# Mental Crisis and Recovery in The Autobiography of John Stuart Mill

> Theme guide for The Autobiography of John Stuart Mill by John Stuart Mill.

Mill describes a profound depressive episode in his youth, triggered by the realization that achieving his utilitarian goals would not bring happiness, leading him to reassess the role of emotion, poetry, and human connection in a fulfilling life.

## Where it surfaces

- [Crisis in My Mental History: One Stage Onward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_john_stuart_mill_se/chapters/v): Mill's detailed account of his depression in 1826, his loss of purpose, and his gradual intellectual and emotional recovery.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_john_stuart_mill_se/themes/mental_crisis_and_recovery
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_autobiography_of_john_stuart_mill_se/themes