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That's Mental: Painfully Funny Things That Drive Me Crazy About Being Mentally Ill
Award-winning Asian British comedy writer Amanda Rosenberg presents an intimate memoir of confessional essays about the hilarious, inappropriate, and often difficult side to being mentally ill.
That’s Mental breaks down myths and misconceptions about what it means to be a millennial with mental illness in a darkly funny, but relatable way. In her new book, Rosenberg addresses the overlooked and offbeat issues of mental illness, shedding light on topics that are off-limits, uncomfortable, or just downright embarrassing. This book details every challenging and awkward stage of Amanda’s journey with mental illness and how she manages what she calls her, “garden variety crazy.” These pages are a look at the everyday realities of mental illness - the particular kind of torture that is finding a good therapist, the challenges of figuring out the elusive correct mix of medications, and the appropriate responses with how to deal with the friend who insists ‘but you don’t look depressed’.
That’s Mental breaks down myths and misconceptions about what it means to be a millennial with mental illness in a darkly funny, but relatable way. In her new book, Rosenberg addresses the overlooked and offbeat issues of mental illness, shedding light on topics that are off-limits, uncomfortable, or just downright embarrassing. This book details every challenging and awkward stage of Amanda’s journey with mental illness and how she manages what she calls her, “garden variety crazy.” These pages are a look at the everyday realities of mental illness - the particular kind of torture that is finding a good therapist, the challenges of figuring out the elusive correct mix of medications, and the appropriate responses with how to deal with the friend who insists ‘but you don’t look depressed’.
212 pages, Paperback
First published November 6, 2019
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 146 reviews
January 15, 2023
1/15/23 update I've been forced to stop taking one of my mood stabilizers because I was not meeting my productivity goal. It was either do that or lose my job. I feel discriminated against. Not at all fair
Yyyyaaaaaasssss this chick is so spot on about mental illness in general bipolar specifically that I’m shaking my head and shouting yes at my iPad like she can see me! Especially the section about the “ Curist”
The elusive “pill holder” lol I am on so many meds for my bipolar, general anxiety, and migraines that I don’t have time to constantly fill my adorable pill holder from Amazon so I just throw all of my pill bottles (about 7) in my bag which leads me to always carry a tote sized purse instead of one of my adorable cross body bags.
That great feeling you get thinking you don’t need your meds anymore because you’re doing so well and well it’s just dulling your senses you’re sure you could think more quickly if you weren’t on them and god knows you’d have more than one emotion of stoicism if you’d just take a break for awhile - NOT A GOOD IDEA
Sometime around Labor Day last year four of us at my lovely place of employment cracked and ended thus in various mental health facilities around the city. After treatment I was the only one who returned everyone else quit. Place of employment started actively pushing their mental health programs. As of this time there are two of us original hires of a company that started two years ago. Me who had 911 called on me on a weekend off because of my suicidal plan the other dropped to part time. There is no such thing as mental health days. As the author states “call in with a migraine or explosive diarrhea”. I however have been very open about my mental state. I’ve used all 12 weeks of fmla, I’ve had ada accommodations, I’ve both cried and yelled at my supervisors, and everyone sees me taking my medications. I’m not ashamed. And it seems I may be one of the lucky ones
Yyyyaaaaaasssss this chick is so spot on about mental illness in general bipolar specifically that I’m shaking my head and shouting yes at my iPad like she can see me! Especially the section about the “ Curist”
The elusive “pill holder” lol I am on so many meds for my bipolar, general anxiety, and migraines that I don’t have time to constantly fill my adorable pill holder from Amazon so I just throw all of my pill bottles (about 7) in my bag which leads me to always carry a tote sized purse instead of one of my adorable cross body bags.
