Reviews tagging 'Schizophrenia/Psychosis '

Strangers to Ourselves: Unsettled Minds and the Stories That Make Us, by Rachel Aviv

5 reviews

erint's review

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

5.0

A really excellent book. I appreciated how much time Aviv spent on each story, and the compassionate lens she brings to the subject. I really appreciated her focus on the way that the categorization and diagnosis of mental illness can impact how individuals experience it. I also appreciated the diverse lens and the focus on the impacts of social, cultural, and economic factors like poverty and racism impact both the development and experience of mental illness and the level of understanding and care that people receive. I also appreciated the sensitivity and care with which she discussed the idea of "recovery."

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Suicide attempt, Racism, Eating disorder, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Death, Self harm, Child death, Mental illness, and Chronic illness

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders

toephia's review

dark emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective medium-paced

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide and Suicide attempt

Moderate: Drug abuse, Confinement, Forced institutionalization, Abandonment, Addiction, Eating disorder, Fatphobia, Schizophrenia/Psychosis , Pregnancy, and Mental illness

2or3godzillas's review

challenging hopeful reflective medium-paced

4.25

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Mental illness, Eating disorder, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Suicide attempt, Forced institutionalization, and Abandonment

lowbrowhighart's review

challenging dark emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, and Mental illness

Moderate: Self harm, Suicide, Grief, Sexism, Confinement, Dysphoria, Suicidal thoughts, Classism, Fatphobia, Racism, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis

Minor: Child death, Death, Body shaming, Medical content, and Pregnancy

flowergrrl's review

challenging informative reflective medium-paced

4.75

Aviv is among my favorite nonfiction writers, and her first full-length book reminded me why. The depth of her journalism and the thoughtfulness of her cultural commentary are unmatched. I did find myself wanting more of her own opinion, or perhaps more background on the political contexts surrounding madness. But Aviv stays in her lane--which is, here, the ways external narrative constructs interiority--and the result is nevertheless masterful. I recommend this book to anyone willing to expand their understanding of mental illness.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Murder, Confinement, Self harm, Suicide, Eating disorder, Forced institutionalization, Mental illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis