THIS timely memoir by psychiatrist, author and mental-health campaigner Linda Gask draws on her own experiences as a patient and consultant psychiatrist, and serves to remind us of our inner reserves, how to strengthen them and find help in whatever form that may be.

Gask has recurrent clinical depression and, for her, the capitalist view of “recovery” bears no relation to her experiences, professionally or personally. Her own recovery has been a lifelong matter, complicated by early-life events. Mood can dominate her day, draining it of colour and vibrancy.  

She thinks psychiatrists should be asking: “How do you get through the day?” as this gives a much clearer picture of the difficulties patients face.