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Mental Illness Buffet
Mental Illness Buffet - 1 person, 8 major illnesses Demons, phantom pains, violent convulsions, loss of a loved one, addiction, PTSD and more. Do you insist you're not better even when professionals say otherwise? It's not because you use illness as a crutch. It's not because you can't accept flaws and it's not because you can't move on. It's because of daily damages. Stop saying "I'm better" just to agree with the experts. Stop saying it because your loved ones are desperate. Learn about daily damages. Unleash an era where "I'm better" finally comes from the heart.
193 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 4, 2020
8 people are currently reading
40 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews
June 28, 2020
Kunal Roy did an excellent job of capturing the challenges of mental illness. His insights into how the mental health community focuses on crisis management vs daily challenges is what made the book worthwhile for me. I would recommend this book for family members coping with chronic mental health issues or students who are entering the field. There were times in the book that I wanted him to write more in-depth about his experiences especially with treatments and interactions with family members. Overall, an interesting perspective on mental illness from a patient’s world.
June 16, 2020
This is one of the best mental health books I have ever read. I love how it is outlined on various topics from the authors experiences. I could empathize throughout the book as if I was in a book club sharing testamonies. Where I had no experience on the matter I sympathized with the author. To be blunt. A damn fantastic read for a book group that would be better sharing personal experiences added with a professional therapist leading the book club. Well worth 5 stars.
June 29, 2020
“Life consisted only of fears, dangers and betrayals. That was the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.” When shortly after starting the book you read something so cheery you start to get a certain idea of what you're in for.
Yes indeedy, this is not for the light of heart. This is a book that recounts the author's growing up with various mental health problems. On the one hand I can't but admire how very human it makes the telling while on the other it gives the read an underlying sense of discomfort that probably isn't for everyone and certainly makes for a less enjoyable read.
That said I deeply appreciate how many ponder worthy thoughts this book has. For example: “It's not easy to be unforgiving. Contrary to popular belief, unforgiveness is not a personality trait. It is not born of common frustration and it is not due to an onslaught of general insults. Unforgiveness sparks when you are wrongly treated as the faulty party. But it really takes off when your proudest strengths/efforts are faulted because someone else can't or won't admit their own faults.” Now whatever your opinion on the quote, can you honestly say that isn't something to chew on? This book is rife with such moments. It also has plenty of confusion. Because the retelling feels as if it should be linear (I got the general idea that it started from childhood, took pitstops at 10, 15... then talked about the 10-15 age range again?) and though it connects (to some extent) there are also some “chapters” like the 'mysterious' one that come out of almost nowhere and aren't mentioned again until “the reveal” which isn't the worlds worst idea but also makes for a bumpy ride of a read in my opinion.
Another thing I like about this book is that throughout the retelling there's a dry sense of humor that if perhaps has the air of a nihilist also brings with it a few chuckles that help to not drown in the seriousness of the topic (even if I'm of the opinion it's more the author's personality coming through than a style choice I still like it).
For the con side of this review I again point to that this is at times “a bumpy ride.” Also here is where I'll mention that the cover looks like someone just used paint to draw it up. Is it a valid representation of mental illness? Believe it or not, I think so, however there's no discounting that it might also hinder the book commercially. That said, it's just something to point out and doesn't really retract from the read to me.
Then there's the elephant in the room: I only rated this four stars. Why, if I have more positive things to day than negative? Well, simply because of the enjoyment...let's put it this way, if the author was petrified of their own “ghosts” how exactly am I suppose to react otherwise? So no, this gets maybe two stars for just enjoyment BUT that's not the only factor to take into consideration. This is very thought provoking, it is also an honest account from a person's experience/point of view about something deeply misunderstood as well as misinterpreted. No one knows how mental illness truly affects a person except the person themselves and thanks to that illness maybe not even them. Which is to say that I won't give this five stars because it's too doom and gloom (if real) to be enjoyable but it's certainly a worthwhile read as long as you are well aware of what you are in for. For that same reason I'd really only recommend this for people interested in this very specific subject from this style of narration/point of view. It is real, it isn't happy, it's a read to reflect on and hopefully learn from.
Yes indeedy, this is not for the light of heart. This is a book that recounts the author's growing up with various mental health problems. On the one hand I can't but admire how very human it makes the telling while on the other it gives the read an underlying sense of discomfort that probably isn't for everyone and certainly makes for a less enjoyable read.
That said I deeply appreciate how many ponder worthy thoughts this book has. For example: “It's not easy to be unforgiving. Contrary to popular belief, unforgiveness is not a personality trait. It is not born of common frustration and it is not due to an onslaught of general insults. Unforgiveness sparks when you are wrongly treated as the faulty party. But it really takes off when your proudest strengths/efforts are faulted because someone else can't or won't admit their own faults.” Now whatever your opinion on the quote, can you honestly say that isn't something to chew on? This book is rife with such moments. It also has plenty of confusion. Because the retelling feels as if it should be linear (I got the general idea that it started from childhood, took pitstops at 10, 15... then talked about the 10-15 age range again?) and though it connects (to some extent) there are also some “chapters” like the 'mysterious' one that come out of almost nowhere and aren't mentioned again until “the reveal” which isn't the worlds worst idea but also makes for a bumpy ride of a read in my opinion.
Another thing I like about this book is that throughout the retelling there's a dry sense of humor that if perhaps has the air of a nihilist also brings with it a few chuckles that help to not drown in the seriousness of the topic (even if I'm of the opinion it's more the author's personality coming through than a style choice I still like it).
For the con side of this review I again point to that this is at times “a bumpy ride.” Also here is where I'll mention that the cover looks like someone just used paint to draw it up. Is it a valid representation of mental illness? Believe it or not, I think so, however there's no discounting that it might also hinder the book commercially. That said, it's just something to point out and doesn't really retract from the read to me.
Then there's the elephant in the room: I only rated this four stars. Why, if I have more positive things to day than negative? Well, simply because of the enjoyment...let's put it this way, if the author was petrified of their own “ghosts” how exactly am I suppose to react otherwise? So no, this gets maybe two stars for just enjoyment BUT that's not the only factor to take into consideration. This is very thought provoking, it is also an honest account from a person's experience/point of view about something deeply misunderstood as well as misinterpreted. No one knows how mental illness truly affects a person except the person themselves and thanks to that illness maybe not even them. Which is to say that I won't give this five stars because it's too doom and gloom (if real) to be enjoyable but it's certainly a worthwhile read as long as you are well aware of what you are in for. For that same reason I'd really only recommend this for people interested in this very specific subject from this style of narration/point of view. It is real, it isn't happy, it's a read to reflect on and hopefully learn from.
June 30, 2020
This book really does a great job of talking about mental illness. Instead of portraying or making the reader feel that people with mental illnesses are dangerous or abnormal, the author focuses on the daily challenges that those people face.
July 5, 2020
I think the content of this book is really interesting, unfortunately I could not get on with the writing style. It was a real shame because the topics it covers really interest me and if you can get past the slightly jumpy style I am sure you would enjoy this insight into the life of a person suffering from mental health challenges
August 10, 2020
"Unforgiveness sparks when you are wrongly treated as the faulty party. But it really takes off when your proudest strengths/efforts are faulted because someone else can't or won't admit their own faults".
-Kunal Roy
Kunal did an amazing job capturing mental illness and putting to on paper. He gives you a deep look into his life and dealing with the violent convulsions, the ghosts that would talk to him, and all the whispers and sounds he would hear on a regular basis. I will tell you to read this book with caution as it has a lot of elements that can be triggering and hard to read. I mean that's the whole point of the book right? Talking about things that you're uncomfortable about, especially when it's you that's that going through it. Kunal also gives you great insight on how it is to deal with people that don't take you seriously when you're dealing with your own demons, such as as your own psychiatrist. I think that was the one part of the book that made me absolutely enraged. To have someone you're supposed to trust to help you and be unbiased tell you awful things....it really hits home for me. One of the main reasons I haven't looked for another therapist.
Kunal was very brave in sharing his experiences so openly and bluntly. I think mental illness shouldn't be looked at like it's taboo. It should be normalized and people shouldn't have to feel ashamed for being how they are. Huge thanks to the author for reaching out and providing me with a copy of the book for an honest review.
-Kunal Roy
Kunal did an amazing job capturing mental illness and putting to on paper. He gives you a deep look into his life and dealing with the violent convulsions, the ghosts that would talk to him, and all the whispers and sounds he would hear on a regular basis. I will tell you to read this book with caution as it has a lot of elements that can be triggering and hard to read. I mean that's the whole point of the book right? Talking about things that you're uncomfortable about, especially when it's you that's that going through it. Kunal also gives you great insight on how it is to deal with people that don't take you seriously when you're dealing with your own demons, such as as your own psychiatrist. I think that was the one part of the book that made me absolutely enraged. To have someone you're supposed to trust to help you and be unbiased tell you awful things....it really hits home for me. One of the main reasons I haven't looked for another therapist.
Kunal was very brave in sharing his experiences so openly and bluntly. I think mental illness shouldn't be looked at like it's taboo. It should be normalized and people shouldn't have to feel ashamed for being how they are. Huge thanks to the author for reaching out and providing me with a copy of the book for an honest review.
July 20, 2020
This book in many ways, like a shaft of light, cuts through the 'professional sterility' of many modern approaches to mental illness. Kunal Roy, the author, puts a complex and complicated long series of events together well in one book. He isn't overly-detailed and doesn't seem to leave anything unsaid. He is, in fact, very honest about his personal struggles with several mental illnesses such as panic disorder and schizophrenia.
I've struggled with anxiety disorder myself and have met many people who've also struggled with it as well as with many other mental illnesses. I still believe there are ways to successfully treat and resolve all mental illnesses. Whether or not those ways have been found is another issue. I like this author's honest reporting of his experience with experts who did or didn't understand him. People suffering with mental illnesses can benefit from knowing that they can acknowledge that experts don't know everything. One can only know what he knows.
I've noticed a lack of personal or applicable and practical knowledge in much of the psych field. I hope that Roy is able, after he receives his PhD, to take a more reasonable, pragmatic, and hands-on approach as a psychologist. I'll hold on to this book and share it with others for sure.
I've struggled with anxiety disorder myself and have met many people who've also struggled with it as well as with many other mental illnesses. I still believe there are ways to successfully treat and resolve all mental illnesses. Whether or not those ways have been found is another issue. I like this author's honest reporting of his experience with experts who did or didn't understand him. People suffering with mental illnesses can benefit from knowing that they can acknowledge that experts don't know everything. One can only know what he knows.
I've noticed a lack of personal or applicable and practical knowledge in much of the psych field. I hope that Roy is able, after he receives his PhD, to take a more reasonable, pragmatic, and hands-on approach as a psychologist. I'll hold on to this book and share it with others for sure.
July 10, 2020
I never felt so uneasy, reading a book. Honestly, my curiosity to read was just to discover something peaceful. But, It didn’t come up.
Mental illness buffet felt like being in a never-ending storm. This is what beautifies it. Undoubtedly, the writer has shown blunt honesty in expressing his feelings.
I never have encountered a personality with mental illness. We hope such things never happen to anyone. But we don’t live in a perfect world. Mental illness is harsh concealed truth and it hurts.
The book is divided into four parts. I can briefly summaries it into
Personal trauma
Author perspective to the world
Advice to psychiatrist
Recommendations to people
So, If you want to know what it feels to be inside the head of such people, you are one click away to purchase this book.
The book can be really handy for a professional psychiatrist-a good case study. For rest, I just want to say pick it up if you dare.
Mental illness buffet felt like being in a never-ending storm. This is what beautifies it. Undoubtedly, the writer has shown blunt honesty in expressing his feelings.
I never have encountered a personality with mental illness. We hope such things never happen to anyone. But we don’t live in a perfect world. Mental illness is harsh concealed truth and it hurts.
The book is divided into four parts. I can briefly summaries it into
Personal trauma
Author perspective to the world
Advice to psychiatrist
Recommendations to people
So, If you want to know what it feels to be inside the head of such people, you are one click away to purchase this book.
The book can be really handy for a professional psychiatrist-a good case study. For rest, I just want to say pick it up if you dare.
July 14, 2020
This book written by the amazing author Kunal Roy was well written and helped me to understand more about mental illness. Reading this book helped me realize that people do go through things that really have them feeling down and out. In this book, the author explained there life situations using characters whom they set forth to act out these visions to the reader. Excellent job. I would honestly say that people that go through things such as in this book, losing their mother for example, that can destroy a person and have a person in depression causing mental illness. This book, showed me that just because a person is going through what they are going through does not make them less of a person, and they should not be treated differently, are even looked at differently. This book taught me a lot, and I recommend this book 5 stars and needs to be read, by anyone that does not know truly about mental illness. 😊
July 1, 2020
This 4 part tome shows the extremely vulnerable viewpoint of a very mentally ill individual. The author bravely writes about his incredibly upsetting mental illness in order to educate us.
