It’s Not OK to Feel Blue (and Other Lies): Inspirational People Open Up About Their Mental Health

by Scarlett Curtis (Author, Narrator), Adam Kay (Narrator), Honey Ross (Narrator)

' This is the freshest, most honest collection of writings about mental health that I've read... searing wit, blinding passion, bleeding emotion and a fantastic, heroic, glorious refusal to lie down and take it' - Stephen Fry

'Reading this book made me feel more normal about the things I feel sometimes...It's a great book; however you're feeling, it'll help' - Ed Sheeran

'This is the book I needed when I was little. May this be a leap forward in the much needed conversation around mental health' - Jameela Jamil

Everyone has a mental health. So we asked:

What does yours mean to you?

THE RESULT IS EXTRAORDINARY.

Over 60 people have shared their stories. Powerful, funny, moving, this book is here to tell you:

It's OK.

With writing from:

Adam Kay - Alastair Campbell - Alexis Caught - Ben Platt - Bryony Gordon - Candice Carty-Williams - Charlie Mackesy - Charly Cox - Chidera Eggerue - Claire Stancliffe - Davina McCall - Dawn O'Porter - Elizabeth Day - Elizabeth Uviebinené - Ella Purnell - Emilia Clarke - Emma Thompson - Eve Delaney - Fearne Cotton - Gabby Edlin - Gemma Styles - GIRLI (Milly Toomey) - Grace Beverley - Hannah Witton - Honey Ross - Hussain Manawer - Jack Rooke - James Blake - Jamie Flook - Jamie Windust - Jessie Cave - Jo Irwin - Jonah Freud - Jonny Benjamin - Jordan Stephens - Kai-Isaiah Jamal - Kate Weinberg - Kelechi Okafor - Khalil Aldabbas - KUCHENGA - Lauren Mahon - Lena Dunham - Maggie Matic - Martha Lane Fox - Mathew Kollamkulam - Matt Haig - Megan Crabbe - Michael Kitching - Michelle Elman - Miranda Hart - Mitch Price - Mona Chalabi - Montana Brown - Nadia Craddock - Naomi Campbell - Poorna Bell - Poppy Jamie - Reggie Yates - Ripley Parker - Robert Kazandjian - Rosa Mercuriadis - Saba Asif - Sam Smith - Scarlett Curtis - Scarlett Moffatt - Scottee - Sharon Chalkin Feldstein - Shonagh Marie - Simon Amstell - Sinéad Burke - Steve Ali - Tanya Byron - Travon Free - Yomi Adegoke - Yusuf Al Majarhi

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

10 pages, Audiobook

First published October 3, 2019

Reviews

[Jo · Rating 5 out of 5]

It takes a certain amount of courage to share things about your life, as deeply as the people do in this book, and I'd like to thank those individuals for doing so. These accounts, that are all on the subject of mental health, were incredibly raw, and personal to the individual that wrote it, and I think that is what makes this book so special and inspiring.

Mental health is still stigmatised, and it's about time that ended. A person's mental health is so important to one's quality of life, yet treatment and help, and even understanding of it, is at times, difficult to come by.

"Fabulous and fucked up. Absolutely right. That's what we all are. It's called being human. Let's celebrate that, not fear it."

I'm not a stranger to having battles with my mental health, and some days, I struggle to gather the courage to leave the house, but I always remind myself, tomorrow can always be better. It felt comforting to read these accounts, and the main reason for this is, it helps to know that I'm not alone. A great start to 2020!

[Maja - BibliophiliaDK ✨ · Rating 5 out of 5]

HOW I WISH I HAD BEEN GIVEN THIS BOOK 10 YEARS AGO 💙💙

I'll come right out and say it - I suffer from bouts of depression and generalized anxiety. I got the diagnosis almost 10 years ago. Back then I felt so alone, so misunderstood and so afraid of myself and my thoughts. Luckily, today, I have a good grasp on things and am able and more than willing to talk about my mental health. However, if someone had given me this book 10 years ago, I can safely say that my road to where I am today would have been a lot shorter and with fewer bends and twists.

"We roll our eyes to the ceiling
So surprised by the lack of desire
Inside of a human being
Like if he can't even communicate
How human is he being?"
- Jordan Stephens

💙 WHAT I LOVED 💙

Faces: Mental health takes on so many different faces, depression and anxiety are just a few of them. I loved how this book gathered so many different faces, so many different facets and aspects. Everyone will be able to find something to relate to in this book. My personal favourite, and the one I related to the most, was 'A Tale of Two Cities' by Jo Irwin.

Taboo: Many still find it hard to talk about mental health. If you admit you have a problem, you are likely to be met with a lack of understanding or empathy, because there are simply so many myths and misunderstandings about mental health. Many people, especially men, suffer from not feeling able to talk about these problems. But books like this takes away the taboo and makes the subject less dangerous.

Language: Another reason why this is so hard to talk about is because the words can be really hard to find when you're in the middle of it. Your emotions are in control, you're no longer driving the bus, and when people ask you to tell them how you're feeling, the words escape you. This book gives words to those who cannot find them themselves.

[Fernwehwelten · Rating 4 out of 5]

4,5 Sterne | Pluspunkte: Authentisch, bewegend und unterstützend | Minuspunkt: Stark gekürzt | TW: Psychische Krankheiten, Suizid, u.ä.

„It’s okay not to be okay” ist ein besonderes, außergewöhnliches Buch. Die Essays von mehr als 30 inspirierenden Menschen wurden hier gesammelt und zusammengefasst zu einem Werk, das Mut macht, Verständnis schafft. Verständnis für den Umgang mit uns selbst, mit unserer eigenen Psyche und vor allem mit deren Gesundheit. Ich glaube, es ist unheimlich wichtig, sich damit auseinanderzusetzen – und „It’s okay not to be okay“ hat mir an vielen Stellen nochmal die Augen geöffnet. Nicht jedes Essay hat mich persönlich angesprochen, was in Ordnung ist. Die menschliche Psyche ist so vielfältig, wie es die Menschen sind. Essays, die mich persönlich nicht weitergebracht haben, können für andere von enormem Wert sein. Gerade das macht dieses Buch so besonders: Es ist kein Ratgeber, nicht unbedingt ein Sachbuch, sondern ein authentischer Einblick in das Leben von Menschen, die uns bekannt sind. Gänzlich authentisch und unbeschönigt gewähren sie uns einen Blick in ihr Leben. Einen Blick auf das, was sie erlebt haben. Wie sie sich gefühlt haben, wie sie damit umgegangen sind und bis heute damit umgehen. „It’s okay not to be okay“ ist ein Hoffnungsschimmer und Balsam für die Seele. Es ist eine warme Umarmung, wenn man sie braucht, und die Versicherung, dass all das, wofür wir uns so oft verurteilen, okay ist. Und dass wir damit nicht allein sind.
Obwohl mich das Buch unheimlich berührt hat, gibt’s einen klaren Kritikpunkt: Im Vergleich zum Original „It’s Not OK to Feel Blue and other lies“ wurde es arg gekürzt. Das Original besteht aus fast doppelt so vielen Texten. Fast 600 Seiten wurden runtergebrochen auf etwas mehr als 300. Für mich nicht nachvollziehbar, denn ich hätte den Rest zu gerne ebenfalls gelesen. Mich persönlich trifft es besonders, dass das Essay von Ben Platt in der deutschen Version nicht vorhanden ist - aber okay, das ist wohl meine eigene Präferenz.

[Christopher Kendle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m going to try and keep how I feel about this book as brief as possible.
Firstly, to Scarlett and every single person that has contributed to this collection, thank you from the bottom of my heart for sharing each of your mental health stories, I know just how brave it is to be so simultaneously vulnerable yet strong at the same time and one day I hope I’ll be able to get to a place where I can share my story without feeling ashamed and deleting my words and saving them for another time.
What this book is doing for mental health is beyond incredible, the scope and diversity of each story is a beautiful and educational thing and is heartbreaking yet humbling to know just how not alone we really are when it comes to dealing with these isolated feelings.
This book and everyone in it, is now my little companion for life and a different voice in my head to let me know it’s ok.
At one point in my life, I couldn’t read, couldn’t watch tv, couldn’t sit still, I didn’t have the ability to stop my heart racing and my feet pacing, to accept the fear I was feeling and learn to be still, both physically and mentally.
I’m so grateful now, I’m in a place where I can distract myself with books, they are my safe place, my sanctuary to escape and be still from the real world. Mostly that comes in the form of fiction, where I can project my fear into something either a bit more rational or completely irrational all the same!
And there are times where I find it important to read something like this, to face the sometimes unfaceable, it can be hard to read these things, it can make me laugh and cry, recall things I’ve tried to forget. But talking and reading about mental health is critically important and with each word shared, it takes a piece of that fear away.
I advise anyone who struggles or knows someone who does or anyone just to educate themselves further to read this, it can help so many peoples lives as it has mine.
Thanks for listening.

[Katarina · Rating 5 out of 5]

“One day you’ll be sitting on a sofa and you’ll find yourself laughing; for a second it won’t hurt, for a second you will just be there, in that moment, and, for a second, life will feel OK.”

It can be hard to review a book that is not actually a book, but rather a collection of essays. What do you do? Do you go nit-picking story by story, praising one contributor while shrugging about the writing skills of another? Or do you try to recap the recurrent theme, the one that is glaringly obvious from the title itself?

