The Sparks That Endure: Why Our Core Human Drives Survive Mental Illness

Why do the same human passions—sex, money, food, music, and meaning—persist even in the depths of mental illness? In The Sparks That Endure, psychiatrist Clovis Raymond, MD invites readers into the heart of psychiatry through a rare, compassionate lens. Drawing on decades of clinical experience, neuroscience, and lived human stories, Dr. Raymond explores how our most primal and enduring drives—what he calls sparks—survive even when everything else seems lost to psychosis, depression, or trauma. From hospital wards to quiet therapy rooms, these pages illuminate the resilience of the human spirit through the sparks that refuse to die: Sex and Intimacy – the yearning for connection, even amid distortion or stigma. Money and Security – the struggle for control, power, and identity in systems that often strip both away. Food and Nourishment – the body's sacred dialogue between survival and comfort. Music and Resonance – sound as both medicine and mirror of the mind. Spirituality, Creativity, Movement, and Rituals – the forces that restore meaning when logic fails. Nature, Humor, Touch, Storytelling, Hope, and Freedom – the hidden sparks that sustain recovery. Dr. Raymond reveals that even in the most serious mental illnesses, the same currents that make us human remain alive. They are not symptoms to extinguish—but signals to understand, engage, and heal through. A groundbreaking exploration of psychiatry, neuroscience, and humanity, The Sparks That Endure bridges clinical insight and deep compassion. It speaks to clinicians, patients, and families alike—anyone seeking to understand not just how people suffer, but how they survive.