That great feeling you get thinking you don’t need your meds anymore because you’re doing so well and well it’s just dulling your senses you’re sure you could think more quickly if you weren’t on them and god knows you’d have more than one emotion of stoicism if you’d just take a break for awhile - NOT A GOOD IDEA
Sometime around Labor Day last year four of us at my lovely place of employment cracked and ended thus in various mental health facilities around the city. After treatment I was the only one who returned everyone else quit. Place of employment started actively pushing their mental health programs. As of this time there are two of us original hires of a company that started two years ago. Me who had 911 called on me on a weekend off because of my suicidal plan the other dropped to part time. There is no such thing as mental health days. As the author states “call in with a migraine or explosive diarrhea”. I however have been very open about my mental state. I’ve used all 12 weeks of fmla, I’ve had ada accommodations, I’ve both cried and yelled at my supervisors, and everyone sees me taking my medications. I’m not ashamed. And it seems I may be one of the lucky ones
December 25, 2019
This book was absolutely brilliant and down right hilarious!
As a nurse, my favorite rotation was in psychiatric and mental health. I have always felt a connection with my patients.
This book was able to look at mental illness and gloriously shines a light to the stigmas. It helps us become more understanding, and have better awareness about the importance of mental health.
This is a must read!
As a nurse, my favorite rotation was in psychiatric and mental health. I have always felt a connection with my patients.
This book was able to look at mental illness and gloriously shines a light to the stigmas. It helps us become more understanding, and have better awareness about the importance of mental health.
This is a must read!
September 8, 2019
Amanda Rosenberg is so so so damn funny. Her humor is exactly my shade of dark. This book is good and it's also so important and encouraging that it exists!
I felt seen and relieved by Rosenberg's writing and I laughed my face off.
I'm keeping it on my shelf right beside Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking for whenever the next depression spiral hits and I need a friend.
I felt seen and relieved by Rosenberg's writing and I laughed my face off.
I'm keeping it on my shelf right beside Carrie Fisher's Wishful Drinking for whenever the next depression spiral hits and I need a friend.
November 4, 2019
Listen, I know I should be more articulate about this but IT'S JUST THE DAMN BEST.
Amanda is hilarious and wickedly smart, even about the most personal and tricky of topics. Buy this book, read this book, then buy someone else this book, so they can read this book.
Amanda is hilarious and wickedly smart, even about the most personal and tricky of topics. Buy this book, read this book, then buy someone else this book, so they can read this book.
November 18, 2019
Holy shit this book is funny and cathartic. Amanda Rosenberg does such a great job of being grittily transparent (there is no cure in this book) and really helpful and knowledgeable when talking about mental health. It's real, raw, and a really funny time.
November 11, 2019
Blog | Twitter | Instagram | Review can be found here at Booked J.
Standard disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher and my friends atBookSparks in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
As someone who struggles with her mental health at various, inconvenient times (mental health really do, as the kids say, be like that) I knew straightaway I had to get my hands on That's Mental. Amanda Rosenberg seems not unlike myself--a millennial with a bag of mental health issues and a killer sense of humor--and when it comes to non-fiction, this is one of the best traits to have.
So, yes. My connection to it started a bit prematurely, sure. By the time I read the epigraph, with its Carrie Fisher quote, and the first quarter of it, I was hooked. Not only is That's Mental a beautifully penned look into mental health, it had me laughing in the very painfully funny manner we were promised. Rosenberg is blunt and upfront about the good, the bad and the painfully funny.
Her voice comes across strong and witty. That's Mental utilizes its many traits, giving us an honest portrayal of mental illness. Better yet, a lot of dry humor sprinkled in for good measure. If you struggle with mental health, you know the ride it puts you on nearly every waking minute of every day: when it goes low, it buries you beneath it, and when you have your high points it's like you're soaring.
What makes Rosenberg's work so poignant, just as easily thought-provoking as it is brilliantly hilarious, is in the way she lays out the facts and never makes her readers feel as though she is breaking us into a watered down version of mental illness and the course it sets us down. Every page of That's Mental is well used and cuts to the core of her experiences and how the world views mental health.
That's Mental is one of those books I wish I had in my late teens and early twenties. It's sure to be remembered in the future and I cannot wait to hear more of Rosenberg's prose. Simply put? I cannot say enough good things about this book and found it to be one of the most essential reads of 2019.
Standard disclaimer: A copy of this book was provided by the publisher and my friends atBookSparks in exchange for my honest review. This does not effect my opinion in any way.
As someone who struggles with her mental health at various, inconvenient times (mental health really do, as the kids say, be like that) I knew straightaway I had to get my hands on That's Mental. Amanda Rosenberg seems not unlike myself--a millennial with a bag of mental health issues and a killer sense of humor--and when it comes to non-fiction, this is one of the best traits to have.
So, yes. My connection to it started a bit prematurely, sure. By the time I read the epigraph, with its Carrie Fisher quote, and the first quarter of it, I was hooked. Not only is That's Mental a beautifully penned look into mental health, it had me laughing in the very painfully funny manner we were promised. Rosenberg is blunt and upfront about the good, the bad and the painfully funny.
Her voice comes across strong and witty. That's Mental utilizes its many traits, giving us an honest portrayal of mental illness. Better yet, a lot of dry humor sprinkled in for good measure. If you struggle with mental health, you know the ride it puts you on nearly every waking minute of every day: when it goes low, it buries you beneath it, and when you have your high points it's like you're soaring.
What makes Rosenberg's work so poignant, just as easily thought-provoking as it is brilliantly hilarious, is in the way she lays out the facts and never makes her readers feel as though she is breaking us into a watered down version of mental illness and the course it sets us down. Every page of That's Mental is well used and cuts to the core of her experiences and how the world views mental health.
That's Mental is one of those books I wish I had in my late teens and early twenties. It's sure to be remembered in the future and I cannot wait to hear more of Rosenberg's prose. Simply put? I cannot say enough good things about this book and found it to be one of the most essential reads of 2019.
July 1, 2019
If you know me, you’ll know that I’m intimate with the topic of mental illness. I co-facilitate a mental health peer support group at my church, so you could say that when Amanda Rosenberg’s That’s Mental came up on my plate, I was hungry to read it. When I finally sat down with the book, I must have been ravenous because I read it basically in two sittings. It’s a funny book, but incredibly on point about what it’s like to live with a mental illness and all of the highs and lows that go with it. Rosenberg is a part British, part Asian writer who writes acutely from her cultural perspective, which is refreshing and a reminder that mental illness is not an exclusively white person phenomenon. Plus, everything you wanted to know about mental illness is here, from taking medications to talk therapy and beyond.
There were two chapters that particularly stuck with me (though different readers may have different takeaways from this book). One chapter is on how people — including those with mental illness — try to offer advice on how to manage your illness. This was particularly striking for me as I’ve been at the receiving end of such advice recently, and I like Rosenberg’s take: if you have a problem, let the person with a mental illness that’s to be on the receiving end of any advice ask for it first. The other chapter that was particularly noteworthy to me was on how — even in the most well-guided workplaces — it’s hard, if not impossible, to take a mental health day. Rosenberg has some prescriptive words of wisdom on how workplaces should deal with this. However, she perceptively notes that it’s OK if you have the flu people will be imploring you to stay home from work — but when it’s something that people can’t see, they just don’t understand it. A lot will have to change in society if we want to get to where the author wants to go.
Read the rest of the review here: https://medium.com/@zachary_houle/a-r...
There were two chapters that particularly stuck with me (though different readers may have different takeaways from this book). One chapter is on how people — including those with mental illness — try to offer advice on how to manage your illness. This was particularly striking for me as I’ve been at the receiving end of such advice recently, and I like Rosenberg’s take: if you have a problem, let the person with a mental illness that’s to be on the receiving end of any advice ask for it first. The other chapter that was particularly noteworthy to me was on how — even in the most well-guided workplaces — it’s hard, if not impossible, to take a mental health day. Rosenberg has some prescriptive words of wisdom on how workplaces should deal with this. However, she perceptively notes that it’s OK if you have the flu people will be imploring you to stay home from work — but when it’s something that people can’t see, they just don’t understand it. A lot will have to change in society if we want to get to where the author wants to go.
Read the rest of the review here: https://medium.com/@zachary_houle/a-r...
November 7, 2019
Eye-opening, heart-wrenching and laugh-out-loud funny all at once. I’ve never read someone so candidly write about mental illness and I’m so glad I read this book! Must read for everyone who has or know someone who has a mental illness which, hello, is probably everyone in the world.
November 6, 2019
INSANELY funny - a stunning book. Within seconds of opening this book, you will be laughing loudly and pulling your (weighted) blanket snugly over you as you sink into the pages. This is because it's immediately obvious that this is completely fresh. It's as if your best friend is talking to you honestly and hilariously, to entertain and comfort you through whatever the week has put you through, no matter how healthy your mind currently is.
It's beautifully candid: every few sentences you will either guffaw or smile wryly with familiarity, and as the chapters progress, you will feel less alone. It's remarkable how Rosenberg manages to cultivate analogies or descriptions loaded with novelty and creativity so often in this book. The dark humour will appeal to anyone with depression, but also anyone that enjoys very funny writing.
Regardless of what other books you've read about mental health, it is really satisfying to giggle as she wonders what you've wondered ("am I my therapist's favourite patient?"), or as she disavows common myths and fears and confesses the everyday realities of a millennial, pop culture lover with a mind that's out to get her. Get this book - it's comforting, absolutely hilarious, deeply novel, and stunningly honest. I've never read anything like it.
It's beautifully candid: every few sentences you will either guffaw or smile wryly with familiarity, and as the chapters progress, you will feel less alone. It's remarkable how Rosenberg manages to cultivate analogies or descriptions loaded with novelty and creativity so often in this book. The dark humour will appeal to anyone with depression, but also anyone that enjoys very funny writing.
Regardless of what other books you've read about mental health, it is really satisfying to giggle as she wonders what you've wondered ("am I my therapist's favourite patient?"), or as she disavows common myths and fears and confesses the everyday realities of a millennial, pop culture lover with a mind that's out to get her. Get this book - it's comforting, absolutely hilarious, deeply novel, and stunningly honest. I've never read anything like it.
December 21, 2019
I don’t read too many self help books or whatever you want to call this book? Non fiction. But it was good for it being one of those. I learned a lot about mental health, people with disorders, depression,suicide. Anyone can read this book, not just people with mental problems. It definitely was interesting and it actually had some funny moments too. Amanda speaks her mind and some things she says in this book were hilarious. I enjoyed all the little lists throughout the book too! Definitely a quick, interesting and good read and you definitely will learn a lot from this book.
July 20, 2020
3.5 stars. I’d love to rate this higher because the author does have a lot of great dialogue surrounding mental health issues and dismantling the stigma therein, but she a) cracks a few too many jokes about things that aren’t really funny and should always be taken seriously and b) doesn’t delve deep enough into her own personal history enough for me. She offers enough stories and insights into her past to paint a clear enough picture, but I feel like it could have gone deeper, with less dumb jokes about “being mental.”
December 17, 2019
Funny and sad, eschewing the less believable message of, "Everything is going to be okay", for the stronger, more compassionate, "You're allowed".
August 25, 2020
First off, this book is hilarious. Which, I guess, is a weird thing to say about a book about mental illness. I would recommend this book to anyone who has struggled with mental illness or struggled to understand or be there for someone who struggles with it. In the words of Amanda Rosenberg (and maybe other people, too): “No one owns mental illness, we all lease it” - mental illness is hard and so is empathy. This book isn’t about empathy, but personally it reminded me that everyone struggles, and remembering how to care for yourself and others at the same time is one of the most difficult things about being human. So regardless of whether you personally deal with mental illness, I guarantee that reading this book will teach you something about how to be a better person - to yourself or to someone else. And if it doesn’t teach you either of those things, I guarantee you’ll find it funny at the very least (unless you suck!).
December 3, 2019
This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
Not only is this memoir about Rosenberg's life with mental illnesses, but the book shares so much information about mental illness in general. It's important to understand, and Rosenberg states it in the book, that everyone's experiences are different and that doesn't mean any experience is more or less valid, but this book does challenge some of the common misconceptions about mental health, mental illness, medication, and the very false claim that having a mental illness makes you creative.
"Anxiousness lets you get on with shit; anxiety doesn't let you do shit. Anxiousness has a raison d'être whereas Anxiety doesn't need you pompous French phrases - it doesn't need anything. It can bubble up from a specific spot in your should, or it can come from nowhere. Sometimes you can feel it coming; other times it surprise tackles you to the ground from a nearby bush."
There was so much great information in this book, and it was so well written, that I'm forcing people to read this because it's important, and think there is a lot to take away from this short book. Like I said above, I highly recommend this book to everyone.This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
I received this book for free in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.I love, love, love That's Mental, and recommend it to EVERYBODY. Seriously, this was such a good book and I think everyone should read it, because it talked about mental health and mental illness in a great way.
In That's Mental, Amanda Rosenberg shares her story with mental illness, as well as her thoughts on mental illness. I loved this book because it's funny but it doesn't minimize how painful and difficult living with a mental illness can be. It's important to read and understand mental illness, but sometimes we have to be able to laugh at ourselves to make it okay and a little more manageable.
Not only is this memoir about Rosenberg's life with mental illnesses, but the book shares so much information about mental illness in general. It's important to understand, and Rosenberg states it in the book, that everyone's experiences are different and that doesn't mean any experience is more or less valid, but this book does challenge some of the common misconceptions about mental health, mental illness, medication, and the very false claim that having a mental illness makes you creative.
"Anxiousness lets you get on with shit; anxiety doesn't let you do shit. Anxiousness has a raison d'être whereas Anxiety doesn't need you pompous French phrases - it doesn't need anything. It can bubble up from a specific spot in your should, or it can come from nowhere. Sometimes you can feel it coming; other times it surprise tackles you to the ground from a nearby bush."
There was so much great information in this book, and it was so well written, that I'm forcing people to read this because it's important, and think there is a lot to take away from this short book. Like I said above, I highly recommend this book to everyone.This review was originally posted on Latte Nights Reviews.
October 26, 2019
Do you enjoy dark humor and painfully relatable content for anyone struggling with a mental illness or two? Then this book is for you! I absolutely loved That’s Mental! I felt like I could finally talk to someone (well okay, read their words and then say “yeah exactly!” to myself) about all the struggles of mental illness that aren’t often talked about or understood. The author is hilarious and I love her conversational style of writing. She talks about important topics like stigma in a broad sense while also including her own personal experience. Whether you want to feel like you have a friend who understands the struggle, or if you want to learn more about the highs and lows that someone with mental illness experiences, this book can offer something to everyone.
Thank you to BookSparks, the publisher, and the author for this free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
Thank you to BookSparks, the publisher, and the author for this free advanced copy in exchange for an honest review!
December 7, 2019
“Don’t judge me based on my mental illness judge me for the asshole I am.”
This was a fascinating look at mental health. I really loved how open the author was about all the issues she faces and that she wasn’t afraid to shy away from the hard parts. I loved the section where she talked about gun violence and mental health. I think “Mental illness” has become a great excuse for gun violence, but people are missing other aspects by just blaming it on mental illness. Overall I really enjoyed this one.
This was a fascinating look at mental health. I really loved how open the author was about all the issues she faces and that she wasn’t afraid to shy away from the hard parts. I loved the section where she talked about gun violence and mental health. I think “Mental illness” has become a great excuse for gun violence, but people are missing other aspects by just blaming it on mental illness. Overall I really enjoyed this one.
November 28, 2019
One of the funniest and most painfully relatable books I've ever read. I don't have bipolar, but Amanda has an uncanny knack for transporting the reader directly into her brain using her words.
April 8, 2022
i love this book. i felt less alone while reading it. i’ll likely read books of this nature my whole life, learning and relearning how to be part of things my own way, and i’m glad this one fell into my lap. the author is very funny, her anecdotes and insights relatable and touching if you’re navigating mental illness, and the book worked as a coping tool and source of comfort as of late. also there’s a very direct and affecting chapter on being in a relationship while mentally ill that was gut-wrenching (really valuable) and something i probably needed to read.
August 10, 2020
Quick and funny and good! Chuckling about my own faulty brain (and chuckling in general) keeps me afloat, and reading this felt like having a good chat with a pal that makes you feel less alone for a while.
January 5, 2021
Really funny, relatable essays and stories about mental illness. While Rosenberg shares her personal coping strategies, she never claims to be an expert and acknowledges relapses are real, no matter how much self care you practice. Her writing is honest and personal. I liked this one a lot.
May 7, 2021
Highly recommend the audiobook. It’s read by the author and I found her hilarious in a way I might not if I’d read the text.
November 5, 2019
This book is amazing and I think everyone with a damn brain should read it.
November 26, 2019
This is the funniest, most revealing book on mental illness I've ever come across. As someone who suffers rather quietly, & spends a lot of time onstage pretending I'm all good, this book was was more cathartic than a thousand cries. If you've never struggled with serious mental illness, this book is an incisive look into what it's really like, day-to-day, out in the mental streets. If you have, this book is an angel whispering "Been there, dogg" in your ear. And if you think you aren't mentally ill, or you've written off your struggles as something else, this book will shake you by the shoulders in a consensual, nonviolent way.
In other words, the book is for everyone. Either you need it, or you'll love it, or both. I'm in the "both" camp. l strongly recommend the audio book, to enjoy the full range of Amanda's comedic talents. (& Pavel. GO PAVEL)
In other words, the book is for everyone. Either you need it, or you'll love it, or both. I'm in the "both" camp. l strongly recommend the audio book, to enjoy the full range of Amanda's comedic talents. (& Pavel. GO PAVEL)
November 13, 2019
Originally, I was of the mind of taking a few days to read this book, absorb, and process it as I was going through my own rough patch, but dear reader, that did not happen. I finished this book in a mere 36 hours because not only did her stories ring true to my own experiences, but the way they were presented felt like having a conversation with your very wise, hilarious friend. This book is a must read!
December 9, 2019
Probably a good read if you're new to the whole "sometimes my brain does shit I don't understand" game, but if you've been around, seen a therapist, read some books, you probably have all the info this book will have.
August 28, 2022
I listened to the audiobook version of this so maybe it didn't come off totally right, but I thought everything was great except the humour. I just found some of the jokes so cringey or maybe it's just not what I find funny... otherwise a really great read for anyone.
September 27, 2019
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January 21, 2024
I loved this book and the authors vulnerability- whether someone sees that through her personal stories or the jokes/canter she uses but she really opened up and wanted everyone to understand people and their struggles.
She spends time going over stigmas and views society has about mental illnesses and makes great comparisons on how it’s not taken seriously or it’s taken to the extreme of “they’re crazy.” She not only shows how these views can be hurtful and destructive but also how people don’t take mental illnesses seriously- like automatically saying you have OCD, anxiety or your bi-polar without even truly understanding what that entails. “A difference in feeling anxious and having anxiety”
“Fighting against a mind that’s trying to kill you is like wading through quicksand.” This quote really opened up my eyes- I cannot even imagine the thoughts and things the author or others have went through. She does mention her suicide attempts and actively battling her depression. I felt the way she talked about this was inspiring. Don’t come at me for this- but she mentions how people automatically jump to the conclusion that “they had so much to live for”, “didn’t they think about the family they left behind”, “how selfish”. And all those thoughts are constant things society and religion has thrown at us and molded into how we should feel regarding suicide. The way she puts it into perspective from her experience- makes a lot of sense and was heartbreaking.
Overall- I’d recommend this book to anyone who has struggled with any mental illness (she gives her personal experience and things that have helped her) or anyone who wants to step out of the shadows that society keeps everyone in regarding mental illness.