Honestly, I’ve never read/heard about mental illness in such an upsetting, disturbing, and candid way. This was so very real and so very refreshing. Rarely if ever do I see people who are honest.
The most helpful part of his writing, was not held within parts 1-3. Part 4 actually really dove deep into the crux of the author’s dissertation. While mental illness wears people down for their entire life; “daily damage” wreaks the most havoc. Never, have I ever seen the term “daily damage.” It’s meaningful and new. Read parts 1-3. Fine. Cool. Interesting. But if you don’t have the time, skip to part 4 and really gain some new insight.
Honestly, I’ve never read/heard about mental illness in such an upsetting, disturbing, and candid way. This was so very real and so very refreshing. Rarely if ever do I see people who are honest.
The most helpful part of his writing, was not held within parts 1-3. Part 4 actually really dove deep into the crux of the author’s dissertation. While mental illness wears people down for their entire life; “daily damage” wreaks the most havoc. Never, have I ever seen the term “daily damage.” It’s meaningful and new. Read parts 1-3. Fine. Cool. Interesting. But if you don’t have the time, skip to part 4 and really gain some new insight.
July 30, 2020
The author has run a marathon or two in the game of life and experienced many a messed up situation. Through it all, he has come up with this great personal history which illustrates his main points. Trauma, difficulties, and daily problems contribute to who we are but we don't lose that control which we all have. There is no state of "bad" or state of "good." There are myriad factors and interacting principles which make up our lives. This book is great at showing examples when presenting principles. Without the struggle which the author has undergone, I don't think the reader could come away with being so instructed and benefitted. It was a very good read to delve into some therapeutic advice. I highly recommend this one if you are feeling depressed, alone, PTSD, anything and everything!
August 4, 2020
"Mental Illness Buffet" is one of those books where the title draws you in and the story stays with you forever. I enjoyed reading it although it had some darker content throughout the book, but that's honestly expected with this particular subject. Mental health issues can be difficult, scary even, so I commend the author for being brave enough to tackle such a topic while also giving readers a glimpse into his own personal journey dealing with mental illness. The book is well-written and does have bright spots tucked here and there that will definitely make you pause and appreciate life. Overall, "Mental Illness Buffet" is worth the read and will help you understand mental illness and the importance of mental health and wellness.
July 15, 2020
This novel is a gripping and important read for everyone. The taboo surrounding mental illness needs to disappear. Reading this novel is a great way to see inside the head of someone struggling with mental illness and makes you realize how serious metal illness is. The book follows the personal account of one person who suffers from eight different mental illnesses. The daily struggles he endures and describes to the reader are gut-wrenching and relatable in many ways. This novel does a wonderful job at giving the reader insight into mental illness and the "daily damage" that hurts the most.
July 16, 2020
Right from the start, Mental Illness Buffet takes the reader on a personal journey of what it’s like to deal with mental illness. The catchy title, the author’s writing style, and conversational tone all contribute to an easy to read book. Each chapter is like a snapshot in his struggle with daily life. This book is raw, emotional, a little humorous, and sad all at the same time. Many parts were easy to read quickly, whereas the “glossary” chapters were more of a skim through. Mostly because I just wanted to know more about his story. I would recommend this title to anyone wanting to understand the complexity of the illness.
July 13, 2020
This is a novel that is very unconventional in its structuring. What appears to at first be a prologue, and you would think will be chapters about life stages with the speaker coping with loss. The book is written in vignettes, and each one is either a symptom of their depression or something humiliating or embarrassing that happened. I was impressed in the way it is structured, and I recommend this to anyone struggling with depression, mental illness, or interested in a unique style of writing.
August 10, 2020
Informative, Enlightening, and Powerful
I gave this rating because I enjoyed the book. It was well written and full of good information. I learned a lot about mental illness that I had not known before. It teaches and helps you understand that mental illness involves more than what therapists tell you. I think this is an important book for mental health professionals and those with mental illness to read. I recommend this book for all those who care about and want to better understand mental illness.
I gave this rating because I enjoyed the book. It was well written and full of good information. I learned a lot about mental illness that I had not known before. It teaches and helps you understand that mental illness involves more than what therapists tell you. I think this is an important book for mental health professionals and those with mental illness to read. I recommend this book for all those who care about and want to better understand mental illness.
September 24, 2020
With what going on in the world and has gone on in the world in the past mental illness is very real with people that may surround us. The book is about the battles of the author has and had with mental illness and how they were able to coup with it. Many people face mental illness especially these days unaware of it and information from like mind people is beneficially. This is a good read to bring awareness to mental illness for those who don't have it and for those who do give them another way of looking at it to possibly help them out - recommend for all
July 1, 2020
This book offers great insight into the author’s personal journey with mental illness. It does a great job of tackling the tough issues and stigma surrounding mental illness and offers some light for those looking to learn more about mental health. The author’s writing is authentic, easy to read, and keeps you engaged. I would highly recommend this book to anyone looking to learn more about struggling with mental illness from a personal perspective!
July 14, 2020
I’ve only just begun this read but in light of COVID and so many changes in our life it’s already making me consider others in a completely different light. I have been fortunate to have less struggle than the author and it’s through this read that my eyes are slowly opening up to get a glimpse as to what others can be experiencing. This is a great book to expand horizons and gain a better connection to those around us.
August 3, 2020
Mental Illness Buffet by Kunal Roy is a captivating story documenting the ins and outs and ups and downs of mental illness. I was particularly drawn to the honesty and relatability of the author. In a world where there is still immense stigma surrounding mental illness, Roy takes us on a journey that goes a long way in knocking down those stigmas. I thoroughly enjoyed this book and would love to check-out other works by this author. I highly recommend this book to all!
June 30, 2020
Finished in one sitting. Thoroughly engrossing. Honest and forthright narration of illnesses the author struggled with. The strong point of the book, of course, is the analysis. The book will be of interest to not only general readers and practitioners but also be a great resource for class discussion in Psychology courses in colleges and Universities. Full marks to the author.
July 14, 2020
Mental Illness Buffet immediately caught my attention. From the beginning I was just hooked. The tale is a brilliant work that catalogues every stage of his mental illness and the measures that he takes to attempt to deal with it. It’s a must-read for anyone who has experienced mental illness. This book is a memoir, a true view of those struggling with mental illnesses in the 21st Century.
July 25, 2020
Very deep and informational
This book showed how many problems people with mental illness can actually have and how sometimes they can’t be treated the same as other people. It did get a little confusing here and there as to what the author was trying to say. I think this book would help a lot of people understand mental illness more
This book showed how many problems people with mental illness can actually have and how sometimes they can’t be treated the same as other people. It did get a little confusing here and there as to what the author was trying to say. I think this book would help a lot of people understand mental illness more
July 31, 2020
A brave, honest and intense look at what it’s like to live with a mental illness. In describing a major depressive episode: “Everybody except me was an insufferable energy whore.” And “Where each and every moment feels like work.” He discusses what he calls “daily damages” with intelligence and insight. All in all, I’m glad to have spent time with him.
August 4, 2020
In my opinion, the author did an excellent job with this book. The author showed good ideas in crisis management in the face of daily challenges. I could say that this book is recommended for anyone facing mental health issues. The author shows an interesting perspective on this mental illness from the point of view of a patient.
August 30, 2020
Interesting!
The title of the book, the story- both are very interesting, specially for any person who is interested to know human psychology. What seemed more curious to me, is the first person experience telling of the author, of several serious mental health issues, and he did a good job in depicting the conflicts a troubled mind goes through.
The title of the book, the story- both are very interesting, specially for any person who is interested to know human psychology. What seemed more curious to me, is the first person experience telling of the author, of several serious mental health issues, and he did a good job in depicting the conflicts a troubled mind goes through.
July 3, 2020
I really love this book. It’s very different and it shows others how to identify with mental illness which isn’t a easy thing to do. Appreciate the author sharing their not so good experience because their are definitely great lessons in this book.
July 14, 2020
I just love this book. The book really manages to delve into all the many facets of mental illness. It is ultimately a book about mental illness and how we approach it and how to accept it. Kunal is an amazing author.
August 3, 2020
This book is well written and it helped me understand more about mental health. I think it is important for many people to read because it helps explain mental health and it affects people. I learned a lot from this book and I recommend others to read this book as well!
July 20, 2020
Great book! I learned so much!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 39 reviews