Diagnosis by Alanis Morissette

This week’s Song of the Week was recommended by MIA writer and contributor J.A. Carter-Winward: “Back in the early 00s, I vaguely recall hearing that Ms. Morissette had bipolar disorder. At the time, I was trying to embrace my own ill-fitting (and incorrect, it turns out) diagnosis. Then, in 2020, I came across this song from her new album, “Such Pretty Forks in the Road.” She, like me, no longer resonated with a reductive label. “Call it what you want / ‘Cause I don’t even care anymore / Call it what you need to / To make yourself comfortable…”

It’s a vulnerable song that speaks to the isolation that accompanies a diagnosis. It’s as if we’ve forgotten how messy the human condition is. How can we possibly understand what it means to be human if we accept these invisible brands on our self-concepts meant to dictate our behavior? When I heard this song, I wanted to reach out to Alanis and ask her if she’d found that “glimpse of ease” she hadn’t felt in so long. I hope she has.”

-J.A. Carter-Winward

***

Mad in America hosts blogs by a diverse group of writers. These posts are designed to serve as a public forum for a discussion—broadly speaking—of psychiatry and its treatments. The opinions expressed are the writers’ own.

***

Mad in America has made some changes to the commenting process. You no longer need to login or create an account on our site to comment. The only information needed is your name, email and comment text. Comments made with an account prior to this change will remain visible on the site.

1 COMMENT

  1. J. A. Carter-Winward, thank you for this post.What you sayis true for me as well, and unfortunately as someone stuck for years labeled and controlled by psychiatrists who have NO expertise whatsoever!!!!!, I have a huge residue of anger at them, because I will probably not get fully off psych meds in this life. It is the fault of a chauvinistic, nature destroying, elitist caste system society. I will have to listen to those two songs of ALanis Morrisette. I also felt she was an eclectic artist, but what you said helps me get a better picture of her. Peace and self wisdom and happiness to you! Eadward Kaitz

    Report comment

LEAVE A REPLY