The Devil on My Doorstep | Review by Barbara Bamberger Scott, USRB

This moving story opens when Laurie, a college student caught seemingly overnight in a web of delusion, rage, and violence, attempts to attack her mother in their home with a fireplace poker. It was the beginning of their several years of shared agony—often seeming so horrific as to be demonic in nature—bringing them to a recognition of certain glaring deficiencies in the mental healthcare system. The book points out that “prisoners are guaranteed a bed,” whereas no such system of safety and care is offered for the mentally fragile. Much of the young woman’s progress came through her own strong initiatives, taking place through group therapy, teaching opportunities, hiking adventures, and spiritual sharing. As Laurie slowly accessed the kinds of help she so desperately needed, her mother began, at last, to see her grown child as a blessing to herself and others. The experience binding them gave both women a sharp perspective not only on mental disabilities but also on the ways that people who suffer from them are sometimes regarded by society.

In an unusual yet effective format, the book combines the perspectives of both mother and daughter in an emotional and intellectual exploration of mental illness in its vast array of potentially damaging effects, possible causes, and pathways to healing. The author’s contribution to the narrative appears in conventional print, while the memories and observations of her daughter Laurie are given in italics. Many chapters helpfully contain both women’s views, with the typeface making it simpler for readers to grasp not only the voice behind the words but also the immediacy of the many situations by which the pair and others in the family were burdened during the years of Laurie’s mental crises.

Another advantage of having both Laurie and her mother contribute to the story is that it makes the overall narrative more well-rounded. This intimate saga of emotional and mental breakdown and recovery gives undeniable weight to their shared viewpoint regarding the general lack of direct, immediate care for those enduring mental illness. Just as Laurie’s mother was often frustrated, even angered, by the seeming lack of solutions for her daughter’s condition, so Laurie too found no “set formula” for her often-overwhelming sense of alienation, anger, and despair. Sharing their deeply personal experiences so candidly has resulted not only in a powerful and moving account but also an opportunity to impart hard facts to readers regarding this thorny issue. As the text passionately aserts, it is almost as if many people are still in the “dark ages,” refusing or fearing to take needed steps to assist those in psychological torment.

The book usefully cites several publicly exposed cases of the lack of treatment of such persons. They are sometimes jailed and essentially ignored instead of being examined, diagnosed, and given medications and therapies that could, as happened with Laurie, help them to rise out of their mental morass. It also notes that certain governmental policies have been altered to expand coverage for those experiencing such ailments as depression, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia, presenting a gleam of hope for all. The narrative urges readers to persist, as both mother and daughter have done, in seeking the best care for psychological problems. Laurie’s several-year journey, with her mother’s direct involvement, carried her and her family from desperation to self-assurance and the ability to face life’s changes. The book’s unique approach to the subjects covered is inspirational and warrants serious study by those enduring similar distress as well as by those whose heartfelt goal is to offer a helping hand.