I choose to do neither. Instead, I want to focus on how important the book is because of the message it tries to get across - that is, it is finally OK to talk about mental health.

The book's role in the context of normalisation of the mental health topic is undeniable. While, in the past few years, the mentions about mental wellbeing and potential solutions to help you get there have been on the rise (just think of all the “go meditate and do yoga” posts), this is the first significant work that collects the stories of reasonably well-known authors opening up about their personal struggles.

Ranging from writers, actors and podcasters all the way to activists and politicians, “It’s not OK to feel blue and other lies” is an intricate puzzle of difficult stories that speak to your soul, if only you are willing to listen.

There is something heartwarming about reading all the intense accounts of pain and suffering, while knowing that it is the first time that the authors publicly opened up about the topic for the one single reason - to show us we are not alone.

The more you dig into the stories (on the bus, while waiting for lunch, queueing in the pharmacy - it is quite addictive!), the more you realise how incredibly brave they must have been to release their inner black dogs for the whole world to see, not shying away from the possible backlash of society that is not yet as accepting as it parades itself to be.

The target audience for this book is predominantly people who have their fair share of experience with mental health problems and it will be with them that the book will resonate the most.

However, its power lies not only in its openness to discuss that which was previously a taboo. If you approach it with an open mind, you can take away from it so much more than just the different facets that mental illness can take.

Reading between the lines, it will open your eyes to the society at large, and how what you previously thought of as a homogenous mass is, actually, something more akin to a shattered mirror - people, rough around the edges, each coming in their own shape and size, trying their best to fit in.

It will teach you empathy and acceptance, making you glimpse underneath the surface of people that you pass on the streets without giving them a mere thought.

The next Nigerian you meet, you will understand how the mental health problems are framed within their community - “When I mentioned to my family that I would be seeking therapy, I was told that it was a futile thing to do because ‘Nigerians don’t suffer from depression’ and if I felt depressed it was because I ‘wasn’t trusting God enough’.”

The next time you hear in the news another de-personating talk about the Syrian refugees, you will grasp just a bit more the cruel feeling of guilt they have to live with on a daily basis - “People who are not there anymore, who weren’t lucky enough to make it out of the hell of that country that was once called heaven on earth. People who deserved, if not more, then no less than me to survive and be safe and happy in a new place and a new life. Feeling happiness in this moment here feels wrong; letting go of the pain of the past in this moment of joy feels like letting go of those souls I left behind.”

The next time you cross a gay couple holding hands on the streets, you will imagine a bit vividly how demeaning everyday life can be for them - “Years later, my serious boyfriend and I are looking at flats. It’s our first time living together. The excitement bubbles through me – I’m going to be living with the man I love, we’re taking this step together. I’m not unlovable; I am loved. The estate agent makes a joke about almost accidentally showing us a one-bed flat … And then I remember: two men sharing a bedroom, sharing a bed … is something to be laughed at. I am something to be laughed at. My love is something to be laughed at. And I feel sad.”

And the next time you jokingly want to poke your white male friend to “man up,” you will remember that there is, indeed, such a thing as “systemic toxic masculinity (‘Boys don’t cry’, basically) and an ostensibly homophobic fear of sensitivity being beer-bonged into us by our friends, family and the media from as early as we can remember to the slow realization as we get older that the world is actually stacked towards our success, we end up thinking that our individual psychological decline is shameful.”

I could go on and on about all the individual, heart wrenching stories people were brave enough to uncover. But instead, just go read this book.

If you were ever in pain and didn’t know how to deal with it - it will warm your heart in ways you never thought possible.

If you have someone in your close circle who is struggling with mental illness - it will give you a set of tools that you wished you had so much earlier.

Even if you have no clue what this mental health fuss is all about - it will just make you a kinder human.

I promise.

[kate · Rating 4 out of 5]

I took my time reading this, dipping in and out of it over a few months and I loved that the way this book is formatted allowed me to do this.

This is a balanced, inclusive and nuanced collection of autobiographical essays, art and poetry exploring not only themes of mental health but also race, gender, sexuality and money. It's a collection have no doubt will be a huge comfort for many readers.

People having open and honest discussions is the only way we're going to be able to break the stigma surrounding mental health and mental illness. But the sheer amount of contributors to this collection gives me hope that, as a society, we're finally slowly moving forward in terms of these conversations.

[Olha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ми не мусимо весь час бути життєрадісними. Мати поганий настрій, який аж болить – це нормально. Вам не має бути соромно, що ви не відчуваєте радість тоді, коли це прописує суспільство.

