Show Me All Your Scars: True Stories of Living with Mental Illness

by Lee Gutkind (Editor), Karen Wolk Feinstein (Foreword), Patrick J. Kennedy (Introduction)

Every year, one in four American adults suffers from a diagnosable mental health disorder. In these true stories, writers and their loved ones struggle as their worlds are upended. What do you do when your father kills himself, or your mother is committed to a psych ward, or your daughter starts hearing voices telling her to harm herself—or when you yourself hear such voices? Addressing bipolar disorder, OCD, trichillomania, self-harm, PTSD, and other diagnoses, these stories vividly depict the difficulties and sorrows—and sometimes, too, the unexpected and surprising rewards—of living with mental illness.

Genres: Mental Health, Nonfiction, Psychology, Mental Illness, Essays, Memoir, Self Help

320 pages, Paperback

First published June 7, 2016

About the author

Lee Gutkind has been recognized by Vanity Fair as “the godfather behind creative nonfiction.” A prolific writer, he has authored and edited over twenty-five books, and is the founder and editor of Creative Nonfiction, the first and largest literary magazine to publish only narrative nonfiction. Gutkind has received grants, honors, and awards from numerous organizations including the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Science Foundation. A man of many talents, Gutkind has been a motorcyclist, medical insider, sports expert, sailor, and college professor. He is currently distinguished writer in residence in the Consortium for Science, Policy, and Outcomes at Arizona State University and a professor in the Hugh Downs School of Human Communication.

Reviews

[Meg Tuite · Rating 5 out of 5]

The bravery in this book is unparalleled. Right now, all I can do is cry. The twenty essays in this anthology are written through the scars of childhood, war; the endless circle of perpetrator and survivor: "It is the rare serious perpetrator who was not also a victim..It is the rare death row inmate whole life does not read like a case study of extreme deprivation and abuse. It is the rare juvenile incarcerated in an adult prison for rape or murder who has had anything other than the cruelest of childhoods."
I can only quote and relay that these stories are brutally honest and certainly not for everyone, but I am forever thankful for these writers who put it on the page to survive and let us know that we are never alone.
"Regret is my compass. I am an alchemist, trained in the transmutation of my nervous system. I have installed trained guides beside me. I am saving at least one life."
"I keep writing. I must. Over and over and over. The same story a million ways."
YES! Life changing and absolutely unforgettable!

[Tiffany · Rating 5 out of 5]

First, I think EVERYONE should read this book. What a great way to give someone a glimpse of what 20 lives with mental illness looks like and feels like. Let's put those labels and assumptions away and begin to listen and try to understand experiences that differ from our own.

Mental illness carries such stigma and secretism in our society, when in actuality, it is treatable and worthy of awareness and funded research. As we continue to bring authentic stories of mental illness (and not just ugly stereotypes) into the mainstream, I believe we can become more compassionate people and advocates for ourselves and others.

I'm privileged to know several wonderful people who deal with mental illness. Trust me, the label and the stigma that goes with it can sometimes be as heavy a burden as figuring out the illness and treatment itself. What if we supported humans with ANY affliction, physical or mental or emotional, beginning with listening and landing in compassion.

This book has continued my journey of seeking to understand, listen, and grow. It helps me remember to look to the roots of mental illness, which is often pain or trauma, instead of staying in judgement or fear of the unknown.

Pick it up, you won't be disappointed.

[Aida · Rating 4 out of 5]

A beautiful eye-opening look into mental illness. It made me rethink what I have thought about the mentally ill and the diseases they suffer from. This was not just a psychology textbook about symptoms, causes, and effects, but personal experiences, emotions---horrors put into words. I found I could only read a couple of the experiences at a time because they were so intense.

