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Undercurrents: A Life Beneath the Surface.
By Martha Manning. New York: HarperCollins, 1994, 97 pp. $14.00.
Rarely does an author take you by the hand and pull you into their own world like Martha Manning has done in her book, Undercurrents. Manning honestly and painfully explains a tumultuous year in her life, a year in which she was diagnosed with major depression. Her memoirs are written as journal entries, transforming the reader into a more active role: an observer. As her story unfolds, the sheer depth of her mental illness is revealed.
Undercurrents is not only brilliantly written, but is also informative. For those unfamiliar with depression, Manning verbalizes the hopelessness and darkness that is often associated with the illness. Statements such as “I have lost their language, their facility with words that convey feelings,” (p. 64) convey the thoughts that are hard to put into words. Ironically, Manning is a clinical psychologist with a successful independent practice. The reader watches as she spirals downward, into a painful despair that even a team of psychologists cannot extricate her from. Her depression is so debilitating, that conventional anti-depressant medications have no effect. Her last resort seems to be electroconvulsive therapy, or ECT. Manning single-handedly gives hope to thousands of victims of depression, those who have horrible images of “shock therapy” ingrained in their heads. She fights the stigma with statements such as, “I didn’t rob a bank. I didn’t kill anyone. I have nothing to be ashamed of” (p. 165). She is a true survivor; an inspiration to those who believe they are a worthless cause.
The perfect audience for Undercurrents would be anyone who suffers from depression. Often simply describing the feelings associated with the illness are impossible; the words are just not there for some. Manning’s descriptions are eloquent with words jumping off the pages, tugging at your soul. For those depressed clients who are not participating in group psychotherapy, Undercurrents might be reassuring, knowing they are not alone in their struggle. Manning’s perspective as a psychotherapist brings a unique perspective to the book. Undercurrents is also appropriate for anyone in the mental health field with depression or major depression. For those psychotherapists who suffer from depression, Manning proves that helping others is still possible when your own life is in shambles.
This would also be an excellent book to suggest to family members, to help them understand just how debilitating depression can be. Families have a difficult time coping because they may not understand the power and devastation of depression. This book would help them understand the painful, hollow feelings that are so hard to fight. Anyone who is a potential candidate for ECT would find Undercurrents helpful in understanding the potential side effects. The book is very emotional, and should not be suggested for someone who is currently unstable without appropriate ongoing oversight of the process by the psychotherapist.
Undercurrents could be easily integrated into most psychotherapies. In general, because the book is in diary form, what the reader sees are the author’s thoughts. It seems to be a good match for cognitive psychotherapy. Manning frequently expresses her negative automatic thoughts, such as “...a walking advertisement of myself as a loser” (p. 35). Another example of her negative thoughts is so self-deprecating that it shows the true pain Manning was feeling, “…so biochemically screwed up, so neurotic, so narcissistically self-absorbed…” (p. 93). Undercurrents would be valuable in helping to identify a client’s negative thoughts, pointing out how they affected Manning, and how they are affecting themselves.
One weakness of the book is that it might be hard to assign it as “homework.” There are only three chapters in the book, making it difficult to single one out for discussion. A client might want to read one chapter at a time and then discuss each with the psychotherapist at length. However, a more successful interaction would be for the client to read the whole book and then discuss the entire journey. Another weakness is that the book is only appropriate for mature readers. The reading level is more advanced than the average book. Manning also addresses philosophical and spiritual issues that might be difficult for some individuals to comprehend.
Nonetheless, the book is easily read and free of psychotherapy jargon that one might expect from a clinical psychologist. Most journal entries are less than a page in length, making it easy to pick up and put down when needed. This is especially helpful for those whose depression has affected their ability to concentrate and focus. A positive aspect of using the book in psychotherapy is that it could be read in only a few weeks, depending on the level of the reader. Manning also incorporates humor and irony into her story, which can help keep the attention of the reader.
Martha Manning proves that being a practicing psychologist does not make one immune to the cruelty of depression. It is a classic story of a healer who needs to be healed. The reader is transformed into an observer, as we watch her struggle with her self, her family and her faith. Manning gives hope to those who suffer with depression. For those whom medication does not seem to work, ECT had been the feared last resort. Manning dispels the myths surrounding ECT and provides encouragement to those who feel like a worthless cause. She battles the stereotypes and brings light to an illness often kept in the dark of the soul. Her wit and irony keep the reader reaching for more, wondering what she will do next. This is an excellent book to use in psychotherapy with depressed clients and their families. Manning provides insight into a world often misjudged. Undercurrents is one step closer to breaking the stigma of mental illness.