“It’s not ok to feel blue and other lies” Скарлетт Кертіс – це збірка історій різних людей про психічне здоров’я. Своїм досвідом діляться Емма Томпсон, Емілія Кларк, Наомі Кемпбелл, Метт Гейґ, Джеймс Блейк і ще багато-багато надзвичайних особистостей. Надзвичайні не через свої кар’єрні досягнення, а через постійну боротьбу з тривожністю і депресією. Люди, які падали, здавалися, але таки продовжили боротися. І не самі. Бо ніколи не треба боятися чи соромитися попросити допомоги.

Мені сподобалося, що у збірці представлені дійсно різні люди: транс, гомосексуал(к)и, темношкірі, білі, жінки і чоловіки. У всіх унікальний досвід, який кожен переживає по-своєму, але все ж усім болить, сильніше чи слабше.

Якась дивна єдність після прочитання цих історій. Деякі настільки близькі, що я читала ніби про себе. І хоч це сумно, але так приємно усвідомлювати, що я не одна через це проходила, я не одна це відчувала і відчуваю. До речі, читання припало якраз на перший місяць карантину, коли особливо необхідні були якісь нові поради, як боротися з тривожністю, як вставати з ліжка чи навпаки дозволити собі відпочити, попіклуватися про себе.

Читати деякі історії було боляче: хтось втратив близьку людину, хтось пережив страшну хворобу, хтось роками на антидепресантах. Але більшість історій читати було надихаюче, бо всі важкі часи колись закінчуються.

Недарма збірку поділили на кілька частин:

It’s ok not to be ok
It’s ok to shout
It’s ok to be vulnerable
It’s ok to ask for help
It will be ok

Так завжди можна обрати історію з частини, яка відповідає настрою.

Але. Мені б хотілося ще більшого різноманіття в історіях. Майже всі люди у книжці з Британії. Навіть, якщо вони там не народилися, а потрапили важкими шляхами. А ще було сумно читати, що деякі писали есе до збірки в останню ніч типу «не знав(-ла), що писати, але завтра треба здати, то ось». Книжка товстенька, історій дуже багато, тому можна було обійтися і без отаких «написалося в останній момент».

А взагалі збірка чудесна.

4,5 ⭐️ з 5-ти.

[Bianca · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nur wegen Ben Platt habe ich mir die englische Originalaushabe als eBook gegönnt. Es ist einfach schade, dass die deutsche Variante so massiv gekürzt wurde. Klar, sie wollten auch deutsche Persönlichkeiten mit ins Buch packen, was für die deutsche Version auch wirklich schön und wichtig ist, aber um die Beiträge, die rausgestrichen wurden, ist es einfach schade.

[Anna Fuchsia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wunderschöne und doch traurige Wahrheiten über das "nicht okay sein" und wie es sich anfühlt.

Gerade weil hier Geschichten aus unterschiedlichen Gesichtspunkten beleuchtet werden, möchte ich gar nicht darüber urteilen. Für mich waren es wunderschöne und auch irgendwie berührende Lesestunden. Manches konnte ich besser, manches weniger gut nachvollziehen und doch ist jede Story einzigartig.
Wer mehr über diese Thematik erfahren möchte und wissen will wie sich so manches anfühlen kann, der sollte diesem Buch einen genaueren Blick zuwerfen

[TBHONEST · Rating 5 out of 5]

Powerful, thought-provoking. This isn't a book. This is 70+ people telling you it's ok to not be ok.
On a good day it's a wonderful read, on a bad day it's a lifeline, this something everyone should read.
"All the royalties are going to the INCREDIBLE give us a shout – the UK’s first 24/7 crisis text line.

[Justine · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's kind of hard to review this book because it felt so personal to read it.

This book is a treasure: it'll make you laugh, it'll make you cry but, mostly, you feel be acknowledged, understood and accepted.
The contributors are white, black, brown, straight, gay, trans, suffering from a mental illness, close to someone who is suffering/suffered from a mental illness.
It won't offer practical help, it's not a self-help book, really; but it will help you anyway. I felt strangely "safe" while I was reading this book, like I was with people who understood me and nothing could go wrong. I'll keep this book close to me, no doubt.
Something this book does and we should do more regularly: discuss mental health. By keeping it quiet, we feed the beast and endanger the ones who suffer already.

You'll feel sad and more sometimes while reading this book, but you'll also feel you're not alone.

[Sarahpelle]

I find it incredibly difficult to rate a non-fiction book in which people have put so much of themselves. How can you rate someone’s life experience? I think this was good in the sense that it showed people from different backgrounds grappling with their mental health; there’s not one essay that is like the others. However, as with every collection, there are always stories you resonate with more, or writing style that you prefer.

[Lucia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suggested plan of attack:

1. Buy a billion copies of this book.
2. Read it.
3. Gift the remaining copies to everyone you know.

Congratulations -- you've simultaneously made the world a better place and completed your Christmas shopping in April.

[Kate Henderson · Rating 2 out of 5]

I definitely feel the themes that this book are incredibly important and need to be spoken about but the actual format of this book I struggled with. It became quite tedious after a while.

[Nicole · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great collection of poetry, stories, essays and drawings about mental health from a range of celebrities and volunteers from shout.

I really did enjoy this collection. I resonated with a lot of what was being said.

I particularly liked how this book focused on mental health from a wide variety of different peoples perspectives e.g LGBT, BAME, those with disabilities and those who identify as transgender or non binary.

A wide range of mental illnesses were discussed, although lots of the contributions focus on anxiety, depression or just mental health in general

The reason I didn't give this book 5 stars, was that I found it a little repetitive and quite long. I think it would have been better if it was divided up into two shorter books

Also, I wish I read the ebook or listened to the audiobook because the physical book is very difficult to read. It's a small hardback that does really have any give in it. It was a challenge to read at times. It definitely needs to be released as a paperback

Overall, I think this is a great collection. It's not really one you read from front to back in one go but definitely an interesting and insightful read

TW: open and honest discussions about mental health, but each contribution has trigger warnings for specific material so they can be skipped if needed

[Alice-Elizabeth (Prolific Reader Alice) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I purchased my copy last year, however, this is one of those books that you definitely need to read a little bit of and then take a breather. This collection of essays and memoir writings from a bunch of well-known celebrities is a strong way of saying to you the reader, that you don't have to feel lonely. There are trigger content warnings which were listed well throughout. A good read and well-edited by Scarlett. Would recommend for older teen readers and above!

[Fern Adams · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book that tells you you are not alone. That other people get it and have been there too. Great for dipping in and out of or for reading cover to cover. 70+ people being honest and vulnerable and letting you know that that is okay, that is being human. Something in here for everyone. I personally found Miranda Harts entry really helpful.

[Mo · Rating 3 out of 5]

‘Masculinity is the loneliest island [I know]. Why? Because men do not hold other men. (...) only when we are dying. Never when we are crying. Only sometimes, never always, never when we need.’ - Kai Isaiah Jamal

This is a book composed of many different chapters, all written by different writers, on a large spectrum of subjects surrounding mental and physical health. It was quite a fast read since the chapters are mostly short and you remain curious for the subject and form of the next one.

I feel like as a reader there is always something you can take from this. If there are stories that hit close to home, you will find solace in knowing you aren’t the only one who has had this experience. At the same time, if you don’t recognize yourself in almost any of the stories (like me, I feel lucky to say), it will make you more empathetic and understanding of people who you will meet in your life and has gone through this. Some chapters are even focused on how to talk to people with certain traits, disorders or physical conditions or even on how to tackle speaking about mental health in general, which I found really interesting (p. 340). And there is a chapter on treating yourself in a bad state as you would a friend that feels blue (p. 412).

The only thing I didn’t really enjoy were the many cliche metaphors and word choices. This is probably due to the fact that most aren’t writers at all. It does feel bad to call it cliche when these are people’s brave and vulnerable stories and feelings and they are free to write about them in whatever way they would think best. However, I think what it comes down to is I prefer reading either creative metaphors that make you feel something, or (if you aren’t the best writer) just stick to an objective report of experiences and feelings without thinking about the form too much.

At the same time, reading just one piece from so many different people will almost always leave you with a couple you would like to read more of. I, for example, will definitely be reading more of Kai Isaiah Jamal. He has a way with words that is insanely beautiful (see quotes above and below).

