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Psychotic
A moving autobiographical portrayal of psychosis and mental illness as shown through the experiences and writings of writer-poet Jacques Mathis.
1 VOLUME RELEASED - INDEPENDENT STORIES
Jacques Mathis tells his own story—of a megalomaniacal man stuck in a body too small for his ideas. His childhood, spent in a dreary little town in Lorraine, came to a brutal end at the age of fourteen after he suffered his first episode of psychosis. Since that day, between repeated visits to psychiatric wards, Mathis had to find some way to carve out as much of a normal life as possible.With PSYCHOTIC, Jacques Mathis gives us a candid, inspirational account of his daily life, beginning with the day his disorder was first discovered and covering his many stays in psychiatric hospitals, his sessions with various doctors, his setbacks and his triumphs.
1 VOLUME RELEASED - INDEPENDENT STORIES
Jacques Mathis tells his own story—of a megalomaniacal man stuck in a body too small for his ideas. His childhood, spent in a dreary little town in Lorraine, came to a brutal end at the age of fourteen after he suffered his first episode of psychosis. Since that day, between repeated visits to psychiatric wards, Mathis had to find some way to carve out as much of a normal life as possible.With PSYCHOTIC, Jacques Mathis gives us a candid, inspirational account of his daily life, beginning with the day his disorder was first discovered and covering his many stays in psychiatric hospitals, his sessions with various doctors, his setbacks and his triumphs.
195 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 17, 2021
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39 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews
July 9, 2021
ARC received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I was really excited for this graphic memoir about the author's experiences with psychosis because it's an important topic and I think it's all the more important to get perspectives and thoughts from those who experience it.
However, I felt really disappointed reading Psychotic. The memoir felt very disorganized - it would jump between the past and Mathis' experiences and then a sort of current day time where he is writing this very book and working on it with the illustrator but the boundaries between these two time periods are very fluid and at times confusing. I often was confused as to who people were or when things were taking place or what it had to do with the rest of this narrative.
For example, there is a chapter that flashes back to Mathis' childhood where he is exploring an old abandoned bunker with his two friends, playing a game where they collect ammunition left behind for points. However, Mathis' parents show up to lecture the children and there seems to be an explosion off-page? But no one is hurt and the parents only scold them for being reckless before taking the unnamed friends back to their own parents. The author's feelings from the event are not reflected upon and I was left wondering why this anecdote was the one shared from his childhood.
Another subplot that is threaded through the present-day events is Mathis wanting to break up with his girlfriend in Paris. We never see them speak or interact, even in flashbacks - we have one panel of his girlfriend reading the letter he left on her doorstep to say goodbye and that's it. We don't know why he's breaking up with her or how they started dating, etc., so I felt very little emotions about their relationship or break-up.
So much of the book feels unrelated to other parts that it felt more like a rough draft or an outline of ideas for a memoir than an actual memoir.
I did really like Dorange's art and how Mathis' mental state is represented. I also liked that Mathis shares his experiences from being institutionalized with a critical eye; he questions the force and violence used against patients and wonders if there isn't any better way for treating those hospitalized, wonders if some of his current state hasn't been caused by his treatment there. He shares what isolation was like when he was held alone in a padded cell with nothing to do but think. He questions the chemical straitjacket that he feels he's in to control his psychosis. I liked these parts and I liked these reflections and his honesty; however, I felt that these sections were far too few and bogged down by the disorganization and confusion of the memoir.
I want there to be more conversations about experiences and living with mental illness but I just didn't enjoy this one. I think it would benefit greatly from some editing and clarification. If anyone is interested in another graphic memoir about living with Bipolar disorder, I would definitely recommend Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me by Ellen Forney instead.
I was really excited for this graphic memoir about the author's experiences with psychosis because it's an important topic and I think it's all the more important to get perspectives and thoughts from those who experience it.
However, I felt really disappointed reading Psychotic. The memoir felt very disorganized - it would jump between the past and Mathis' experiences and then a sort of current day time where he is writing this very book and working on it with the illustrator but the boundaries between these two time periods are very fluid and at times confusing. I often was confused as to who people were or when things were taking place or what it had to do with the rest of this narrative.
For example, there is a chapter that flashes back to Mathis' childhood where he is exploring an old abandoned bunker with his two friends, playing a game where they collect ammunition left behind for points. However, Mathis' parents show up to lecture the children and there seems to be an explosion off-page? But no one is hurt and the parents only scold them for being reckless before taking the unnamed friends back to their own parents. The author's feelings from the event are not reflected upon and I was left wondering why this anecdote was the one shared from his childhood.
