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canopy_'s review
1.0
I think Aimee (with the 1.5 star review although mine will remain fully planted at a 1 star review) hit most of the things I was thinking while reading this book. What most stood out to me was the seeming disillusionment of self the author seems to carry around like a medal. It’s safe to say that Sarah Fay and I have very different opinions on the mental health field.
erboe501's review
3.0
Ever since my disability studies seminar in college, I've been drawn to books that address mental health or disability stigma. Questioning the medical establishment and definitions of sickness, health, and diagnoses interest me. Fay's book does just that. While I admit that I didn't find her memoir sections very engaging, her exploration of the DSM and the extent to which all diagnoses from the DSM are fabricated was startling and eye-opening. I personally would have been as satisfied consuming that info in a shorter podcast form just about her reporting. Her grappling with what it would mean to have an article about suicidal ideation with her name attached online while job searching was sobering. As was how differently so many doctors she visited interpreted her symptoms through the years. Advocate for and educate yourself is one of my main takeaways.
jodi39's review against another edition
2.75
Not sure I can identify the thesis of this book. Interesting mental health history and personal stories.
ceredonia's review
3.0
While interesting, this read much more like a book report on DSM bullshit (which I agree, the DSM is bullshit). I wanted to know more about her journey but then it would sidetrack into a lot of history of psychology, which got old after a while.
I guess I also didn't get the entire history of punctuation and why it mattered here? I mean, I get it, but...I really didn't care.
I guess I also didn't get the entire history of punctuation and why it mattered here? I mean, I get it, but...I really didn't care.
cassridgway's review
5.0
If you are someone who heavily identifies as your mental illness, struggles with your identity post-diagnosis, or always feel as though you always have something else ‘wrong’ with you — i highly recommend this book!
I think this needs to be read with an open mind, as it really does question the validity of mental health diagnoses, but it is extremely eye opening to the role that Big Pharma / the DSM and it’s authors / and DTC marketing have played in magnifying the ‘mental health epidemic’. It really makes you question our current systems approach to diagnosing + treating those mentally struggling, and was quite informative on the invalidity of many claims in the mental health world.
I think this needs to be read with an open mind, as it really does question the validity of mental health diagnoses, but it is extremely eye opening to the role that Big Pharma / the DSM and it’s authors / and DTC marketing have played in magnifying the ‘mental health epidemic’. It really makes you question our current systems approach to diagnosing + treating those mentally struggling, and was quite informative on the invalidity of many claims in the mental health world.
boomerdell's review
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
4.5
Superbly written.
ferris_mx's review
5.0
The psychiatric community did not serve the author well. I've had mixed experiences with the community. Some, like Dr. R, are caring and humble people who want to help their patients. But some, like Dr. M and one of my daughter's therapist are on a narcissistic quest for personal validation and the patients are there to fuel that quest. The takedown of the DSM and the unhealthy association of the APA, the DSM, individual therapists, and the drug industry are unsettling and disgusting.