QUOTES
-‘You have smoked so much green that your lungs have moss in the bottom of them. (...) convince your shadow that you are something worth being tied to (...) say sorry each time until you turn into a whisper (...) all you have to your name is your mother’s disappointment (...) when your head makes more sound than your mouth’ -- Kai Isaiah Jamal
-‘We are encouraged to worry about everything, from our calorie intake to our step count, via our popularity on social media. The consumer economy depends on our happiness. ’ - Matt Haig
-My shared experience is a dying breed.’ - Rosa Mercuriadas
-‘Depression tells you that you are alone (...) feminism made me feel like I was a part of something (...) Feminism is my self-help.’ - Scarlett Curtis
-‘I could literally bathe in hummus and instead of letting the plug out, I would just eat my way out. Enjoy your lunch.’ - Friend of Jamie Windust
-‘It ‘s a worry that I have to serve.
I could wonder ‘why me?’ but I don’t have the nerve.
When so much of my life is unclouded by strife,
I think worry’s the least I deserve.’ - Ben Platt
-‘As you get older you’re going to get absolutely battered again and again. And again. We accumulate damage.’ - Jamie Flook
-‘My privilege didn’t make me want to stick around, and it makes me feel even more embarrassed for having let myself go.’ - James Blake
-‘The problem is feeling like things are too depressing to say out loud, too generic to bother anyone with, too self-centered to admit to, too confessional to be comfortable sharing.’ - Dawn O’Porter
-‘I wonder why it’s so much easier to make time for other people than for myself.’ - Ella Purnell
-‘I am grateful for my pain, for giving me the understanding and sensitivity to recognize pain in others, and the empathy to help whoever may need it’ - Ella Purnell
-‘We forget that we are the natural world. (...) We can’t destabilize the natural order of things without destabilizing ourselves.(...) We are as perfect as anything else in nature, because we are nature. We came complete. It’s so much easier to feel at one with the world when we realize the world is us.’ - Matt Haig
-‘The biggest weapon we ever handed [depression] was invisibility.’ - Poorna Bell
-‘The greatest feats are ones budding from the truth of who we are. Not the hall of circus mirrors in which we reflect the meanest distortions, trying to live our lives in a box of the smallest proportions.’ - Elizabeth Day
-‘Asking for help wasn’t giving up - it was refusing to give up.’ - Charlie Mackesy
-‘I’ve read a lot of self-help books in my life and, while they still line my bookshelves with covers promising a ‘NEW YOU’, the old me sits here today, bruised, battered, keeping the books around only so they can fill in the gaps in my colour-coordinated book collection (...) I realized that the problem was that I didn’t want to get better for myself.’ - Scarlett Curtis

[CorniHolmes · Rating 5 out of 5]

So viele Menschen leiden an psychischen Erkrankungen und obwohl es so wichtig ist offen darüber zu sprechen, werden sie viel zu sehr totgeschwiegen. Ich selbst scheue mich immer ziemlich davor über meine psychischen Probleme zu reden. Aber warum eigentlich? Warum fällt es mir und zahlreichen anderen so schwer über unsere mentale Gesundheit zu sprechen? Wieso ist dieses Thema so tabuisiert? Wir brauchen uns doch in keinster Weise dafür zu schämen, wenn wir psychisch krank sind, wir sind nicht schuld daran. Es ist okay, nicht okay zu sein!

Ich habe mich viele Jahre nicht getraut meine psychische Erkrankung auf meiner Instagramseite beim Namen zu nennen. Diese Woche habe ich es aber getan und dass ich diesen Schritt gewagt habe, habe ich in erster Linie „It‘s okay not to be okay“ zu verdanken. Dieses Buch hat mir einfach so viel Mut gemacht und noch mal so richtig vor Augen geführt: Es ist wichtig, dass wir über unsere mentale Gesundheit sprechen. Nur so können wir dieses gesellschaftliche Tabu brechen, nur so kann uns allen bewusst werden: Wir sind nicht alleine!

Mich hat dieses Buch tief bewegt und beeindruckt und öfters schwer schlucken lassen.
In „It‘s okay not to be okay“ steckt einfach so unglaublich viel Persönliches. Über 30 Texte sind in diesem Buchprojekt enthalten, geschrieben von den verschiedensten Menschen, und alle handeln sie auf ihre Art und Weise von mentaler Gesundheit.
Schriftsteller*innen, Journalist*innen, Schauspieler*innen, Podcaster*innen, Aktivist*innen, Model, Blogger*innen, Psychiater*innen – es sind wirklich die unterschiedlichsten Persönlichkeiten dabei (Emma Thompson, Lena Dunham, Matt Haig, Naomi Campbell, um mal ein paar Beispiele zu nennen) und alle sind sie anders an die Aufgabe herangegangen.

Ich fand es ungemein faszinierend zu sehen, wie vielfältig die zahlreichen Essays sind. Viele sind bewundernswert ehrlich und gehen richtig unter die Haut. Vor diesen Erzählungen ziehe ich ganz besonders meinen Hut – ich weiß schließlich aus eigener Erfahrung wie viel Überwindung es einen kostet mit großer Offenheit über seine mentale Gesundheit zu sprechen.
Manche Texte rütteln auf, manche sind herzzerreißend und schmerzhaft, andere enthalten mutmachende und trostspendende Worte, einige sind erstaunlich humorvoll formuliert und wieder andere stecken voller Poesie. Sogar in Textnachrichten wurde ein Essay verfasst.

Auch die psychischen Erkrankungen sind verschiedene. Depressionen werden angesprochen, Angst- und Zwangsstörungen, PTBS, Panikattacken...Meine Erkrankung wurde in keiner der Erzählungen erwähnt, aber ich habe mich dennoch in so einigen Zeilen wiederfinden und eine Menge aus diesem Buch mitnehmen können. So habe ich viele mentale Krankheiten, an denen ich selbst nicht leide, endlich besser verstehen können und hilfreiche Tipps erhalten, wie ich mit Betroffenen besser und respektvoller umgehen kann. Das wohl aber für mich Wichtigste, was mir dieses Buch gegeben hat: Mut und Kraft, sodass ich, wie oben bereits erwähnt, es diese Woche endlich gewagt habe auf Social Media über meine psychische Gesundheit zu sprechen. Der erste Schritt ist getan und ich hoffe sehr, dass ich mit der Zeit noch offener über meine Probleme reden kann.

Ein Punkt, den ich etwas bedauerlich finde: Ich habe beim Recherchieren entdeckt, dass für die deutsche Ausgabe von „It‘s okay not to be okay“ einige Texte aus dem Original gestrichen wurden wie beispielsweise von Ben Platt und Sam Smith. Da würde ich ja gerne wissen, warum. Also ich finde es ziemlich schade, dass diese Texte nicht mit übernommen wurden. Vermutlich werde ich mir nun auch noch die englische Ausgabe zulegen, denn die fehlenden Essays möchte ich sehr gerne auch noch kennenlernen.
Bezüglich meiner Bewertung war ich nun etwas länger am hin und her überlegen, ob ich wegen der weggelassenen Texte einen Stern abziehen soll. Ich habe mich schließlich dagegen entschieden.
„It‘s okay not to be okay“ ist einfach ein so relevantes und bedeutsames Werk – für mich hat es definitiv die volle Sternenzahl verdient. Ich kann es wirklich jedem nur ans Herz legen – sowohl Betroffenen als auch Nicht-Betroffenen.

Fazit: Ehrlich, emotional, aufrüttelnd und ergreifend – ein großartiges und unheimlich wichtiges Buch!
„It‘s okay not to be okay“, herausgebracht von Scarlett Curtis, ist so ein Buch, bei welchem ich mir so wünsche, dass es von vielen Menschen gelesen werden wird. Ob psychisch krank oder nicht – die Sammlung an Essays, die in diesem Gemeinschaftswerk enthalten sind, sind einfach für jeden absolut lesens- und empfehlenswert. „It‘s okay not to be okay“ ist ein wunderbarer Mutmacher, der allen Kraft spendet, denen es gerade nicht gut geht und der Nicht-Betroffenen dabei hilft, Betroffene besser verstehen und helfen zu können. Ich kann nur sagen: Unbedingt lesen! Von mir gibt es von 5 von 5 Sternen.

[Marjolein · Rating 5 out of 5]

So happy this book exists. I really needed this two years ago when I was in a pretty dark place, but I'm still happy I read it now. It's never too late to learn, to know you're not alone. That it will be ok. It's ok not to be ok ❤

[Johenni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Klappentext
Ein Mutmacher für alle, denen es gerade nicht gut geht.

Psychische Gesundheit geht uns alle an. Trotzdem trauen sich die wenigsten, offen darüber zu sprechen. Die britische Aktivistin Scarlett Curtis hat es sich zu ihrer Mission gemacht, dieses gesellschaftliche Tabu zu brechen, und gefragt: Was bedeutet psychische Gesundheit für dich? Mehr als 30 inspirierende Menschen teilen in dieser Anthologie ihre ganz persönliche Geschichte. Die Texte sind aufrüttelnd, lustig, schonungslos, poetisch und tröstend. Sie sind wie ein Zuruf, ein lautes Signal, das alle da draußen wissen lässt: Du bist nicht allein! Egal, was du gerade durchmachst – es ist okay.
Es ist okay, nicht okay zu sein.

Cover, Schreibstil, Fazit und Inhalt
So richtig was zum Schreibstil kann ich nicht sagen, weil es ja viele kleine Geschichten waren. Das hat mir an dem Buch so gut gefallen. Das Cover passt für mich einfach perfekt zu allen den Menschen die mir Mit gemacht haben.
Ich kann ganz vieles sagen zum Beispiel, dass mir alle Geschichten, jede auf jede ihre Art, Mut gemacht haben. Ich kann auch sagen, dass das viele kleine Sätze und große Worte die mich bewegt haben. Das mich viele Geschichten noch lange begleiten werden, sie waren mal lustig, mal informativ, mal hatten sie einen Aha Moment oder auch einfach nur den Blick in den Kopf eines anderen Menschen. So oder so es ist ein Buch welches gelesen werden sollte weil es so viel mehr ist als nur ein Mutmacher. Es ist einfach alles okay und vorallem ist es okay nicht okay zu sein! Eine absolute Kaufempfehlung für alle. Ich danke Netgallery für das Rezi Exemplar welches meine Meinung nicht beeinflusst hat.