Another subplot that is threaded through the present-day events is Mathis wanting to break up with his girlfriend in Paris. We never see them speak or interact, even in flashbacks - we have one panel of his girlfriend reading the letter he left on her doorstep to say goodbye and that's it. We don't know why he's breaking up with her or how they started dating, etc., so I felt very little emotions about their relationship or break-up.
So much of the book feels unrelated to other parts that it felt more like a rough draft or an outline of ideas for a memoir than an actual memoir.
I did really like Dorange's art and how Mathis' mental state is represented. I also liked that Mathis shares his experiences from being institutionalized with a critical eye; he questions the force and violence used against patients and wonders if there isn't any better way for treating those hospitalized, wonders if some of his current state hasn't been caused by his treatment there. He shares what isolation was like when he was held alone in a padded cell with nothing to do but think. He questions the chemical straitjacket that he feels he's in to control his psychosis. I liked these parts and I liked these reflections and his honesty; however, I felt that these sections were far too few and bogged down by the disorganization and confusion of the memoir.
I want there to be more conversations about experiences and living with mental illness but I just didn't enjoy this one. I think it would benefit greatly from some editing and clarification. If anyone is interested in another graphic memoir about living with Bipolar disorder, I would definitely recommend Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo, and Me by Ellen Forney instead.
August 27, 2021
3.5 stars
A very readable & relatable graphic novel memoir of Jacques, a French filmmaker with bipolar disorder, in which he recounts his experiences with psychosis, mania, depression, & extended stays in mental hospitals. The art is also nice.
[What I liked:]
•This is not long, overwhelmingly detailed, depressing, or difficult to read. Jacques’s writing is articulate & I was able to relate to many of his feelings & experiences, & visualize/try to understand some of his experiences I can’t personally relate to. This is a balanced account that covers joy & depression, reality & delusions, & the liminal spaces in between.
•The art is colorful, detailed, & layered. It evokes the mystery & otherworldliness of some of Jacques’s experiences, as well as portraying the small details of daily life. I really like how most characters, as well as some objects & concepts, have a “shadow” that represents how Jacques views or perceives them.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•There isn’t a clear structure to the book. The narrative jumps around chronologically & topically—not in a way that’s confusing, since the chapters are adequately introduced & summarized, but the organization decisions still felt a bit random.
•It would have been nice to have a few more orienting details (how did Jacques end up in Strasbourg, what decades did these events take place in, etc.)
CW: mental illness, bullying
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
A very readable & relatable graphic novel memoir of Jacques, a French filmmaker with bipolar disorder, in which he recounts his experiences with psychosis, mania, depression, & extended stays in mental hospitals. The art is also nice.
[What I liked:]
•This is not long, overwhelmingly detailed, depressing, or difficult to read. Jacques’s writing is articulate & I was able to relate to many of his feelings & experiences, & visualize/try to understand some of his experiences I can’t personally relate to. This is a balanced account that covers joy & depression, reality & delusions, & the liminal spaces in between.
•The art is colorful, detailed, & layered. It evokes the mystery & otherworldliness of some of Jacques’s experiences, as well as portraying the small details of daily life. I really like how most characters, as well as some objects & concepts, have a “shadow” that represents how Jacques views or perceives them.
[What I didn’t like as much:]
•There isn’t a clear structure to the book. The narrative jumps around chronologically & topically—not in a way that’s confusing, since the chapters are adequately introduced & summarized, but the organization decisions still felt a bit random.
•It would have been nice to have a few more orienting details (how did Jacques end up in Strasbourg, what decades did these events take place in, etc.)
CW: mental illness, bullying
[I received an ARC ebook copy from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review. Thank you for the book!]
July 29, 2021
Another "What the Flying Monkey did I just read," read. With Sylvian Dorange illustrating this splintered, razy, odd, all over the place graphic novel, Jacques Mathis tells his own story. It is a story of one man's madness, and the journey he takes to try and put himself together again. While mostly in chronological order, highlights of Mathis's life play out before us. From the women he is convinced are in love with him, the friends he has, the times he was almost arrested, the men he kissed, the times in isolation and a glimpse at what went on in his head during an episode, we watch as one man falls apart. All the while we also see the light at the end of the tunnel. Abstract in realism, realistic in its abstract, this is not a fun or easy read. It is something one must take their time with and not rush. Reread as many times as needed. The art is busy, oddly colored and matches the tone of the text.
January 23, 2022
I loved this first person account of mental illness. Mathis provides a unique viewpoint and has a great sense of anarchic humour. The illustrations by Sylvain Dorange are brilliant.
