Not All in Your Head: Poetry & Prose for Mental Health

by Parm K.C.

Not All in Your Head is a poignant collection of poetry and prose embodying the range of emotion and inner turmoil that accompanies mental health struggles. This is a collection centered around themes of anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, finding self, healing, and acceptance. Not All in Your Head captures not only the pain of these experiences, but also the glimmers of light and hope that can be found amongst them, and the relief felt when help and community is discovered.

Genres: Poetry, Mental Health

299 pages, Paperback

Published May 15, 2024

Reviews

[Jessi ❤️ H. Vojsk [if villain, why hot?]]

i want to be watercolor.
i want to drip down the page,
make a mess,
leave my mark,
and have it be deemed
a masterpiece.

[Michelle Roques]

It’s nice to read something and be remembered that you’re not alone.

[Liz]

I really enjoyed this collection of mental health focused poetry. I dog-eared several pages and was moved throughout. I think people who are leaving toxic relationships (either with themselves or with others) would especially enjoy these poems.

[Mimi Reads]

Love it!
How is it possible to love every single page!

[Roslin Sinclair]

Once again, Parm K.C.'s work speaks to me as if I'm reading entries from my own journals/poetry. This work starts off a little heavy (there is a trigger warning and note from the author informing readers of this) and then it progresses into healing and hope. This is another book of poetry I can see myself returning to over the years as I heal and hurt (rinse and repeat), because that's life.

I have many favourite passages highlighted and dog-eared, but I'll share my most favourite one here:

"i'm not sorry.

i'm not sorry i developed boundaries. i'm not sorry you liked me more when i was a people pleaser. i'm not sorry you don't recognize me now that i love myself. i'm not sorry my big dreams make you feel small. i'm not sorry i put myself first and started to say no to what doesn't serve me. i'm not sorry i took you off the pedestal. i'm not sorry i stopped letting you call the shots. i'm not sorry i began speaking up and voicing my opinions. i'm not sorry that i grew and changed. i'm not sorry i stopped letting you walk all over me. i'm not sorry i realized i deserve better. i'm not sorry that i've forgiven my past self. i'm not sorry that i can't forgive those who've done the unforgivable to me. i'm not sorry i learned how to value myself. i'm not sorry i finally see my own worth." (p. 284)

[Eve L-A Witherington]

This poetry collection was so rich in the metaphors of burnt out candles and car crashes about narcissistic people you can encounter and the silent courage to fight your mind daily through anxiety and panic attacks that can seem terrifyingly deadly when they occur, a truly realistic series of descriptive poetry surrounding these topics as well as some other poetry that stood out being:

The Paradox Of A Lonely Heart, was such a relatable poem between wanting to be alone and craving the right people and the juxtaposition you can save in such mixed feelings

A poem about bring introverted and speaking when it matters only because that someone chooses to listen, really hit hard because it's so true people listen when they care and block when they don't truly.

Holding Hands With Sadness, about how you can feel deeply destined you believe, to never truly feel happy.

I Save The Best, about saving your finest clothes for the future you to enjoy when you feel worthy, was a deep and relatable poem because I used to do the same!

86,400 seconds in a day, this poem was so deeply moving about depression and anxiety and the way fears manifest and linger constantly in your mind throughout the day like you're living in a nightmare constantly with time running out, a really clever poem.

[Quetcy .]

Reading Not All in Your Head by Parm K.C. felt like having someone gently sit beside me and say, “I see you. You’re not alone.” The way Parm writes about anxiety, depression, and self-doubt feels so raw and real—like words pulled straight from the moments we usually hide.

One quote that stayed with me is:

“Healing isn’t about erasing the pain, it’s about learning to live alongside it.”
These words felt like they were written just for me, especially on days when it’s hard to see beyond my own thoughts.

I love how the poetry and prose flow together, balancing darkness and hope in a way that feels authentic rather than forced. Some pages hit me so deeply that I had to pause, breathe, and reread them. Others felt like quiet reminders that healing doesn’t look the same for everyone—and that’s okay.

This book didn’t offer easy answers, but instead offered something better: understanding, honesty, and compassion. It reminded me that what I feel really isn’t “all in my head,” and that struggling doesn’t make me any less worthy of love or peace.

If you’ve ever felt misunderstood by your own mind, or if you need gentle words to help you through the harder days, this book is a comforting companion. Parm K.C. has created something quietly powerful—and I’m truly grateful for it.

[Abby O'Keefe]

This is an unbelievable read. To anyone struggling with anxiety or depression, please pick this up. It is difficult not to highlight the whole book, every poem spoke to me in some way. Incredible emotion steeped in these words, beautiful empathy and hope weaved throughout. Will be buying for friends ❤️

[K.B. reads]

“whose peace am i really keeping? it certainly is not my own.”

I enjoyed Eggshells so much that I decided to read another collection by Parm KC. Once again, I highlighted so many poems and quotes. I related to a large portion of this book and found so much of myself in these pages. Highly recommend for anyone who enjoys poetry and mental health.

4 stars

[Cam]

Despite being so short, it took me nearly a month to read cause the poetry and prose were not my vibes. Some were really good and have been highlighted but a lot of them just seemed very surface level.

Was it relatable? Yes, in a very TikTok quote type of way.

I preferred parts i & ii over part iii.

[Victoria Gehman]

authentic and relatable and hopeful

I felt so seen. These poems beautifully capture the rawness of life and the struggles with anxiety and depression. They remind us we are not alone in our pain while also offering hope — for better days in the midst of the hard days.

[pyper⋆୨୧˚]

𐙚⋆.˚“please do not hate the sun. please do not reprimand her for the way she tugs you out of bed each morning when all you want to do is sleep, and sleep, and sleep. when all you want to do is be blanketed under your covers and in your sadness. she knows there is more light for you.”𐙚⋆.˚

[Stella Marchione]

This was so good and completely relatable. I will come back to it again!

[Taylor]

Beautiful

I adored everything about this book. It was in depth, it was raw, it was real. I see you. Highly recommend.

[Aleah Nelson]

141 highlights says it all! What a beautiful collection of poems! If you are just getting into poetry, or absolutely love poetry, I highly recommend this one!

[Jennifer Rogers]

This book was very healing for me! Beautifully written❤️

[Ashlee (ashleereads692)]

DNF 30%

[Kayleigh]

finally a poetry book not 95% about a heartbreak

[Caa]

i can see why this would be a saviour to some people, it’s just i no longer need saving— extremely personal opinion.

[Rara Siregar]

I don’t relate much but i can say this book is nice.

[Kitty]

Kindle

[Brianna Ramos]

3.75!

[Tori]

I really enjoyed this poetry book. I can’t pinpoint exactly what made it stand out to me but I highly recommend it. Truly felt like the entire book stood out to me, I liked how things were described and straightforward, powerful but also simple at times. I enjoyed the depth in it. I highlighted many things to go back and reflect on. I will definitely reread this book again.