Rx

by Rachel Lindsay

A graphic memoir about the treatment of mental illness, treating mental illness as a commodity.
 
In her early twenties in New York City, diagnosed with bipolar disorder, Rachel Lindsay takes a job in advertising in order to secure healthcare coverage for her treatment. But work takes a strange turn when she is promoted onto the Pfizer account and suddenly finds herself on the other side of the curtain, developing ads for an anti-depressant drug. Overwhelmed by her professional life and the self-scrutiny it inspires, her mania takes hold. She quits her job to become an artist, only to be hospitalized by her parents against her will. Over the course of her two weeks in the ward, she tries to find a path out of the hospital and this cycle of treatment. One where she can live the life she wants, finding freedom and autonomy, without sacrificing her dreams in order to stay well.

Genres: Graphic Novels, Memoir, Mental Health, Nonfiction, Comics, Mental Illness, Biography Memoir

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 4, 2018

About the author

Rachel Lindsay is a cartoonist based in Burlington, VT.

She is a graduate of Columbia University, where she created the first graphic novel thesis in any undergraduate or graduate program.

Reviews

[Jon Nakapalau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Rachel Lindsey works for an add agency that comes up with ways to 'spin' the very medications she must take to help her deal with her bipolar disorder! She must hold down this job to afford the very medications she needs to try to live a normal life. Excellent look at the state of mental health in todays climate of conflicting social narratives.

[Dave Schaafsma · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are many graphic memoirs out now about mental illness, but few are as clear-eyed, sharp and articulately honest. Lindsey is bipolar, but manages to graduate from Columbia University, and gets into a fine advertising firm, but gets transferred to the Pfizer account, a promotion. The complication is that she is taking medication from places like Pfizer. At some point she begins to really unravel, and she documents this decline with efficiency and clarity, which is to say we get to hear everything we need to know about what used to be called a "nervous breakdown"--in its manic manifestation--her hospitalization, and enough of a "recovery" to get released, move back into her parents and begin work again.

When I say "efficient" I mean we hear the story in pretty straightforward fashion, without too many detours. Some medical memoirs go into too much detail, but this seems just right. And the art is fairly simple and clean and not too busy. It's very valuable to have memoirs like this, and this is a very good one, and it reads really fast, actually.

Lindsey just wants a normal life, and she has instead a very complicated one, but she also has plenty of support from family and friends and ultimately, the psychiatric establishment, though she is not always appreciative of the help she is getting from the latter all the time. And not everyone is equally helpful; it takes a village, as they say, and sometimes there are village idiots! And being overwhelmed is part of the process of struggling with bipolar, too. So many things to deal with!

[Stewart Tame · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was good and all, but figuring out how to begin this review was a challenge.

There are tons of autobiographical graphic novels out there. There are even lots of them that are specifically medical in theme, to the point where my local library even has its own dedicated set of shelves labelled “Medical Graphic Novels.” Back in the 80's, when the term "graphic novel" was first coming into widespread use, who even knew that would be a thing?

So RX is very similar to many other books out there, hardly a ringing endorsement.

But …

The artwork is lovely, for one thing. Looking over past reviews, I note my tendency to overuse the phrase “deceptively simple.” It definitely applies in this case though. Rachel Lindsay makes every line count. At various times her art reminds me of people like Roberta Gregory, Glenn Dakin, Mort Walker … even Cathy Guisewite. It's as simple as it needs to be, while still packing an emotional punch.

The raw emotion of the book is also striking. The story is compelling. Lindsay’s manic depression is controlled by medication … until it isn’t, and she winds up being hospitalized, initially against her will. She speculates that her transfer to the group at her agency in charge of ad campaigns for depression medications was one of the factors--seeing how the sausage is made and all that--but it's likely not that simple. Whatever the causes, things happened as they did, and recovering, learning, and moving forward are the important parts.

I think what I'm trying to get at is: Don't write this off as just another autobio/medical GN. It's a particularly fine example of the genre, and well worth reading. Recommended!

