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Reviews
Life Inside My Mind: 31 Authors Share Their Personal Struggles by Robison Wells, Maureen Johnson
avidbooknerd2028's review
5.0
I have been waiting years for a book like this! As someone whom battles numerous mental illnesses it is helpful to know you're not alone! Check out blog for full review as well as a bit of my personal story
aeoliandeductress's review
4.0
A very unusual but worthy collection.
Stupid Monsters and Child Surgeons An essay about Maureen Johnson's severe bout of anxiety and how anxiety is stupid. She provides several steps for dealing with this particular monster.
Twenty Pills An essay by Robison Wells about the need to take 20 pills a day to manage depression, panic attacks, OCD, and more. An essay that talks about the necessity for medication for some and why it is unacceptable to have to be ashamed of needing them.
Light and Dark An essay by Lauren Oliver about her depression and the idea that our binary well/not well system is flawed.
Escape Clause A personal account by Jennifer Armentrout about her suicidal thoughts and path to depression recovery. Favorite part was the discussion of how well-meaning people criticizing the word "broken" in people's self descriptions can be more harmful than helpful. Feeling broken and being broken are different after all.
TwinsA personal narrative ssay relating Amy Reed's comorbid disordes of addiction and depression. What's most interesting is her current journey to try going without medication altogether and whether this experiment will or won't work. As she said, she doesn't know who she is or how to feel without substances of some sort.
Emphasis on the C Very interesting essay by Aprilynne Pike on her struggles with OCD, emphasis on the compulsion aspect. I've never heard a description like this- the need/desire to do harmful things to oneself with absolutely no inner desire to die, just to see the result. Very well written- really helped me get an understanding of this aspect of OCD.
I Am Not This A personal narrative of growing up in what could be termed as an ADHD family. I felt Rachel M. Wilson gave a great explanation of the sides of ADHD that are lesser known. I also love the Neti Neti reference.
The Girl in the Kitchen Dan Wells recount of living with his grandfather during his descent into Alzheimer's. I appreciated that while he refused to accept the surface narratives of supposed redemption many fictional tales offer, he also acknowledged random gifts like his grandfather commenting on how the girl in the kitchen (Dan's wife) talks to herself a lot while talking to both Dan and her. An insidious disease and a reminder that mental illness affects more than the directly affected.
Therapy: The Gift I Give Myself Amber Benson is a unique voice in that she grew up with parents in the psychiatric field and then later used both antidepressants and still goes to therapy to treat mental illness. She sees it as no different than physical illness, which is quite a healthy view. I do think her explanation of the difference between the role of therapist and the role of friends is well done as often this muddy at best.
This is How You Unravel A poem by E. Kristin Anderson about love and her bipolar disorder. Quite confusing in parts, though I suppose the ending is satisfactory.
Stupid Monsters and Child Surgeons An essay about Maureen Johnson's severe bout of anxiety and how anxiety is stupid. She provides several steps for dealing with this particular monster.
Twenty Pills An essay by Robison Wells about the need to take 20 pills a day to manage depression, panic attacks, OCD, and more. An essay that talks about the necessity for medication for some and why it is unacceptable to have to be ashamed of needing them.
Light and Dark An essay by Lauren Oliver about her depression and the idea that our binary well/not well system is flawed.
Escape Clause A personal account by Jennifer Armentrout about her suicidal thoughts and path to depression recovery. Favorite part was the discussion of how well-meaning people criticizing the word "broken" in people's self descriptions can be more harmful than helpful. Feeling broken and being broken are different after all.
TwinsA personal narrative ssay relating Amy Reed's comorbid disordes of addiction and depression. What's most interesting is her current journey to try going without medication altogether and whether this experiment will or won't work. As she said, she doesn't know who she is or how to feel without substances of some sort.
Emphasis on the C Very interesting essay by Aprilynne Pike on her struggles with OCD, emphasis on the compulsion aspect. I've never heard a description like this- the need/desire to do harmful things to oneself with absolutely no inner desire to die, just to see the result. Very well written- really helped me get an understanding of this aspect of OCD.
