative role in the family, I admire her willingness to forgive, as she concludes: "In the end, before they let go, my parents were capable of recognizing the damage they'd done and asking for forgiveness."
Mengali's eloquent writing style is what I like most about the book. This eloquence is evident in the way she crafts sentences and poignantly conveys her experiences. For instance, Mengali's description of her mother's parenting conjures a stirring visual: "Believing that children, like zucchini, grew and flourished with sunshine and very little oversight, she permitted us to behave like uncaged animals until my father came home from work." In another chapter, Mengali expresses how meaningful it was to be able to confide in a compassionate teacher. Throughout the book, she gives readers a glimpse into her panic disorder by illustrating her fears and irrational thoughts and giving details about the types of therapy she practices to manage them. "It now became clear that running from panic-producing situations or avoiding them had only reinforced the fear."
There isn't anything I dislike about the contents of the book. However, I will note the erroneous page count that is listed as 190 pages on Amazon and is actually 276 pages. The discrepancy may not be an issue for some readers, but there may also be readers like me, who consider page length for a variety of reasons when selecting books. Amazon is usually accurate, hence the note.
I am pleased to rate The Quicksand of Agoraphobia 4 out of 4 stars. I recommend the poignant memoir to readers who are struggling with depression and panic disorders, as well as those desiring to learn more about treatment. Mengali discusses her sexuality, but the emphasis is on her initial confusion about being bisexual; there is no explicit sexual content. The book contains a few instances of profanity.
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The Quicksand of Agoraphobia: A memoir of panic disorder
View: on Bookshelves