[vanessa · Rating 4 out of 5]

On the surface, this is a simple graphic memoir about mental health: woman is caught in a cycle that's hard to come out of until she gets help. But Rx is fantastic. Rx is special because of the illustrations - I truly felt "there" during Lindsay's manic episode: the anger, the incredulity she felt at people telling her she's not making good choices. The "EAT SHIT!" mentality felt so real and understandable and that's what completely captivated me while reading this. It's high-energy, loud, and fast.

[Matthew Noe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A searing look into bipolar, the drug marketing industry, and American healthcare's toll on us all, this is a must-read addition to the graphic medicine canon. I purposely chose the word searing because there are a few pages that feel burned into my mind after reading. These pages are ones that push back against the hierarchical structure of "sanity" and the systems erected to defend it. They are pages that ask us to reframe - literally using panels to do so - conversations about illness, wellness, and the business of modern medicine. Rachel's artistic style in Rx are perfect for capturing the non-staticness of mania.

Speaking of Graphic Medicine, Ian gave a much lengthier review here: https://www.graphicmedicine.org/comic....

[Rod Brown · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sick day! Chest cold and laryngitis. Time to rest, read, and review.

Rachel Lindsay offers a disturbing look into her involuntary commitment for mental illness in 2011. Despite working within the system by having a job that provided health insurance, seeing a psychiatrist, and taking her medications for her bipolar disorder, Lindsay is forced into hospitalization when her parents and doctors suspect her abrupt decision to quit her job and move out of state is a manic episode. The humor of her exaggerated cartoon style and narrative frankness offset some of the gloom as she outlines the many stressors that led up to the moment of crisis, her time in hospital, and the fallout.

Well done!

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt like the majority of the book was about how terrible it is to take meds and how terrible it is to see a doctor and how awful it is to get acute care. These things have saved lives. I say that as someone who lives with bipolar and experiences literally all of these things. However in the plus column her representation of mania is VERY accurate. I didn't like the talk about how life ruining (in what I perceived to be her opinion) living with bipolar is. How it holds her back. If you're looking for graphic novels or books in general with frank discussion of living with bipolar try Marbles. Or Rock Steady. Or An Unquiet Mind. Or Touched With Fire. If you're looking for a vanity project try this.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC intended for review, and I'm so glad that I ended up with this book! As a fellow bipolar-haver trying to get by in the corporate world, everything in the author's story really spoke to me. I can't speak to the average reader's experience with this book, nor how relatable it would be to neurotypical folks...but for a fellow broken type, this book was the perfect amount of honest, thoughtful, and introspective. I could see myself in the protagonist throughout the whole book, even in the parts that I don't have immediate experience with (haven't been hospitalized (yet)), and could see my fears realized and expressed so clearly and succinctly.

I can't wait for this to come out, so I can give a copy to everyone who could use a glimpse into the way I see the world. Thanks, Ms. Lindsay, for wrapping it up so neatly!

[Travis Duke · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very personal story about mental illness and recovery. Rachel has a corporate job that triggers her mental illness into a downward spiral and she chronicles her steps to recovery. The book was written as therapy and the starting point for the authors recovery. As sensitive of a subject matter as mental health is Rachel Lindsay takes a quick and dirty approach to writing this, its a very fast read but its also very in your face. I wish she was maybe a little more creative in the panel process and maybe the introspection but this is part of her recovery so I really cant judge. As a reader it just feels like you float by the book with out ever digging into any critical thinking. The art is OK its very basic but it lends to the fast paced nature of the writing.

[KC · Rating 4 out of 5]

An incredible look at one women's journey with her discovery and commitment to bettering her mental health through illustration and candid text. This inspiring, creative and emotional graphic novel reminds us all of the tremendous hurdles and struggles of those with mental health issues face daily.

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

The energy in this book is astounding. Lindsay's art sort of sweeps you up and takes you along for the ride, and you'll finish feeling a little bit rattled and a little bit more knowledgeable. It's a great look at the pharmaceutical industry from a perspective we don't often get, and a glimpse into family dynamics and self-awareness under the lens of bipolar. Highly recommended.

[Michael Schwartz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think this is a must read for anyone struggling with mental illness and the “rightness” of where they are in live. This memoir makes it clear that there is always a tomorrow and that perspective means a lot in getting to a happy place.

[Barbara McEwen · Rating 4 out of 5]

A graphic memoir about struggling with mental illness. Rings true for me as I see similarities to my mom who has schizophrenia. You can feel the anguish and frustration of not having control over your own life and being in committed in a psych ward.

[Bogi Takács]

A graphic memoir about the author’s experience with bipolar illness and subsequent lengthy hospitalization. A lot of the plot hinges on the US having a terrible healthcare system. The author, an artist, cannot get health insurance without a non-freelance-based day job, so she goes for office employment and works in advertising. She tries to hide her mental illness, and initially she’s getting by, though she feels the work is soul-crushing. Then she is assigned to work on advertising campaigns for Pfizer’s antidepressants, of all things that can be advertised. That gets even more soul-crushing...

She feels a lot of resentment, some of it is chalked up to mania, but it is justified regardless – I mean this is a terrible healthcare system, that’s entirely a fact. (For more reading on that, I suggest An American Sickness by Elisabeth Rosenthal.) So many artists have been in this exact quandary. She feels that she did everything she was supposed to do and society let her down. I can’t argue with that!!! Ableism results in these traps. (Different disabilities, but I have ample experience trying to hide them, and also with failing to do that. I was so glad there was a book that showed these aspects.)

This is a very dynamic narrative both textually and visually. I felt like that really got the experience of mania across. Lindsay doesn’t sugarcoat how she engages in a variety of risky activities - I found the walking barefoot in a big city part was oddly terrifying.

I also just loved the art all-round, it was daring, not quite minimalist but flirting with it, bold and strong. And carrying through on all of that. Great to see, as an artist too.

I feel like when it comes to mental illness stereotypes, depression is both better known, more ‘respectable’ and less stereotyped. So I really appreciated that the author showed much about mania, and the downsides of it and how that affected her. (Sometimes I think people have this preconception that mania is just doing a lot of things fast and speaking rapidly? Or people confuse it with ADHD.)

I wonder if it is part of the respectability aspect that I haven’t heard about this book in general disability literature discussions even though I’m heavily involved with them; I came upon it while randomly browsing in the library. Comics – not so respectable, mania – not so respectable, let’s talk about something else instead?! That’s really frustrating, because this was such a good read.

I really liked the book. I only had one detail that I felt could have used more clarification – when she has her breakdown, she gets a new hairstyle, and is it an Afro? I would have explored that a bit, it’s an unexpected choice from a white person and I wondered how she felt about it afterward. Or if it’s just visual shorthand for “my hair is standing on end”, I would’ve explored that too. This just wasn’t clear for me, and not in the “it’s not supposed to be clear for you” way (I think!).
_____
Source of the book: Lawrence Public Library

[Maria Skoczyńska · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shows two sides of the coin: of a patient, a person with huge label on her face, and of an ad worker in pharma corpo (that makes a business out of a real dramatic stories, convincing that pills can fix absolutely everything). Also shows the true dilemma of trying to 'fit in'..

[Jeanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I rarely read graphic novels. This one is different. It is a biography about mental illness. It captured me and I read it in one sitting. It was fantastic. I will recommend it to everyone.

[Loz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it. It was an interesting look into one person's struggle with relatable and powerful moments. Art was clear and very expressive.

[Hannah]

Too much complaining and bashing on medicine for mental illness for my taste. Also, pristiq saved my life and I hated how it was represented. Medicine for mental health isn't bad k?

[Patb · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant look at how a young woman lives her life being bipolar.


Read Harder Challenge - read a graphic memoir.

[Jessie Drew · Rating 3 out of 5]

As with other graphic novel memoirs specifically about the author’s struggle with mental illness, this book is interesting based on their experiences alone. However, I felt that the book was rushed in terms of the looseness of the illustrations. Overall a good book to read to hear another voice from within the realm of Bipolar type 1.

[Rich · Rating 5 out of 5]

Maybe this is biased because I attended a talk Lindsay gave about her graphic memoir. But...I think she’s brilliant and authentic, and those qualities shine in her work. RX hasn’t been given the platform it deserves.

[Kelly Hager]

On the surface, this is a very simple story. Rachel is institutionalized against her will after she spirals during a manic episode. The text and drawings are both incredibly large.

Take a closer look, though. While Rachel is what the eye is drawn to (we're in her head, after all, and we see her thoughts), we also can see the stricken expressions of the people who are watching her slide ever further out of control.

There's also the fact that she works for an advertising agency and that her job is to promote mental health drugs. At the same time, though, no one knows she's been diagnosed as bipolar, so she's basically marketing these drugs for people like herself. The ethics of this are starting to get to her, which ultimately lead to her quitting. (Well, and there's the fact that she's in a manic episode, snapping at people and spending a lot of money.)

This is a profoundly emotional story and it's one that I think will affect the reader. I think most people now know someone with a mental illness, and this does a great job of showing what that's like. Hopefully people already have empathy for those who suffer from depression or this, or whatever they were diagnosed with and if not, I think this will help show just how out of control Rachel was and how much it wasn't her fault. 

Recommended.

[Cynthia Nicola · Rating 4 out of 5]

It felt authentic which is not surprising since it is her story!

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Rx is a darkly comic whirlwind through the author's manic breakdown and partial recovery. The art and high-speed storytelling accurately reflect a manic episode, but clinical understanding and third-party voices get lost in the weeds. I'm not saying Rx needed several text-heavy pages explaining "here's what bipolar disorder is", just that it would have benefited from a perspective not so deeply embedded in Lindsay's head. That style of storytelling certainly works here - Rx is powerful in how personal it is. But it offers few prescriptions for Lindsay's life and for societal woes that seem to be making her life harder. In particular, Rx is a damning indictment of how health insurance in America is largely subsidized by our corporate overlords. A book that spent a little more time exploring the ills of the insurance and drug industries might have hit a bit harder.

[jude · Rating 4 out of 5]

a raw and real memoir of the author's struggle living with bipolar disorder, being hospitalized against her will during a bad manic episode, and being trapped in the tangle of the mental health system. i've read similar memoirs before, but this one raised a lot of questions that the others avoided, especially regarding the flaws of the system and how it so often fails the people it's meant to help.

the book is a very fast read, with big, expressive pictures and little dialogue. i'd love to read a more in-depth account of her time working at the advertising agency promoting anti-depressants, because that sounds absolutely wild.

[Mid-Continent Public Library]

Though I'm not a big reader of graphic novels, I tore through this book in one sitting. Author Rachel Lindsay's memoir shares her story of unraveling into a manic bipolar episode, its drop into a deep depression (rapid cycling), and how she pulls back the pieces of her life to heal.
Punchy black and white graphics that cleverly intensifies her emotional state, she depicts her story with a raw and powerful voice that leaves the reader experiencing exactly how she felt. Powerful.

[Aylssa Cowell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilariously sweary account of a woman's manic episode which leads to hospitalization, brought on by working on anti-depressant adverts. I'm tempted to pull some of the pages out & get them framed.
Disclaimer: I was PMSing quite bad when I read it so may have identified with the main character a bit too much, hah.

[Ron Turner · Rating 4 out of 5]

An honest look at what it's like to be diagnosed with a mental illness. The feeling of hopelessness and frustration that you're trapped in a system that wants you to mindlessly conform. Take the pills, keep your head down, OBEY. It's sad. You know there's something wrong but at the same time you feel manipulated.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty disjointed and occasionally obnoxious memoir about dealing with mental illness in the corporate world. The overall story was interesting, but I’ve read better versions of this kind of tale elsewhere.

[Sheila · Rating 5 out of 5]

Interesting take on mental health and pharma