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In My Room: The Recovery Journey as Encountered by a Psychiatrist
'The room is a space for the mind, and a metaphor for the mind at the same time. Most of us will never find ourselves on a psychiatrist's couch and yet our lives would be perilous if we did not make space for our mental health. In this space, we can hold up a mirror and acknowledge our search for meaning. By going to the room, life becomes more resourceful and rewarding. In showing up there, we show up for life itself.'
Jim Lucey has been working for more than 25 years with patients suffering from mental health problems. When people at their most vulnerable present to his room at St Patrick's University Hospital, Dublin, they reveal their fears, traumas, and very real human predicaments. Most of the assessments described in this book took place in this room. While the patients' stories are diverse, one common theme emerges - that of recovery. The psychiatrist and patients show us that recovery is possible, if we can find a way to engage.
Many of us find it difficult to speak of the mind, and care of the mind requires an ability to listen and to reflect. This inspiring book will give you many moments of reflection as you journey with Jim's patients towards recovery, and will restore your faith in the human experience.
'Using the art of clinical storytelling, Professor Lucey allows us to enter his room - an extraordinary space where theory informs practice and practice informs theory ... In My Room provides valuable insights that will benefit every human being interested in better understanding mental health. This is a beautiful book that should be read out loud at times, shared with others, and openly discussed' Charlotte R. Shore, RN, BSN, Newton Wellesley Hospital, USA and David A. Shore, PhD, Harvard University
Jim Lucey has been working for more than 25 years with patients suffering from mental health problems. When people at their most vulnerable present to his room at St Patrick's University Hospital, Dublin, they reveal their fears, traumas, and very real human predicaments. Most of the assessments described in this book took place in this room. While the patients' stories are diverse, one common theme emerges - that of recovery. The psychiatrist and patients show us that recovery is possible, if we can find a way to engage.
Many of us find it difficult to speak of the mind, and care of the mind requires an ability to listen and to reflect. This inspiring book will give you many moments of reflection as you journey with Jim's patients towards recovery, and will restore your faith in the human experience.
'Using the art of clinical storytelling, Professor Lucey allows us to enter his room - an extraordinary space where theory informs practice and practice informs theory ... In My Room provides valuable insights that will benefit every human being interested in better understanding mental health. This is a beautiful book that should be read out loud at times, shared with others, and openly discussed' Charlotte R. Shore, RN, BSN, Newton Wellesley Hospital, USA and David A. Shore, PhD, Harvard University
Audiobook
First published March 14, 2014
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Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
June 11, 2021
A well narrated non-fiction audiobook, recounting interesting details of the patients that this Irish Psychiatrist has treated. Really held my interest and seemed filled with common sense, without a huge amount of medical detail. Outside what I would normally listen to but the Irish Lilt and humour was very enjoyable.
November 28, 2021
3.5 stars
Jim's writing is accessible and eloquent. His inclusion of poetry, including Emily Dickenson, WB Yeats and Robert Frost, throughout the book elevates it.
I found his thoughts around the mental health stigma in Ireland to be very insightful. He uses the phrase "self stigma" which was new to me but I feel that many of us do indeed feel this. His commentary about the need for centres of excellence for mental health as we have for other healthcare specialties, such as cancer, rings true.
His case studies throughout the book convey the variety of mental health conditions that any one of us could experience during our lives. He focuses upon telling the patients stories, sharing their treatment opportunities, recovery and resilience. I really liked the information he provides near the end of the book about the importance of "one good adult" in children's lives also.
Jim includes mental health presentations which are both familiar and those which are rare. I found this book insightful and uplifting. It encourages me that there are mental health professionals like Jim practicing in Ireland. I think this must be an incredibly difficult job to do and I'm grateful to all profesionals who try to help and support us through these challenging times in our lives.
Jim's writing is accessible and eloquent. His inclusion of poetry, including Emily Dickenson, WB Yeats and Robert Frost, throughout the book elevates it.
I found his thoughts around the mental health stigma in Ireland to be very insightful. He uses the phrase "self stigma" which was new to me but I feel that many of us do indeed feel this. His commentary about the need for centres of excellence for mental health as we have for other healthcare specialties, such as cancer, rings true.
His case studies throughout the book convey the variety of mental health conditions that any one of us could experience during our lives. He focuses upon telling the patients stories, sharing their treatment opportunities, recovery and resilience. I really liked the information he provides near the end of the book about the importance of "one good adult" in children's lives also.
Jim includes mental health presentations which are both familiar and those which are rare. I found this book insightful and uplifting. It encourages me that there are mental health professionals like Jim practicing in Ireland. I think this must be an incredibly difficult job to do and I'm grateful to all profesionals who try to help and support us through these challenging times in our lives.
September 27, 2021
This is good from a education point of view it is very informative and would provide someone who isn’t overly familiar with mental illness and the policies and procedures of the Irish mental health service a brilliant insight.
As I work in the mental health service and I am already knowledgeable with regards to ill MH, policies procedures etc this to me was monotonous. I thought this would be a non-fiction account of a psychiatrists encounters with mental health service users their own personal stories and journeys and what it means to achieve recovery on their own term. Sharing the funny, heartwarming and tragic. Instead this book is very formal, the recovery journeys were more along the lines of case studies rather then individuals.
It reminded me of the case studies in text books I studied for my nursing degree. This book is not something I could recommend to anyone working as a mental health professional. However for someone who has started studying mental health nursing/ MH HCA/ MH occupational therapy/MH social work etc or anyone who is uninformed about mental ill health and the Irish mental health service and would like to learn more this would be ideal.
As I work in the mental health service and I am already knowledgeable with regards to ill MH, policies procedures etc this to me was monotonous. I thought this would be a non-fiction account of a psychiatrists encounters with mental health service users their own personal stories and journeys and what it means to achieve recovery on their own term. Sharing the funny, heartwarming and tragic. Instead this book is very formal, the recovery journeys were more along the lines of case studies rather then individuals.
It reminded me of the case studies in text books I studied for my nursing degree. This book is not something I could recommend to anyone working as a mental health professional. However for someone who has started studying mental health nursing/ MH HCA/ MH occupational therapy/MH social work etc or anyone who is uninformed about mental ill health and the Irish mental health service and would like to learn more this would be ideal.
June 26, 2024
Favourite Line: “Many of us find it difficult to speak of the mind, and a poem can help to capture a lived experience, adding to it the elusive language of personal reflection, feelings, thoughts and insights.”
February 5, 2026
(a)
4.5 ⭐ / 5
Jim Lucey’s «In My Room» is a profound and reflective collection that blends poetry, personal reflection, and mental health awareness. What struck me most about this book was the careful attention it gives to the psychological and emotional dimensions of life—reminding us that mental health is as vital as physical health, yet often left unspoken.
The poems referenced within the book resonated strongly with me, particularly Seamus Heaney’s Postscript (“Words … for the Time Being”), with its beautiful evocation of nature and the meditative act of being present:
“And some time make the time to drive out west
Into County Clare, along the Flaggy Shore,
In September or October, when the wind
And the light are working off each other…”
This attention to detail, observation, and reflection mirrors the approach Lucey takes in his own writing—encouraging readers to pause and truly listen, not just hear, with thought: as Darren Boyne* puts it, “listening is hearing with thought just as feeling is emotion with thought.” Likewise, Emily Dickinson’s Hope is the Thing with Feathers is invoked to highlight resilience, the quiet but persistent voice of hope amidst darkness.
What makes this book particularly compelling is its candid exploration of the lingering effects of trauma, especially experiences from childhood that remain unprocessed and resurface in adulthood. Lucey emphasizes the importance of having a reliable, supportive person—an adult or mentor—throughout one’s life, particularly during adolescence, a time when vulnerability is heightened. The statistics are sobering: one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds worldwide, one in twelve teens aged 15–19 in Ireland have attempted suicide (Irish Examiner, 30.01.2026), and Ireland ranks 17th in Europe for suicide rates, with males aged 15–25 among the most affected (WHO, 2012). These numbers underline the urgency and relevance of Lucey’s message.
Overall, In My Room is a moving, insightful read that balances literary reflection with urgent social awareness. It reminds readers of the hidden complexity of the mind and the power of connection and support. For anyone interested in poetry, mental health, or simply understanding the human experience more deeply, this book is well worth reading.
*cannot verify name for some reason after hearing it in the audiobook
4.5 ⭐ / 5
Jim Lucey’s «In My Room» is a profound and reflective collection that blends poetry, personal reflection, and mental health awareness. What struck me most about this book was the careful attention it gives to the psychological and emotional dimensions of life—reminding us that mental health is as vital as physical health, yet often left unspoken.
The poems referenced within the book resonated strongly with me, particularly Seamus Heaney’s Postscript (“Words … for the Time Being”), with its beautiful evocation of nature and the meditative act of being present:
“And some time make the time to drive out west
Into County Clare, along the Flaggy Shore,
In September or October, when the wind
And the light are working off each other…”
This attention to detail, observation, and reflection mirrors the approach Lucey takes in his own writing—encouraging readers to pause and truly listen, not just hear, with thought: as Darren Boyne* puts it, “listening is hearing with thought just as feeling is emotion with thought.” Likewise, Emily Dickinson’s Hope is the Thing with Feathers is invoked to highlight resilience, the quiet but persistent voice of hope amidst darkness.
What makes this book particularly compelling is its candid exploration of the lingering effects of trauma, especially experiences from childhood that remain unprocessed and resurface in adulthood. Lucey emphasizes the importance of having a reliable, supportive person—an adult or mentor—throughout one’s life, particularly during adolescence, a time when vulnerability is heightened. The statistics are sobering: one person dies by suicide every 40 seconds worldwide, one in twelve teens aged 15–19 in Ireland have attempted suicide (Irish Examiner, 30.01.2026), and Ireland ranks 17th in Europe for suicide rates, with males aged 15–25 among the most affected (WHO, 2012). These numbers underline the urgency and relevance of Lucey’s message.
Overall, In My Room is a moving, insightful read that balances literary reflection with urgent social awareness. It reminds readers of the hidden complexity of the mind and the power of connection and support. For anyone interested in poetry, mental health, or simply understanding the human experience more deeply, this book is well worth reading.
*cannot verify name for some reason after hearing it in the audiobook
May 14, 2022
An insightful novel of debunking the stigma of mental health and it’s various conditions through the eyes of a psychiatrist and his patients.
As each story from various patients is told you can’t help but to connect to them in one way or another wether that be from first hand experience or from someone you know who you have supported through their own struggles. It’s accurate, inspiring and evoked emotion along with hope that once you have a recovery plan, you can overcome many of the worries day to day life can bring. It’s a hard listen at times but portrayed in a non-judgemental and respectful way, looking at mental illness.
As each story from various patients is told you can’t help but to connect to them in one way or another wether that be from first hand experience or from someone you know who you have supported through their own struggles. It’s accurate, inspiring and evoked emotion along with hope that once you have a recovery plan, you can overcome many of the worries day to day life can bring. It’s a hard listen at times but portrayed in a non-judgemental and respectful way, looking at mental illness.
September 11, 2022
Such a inspiring read. As someone who has had some mental health issues for most of their life, this book was such an insightful read for me. In sharing the stories of some of his patients, Jim gives us hope that in sharing our experiences, we can not only help ourselves but also help others. Reading this book helped to remind me that none of us are really alone in our struggles and that so many other people could relate to our struggles and experiences, if only we would share our experiences more often. An empowering read to also learn of his patients recoveries. ⭐⭐⭐ #jimlucey #inmyroom #goodreads #litsy #thestorygraph #tea_sipping_bookworm #amazonkindle #bookqueen #bookstagram
June 15, 2021
Informative and concise discussion of various mental illnesses using (anonymized) case studies and accessible language. Addiction, OCD, self harm, child abuse, personality disorders, depression, suicide, and bipolar disorder all feature. Also a good (brief) overview of attitudes to mental illness in Ireland (bad). If all mental health professionals were as understanding as Jim Lucey we’d be in a better state.
June 2, 2021
Stories from a psychiatrist based on his cases.
June 11, 2021
Thought this was a fascinating read highly recommended
September 2, 2021
Well written, well presented. This book gives great insight. Highly recommended.
March 12, 2023
Not a bad book per se, but it hasn't added anything new to the wealth of similar books already out there.
May 16, 2023
Insightful and full of non bias opinions from patients which is detailed and interesting. Very short though.
February 4, 2024
Sorry. Not what I expected. And not for me. I prefer pure science and facts. This was not the case
November 14, 2024
Interesting book on the human state. Light on diagnostic details.
September 15, 2016
Short case histories of depression, anxiety and addiction told in a profoundly unsensationalistic way. A quiet book, peppered with well known short poems. Optimistic, a reminder that very acute cases of mental illness are usually treatable.
March 10, 2022
I found this an easy read. A number of cases were discussed which gave me a greater understanding of mental health conditions. Really enjoyed this, particularly the wee snippets of poetry that were added in sporadically.
March 26, 2015
A good look into issues of Irish mental health.
November 14, 2015
Inspiring stories told with compassion and insight.
August 26, 2021
Interesting read about various presentations to a psychiatrists room. The journey of people looking for help and the paths that are taken to improve mental health and recovery.
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews