What do you think?
Rate this book
An Amazing Journey Into the Psychotic Mind: Breaking the Spell of the Ivory Tower
Psychiatry maintains the voices schizophrenics hear are meaningless auditory hallucinations caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain. Actual clinical investigation into the matter reveals this to be a false claim. Dr. Wilson Van Dusen, a clinical psychologist and author of “The Presence of Spirits in Madness” began holding coherent conversations with the voices of his schizophrenic patients decades ago. He discovered they precisely matched what Christian Mystic Emanuel Swedenborg described as evil spirits. Following up with scores of investigative interviews with his own schizophrenic patients, Jerry Marzinsky, a psychiatric evaluator, verified Van Dusen’s astonishing the voices are real. They are conscious, parasitic entities.
152 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2021
27 people are currently reading
187 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews
May 12, 2021
You can watch my full review for this Amazing book on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/LMFlr-nWcuY
This book is an interesting and alternative look at schizophrenia, and I have to be honest, it has blown my mind.
The book goes through the history of schizophrenia treatments. It is clear that psychotic episodes are nothing new, throughout the ages people have suffered from madness, often described as possessions. In the past madness has been driven out by shamans or religious people who saw the madness as an invasion of the human vessel by dark spirits. Leading on from the enlightenment, medical science has increasingly taken over the role of dealing with madness, to the point that in the West today pharmaceutical companies and educational authorities work in lockstep to decide what is the most appropriate diagnosis and treatment for patients, and they make sure that practitioners have to be licensed and work within these agreements. It has been a bumpy road for these forces to gain their stronghold of control over mental illness, but are they achieving much more than repressing symptoms?
One of the primary symptoms of schizophrenia is hearing voices. According to Marzinsky, when patients try to ignore the voices, they get louder, and whilst the powerful drugs can help to dull the voices, when the brain readjusts to take account of them, the voices usually return. schizophrenics are told that the voices they hear are hallucinations, they are not real and they should ignore them. Despite being discouraged by his work superiors, Marzinsky took a different approach to treating his patients and asked them more about their voices, what were they saying? After years of listening to many patients tell him about the nature of their voices, Marzinsky has concluded that the voices are not random hallucinations, they follow patterns and they do not originate within the person hearing them. Marzinsky’s experiences are fascinating, frightening and convincing.
This book is written by Marzinsky and Swiney but it also has a lot of contributions from other people who have worked in and explored this area. Between them they share strikingly similar experiences of the voices heard by schizophrenics, experiences that are too similar to be written off as coincidence. As Marzinsky questions, if the voices heard by schizophrenics are hallucinations that only exist in their minds, then they wouldn’t share the same characteristics and patterns in patients in different parts of the world or living in different ages.
Many schizophrenics that Marzinsky and Swiney have helped with their methods of evicting the voices, have recovered, something which medical science says doesn’t happen. If sufferers learn to understand that the voices do not come from within themselves and are an outside entity that benefits from their feelings of pain, misery and hatred; patients can then feel some sense of control; they are not crazy, they are being attacked; with that knowledge they can then fight back.
This book, ‘An Amazing Journey into the Psychotic Mind’ brings together referenced information and facts and figures, as well as the wisdom that has been gathered from experience and personal enquiry. It is scattered with personal quotes which draw on personal experience both working with schizophrenics and experiencing the voices first hand. This was book was written in an informal style which makes it accessible to non-medical people. It was very passionately written, sometimes a little heated; although I felt convinced by the arguments, other people might need them to be a little more measured to be able to open their minds to the alternative arguments being presented. It was well researched, as well as the personal experience of the contributors there were lots of citations, it would’ve been nice to have a list of the referenced books for further reading as many of them sounded interesting.
I particularly recommend this book for people suffering from mental health problems and for people supporting those suffering. I also recommend it for people trying to understand more about what life is about, as well as people exploring their faith and belief system. I have found this book both a terrifying and a fascinating read, it certainly held my attention all the way through. This book was so interesting I flew through it. It was very thought provoking and has given me a lot to think about.
You can watch my full review for this Amazing book on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/LMFlr-nWcuY
This book is an interesting and alternative look at schizophrenia, and I have to be honest, it has blown my mind.
The book goes through the history of schizophrenia treatments. It is clear that psychotic episodes are nothing new, throughout the ages people have suffered from madness, often described as possessions. In the past madness has been driven out by shamans or religious people who saw the madness as an invasion of the human vessel by dark spirits. Leading on from the enlightenment, medical science has increasingly taken over the role of dealing with madness, to the point that in the West today pharmaceutical companies and educational authorities work in lockstep to decide what is the most appropriate diagnosis and treatment for patients, and they make sure that practitioners have to be licensed and work within these agreements. It has been a bumpy road for these forces to gain their stronghold of control over mental illness, but are they achieving much more than repressing symptoms?
One of the primary symptoms of schizophrenia is hearing voices. According to Marzinsky, when patients try to ignore the voices, they get louder, and whilst the powerful drugs can help to dull the voices, when the brain readjusts to take account of them, the voices usually return. schizophrenics are told that the voices they hear are hallucinations, they are not real and they should ignore them. Despite being discouraged by his work superiors, Marzinsky took a different approach to treating his patients and asked them more about their voices, what were they saying? After years of listening to many patients tell him about the nature of their voices, Marzinsky has concluded that the voices are not random hallucinations, they follow patterns and they do not originate within the person hearing them. Marzinsky’s experiences are fascinating, frightening and convincing.
This book is written by Marzinsky and Swiney but it also has a lot of contributions from other people who have worked in and explored this area. Between them they share strikingly similar experiences of the voices heard by schizophrenics, experiences that are too similar to be written off as coincidence. As Marzinsky questions, if the voices heard by schizophrenics are hallucinations that only exist in their minds, then they wouldn’t share the same characteristics and patterns in patients in different parts of the world or living in different ages.
Many schizophrenics that Marzinsky and Swiney have helped with their methods of evicting the voices, have recovered, something which medical science says doesn’t happen. If sufferers learn to understand that the voices do not come from within themselves and are an outside entity that benefits from their feelings of pain, misery and hatred; patients can then feel some sense of control; they are not crazy, they are being attacked; with that knowledge they can then fight back.
This book, ‘An Amazing Journey into the Psychotic Mind’ brings together referenced information and facts and figures, as well as the wisdom that has been gathered from experience and personal enquiry. It is scattered with personal quotes which draw on personal experience both working with schizophrenics and experiencing the voices first hand. This was book was written in an informal style which makes it accessible to non-medical people. It was very passionately written, sometimes a little heated; although I felt convinced by the arguments, other people might need them to be a little more measured to be able to open their minds to the alternative arguments being presented. It was well researched, as well as the personal experience of the contributors there were lots of citations, it would’ve been nice to have a list of the referenced books for further reading as many of them sounded interesting.
I particularly recommend this book for people suffering from mental health problems and for people supporting those suffering. I also recommend it for people trying to understand more about what life is about, as well as people exploring their faith and belief system. I have found this book both a terrifying and a fascinating read, it certainly held my attention all the way through. This book was so interesting I flew through it. It was very thought provoking and has given me a lot to think about.
You can watch my full review for this Amazing book on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/LMFlr-nWcuY
October 20, 2020
Eye-opening book on paranoid schizophrenia. Surprisingly easy reading for the subject matter.
January 30, 2021
This is a fascinating and excellent read. Jerry offers an alternative view from today's traditional methods working with psychotic patients. It pushes the boundaries based on current psychological beliefs that hearing voices is only hallucinatory in origin. As a professional practitioner of psychotherapy myself, I know this to be a very controversial issue among professionals in the mental health field. However, the more we learn the more we discover how much there is to explore. I believe its important to keep an open mind. Jerry depicts years of his own personal and professional experience working with inexplicable events that took place in his encounters with his patients. This is definitely worth reading.
June 6, 2022
Fascinating
Fascinating read. Gives you important insights into what is really behind the voices of schizophrenics. I can't believe the truth of this situation is not being explored properly, so many people could be rescued from the demonic.
Demons are real. But so is Jesus and through him is our salvation.
I recommend anyone who is interested in this area to also read books on exorcists.
Also, for anyone experiencing spiritual warfare: pray the rosary.
Fascinating read. Gives you important insights into what is really behind the voices of schizophrenics. I can't believe the truth of this situation is not being explored properly, so many people could be rescued from the demonic.
Demons are real. But so is Jesus and through him is our salvation.
I recommend anyone who is interested in this area to also read books on exorcists.
Also, for anyone experiencing spiritual warfare: pray the rosary.
March 27, 2024
I found Jerry Marzinsky on a podcast and I consider him a hero. He has confirmed my suspicions that schizophrenia is a spiritual problem, not a medical one. The solution is the Mace energy method. Research it!
December 19, 2023
A deeply profound and well portrayed interpretation of of psychotic illnesses through a holistic lense. Perhaps baised as I’m very anti a reductionist approach to health care. Historical, innovative and outrageously comprehendible considering the scientific depth of the study.
July 29, 2022
Phenomenal book. I've read it since I know two people that had psychological, or better said spiritual issues. One had anxiety, panic attacks and depression, other had undiagnosed schizophrenia. I say had, because both overcame their afflictions with the combination of drugs and spiritual practice.
I was intrigued by the research done by Jerry Marzinsky and Sherry Swiney, which shows that the voices that the "mentally ill" hear aren't hallucinations or the mind playing tricks (some of them are, but a minority), but that it's the result of possession.
Authors have more than half a century of experience, both personal and working with other people and they helped many people regain their peace and stop the voices, something that is unachievable for the modern "scientific" psychology and psychiatry.
I've spoken to my friend that had the anxiety and depression issues, he experienced exactly the same symptoms as outlined in this book, reported loss of physical energy after the attacks, etc. Most of the people have exactly the same symptoms: extremely negative thoughts, which tend to move the person away from their family, ANY form of religious or spiritual work, especially prayer and anyone who's able to understand and help the person fight these demons.
I feel sorry for all the possessed people, that never get the help they need and the hell they're going trough is considered a "hallucination" or "mind working against itself". Nobody listens to them, doesn't try to get to the bottom of the issue. A psychiatrist or psychologist is offended by the questions such as "where do thoughts come from", "what are thoughts", they take this as a challenge and attempt to disrupt the dogma. Most academics truly live in an Ivory Tower, that's the same in all branches, these people simply have no capability of thinking outside their "science" religion.
The author was constantly sabotaged by the establishment, they constantly tried to disrupt any new method that he introduced, which had results with the patients. I have to say that the modern medicine is a mix of ignorance and pride, in the case of lower practitioners (doctors, nurses) and evil, in the case of the people who create and nurture the dogma (WHO and academia financed by them, and many other groups of same type), to keep the pharmaceutical machinery going.
If for 100 years you didn't cure A SINGLE PERSON, the approach and methodology is not good. But it's easy to tell someone, just be drugged all your life, drained and tired all the time, with no capability of any advanced activity. It's no wonder that many of these poor sick people end up homeless or in prison, they stop taking their meds because of horrible side-effects, the possession comes back a lot stronger and they cave in and listen to them.
I thank Jerry and Sherry from the bottom of my heart for doing so much for the people that are ostracized and abused by the system, curing many of them permanently.
I recommend this book to everyone that wants to get deeper understanding of mental illnesses and especially to those who are diagnosed as schizophrenics or hear voices, it might be the first step to your salvation.
I was intrigued by the research done by Jerry Marzinsky and Sherry Swiney, which shows that the voices that the "mentally ill" hear aren't hallucinations or the mind playing tricks (some of them are, but a minority), but that it's the result of possession.
Authors have more than half a century of experience, both personal and working with other people and they helped many people regain their peace and stop the voices, something that is unachievable for the modern "scientific" psychology and psychiatry.
I've spoken to my friend that had the anxiety and depression issues, he experienced exactly the same symptoms as outlined in this book, reported loss of physical energy after the attacks, etc. Most of the people have exactly the same symptoms: extremely negative thoughts, which tend to move the person away from their family, ANY form of religious or spiritual work, especially prayer and anyone who's able to understand and help the person fight these demons.
I feel sorry for all the possessed people, that never get the help they need and the hell they're going trough is considered a "hallucination" or "mind working against itself". Nobody listens to them, doesn't try to get to the bottom of the issue. A psychiatrist or psychologist is offended by the questions such as "where do thoughts come from", "what are thoughts", they take this as a challenge and attempt to disrupt the dogma. Most academics truly live in an Ivory Tower, that's the same in all branches, these people simply have no capability of thinking outside their "science" religion.
The author was constantly sabotaged by the establishment, they constantly tried to disrupt any new method that he introduced, which had results with the patients. I have to say that the modern medicine is a mix of ignorance and pride, in the case of lower practitioners (doctors, nurses) and evil, in the case of the people who create and nurture the dogma (WHO and academia financed by them, and many other groups of same type), to keep the pharmaceutical machinery going.
If for 100 years you didn't cure A SINGLE PERSON, the approach and methodology is not good. But it's easy to tell someone, just be drugged all your life, drained and tired all the time, with no capability of any advanced activity. It's no wonder that many of these poor sick people end up homeless or in prison, they stop taking their meds because of horrible side-effects, the possession comes back a lot stronger and they cave in and listen to them.
I thank Jerry and Sherry from the bottom of my heart for doing so much for the people that are ostracized and abused by the system, curing many of them permanently.
I recommend this book to everyone that wants to get deeper understanding of mental illnesses and especially to those who are diagnosed as schizophrenics or hear voices, it might be the first step to your salvation.
January 20, 2026
A new perspective on help for mentally ill
I found this book desperately looking for help for my mentally ill stepdaughter and it did not disappoint. My stepdaughter is and has been on all the "correct" protocols for severe symptoms of mental health and she is getting worse. Instead of using the powerful medications to silence these patients, I agree with this author that the psychiatric community should take the time to find the underlying causes of the patients mentally illness which is more spiritual/behaviorally based than chemically based. Why not try this author's method, with millions of mentally ill persons (and more becoming ill) in this country) we have nothing to lose by at least trying these methods the author suggests.
I found this book desperately looking for help for my mentally ill stepdaughter and it did not disappoint. My stepdaughter is and has been on all the "correct" protocols for severe symptoms of mental health and she is getting worse. Instead of using the powerful medications to silence these patients, I agree with this author that the psychiatric community should take the time to find the underlying causes of the patients mentally illness which is more spiritual/behaviorally based than chemically based. Why not try this author's method, with millions of mentally ill persons (and more becoming ill) in this country) we have nothing to lose by at least trying these methods the author suggests.
December 11, 2023
Glad I read this! Information was important and relevant. Presentation was choppy.
June 26, 2024
Interesting theory, Mr. Marzinksy. The gnostic bit was out of place
March 10, 2025
It’s an excellent book, it is an eye opener, I love reading about renegade who can think outside the box and therefore make amazing discovery.
May 18, 2025
A refreshing rethink for mental health
A refreshing rethink for mental health. Moving into the theory of how spiritual health affects mental health. A useful resource.
A refreshing rethink for mental health. Moving into the theory of how spiritual health affects mental health. A useful resource.
July 23, 2025
A very good read that confirmed my own long-held suspicions on the spiritual origins of psychosis.
July 2, 2024
A must read for all schizophrenics
This book has given me so much peace and clarity about the affliction that is upon me. Anyone whose been diagnosed with schizophrenia, specifically the paranoid type, will find this book groundbreaking. I finally felt seen, reading about all the accounts of other schizophrenics. And you'll finally learn so much about the negative voices that torment you. I've learned about their nature, their purpose, and how to minimize them. I cannot recommend this book enough.
This book has given me so much peace and clarity about the affliction that is upon me. Anyone whose been diagnosed with schizophrenia, specifically the paranoid type, will find this book groundbreaking. I finally felt seen, reading about all the accounts of other schizophrenics. And you'll finally learn so much about the negative voices that torment you. I've learned about their nature, their purpose, and how to minimize them. I cannot recommend this book enough.
Displaying 1 - 14 of 14 reviews