I Am Not This A personal narrative of growing up in what could be termed as an ADHD family. I felt Rachel M. Wilson gave a great explanation of the sides of ADHD that are lesser known. I also love the Neti Neti reference.
The Girl in the Kitchen Dan Wells recount of living with his grandfather during his descent into Alzheimer's. I appreciated that while he refused to accept the surface narratives of supposed redemption many fictional tales offer, he also acknowledged random gifts like his grandfather commenting on how the girl in the kitchen (Dan's wife) talks to herself a lot while talking to both Dan and her. An insidious disease and a reminder that mental illness affects more than the directly affected.
Therapy: The Gift I Give Myself Amber Benson is a unique voice in that she grew up with parents in the psychiatric field and then later used both antidepressants and still goes to therapy to treat mental illness. She sees it as no different than physical illness, which is quite a healthy view. I do think her explanation of the difference between the role of therapist and the role of friends is well done as often this muddy at best.
This is How You Unravel A poem by E. Kristin Anderson about love and her bipolar disorder. Quite confusing in parts, though I suppose the ending is satisfactory.
montigneyrules's review
4.0
#readingchallenge2022 (my anthology)
Thank you.
Chuck Palahniuk is not an author included within these stories, though he once said, “Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everyone I’ve ever known.”
I feel I am the combined effort of the authors within this novel. They felt and thought what I have, but with a bravery I do not have to say these things loud.
Some stories hit so hard, I had my husband & best friend read them to understand my mind in a way I could not explain.
Thank you.
Chuck Palahniuk is not an author included within these stories, though he once said, “Nothing of me is original. I am the combined effort of everyone I’ve ever known.”
I feel I am the combined effort of the authors within this novel. They felt and thought what I have, but with a bravery I do not have to say these things loud.
Some stories hit so hard, I had my husband & best friend read them to understand my mind in a way I could not explain.
jwinchell's review
4.0
At first I couldn't get enough of this collection. I read a few essays at a time and thought a lot about my own struggles with anxiety and depression. The essays about bipolar disorder and OCD were particularly illuminating for me. But then, about 2/3 through, I felt like every essay bled into the next (except for Francisco X. Stork's); I think this collection could have used some serious editing, especially because I'd never heard of so many of the authors. Still, an important contribution to most collections for young people.
jecinwv's review
4.0
This was a wonderful, open, and safe collection of short stories about authors real-life struggles with a variety of mental health issues. While this is marketed for teens, the authors stories span from childhood into adulthood. Most of these were relatable. Some made me cry. Some made me super glad to have all the support I do. I think the messages in here are various and wonderful. This is a book of hope. Among it all I was also surprised to see Amber Benson who played Tara in Buffy The Vampire Slayer wrote in this. Also, a student from my Alma mater WVU.
calypsogilstrap's review
4.0
Great nonfiction addition to any collection but especially great read for those with anxiety, depression, or other mental health days that are not the best. I loved this!
muniemoe's review against another edition
5.0
This book giving me an insight of people who is in a battle with their mental health. And how they face it bravely. This book is a must read for a people who might think they are lost and alone in this world.
jazzyjan94's review
4.0
Life Inside My Mind was an interesting read because it is a collection of essays written by thirty-one authors who discuss their personal struggles with mental illness. Each author does their best to describe their particular struggles, and they don't hold back. Each essay is very much a testimony of the realities of life with mental illness, and is a great reminder for those who do have these struggles that they are not alone. Several of the authors provide tips on what worked with them in coping with their particular struggles, others go in depth and talk about what goes through their mind when they are struggling with depression, anxiety, etc. Some of the authors that contributed to this collection include Francesca Lia Block, Melissa Marr, Maureen Johnson, Jennifer L. Armentrout and Ellen Hopkins.
I believe that this collection could be a helpful tool for two reasons, 1) it could help teens who struggle with mental illness to read from people who have had some of the same struggles and 2) it can help make other teens be more empathetic to their peers who do have to deal with anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc.
