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Babes in Bookland
A podcast celebrating women's memoirs, one story at a time!
Babes in Bookland
Laughter as Survival // Part One of Erika L. Sánchez's "Crying in the Bathroom"
How do you thrive instead of just survive?
In her thought-provoking and vulnerable memoir, Erika L. Sánchez bares all. My friend Diliana and I gain perspective and reflect on our own lives, including Diliana’s experience as a teenage immigrant, the pressure of being extraordinary, and reflect on Erika’s inspiring journey to the incredible woman she is today.
"A wounded deer leaps highest." These words from Emily Dickinson perfectly capture the essence of Erika L. Sánchez's raw, unflinching memoir "Crying in the Bathroom." What begins as a seemingly humorous exploration of life's awkward moments quickly reveals itself as something far more profound – a testament to resilience in the face of depression, cultural displacement, and the unique challenges of womanhood.
Erika's story resonates with brutal honesty as she navigates life as the daughter of Mexican immigrants, carrying the weight of two cultures on her shoulders. She details the responsibility thrust upon her young self: translating for parents, advocating against discrimination, and trying to fulfill impossible expectations while finding her own voice. Her humor becomes both shield and weapon, a quintessentially Mexican coping mechanism she describes as "our moral obligation" in the face of hardship.
The journey through Erika's mental health struggles forms the memoir's emotional core. Her descriptions of depression are hauntingly accurate – "a sadness that hovered over me like a sticky cloud" that eventually consumes everything: "my personality, my humor, my hope, my writing." When pregnancy complicates her already precarious mental state, she faces impossible choices that highlight the complex realities behind reproductive rights. Her eventual path to healing through electroconvulsive therapy offers a powerful testament to modern psychiatric treatment.
Perhaps most striking is Erika's evolution from survival to genuine joy. After weathering the darkest storms, she discovers a renewed capacity for wonder: "I became enchanted beyond belief... I whispered to birds, I thanked trees, I looked up at the sky and felt devastated by its beauty." Her story reminds us that our deepest wounds often become our greatest strengths, that laughter can be found even in our darkest moments, and that sensitivity – so often dismissed as weakness – might actually be our most powerful tool for experiencing life's fullness.
Have you found yourself laughing through tears in your own bathroom moments? Share your story and follow more literary conversations at babesinbookland.com.
Listener discretion advised: Erika's mental health journey includes suicidal thoughts, attempted sexual assault and rape
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If you have any comments or questions, please connect with me on Instagram or email babesinbooklandpodcast@gmail.com. I’d love to hear your suggestions and feedback!
Link to this episode’s book:
Crying in the Bathroom by Erika L. Sánchez
Article mentioned in the discussion:
Histories and Hysteria: How Women's Words and Bodies Are Mistreated by the Health System in America
Other ways to support/connect with Erika L. Sánchez