She spends time going over stigmas and views society has about mental illnesses and makes great comparisons on how it’s not taken seriously or it’s taken to the extreme of “they’re crazy.” She not only shows how these views can be hurtful and destructive but also how people don’t take mental illnesses seriously- like automatically saying you have OCD, anxiety or your bi-polar without even truly understanding what that entails. “A difference in feeling anxious and having anxiety”
“Fighting against a mind that’s trying to kill you is like wading through quicksand.” This quote really opened up my eyes- I cannot even imagine the thoughts and things the author or others have went through. She does mention her suicide attempts and actively battling her depression. I felt the way she talked about this was inspiring. Don’t come at me for this- but she mentions how people automatically jump to the conclusion that “they had so much to live for”, “didn’t they think about the family they left behind”, “how selfish”. And all those thoughts are constant things society and religion has thrown at us and molded into how we should feel regarding suicide. The way she puts it into perspective from her experience- makes a lot of sense and was heartbreaking.
Overall- I’d recommend this book to anyone who has struggled with any mental illness (she gives her personal experience and things that have helped her) or anyone who wants to step out of the shadows that society keeps everyone in regarding mental illness.
August 25, 2022
I am so glad that Amanda Rosenberg is ALIVE and had the courage to write this book. She skillfully writes about her struggles with mental health in a way that was surprising and funny, which was such a breath of fresh air given the nature of the heavy topic. She normalized having honest discussions about mental health, provided helpful resources to seek help, and was a constant reminder that we are never alone in our battles. While I found it to be a brutally honest look at suicidal ideations, bipolar II, mania, meds, anxiety, and depression, what I found the most impactful about it was that it was threaded with HOPE and humor. While we have to take mental health seriously, we can also find the humor in it, and Amanda does that brilliantly. I highly recommend reading this book if you are struggling to verbalize your own mental health struggles because Amanda will help you find the right words and feel comfortable setting boundaries when you need them. I also highly recommend reading this book if you have never struggled with your mental health or say things like, "I don't have anxiety or depression." If you are dismissive of people's diagnoses, this book is an excellent resource to educate yourself in an entertaining way. You also need to read this book if you have a loved one who struggles with their mental health, as there is a delightful chapter written by Amanda's husband. This book is for everyone.
January 21, 2023
Another DNF for me. For someone who doesn’t know the first thing about mental health, this might be a worthy read. But as a therapist, I found nothing worthwhile.
I applaud her for wanting to…educate people on mental health? Honestly I’m not really sure what her goal was with the book but I can appreciate that she had worthy intentions. I’m glad she reiterates throughout the book that she is not a professional and the book is not based on research.
That being said, I think it’s dangerous to write a book *about* mental health that’s not rooted in research. It’s one thing to talked about your own mental health in a memoir, but I don’t believe that was the intent. I think that’s a big reason this fell flat for me- it was all about Amanda Rosenberg’s “mental illness” but with a lack of context.
If you’re going to write a book about your mental health, I expect to get to know who you are. I don’t feel like I know anything about Amanda Rosenberg other than she is a ~qUiRkY MiLlEniAl~ who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and some traumas she alluded to or briefly discussed.
I can see why this book might appeal to some, but it’s not for me.
I applaud her for wanting to…educate people on mental health? Honestly I’m not really sure what her goal was with the book but I can appreciate that she had worthy intentions. I’m glad she reiterates throughout the book that she is not a professional and the book is not based on research.
That being said, I think it’s dangerous to write a book *about* mental health that’s not rooted in research. It’s one thing to talked about your own mental health in a memoir, but I don’t believe that was the intent. I think that’s a big reason this fell flat for me- it was all about Amanda Rosenberg’s “mental illness” but with a lack of context.
If you’re going to write a book about your mental health, I expect to get to know who you are. I don’t feel like I know anything about Amanda Rosenberg other than she is a ~qUiRkY MiLlEniAl~ who has been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and some traumas she alluded to or briefly discussed.
I can see why this book might appeal to some, but it’s not for me.
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