I Heart Characters! is a weekly meme hosted by Dani @ Perspective of a Writer to showcase our book blogger lover for characters! Each week she’ll supply a topic and you’ll supply the character. Post on whatever day suits you, about characters from whatever media you love (books, movies, K-dramas, television, manga, anime, webtoons, whatever!) and link up on Thursday so YOU and others can blog hop and share the character love.

This week Dani asked us to speak about mentally ill characters and once again I was lost!

First problem: what does mental illness entail exactly?

Is autism a mental illness or a handicap or …? When in doubt google it!

According to the Mayo clinic (you know that clinic where the rich and famous flock to treat their problems behind closed doors): “Mental illness refers to a wide range of mental health conditions — disorders that affect your mood, thinking and behavior. Examples of mental illness include depression, anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, eating disorders and addictive behaviors.

Many people have mental health concerns from time to time. But a mental health concern becomes a mental illness when ongoing signs and symptoms cause frequent stress and affect your ability to function.”

Another source offered some examples of mental illness also called mental disorders:

Second one : Anxiety disorder

Lochan in Forbidden by Tabitha Suzuma. Lochan suffers from social anxiety. He has difficulties to speak in school. Not because he is impaired or has a physical handicap but because he is burried under stress. His father left the family and his mother is unreliable leaving him and his sister Maya to care for their younger sibblings. Lochan was a sensitive and tormented soul. Utterly selfless he is one character I will never forget.

Dementia

Well this one is tougher but I think I found the perfect character: Essie from Keeper of the Bees by Meg Kassel.

Here is what I wrote about her : Essie is a 17 years old girl afflicted by the Wickerton curse. That’s how puzzled doctors have named the unusul madness plaguing many members of that family for generations. Poor Essie. She does not know what is real and what is imagined in all the things she sees. When she laughs pink bubbles escape her mouth. Not real. Her doctor has a forked tongue. Not real but…

She is so lonely as no one wants to befriend someone as weird as her. She tries to be as small a burden to her aunt as she can.

“A group of teen girls pass by, bent toward each other, giggling at something. It’s been years since I’d attended school. One ugly “episode” that scared some parents and teachers ended my public-school experience. Now, Aunt Bel homeschools me with the help of tutors. I look away from the girls with a pang of longing. For friends. For a sense of belonging. For that underrated state of ordinary.”

Honestly you can’t help loving Essie. I double dog dare you!

Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Summer in The Chase by Elle Kennedy. She had ADHD and reminded me so much of my son and his struggle to learn!  Summer is embarrassed and feels insecure as she has a harder time to learn. Everyone learns at his own rhythme and sometimes medication does not work or is not the best answer! “Loving yourself is hard enough. Silencing the inner critic borders on impossible.”

Schizophrenia

Blue/Evans in No Tomorrow by Carian Cole.

What I wrote about him: Blue he is a very complex and restless character.

Carian writes some of the most beautiful flawed male characters that I’ve read about. Vandal and Tyler are two of these broken characters. Yet Blue is by far the most complex, tortured yet so so lovable.

Of course I wanted to let him go as he hurt Piper so many times yet I couldn’t help understand Piper. I have what is commonly called “the savior complex” and would have been unable to turn my back on Blue. Exactly like Piper who found her soul mate and wanted to love and help him so bad!

“As much as I love the sound of the rain, the moody grey clouds and the rainbows, the storms trap me. I can’t stand the thunder and lightning and all the wind. That’s when I need you the most. You’re like my own little sunbeam.” A weak smile touches his lips. “You chase the storm away.”

Obsessive compulsive disorder

Shelly in Beard in Mind by Penny Reid

Shelly has moved to Tennessee in hopes of getting the help she needs to manage her OCD. Her OCD has become so bad that she has closed herself off from her family. She did not want to subject her beloved to her weird behavior. She is not able to initiate physical contact with anyone as she is then overcome by an overwhelming fear that the person will be in danger. She would then cut herself to help relieve the anxiety.

Autism

I have read lots of books with fantastic characters suffering from autism but my last and favorite one was Stella from The Kiss Quotient!

Stella is a touching female character. Stella is Asperger and it means that as much as she is brilliant with numbers and econometrics she really is socially awkward. She wants to do good but she does not get the clues most people get so effortlessly and react poorly in many situations. She has to constantly plan and monitor what she’ll say not to hurt other people. What is fun for us like going out and dance in a club, shopping to buy clothes is a real hardship for her. She is oversensitive to noises, smells, lights and touch. I already knew this about autistic people but not the small details like seams scratching your skin.

What is deeply touching and that I could related was Stella’s wish to be known for herself. Not seen as someone with Asperger but as Stella. Unique charming smart and awkward Stella.

Post traumatic stress disorder

Hermione in Exit, Pursed by a Bear by EK Johnston

Hermione has been drugged and raped. The whole book is about her “coping” with what happened to her.
This story broaches a very delicate topic in an unconventional way. The writer focuses everything around Hermione’s recovery and does not wallow in self-pity or pits of despair. The result is an inspiring story, a story of hope for all victims. It also shows that everyone has its own way to cope and if Hermione chose the “detached” way, other would follow different paths to cope and it would be right because no one can tell a victim how she should behave or what she should do.
”For the first time, I feel like a victim without hating myself for it.”
”You’re not acting like a person who was raped. You’re acting like a person whose close friend was raped. At some point, if your memories resurface, you’ll break. That doesn’t make you weak. That’s just how it goes”

That’s it! That’s my long list!

So are books about mental illness “hype”? I believe it is not because people love drama but simply because these illnesses affect many people and we want and have to read about what feels close to our heart. Just know that I asked for book titles today on our facebook Group and answers were flying by proof that mental illness is something dear to many readers!

Now do give me your recommendations!

Thanks for reading.

Sophie