Paolo Cognetti: A Journey Through Struggles and Success

Paolo Cognetti, winner of the Premio Strega in 2017 with 'Le otto montagne', shares his story on Le Iene in prime time on Italia 1. In Gaston Zama's report, he also talks about the Compulsory Health Treatment he underwent. 'In the hospital, they tied me to a bed with straps, injected a big syringe into my thigh without telling me what it was. In my opinion, what they did to me was illegal.' He adds, 'I woke up the next day at home thanks to my sister who took me away.' Paolo Cognetti, from depression to the TSO and psychiatric hospitalization for bipolar disorder: 'Nervous illnesses are not a shame to hide'. The writer has opened the doors of his cabin, in Estoul in the Aosta Valley, where he retreats to find himself, saying: 'I underwent a TSO for severe depression'. He recounts those moments and describes the diagnosis that changed his outlook on life: 'I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder, which means having two phases: manic and depressive. I've always had this, certainly since I was a boy.' And again: 'The problem is not the manic phase. The problem is when the depressive phase arrives. You stay in bed, think about how to kill yourself and that your whole life has been useless. I wanted to hang a climbing rope from that beam and hang myself. They never left me alone this summer, there was always someone with me. Suicidal thoughts are very common in depression.' Despite everything, he looks ahead: 'I'm trying to live without medication. I'm not an anti-vaxxer, but I would like to live without medicines', says Cognetti, who doesn't just share difficult moments. 'I'm working on something new. I believe that the mountain cycle, as I call it, is exhausted for now. There are many other things in life.' He also retraces his career and successes: 'With the Premio Strega, I understood that in the eyes of the world I was a writer. This union was very gratifying. In 2021, they made the film Le otto montagne starring Luca Marinelli. He was here with me for two months, I took him to the mountains and trained him. The scene I am most proud of is the one where he dances on the scree, I taught him that.' However, he admits: 'The success, people recognizing you... it's not easy. Before, you were just a guy here in the cabin minding your own business, and then everyone greets you, stops you on the street, the money comes. It's not easy.' Finally, speaking of inspirations, Cognetti reveals: 'I would like to talk with Vasco Rossi. I find a lot of truth in his songs. The person I would like to talk to the most right now is him.'