One of the main mental illnesses discussed in this collection is anxiety, and it was interesting to read how anxiety manifests differently for different people and in varying degrees. While I was aware of that it was still interesting to read from someone's first had experience on what that is like and how they have learned to live with their anxiety, especially when they have episodes that are particularly bad.
Another mental illness that is the theme of a good chunk of these essays is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which I also did not realize can be manifested in different ways. It was also interesting to see how depression and/or anxiety are often linked to OCD.
One issue that was discussed in a couple of the essays, particularly the essays by Melissa Marr and Ellen Hopkins was PTSD, and again how different issues can contribute to PTSD. For example, Ellen Hopkins' essay focuses on her grandson, who her and her husband adopted (along with his siblings), because their mother is a drug addict and how they had to deal with his anger issues that were a result of PTSD from growing up in the home of an addict who was neglectful and abusive, as well as being separated from his mother. She also details how that was affecting him, but also how it affected the rest of the family. Another essay that dealt with PTSD was by Melissa Marr, who was attacked twice, once in a situation where she should have been safe and how she knows that people view her fears as irrational, and how she even recognizes that to some degree but there is very little she can do except put into practice the coping mechanisms that she has come up with in order to help settle her thoughts and make her feel somewhat safe.
Overall, this was a really good read, I enjoyed reading about the different experiences with mental illnesses and even the stigma that sometimes comes along with them. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to read the first-hand experiences of individuals who have learned to live with their particular mental illnesses. 4/5 Stars.
I believe that this collection could be a helpful tool for two reasons, 1) it could help teens who struggle with mental illness to read from people who have had some of the same struggles and 2) it can help make other teens be more empathetic to their peers who do have to deal with anxiety, depression, PTSD, etc.
One of the main mental illnesses discussed in this collection is anxiety, and it was interesting to read how anxiety manifests differently for different people and in varying degrees. While I was aware of that it was still interesting to read from someone's first had experience on what that is like and how they have learned to live with their anxiety, especially when they have episodes that are particularly bad.
Another mental illness that is the theme of a good chunk of these essays is Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which I also did not realize can be manifested in different ways. It was also interesting to see how depression and/or anxiety are often linked to OCD.
One issue that was discussed in a couple of the essays, particularly the essays by Melissa Marr and Ellen Hopkins was PTSD, and again how different issues can contribute to PTSD. For example, Ellen Hopkins' essay focuses on her grandson, who her and her husband adopted (along with his siblings), because their mother is a drug addict and how they had to deal with his anger issues that were a result of PTSD from growing up in the home of an addict who was neglectful and abusive, as well as being separated from his mother. She also details how that was affecting him, but also how it affected the rest of the family. Another essay that dealt with PTSD was by Melissa Marr, who was attacked twice, once in a situation where she should have been safe and how she knows that people view her fears as irrational, and how she even recognizes that to some degree but there is very little she can do except put into practice the coping mechanisms that she has come up with in order to help settle her thoughts and make her feel somewhat safe.
Overall, this was a really good read, I enjoyed reading about the different experiences with mental illnesses and even the stigma that sometimes comes along with them. I highly recommend this for anyone who wants to read the first-hand experiences of individuals who have learned to live with their particular mental illnesses. 4/5 Stars.
deathmetalpainter's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
sad
tense
fast-paced
4.0
This collection of essays about mental illness is sometimes reassuring in that what you might be experiencing is more common than you might think. But it also might trigger you into a panic because some situations are so similar to your own. It's enlightening in the way one shines a torch into a closet containing corpses. This is the real pandemic: the mass trauma of a capitalist slave culture obsessed with flaunting progress and status at the expense of our own humanity. I'm grateful for the apocalypse: the great revealing of what we tried to ignore. Take all the time you need, because you've given up enough already.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Drug abuse, Mental illness, Grief, and Panic attacks/disorders
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Self harm, Violence, Physical abuse, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Emotional abuse, and Suicidal thoughts