[Shwan Fraidoon Abdulqader · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book made my mental health better by making me realize that other people have gone/are going through the same thing as me.

[Emm]

Every single story is so unique and brave and beautiful. I was already a personal fan of several of these contributors, and this was really just a comforting reminder of how unalone we are in our loud, lonely minds.

[Hayley · Rating 5 out of 5]

Needed this read. Mental health is so important, let us never forget that.

[Sophy H · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a very slow read, a dip in and out kind of book. I could only read a few of these entries at a time.

Everyone from Davina McCall to Sam Smith contributed to this book. There is discussion of depression, anxiety, eating disorder, bereavement, memory loss, addiction, transitioning and much more. Entries are honest, often raw and visceral, often unapologetic, often inspiring. All will resonate with someone somewhere.

I give a 3 star rating because inevitably some of the entries start to sound repetitive after reading so many, hence only being able to get through a few at a time.

I'm donating this one to my local library as hopefully it will serve someone else as much as it has served me in knowing we're never alone in our mental health struggles.

[alinaspagesofliving · Rating 5 out of 5]

Klappentext: Psychische Gesundheit geht uns alle an. Trotzdem trauen sich die wenigsten, offen darüber zu sprechen. Die britische Aktivistin Scarlett Curtis hat es sich zu ihrer Mission gemacht, dieses gesellschaftliche Tabu zu brechen, und gefragt: Was bedeutet psychische Gesundheit für dich? Mehr als 30 inspirierende Menschen teilen in dieser Anthologie ihre ganz persönliche Geschichte. Die Texte sind aufrüttelnd, lustig, schonungslos, poetisch und tröstend. Sie sind wie ein Zuruf, ein lautes Signal, das alle da draußen wissen lässt: Du bist nicht allein! Egal, was du gerade durchmachst – es ist okay. 


Cover: Ein richtige tolles Cover; mag die Farben sehr und die Gestaltung finde ich auch toll

Schreibstil: Ich war schon sehr gespannt auf das Buch, weil ich davon nur Gutes gehört habe. Der Schreibstil ist von verschiedenen Menschen geschrieben, die verschiedene psychische Krankenheiten haben. Ich fand den Anfang des Buches sehr wichtig und konnte mich sofort reinversetzen in allen Geschichten. Ich hab das Buch auch hin und wieder zur Seite gelegt da mir paar Geschichten etwas zu viel wurden. Aber dennoch ist es wichtig und ich finde es ist ein Mut Buch. Die Aufteilung finde ich gut vom Buch und ich konnte es gar nicht mehr legen. Dennoch sollte man das Buch lesen wenn man dafür bereit fühlt. Ich kam mit jeder Geschichte klar und fand jede auf ihre Art sehr stark. Ich kann euch das Buch nur ans Herz legen, es ist wichtig und stark.

Meinung: Ein starkes Buch über die psychische Gesundheit mit starken Geschichten von verschiedenen Menschen. Wirklich Wow und so wichtig.
Ich kann es euch nur ans Herz legen

Bewertung: 5/5

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think it's best to start off by simply saying, thank you, thank you, thank you to each and every person who took the time to write a piece for this book.

It's a beautiful masterpiece of real people discussing real life. I laughed, I cried, I laughed again and then cried again. Every single person who formed a part of this book is brave and kind. It's not easy to open up about your traumas and it's definitely not an easy thing to do in front of the entire world. They each open themselves up to the reader, allowing us to see that its ALL OK, I wish I had half the courage that they have.

You'd think it would be a difficult read since it revolves around mental health, but it's truly a book I didn't want to put down. One I'm sure I'll pick up again and again. The people who shared their stories are inspiring. The honesty that comes through on each page is refreshing.

I'd recommend this book to anyone no matter their age. It's an incredible book to read, it shows you that everyone goes through life with all its beauty, ugliness, ups and downs and no one has to face this universe alone. It shows you that if you give yourself a chance and look away from your fear/anxiety for just a moment you'll realize there's someone there waiting to stand by you.

[Delyth · Rating 5 out of 5]

Something I can see myself returning to every year, brilliant.

[Saara Karjalainen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was something new for me, as it was about mental healt - the topic I have not read about. It was an interesting and touching book, and some of the stories will stay in mind for a long time, I know it already. I cried many times while reading this book (not too surprising though). I especially remember the essays Boys don't die by Jonah Freud, Did you have a dance? by Eve Delaney and His best man by Jack Rooke.

[Madelon North · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book. Essay collections about mental health are my favourite way to read about it, because you get different perspectives. You also get different illnesses, different ways of coping, and there is something for everyone. I appreciate that no one person experiences mental illness the same, and this collection of essays has a broad range that I think will make people feel less alone. It definitely made me feel that way.