[Shelley Diamond · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was attracted to the title of this book. There are 20 stories of either living with your own condition or living with someone in your family who suffers. The ones I liked were: Chairs by Yvette Frock Gottshall, A Little Crazy by Susie Meserve, Flying High by Andrea Rizzo, How I Became an Angel by Jennifer Metsker, True Americans by Andy Smart, One of the Those by Annita Sawyer, A Blessing by Leslie Smith Townsend, The Pain that Tore in You an Ocean by Chloe Mattingly, There's a Name for That? Living with Trichotillomania by Alison Townsend, and Like a Scratch on Vinyl by Beazie Griffin.

I also liked a fragment of the story titled Make it a Daisy by Joyce O'Connor where she tells her son's physician about her belief that she has the power to "make him better" if he could just tell her how, and the physician challenges her ability to do so by saying "You see this hydrangea? Make it a daisy."

[Susie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Full disclosure: I have an essay in this book. But I'm so impressed with the other 19 or so essays that I feel I can objectively review it. Such raw, surprising writing about mental illness, as experienced by the writers themselves or their family members and friends. I truly believe this is an important book--and a great read.

[Lauren Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

An insightful collection of stories about what it is like to live with mental illness, or live with someone with mental illness. Lots of writing styles. Some stories have truly magnificent writing.

[Dee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well-written, brave, honest and unique stories. I can only read about one story a week though, because it is a heavy topic.

[Jessyca505 · Rating 4 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ “ Be prepared to recognize yourself. Expect to meet someone just like a person you love. Through the stories that follow, you will reach new levels of empathy and understanding for the full range of human experience.”
- Patrick Kennedy

#truth I am reading for empathy these days. A craving for more about what makes us tick. This book is a compilation of first hand accounts with OCD, PTSD, Depression, Bipolar Disorder, Trich, Autism, Addiction, Schizophrenia, cutting and much more.

Between these pages, I thought about the people in my life that have suffered, and I dedicate reading this book to them. (Real names not used)

The bravery and vulnerability to write the trials and hurt... WOW. A huge applause so that we can bring to life that not all scars are seen. Truly, thank you.

My dedication:
Schizophrenia, for you Juan and Max
Depression, for Johnny and Me!
PTSD, for Uncle Rex and Jason
Autism, for my student Nate and also Francis and Norma
Bipolar Disorder, for Jorge
For addiction.... Dad ♥️
Cutters.... my students that have passed in and out of my life

Your struggles are real, and although I want to help, sometimes I feel helpless. Love to all.

[Tanya Wadley · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm actually only half way through right now, but I might not ever have time to write a review, so now is better than never.

This book is raw, brave, and real. One thing I really love about it is that each little bio of the writer of each essay (who either has experienced mental illness personally, or has a loved one with mental illness) tells us why the writing is so good... almost all the writers are writers... and many have studied writing. Oftentimes memoirs and real life experiences are very interesting, but lacking in writing quality... not so in this book!

Understanding people's stories of mental illness, and having loved ones with mental illness has given me a lot of insight and empathy. I have grown up a lot in my personal attitudes over the last 30+ years.

I remember returning from a family trip to learn that my mother's neighbor/friend (who I didn't really know) had committed suicide. I felt surrounded by a deep darkness, which was traumatic. I felt that if I could feel so much pain over the death of someone I didn't know, how would her loved ones feel. And I blamed her for causing such tremendous pain and grief.

Over the years, I have developed a less judgmental view, and the belief that most people, in their right mind, could not take their life. Some have mental illness and are not in their right mind. I'm willing to take Jesus's approach: "Forgive them, for they know not what they do." I believe mental illness will be eradicated someday, and I think Christ's ministry shows us that is possible.

[Jennie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Honest, brutal, scary, sad, strong stories of those with and effected by mental illness.

All of these writers have unique experiences. I know that I related to some of them. I know books like this are great because they are breaking the stigma and getting others to open up, share and get help.

If you feel depressed speak to a doctor as soon as possible. Don't be afraid to keep talking until someone listens. Call, text or skype. You are not alone. If you are get to a hospital ER immediately.

Each author has a story and all of them valuable.

Check it out!

[Jessie Drew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some essays were brutal to get through because of the pain exposed. They all taught me something new about how people cope with their or their loved one’s mental illness. Definitely recommend.

