At 65, Didion confronted a potential late-life crisis, using therapy sessions with psychiatrist Roger MacKinnon to reflect on her life's worth and legacy.

Joan Didion's unpublished notes, titled 'Notes to John', are set to be released next week, offering a deeply personal glimpse into her struggles with mental health and family issues.

The notes comprise 150 pages of diary entries written between late 1999 and early 2002, capturing Didion's intimate reflections on aging, familial relationships, and the challenges faced by her daughter.

During the summer of 2000, Didion grappled with depression and self-doubt, feelings that were intensified by her daughter Quintana's battles with addiction and mental illness.

In 'Notes to John', Didion addresses themes she often shied away from in her public writing, particularly the profound impact of her daughter's struggles on her own mental state.

Although Didion did not leave explicit instructions for the publication of her notes, the book has already generated significant reactions from friends and readers, drawn by its candid exploration of personal pain.