January 13, 2023
The drawing is so good! Vividly bringing me into the author’s mind. I especially like the several imaginary shadow friends figures!
June 2, 2024
This was an interesting autobiography about a man who has gone through various psychotic episodes in psychiatric hospitals and how he dealt with them, what he saw while feeling most unwell, and his process of recording those thoughts. This wasn’t the best book I’ve ever read, but it wasn’t horrible either. The jumbled nature of this book fits the topic of this story well though, so that gives it a slight edge on the more positive side for my review.
August 15, 2021
Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced electronic copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!
Jacques writes about his life and experiences with psychosis in graphic novel format. Though it was interesting, it also felt a bit unsettling. I suppose this could be great for understanding what it may be like to live with psychotic episodes, but beyond that, I wouldn't really recommend it.
Jacques writes about his life and experiences with psychosis in graphic novel format. Though it was interesting, it also felt a bit unsettling. I suppose this could be great for understanding what it may be like to live with psychotic episodes, but beyond that, I wouldn't really recommend it.
Want to Read
June 27, 2021as someone who suffers from debilitating psychosis, i really want to see more books about it. i really hope my arc request on Netgalley gets accepted!
November 1, 2022
2.5 stars
May 5, 2023
Wonderful book highlighting details of the author's manic delusions and hallucinations as well as experience in an inpatient facility (including observations of other patients). Artwork is clear and evocative and the author never indulges cliche. Highly recommended.
October 3, 2022
This must be my year for graphic memoirs by neurodivergent French authors. First Parenthesis by Élodie Durand and now this entry by Jacques Mathis. Of the two, I found this one harder to follow. I’m sure the author’s mental condition is accurately depicted by this collection of vignettes that don’t tell much of an overall story and often don’t make much sense within their own plotlines. But I loved Sylvain Dorange’s illustrations, particularly the almost constant inclusion of shadowy figures in the backdrop of every panel.
April 22, 2022
To me, this is required reading for anyone who is working towards ending the stigma around mental illness.
The author ends on a few points of criticism of his care during his time in the psychiatric hospital but I didn't think they landed as strongly as they could.
The author ends on a few points of criticism of his care during his time in the psychiatric hospital but I didn't think they landed as strongly as they could.
May 3, 2024
In a sea of self-help books and trying to navigate mental health, Psychotic by Jacques Mathis, shows that mental health is more about management rather than trying to “fix” yourself. Once I picked this book up, I could not put it down, and made me think of my own mental health journey differently. Jacques explores the unabashed and realistic representation of daily mental health struggles in this graphic novel memoir. Recounting his childhood, diagnoses of bipolar disorder and psychosis, and his own writing journey. One of the most important aspects of this story is his experiences with inpatient mental health facilities and how his relationship with them evolves. Mathis shows the intimate and diverse ecosystems within inpatient hospitalization, exploring a wide range of perceptions of various mental struggles and treatments.
Mathis non-liner storytelling takes the reader on an emotional and action-packed journey as he recounts how interconnected his mental health struggles are to his daily life. With beautifully done transitions into themes and chapters, the reader explores his life in seasons and phases. An imperfect cycle, like mental health, which brings the reader back to the present. This innovative use of storytelling does more than just keep the reader on their toes, but also shows how mental health is a winding path with no clear-cut direction. Mathis integrates multiple sub-plots within the book connecting society, relationships, and his writing journey to his mental health struggles. As the reader progresses through the story, we see how things begin to bleed together, how aspects of mental health treatment, disability status, and relationships must coexist. The use of perspective in the book was drastically different from many other mental health stories I have read. Mathis uses the difference in the author’s voice to depict his manic states and how his voice evolves with his healing journey. The transparent nature of the content shared explores many taboo mental health topics and experiences that depict the true nature of mental illness. Mathis does not shy away from the nitty-gritty details of his highs and lows. Touching on identity issues, manic run ins with the police, and living with disability.
Psychotic, shows an important and realistic aspect of dealing with mental health. That it’s a nonlinear journey without a clear-cut solution. This book also discusses the writing journey as a healing process, how passions can be lifelines, and how to lean into them for extra support. I believe anyone who wishes to gain a new perspective of what mental health management and experiences look like will enjoy this book. As someone who has also dealt with severe lifelong mental health issues, Mathis shows that inpatient management can be a choice and a tool. That for some, life may look differently because of mental health, one must identify how to help find their own working system.
