In his memoir "Darkness Visible: A Memoir of Madness," William Styron reflects on his deteriorating mental and physical state during a particularly challenging autumn. He describes how his body was increasingly diverging from its normal functions, leading to a profound realization about his mental health. Styron uses the metaphor of an old telephone exchange to illustrate how his mind was overwhelmed and becoming disorganized, akin to wires coming loose under pressure, which represented the breakdown of both his instinctual and intellectual capabilities.

Styron's poignant imagery captures the gradual decline not only of his physical health but also of his cognitive functions. The flooding of mental connections mirrors the chaos he experienced, emphasizing the profound sense of losing control over both his physiological and psychological states. This reflects the broader struggle with mental illness, highlighting how it disrupts various aspects of a person's being, leading to a disconnection from reality and oneself.