Plot: Visit to the psychiatrist

In The Trick is to Keep Breathing, Joy visits a psychiatrist to seek help for her overwhelming mental health problems.
The interactions with the psychiatrist provide valuable insight into Joy’s mental state and the limitations of mental health care.
The psychiatrist’s approach to Joy’s condition deepens the theme of isolation faced by those dealing with mental illness.

Discrepancies between Joy’s thoughts and the psychiatrist’s responses expose the lack of understanding and empathy in their communication.
The contrast between the psychiatrist’s clinical approach and Joy’s emotional turmoil emphasises the failure of the health system to meet patients on a personal level.
The psychiatrist’s emphasis on medication as a solution reflects the system’s tendency to manage symptoms rather than addressing underlying issues.

Joy’s visits to the psychiatrist underscore the negligence and depersonalisation present in the mental health care system - a critical commentary on the institutional approach to mental health by Galloway.
These moments foster an understanding of Joy’s intense loneliness and frustration, deepening the exploration of mental illness as a profoundly isolating experience.
The psychiatrist’s inability to meet Joy’s needs contributes to the novel’s portrayal of the vast misunderstandings around mental health.

Isolation: The lack of genuine communication with the psychiatrist amplifies Joy’s feelings of alienation and despair.
Impersonal Nature of Healthcare: The psychiatrists’ detached demeanour highlights the critique of an impersonal, symptom-focused approach to mental healthcare.
Frustration: Joy’s unproductive meetings with the psychiatrist underscore her escalating frustration and hopelessness.

“He doesn’t look at me…just at his notes.” - This quote emphasises the impersonal nature of Joy’s interaction with the psychiatrist.
“I need help…he just writes out another prescription.” - Joy’s internal dialogue reveals a keen sense of being neglected and misunderstood.
“Is this it? Is this all there is?” - This quote encapsulates Joy’s despair and disillusionment with her treatment and the lack of progress.