[Naomi · Rating 5 out of 5]

An astute, heart-wracked anthology on living with mental illness, consistently written in phenomenal prose. I gasped and laughed and wept.

[Kate L · Rating 4 out of 5]

i enjoyed getting to see so many perspectives on living with mental illness. couldn't put this down, each author had their own unique style.

[Morgan Mellott · Rating 5 out of 5]

Show Me All Your Scars, edited by Lee Gutkind, is an impactful, informative, and encouraging collection of narratives that describe personal accounts dealing with all forms of mental illness. The authors all pitch in to bring awareness to common diseases seen as abnormal to the common people. By sharing their experiences, the writers beautifully accomplish insightful literary works to bring recognition and appreciation to those battling depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, PTSD, schizophrenia, and many more. All writers are more than qualified to tell their story by providing their educational background, with most of the writers having some sort of higher-level education or even a degree in English. The brutally honest accumulation could be a difficult read for many living with some form of mental illness due to the extremely heavy accounts. The chapter, Show Me All Your Scars, written by Jane Campbell, was by far my most favorite piece because this excerpt compares the world with mental illness, showing more than half the worlds population suffered with some disorders. Campbell does not sugar coat the sad truth of humans turning their backs when emotional instability becomes visible with physical evidence. The entire book will make the reader understand and think about their own issues by helping the reader find normalcy in overcoming mental disorders. Any reader would enjoy this book due to the knowledgeable information, the coping skills the book provides, and many more topics that I would more than likely recommend to anyone for a heartfelt book filled with the writers blood, sweat, and tears. Show Me All Your Scars is completely phenomenal and eye-opening.

[Leigh Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pittsburgh's creative non-fiction guy edits another strong collection.

Gutkind is the guy who rounds up the stories and tells them. This time he's collected a bunch of brutally honest essays about bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, PTSD (both combat-related and otherwise), and severe depression. Because illnesses affect entire families, some of the stories are told not by the patient, but by a family member, a choice some mental health advocates may bristle at, given that caretaker stories often trump personal narratives in illness memoirs.

Be that as it may, however, there's really not a clinker in this bunch. Due to the subject matter, you can guess that you probably don't want to read them all at once, or even all of them. This book could be really effective bibliotherapy, for example, if a survivor read just the essays on PTSD. For the interested casual reader, this collection definitely takes you behind the stigma and silence and demonstrates what it's like to walk around in the world every day with unhelpful thoughts and faulty wiring that can be damn difficult to fix. Recommended for medium-to-large public libraries, particularly in the tri-state area where the editor has name recognition.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received a copy of this book through a Goodreads giveaway.

The essays in this book are raw and powerful. People, suffering or recovering or suffering and recovering from mental illness, strip themselves bare and recount their struggles with depression, anxiety, cutting, suicidal ideation, and even trichotillomania (did you know there was a word for pulling out your hair?). This book is an important step in the effort to destigmatize mental illness. It may be potentially triggering to those of us who experience mental illness. As is usual in collections of essays, there are some that are stronger among the bunch. Ones that brought me to tears or made me nod my head in recognition. However, all are worth reading. I would certainly give this one a read.

[Anne Pinkerton · Rating 4 out of 5]

While there were a couple of stories I felt could have had stronger writing, this book overall is so important and well done. I am not only impressed in terms of its willingness to tell very tough stories, but in the quality of the telling. There is a good mix of mental health concerns tackled within these pages, and all of the pieces are so brave and personal. It's only through the honest sharing of this kind of true tales in all their pain and joy, with their terrible travails and surprising gifts, that we will ever become more compassionate to those in our community who struggle daily with exceptional challenges and begin to remove the stigma and shame that continues to surround those who suffer.

[Mrs. Strudthoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

Trying to understand what it is like to be mentally ill or what it's like to live with someone who is mentally ill is a challenge for all of us. After all, if one hasn't "been there," the behaviors of those living with mental illness can sometimes be annoying, scary, or embarrassing.

