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Type of bind: Paperback
Dewey Decimal Number: 306
EAN num: 9780195152449
ISBN number: 0195152441
Label: Oxford University Press, USA
Manufacturer: Oxford University Press, USA
Quantity: 1
Page Count: 340
Printing Date: May 23, 2002
Publishing house: Oxford University Press, USA
Sale Popularity Level: 51020
Studio: Oxford University Press, USA
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Editor's Notes and Comments:
Product Description:
In this vivid and thoughtful study, David Karp chronicles the experiences of the family members of the mentally ill, and how they draw 'boundaries of sympathy' to avoid being engulfed by the day-to-day suffering of a loved one.
Working from sixty extensive interviews, the author reveals striking similarities in the experiences of caregivers: the feelings of shame, fear, guilt and powerlessness in the face of a socially stigmatized illness; the frustration of navigating the complex network of bureaucracies that govern the mental health system; and most of all, the difficulty negotiating an 'appropriate' level of involvement with the mentally ill loved one while maintaining enough distance for personal health. Throughout, Karp sensitively explores the overarching question of how people strike equilibrium between reason and emotion, between head and heart, when caring for a catastrophically ill person. The book concludes with a critical look at what it means to be a moral and caring person at the turn of the century in America, when powerful cultural messages spell out two contradictory imperatives: pursue personal fulfillment at any cost and care for the family at any cost.
An insightful, deeply caring look at mental illness and at the larger picture of contemporary values, The Burden of Sympathy is required reading for caregivers of all kinds, and for anyone seeking broader understanding of human responsibility in the postmodern world.
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Rated by buyers 
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The stories from those caregivers who have lived in the trenches is most helpful and provide information in dealing with it. Very good
Rated by buyers -
The Burden of Sympathy is one of the most useful books I have read on exactly what mental illness is and how we as family members can learn to understand it, and help our loved ones to understand how to cope with the illness. It can be very confusing and frightening to hear a diagnosis of schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. This book will help take some of the fear away as well as give support to families struggling with how to best live with the loved one who hasn't yet accepted the illness or is actively fightly treatment. I highly recommend it!
Rated by buyers 
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If you're looking to understand how to think about a friend or a loved one with major drug resistant depression or other mental health issues, you should read and refer to this work often. It provides insight on how to help with an appropriate outlook and attitude. Nicely done.
Rated by buyers -
Sociologist David Karp shares the insights gleaned from over 60 interviews of those who have loved ones suffering from the ravages of mental illness. He pieces together excerpts of these interviews to illustrate the different ways mental illness affects the lives of families and friends. Those interviewed share how they endeavor to cope with such issues as personal feelings of guilt, the societal stygma associated with mental illness, and the frustration of dealing with a bureaucracy that is not always responsive. At the core of many of the interviews is a redeeming theme of hope. Karp's thesis is that the moral boundaries of caregiving necessarily shift as the mental illness emerges over time, and that it is imperative to balance the needs of the mentally ill person with the needs of those who provide care and support. Karp reminds readers of the 4 C's: (1) I did not cause it, (2) I cannot cure it, (3) I cannot control it, (4) all I can do is cope with it.
Rated by buyers -
This is the very first book I've read that describes my experiences of living with mentally ill family members so precisely. It is a must read for anyone living with or caring for a mentally ill loved one. David Karp has tapped into a secret well of pain and love and compassion that needs to be brought to the collective consciousness of our society.
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