Books/reads about 1st person schizophrenia/psychosis experiences

[skandha]

Hello everyone,

As a psychology student and psychonaut I'm very interested in reading about schizophrenia and psychosis cases written in first person. I think that, besides having myself the experience, is the best way I can study and understand these states.

I found the meth-psychosis experiences thread very interesting for this purpose, and a couple of books I also found amazing were And then I thought I was a fish and Autobiography of a schyzophrenic girl.

I'd be very grateful if you knew similar reads and share them here.

 

[Ixchellian]

instead of reading about it in books and suggesting amazon titles.... I suggest a trip to a few support groups, or head down to your local homeless shelter for a couple weeks.

schizophrenia isn't something you can learn about through pages; understanding only comes through in words, friendship, and their shared visions.

good luck

 

[Fascination]

A few years ago, I used to go on Second Life a lot. There was a display on one of the islands made by a psychiatrist to show what being a schizophrenic is like. It was supposed to stimulate that experience I believe. I can't recall the exact name of it now but it was something like "The Schizophrenia project".
If it's still on Second life, check it out. You might find that interesting.

 

[effie]

It's not about schizophrenia, but there is an amazing book about bipolar disorder which describes manic psychosis and gives a fascinating and eloquent description of how it feels to live with a severe mental illness - it is called An Unquiet Mind by Kay Redfield - she is a clinical psychologist and expert in Bipolar disorder as well as having the condition herself, so it gives a really unique perspective. I thoroughly recommend it

I agree with Ix though - it is better to talk to people first hand if you can than to study books on something as complex and personal as psychosis/schizophrenia.

It's fascinating learning about mental illness and it really helps you to understand and emphasise with people more

 

[littlepenguin]

read "madness" by marya hornbacher....amazing writer...I know her personally

"the eden express" by kurt vonnegut
"the center can not hold: my journey through madness" by elyn r. saks
"a freight train in my brain: surviving schitzophrenia" by micheal w. gregg