Mathis non-liner storytelling takes the reader on an emotional and action-packed journey as he recounts how interconnected his mental health struggles are to his daily life. With beautifully done transitions into themes and chapters, the reader explores his life in seasons and phases. An imperfect cycle, like mental health, which brings the reader back to the present. This innovative use of storytelling does more than just keep the reader on their toes, but also shows how mental health is a winding path with no clear-cut direction. Mathis integrates multiple sub-plots within the book connecting society, relationships, and his writing journey to his mental health struggles. As the reader progresses through the story, we see how things begin to bleed together, how aspects of mental health treatment, disability status, and relationships must coexist. The use of perspective in the book was drastically different from many other mental health stories I have read. Mathis uses the difference in the author’s voice to depict his manic states and how his voice evolves with his healing journey. The transparent nature of the content shared explores many taboo mental health topics and experiences that depict the true nature of mental illness. Mathis does not shy away from the nitty-gritty details of his highs and lows. Touching on identity issues, manic run ins with the police, and living with disability.
Psychotic, shows an important and realistic aspect of dealing with mental health. That it’s a nonlinear journey without a clear-cut solution. This book also discusses the writing journey as a healing process, how passions can be lifelines, and how to lean into them for extra support. I believe anyone who wishes to gain a new perspective of what mental health management and experiences look like will enjoy this book. As someone who has also dealt with severe lifelong mental health issues, Mathis shows that inpatient management can be a choice and a tool. That for some, life may look differently because of mental health, one must identify how to help find their own working system.
October 7, 2021
This was an interesting read for me, it hit close to home. When I was five, my mother had a psychotic break, and she spent the rest of her life doing that dance you do when you're mentally ill- in and out of hospitals, on and off medications, in and out of treatment. Her diagnosis was originally schizophrenia, later changed to major depression with psychotic features, so her illness was different than Mathis', but the stories she told me when I was older are similar to Mathis' accounts in this book, so all of that rang very true to me, meaning I don't think he exaggerated any parts; if anything, I suspect he may have downplayed bits. The thread in this book meanders quite a bit, skipping around, getting confusing in places, and that also rings true; it can be hard to keep events in the right order when you're not sure if they really happened or not. Hospitalizations blend together, as do the other patients and staff. Often, the delusions are more real, more tangible than reality. Mathis did a good job relating his story in a way that made it understandable to someone who hasn't gone through what he has.
The art fits the story well, with quiet bits of madness creeping into everyday life. For example, shadows are lurking everywhere, swirling around people, especially Mathis, like smoke, but they never seem menacing- they're more like companions. The art style doesn't change going from reality to delusion and back again, which adds an authentic feel. I would recommend this graphic memoir to anyone who'd like a peek into the mind of a mentally ill person to gain a better understanding of what they go through.
#Psychotic #NetGalley
The art fits the story well, with quiet bits of madness creeping into everyday life. For example, shadows are lurking everywhere, swirling around people, especially Mathis, like smoke, but they never seem menacing- they're more like companions. The art style doesn't change going from reality to delusion and back again, which adds an authentic feel. I would recommend this graphic memoir to anyone who'd like a peek into the mind of a mentally ill person to gain a better understanding of what they go through.
#Psychotic #NetGalley
April 15, 2022
I decided to check out this graphic novel from my public library just to try something a little different than my usual. This wasn’t a bad book, but it wasn’t necessarily the best I’ve read either. This story was written by Jaques Mathis, a man from France living with bipolar disorder. I am about to graduate with my Masters degree in social work, so I am always attracted towards anything related to mental health. Unfortunately, I found this story to be a little boring. I feel bad saying this because it is based off of this man’s experiences, but I feel like it could’ve been written better. I feel like there was no plot, and the story was bouncing all over the place to different time periods. There was no coherent plot line. I did enjoy the last few pages of the book though!
September 10, 2024
Having been involved in the life of someone else that was bipolar, a lot of this was immediately relatable: the unwavering self-confidence, the depressive self-destructive lows, the immediacy of every desire, and the lingering inescapable fog was all present. The story felt very genuine, but I don't know if it'll necessarily be relatable to all.
August 14, 2021
I felt this was a very honest expression of mental illness. The artwork was amazing. The content was very intense however and I found I had to read it over a few sittings because of it's intensity. For me, it jumped around a bit - but it was an insightful read.
March 5, 2022
Deep dive into a dark and difficult subject but handled with humour, creativity, and care. Intimidating title and this certainly isn't a lite-hearted read however the journey feels imaginative and compassionate that one wants to keep reading.
October 13, 2021
It's really good. I can pertain extensively to the protagonist. Highly recommended for mentally unstable people.
March 17, 2023
A beautifully drawn, enlightening illustration of the life and delusions of a man with bipolar.
Displaying 1 - 21 of 21 reviews