Reasons to Stay Alive

Reasons to Stay Alive (2015) is a memoir with elements of traditional nonfiction by British author Matt Haig. After publication, it went on to become a worldwide bestseller. The book follows Haig’s experience with depression and anxiety, particularly his mental health crisis at the age of 24, and his subsequent ascent toward mental wellbeing. It explores themes of societal perceptions and prejudices toward mental illness, the importance of communication around these issues in the wider world, and tools for mental wellbeing such as mindfulness and gratitude.

This study guide is written using the 2016 paperback edition from Canongate Books.

Content Warning: Reasons to Stay Alive includes graphic descriptions of mental illness and thoughts of suicide, which this guide refers to.

Summary

Reasons to Stay Alive follows Haig’s personal mental health journey in five parts: “Falling,” “Landing,” “Rising,” “Living,” and “Being.”

Part 1, “Falling,” begins with Haig’s mental health crisis in Ibiza, Spain, at the age of 24. He experiences a depressive episode and doesn’t understand what is happening to him. He decides to jump off a cliff and die by suicide. The thought of dying is terrifying, but the potential to keep feeling intense pain is worse. However, he feels he can’t leave his loved ones behind, and so turns back to rejoin his girlfriend, Andrea.

Andrea insists he go to a hospital, where he is prescribed medication for his depression. The medication has an adverse “reverse placebo” effect, where Haig feels the medication has done more harm than good and which heightens his anxiety. He finds moderate success with sleeping tablets but develops a fear of mind-altering substances. On his way home to England, Haig meets his parents and worries he has disappointed them. He and Andrea stay with them while Haig recovers. One day, Haig is left alone in his parents’ room and begins to cry. His father joins him and encourages him to be strong.

Throughout the central narrative are statistical and medical facts about depression, mental illness, and Haig’s description of his symptoms.

Part 2, “Landing,” briefly explores Haig’s adjustment to experiencing depression and anxiety. He shares childhood memories and ruminations on society’s view of depression, stating that most of what is known about depression is characterized by what is unknown. He shares his complex relationship with the passage of time, which became unbearable during his depressive episodes. He begins accumulating knowledge to try and understand mental illness better.

Part 3, “Rising,” turns slowly toward its more hopeful conclusion as Haig begins a process of self-discovery. He becomes better versed in his own strengths, weaknesses, triggers, and coping mechanisms. One of the memories he shares involves learning how to go to a corner store and return home unaided; he finds the experience overwhelming, but recognizes the value in challenging himself. Other challenges he faces during this time are crossing the channel to Paris, and staying home alone while Andrea is with her sick mother.

Haig shares his “Reasons to stay alive,” giving the book its title. He champions the healing power of love, particularly the love he shares with Andrea, as well as immersing himself in literature. He shares some of the books that have had a positive effect on his journey, as well as things that have had a long-term positive impact such as writing, securing publication, and engaging his body by running. This section looks at celebrities who have or have had depression, and some of the societal stigmas around mental illness.

Part 4, “Living,” looks at Haig’s adjustment to living with the day-to-day experience of mental illness, as well as readjusting to the promise of a better future. He shares a memory of his first literary networking party, which he left early. He also looks back on his first real experience with anxiety before he was able to recognize it for what it was. He looks at the structure of society and its effect on mental health, and offers suggestions on how to improve one’s day-to-day mental wellbeing. The book’s title is echoed in a series of Twitter posts, #reasonstostayalive, in which others across the world share their own reasons for living despite the challenges of mental illness.

Part 5, “Being,” ends the book on a hopeful note as Haig comes to embrace the hardships and messy beauty of being alive. He encourages the reader to inhabit the time they have, and closes with a list of things he has relearned to live for since his mental health crisis.