Cover -- The Madness of Our Lives: Experiences of mental breakdown and recovery -- Contents -- FOREWORD -- ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS -- INTRODUCTION -- Part One: Dealing with life stresses -- 1. Eating a Mars bar: Jane Pole-Jones -- 2. Counselling was the turning point: Cheryl Stromeyer -- 3. No easy answers: Keith Bright -- 4. My music saved my life: Julie O'Connor -- Part Two: Women survivors of childhood abuse -- 5. I was lucky in a way: Steph Corby -- 6. I'd always thought crying was a sin: Diane Johnson -- 7. Oops, there goes the telly: Lesley Tutt -- Part Three: Young men in crisis -- 8. I'd rather it was a chapter I'd forgotten about: Paul Mann -- 9. Doing all right, considering: Adrian Stiles -- 10. It does teach you a bit about human nature: Graeme Wilson -- Part Four: An insider perspective -- 11. Really enthusiastic about antidepressants: Stephen Goodfellow -- Postscript -- The professional view -- Conclusions and practical advice -- REFERENCES -- FURTHER READING -- RESOURCES.