A Common Struggle: A Personal Journey Through the Past and Future of Mental Illness and Addiction

Narrated by:
Johnny Heller

Unabridged Audiobook

Ratings
Book
2
Narrator
Release Date
October 2015
Duration
12 hours 26 minutes
Summary
In this New York Times bestseller Patrick J. Kennedy, the former congressman and youngest child of Senator Ted Kennedy, details his personal and political battle with mental illness and addiction, exploring mental health care's history in the country alongside his and every family's private struggles. 

On May 5, 2006, the New York Times ran two stories, “Patrick Kennedy Crashes Car into Capitol Barrier” and then, several hours later, “Patrick Kennedy Says He'll Seek Help for Addiction.” It was the first time that the popular Rhode Island congressman had publicly disclosed his addiction to prescription painkillers, the true extent of his struggle with bipolar disorder and his plan to immediately seek treatment. That could have been the end of his career, but instead it was the beginning. 

Since then, Kennedy has become the nation’s leading advocate for mental health and substance abuse care, research and policy both in and out of Congress. And ever since passing the landmark Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act—and after the death of his father, leaving Congress—he has been changing the dialogue that surrounds all brain diseases.

A Common Struggle weaves together Kennedy's private and professional narratives, echoing Kennedy's philosophy that for him, the personal is political and the political personal. Focusing on the years from his 'coming out' about suffering from bipolar disorder and addiction to the present day, the book examines Kennedy's journey toward recovery and reflects on Americans' propensity to treat mental illnesses as 'family secrets.'

Beyond his own story, though, Kennedy creates a roadmap for equality in the mental health community, and outlines a bold plan for the future of mental health policy. Written with award-winning healthcare journalist and best-selling author Stephen Fried, A Common Struggle is both a cry for empathy and a call to action.
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K.C. M.

I have read sooo many addiction memoirs, and memoirs generally. This book ties is my favorite. It ties together every level of the U.S. addiction story. The most touching part, though for me, as someone who lives on Cape Cod in the shadow of the Kennedy name (the triumphs and tragedies), is how Patrick's family has been the tabloid poster family for addiction for generations. Joan and Ted Kennedy suffered publicly with addiction and were really just laughed at for it. Patrick inherited their shame, but then was able use his name to talk honestly and educate so many of us about his front-row seat to legislation that would help the mentally ill and addicted if it were enforced (Parity=insurance coverage of treatment), and his struggle. Since I read this, I learned how severe bipolar disorder is when a friend began to have a series of episodes. Patrick's struggles, the Kennedy's struggles, ARE a common struggle. All that separates Patrick from most of us, is his money to afford treatment repeatedly in private hospitals that provide excellent care. He knows that and I am so proud of his willingness to speak truthfully and to fight for the rest of us.

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