Show Me All Your Stars, a collection of essays written by the mentally ill and those whose loved ones are living with mental illness, helped me to see the behaviors much more clearly. Some of the essays are shocking, some are sad, but all of them inform.

Truly one of the best nonfiction titles I've read in 2016.

[Janalee · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. 20 essays from people who have suffered/lived with some form of mental illness. What struck me most as I read through them - as they told their experience from a child's perspective or mother's perspective,etc. - is what a gift it is to have a parent who is stable, with a clear and firm mind. When do we ever think to thank our parents for that?

I liked how one essay promoted, The Boy Who was Raised as a Dog. One of my favorite books.

Warning: Not exactly a cheery holiday read.

[Douglas]

These essays will haunt you and make you think.
This is not a book I'm going to rate 1 to 5 stars like literature. It's very thought provoking and unique. But an uneven collection of essays. But they're truthful and heartfelt.

Lots of food for thought. The mind is incredibly complex, and I find myself contemplating the last essay where they discuss anosognosia - "the inability to perceive one's own mental illness".

[Christie Gribschaw Lauch · Rating 4 out of 5]

Overall a fairly solid collection of mental health stories. Most of them were interesting and the ones that weren't were at least bearable. One or two of them I would say I even learned something from by glimpsing into other people's lives. A nice introduction if you want to get a feel for the spectrum that is mental illness.

[Melanie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book of 20 personal essays written by those who have lived with or ate currently living with a variety of mental illness.
Each story makes you need to stop and take a breath before you can move on. This is as real as it gets and the essays are beautifully written and beg to be shared. It is raw and brave and beautiful.

[Samantha Grabelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so appreciate the purpose of this book. The last story frightened and confused me but the rest made a lot of sense and got me thinking about how to reduce the stigma in my own mind and accept some of the things I haven't been able to accept.

[Meagan Foster · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is incredible. It pulls away the curtain on various mental illnesses with truth and dignity. The stories within these pages are at times heartbreaking, but there is a sense of hope in the telling.

[Catherine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book for insights into mental illness. I received this book free from a Goodreads giveaway.

[Melissa Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fascinating collection of stories written by people who either suffer from mental illness or know someone who does.

[Colleen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book club selection. I would not have found this book on my own so I am glad it was chosen. This is an indepth look at mental illness. There are 20 stories written by and about people who have struggled first hand with mental health. Stories range from bipolar, depression, psychosis, cutting, Trichotillomania, autism, suicide, and many more. I could only read one or two at a sitting and had to put the book away for a while. It was "heavy."

Each story was thought-provoking and heartbreaking but yet most often there was hope. Most of the authors were writing from the other side of their illness. The stories gave insightful perspectives on what it is like to live with mental illness. I learned many new things and have recommitted to being nonjudgmental and supportive. Mental illness touches us all, no one is immune. We need to end the stigma that surrounds mental health so that no one is afraid to ask for help. I loved that the majority of these stories discussed how they got help, how they faced their illness. It was comforting to see how many reached out for help and were supported by loved ones. Some were not and some it took many years to get the help and support they needed. It is a testament to me that we need to check in with our friends and family members often. Do "mental health check-ins" as one member of our book club noted.

Our book club had a great discussion on these stories and how they affected us personally. I enjoyed hearing different perspectives on the stories but also we all recognized many of the same themes and issues.

I took notes on each story so I could keep things straight. I will visit some of them again. I read this on my kindle because it was the most economical and practical way to access it. I would like a paperback to keep on hand so I can re-read this.

I would recommend this book to anyone looking to deepen their knowledge and understanding of mental illness. I will warn that it is full of heavy topics and sad stories. As we discussed in our book club, we think everyone should read it to help combat the stigma of mental illness.

[Regina Spiker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Quotes:
“Early spring. Hyacinths on my desk. Intoxicating, sweet, fresh, alive—the sticky, cloying scent of a novice’s hope. Hope for light, for warmth, for thawing soil.”

“Regret is my compass. I am an alchemist, trained in the transmutation of my nervous system. I have installed trained guides beside me. I am saving at least one life."

