Andreas Lundberg

In this deeply personal, deeply philosophical book, Andreas Lundberg quite literally opens his soul to us. Trying desperately to cope with his deep depression and his divorce, he withdraws to the peace and solitude of a convent for a few days.

A few months after being released from a closed psychiatric ward, the Swedish author, publisher and translator Andreas Lundberg was surprised to discover that his mobile phone was full of messages he had forgotten that he had ever written. He edited those messages to write this book. They tell the horrifying story of his severe depression and his therapy, including a dozen administrations of ECT (electroconvulsive therapy, more commonly known as shock treatments). It is not a pleasant read, show more but one might say it is necessary for a deeper understanding of major depressive disorder (suicidal depression) and how it is treated, including the controversial use of ECT. show less

The author, himself having courageously fought a successful battle against depression and insanity, takes a job caring for the aged suffering from dementia and Alzheimer’s. He takes a very serious, even philosophical, look at a fate from which each of us could suffer. It is not a happy tale, but one that perhaps must be told.