"I keep writing. I must. Over and over and over. The same story a million ways.”

“Medication cannot cure you of depression. Like a seatbelt, it can save your life—but a seatbelt never brought joy to anyone’s heart. A seatbelt never put a skip in a step.”

“Carl Jung: “Life is an experiment in consciousness that most people fail.”

“I am learning how to let my yes be yes and my no mean no without the need to justify why I choose to say either.”

“almost all people who hurt themselves on purpose do so at least in part to regulate their emotions.”

“Genetics or brain chemistry, trauma or karma? It doesn’t really matter what it’s called—after all, no one really knows for sure what causes this affliction—except that it ends. Can I stop doing this? Am I even able? The bees trapped inside my body buzz and whir, needling my nerve endings with delicate stings.”

“I’ve learned that even people with mental illness have stigmas about mental illness.”

“Self-injury forces us to look pain in the face, to see physical evidence of conditions that are usually personal and private. Mental illness is a difficult, confounding subject, one many of us would rather ignore. Self-injury draws our attention to something we don’t want to see, and perhaps this is why it makes so many people so uncomfortable.”

“It was my biggest fear to go crazy like my mom. I worried about waking up one day and no longer understanding reality in quite the same way, being lost in the black hole of madness.”

“Most mental health problems don’t look like we expect. People with crushing depression still laugh and clap their hands. People with bipolar depression still go to work, order coffee at Starbucks, tread in dog shit, get married.”

“Take care. For yourself, for those you have carried, for the universe, for your deer, for your heart, for your angels, for those you love. There has never been a more selfless selfish act. Take care.”

“Although victims do not always become perpetrators, a truism repeated by prosecutors at sentencing, as if it were a profound revelation never before put into words, it is the rare serious perpetrator who was not also a victim. . . . It is the rare death row inmate whose life does not read like a case study of extreme deprivation and abuse. It is the rare juvenile incarcerated in an adult prison for rape or murder who has had anything other than the cruelest of childhoods.”

[Laura ・❥・ · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Show Me All Your Scars” is a deeply moving and raw collection of true stories that delves into the often hidden world of mental illness. As someone who has navigated my own mental health struggles, I found this book to be an emotionally intense yet ultimately healing read. Each story is filled with the harsh realities and painful truths of living with disorders like bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, and more, offering a candid look at what it’s like when mental illness touches your life or the lives of those you love.

At different stages in my healing, I returned to these stories, each time feeling a renewed sense of connection. They brought me to tears—not just from sadness, but from the powerful recognition of shared experiences. It was as if the writers were speaking directly to me, making me feel seen and validated in ways I didn’t expect. The brutal honesty in these pages reminded me of my own darkest moments, but more importantly, they made me reflect on the immense support I have had throughout my journey, filling me with immense gratitude.

While the stories are heavy and unflinching, there’s a strange beauty in their rawness. I found this book insightful in ways that made me reconsider what healing looks like—it isn’t linear, and there are both lows and unexpected rewards. The courage of these writers to lay bare their pain, struggles, and sometimes hope, has left a lasting impact on me.

“Show Me All Your Scars” is not an easy read, but it is a necessary one. It reminds us of the strength it takes to confront mental illness and the value of understanding and supporting one another on these often solitary journeys. Through these stories, I’ve come to see my own struggles in a new light—deeply personal, yet shared by many—and it is this sense of collective experience that has been profoundly comforting.

[Miki · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was the collection of 20 different stories about mental illnesses that have written by selected writers. I used to imagine mental illnesses only by depression or anxiety, but reading this book helped me to be aware of all these psychological issues that we can not really imagine if we have not people who are suffering these situations around us. We should be more inclusive of mental health to the understanding of individual health and well-being. If you are physically healthy, most of the people would understand you that you're sick. But when you are suffering by psychological problems, people often tend to judge not really knowing what really it is.

Stories that written in this book were not all true-story, even it was realistic. If these stories had written by people who really suffered by themselves, it would have been more worthy