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Losing Our Minds: What Mental Illness Really Is – And What It Isn’t
Losing Our Minds provides an accessible distillation and empowering guide to the latest science of mental illness, overturning the notion that we are experiencing an ‘epidemic’ of mental illness, especially among young people.
Much progress has been made in recent years to promote awareness and openness around mental illness. But academic psychologist Dr Lucy Foulkes argues that a wider understanding of what actually constitutes mental illness is still lacking. As a result, psychiatric terminology is widely overused and misapplied, and the distinction between clinical conditions that require medical treatment – such as depression and anxiety disorders – as opposed to the normal challenges of human experience – such as sadness, stress and anxiety – are being lost. Confusion arises because such distinctions are often hard to make but understanding and preserving them is essential if we are properly to care for those who are ill, equip ourselves to cope with life’s unavoidable mental challenges and provide the right kind of support that each demands.
Drawing on her expert understanding of the scientific literature as well as personal experience, Losing Our Minds will present a comprehensive and sympathetic overview of the state of our current knowledge about the causes and nature of the most prevalent mental illnesses, how and when they develop, and the effectiveness of current treatments. It will also make clear what remains unknown, setting the record straight about this often controversial, misunderstood and politicised subject.
Much progress has been made in recent years to promote awareness and openness around mental illness. But academic psychologist Dr Lucy Foulkes argues that a wider understanding of what actually constitutes mental illness is still lacking. As a result, psychiatric terminology is widely overused and misapplied, and the distinction between clinical conditions that require medical treatment – such as depression and anxiety disorders – as opposed to the normal challenges of human experience – such as sadness, stress and anxiety – are being lost. Confusion arises because such distinctions are often hard to make but understanding and preserving them is essential if we are properly to care for those who are ill, equip ourselves to cope with life’s unavoidable mental challenges and provide the right kind of support that each demands.
Drawing on her expert understanding of the scientific literature as well as personal experience, Losing Our Minds will present a comprehensive and sympathetic overview of the state of our current knowledge about the causes and nature of the most prevalent mental illnesses, how and when they develop, and the effectiveness of current treatments. It will also make clear what remains unknown, setting the record straight about this often controversial, misunderstood and politicised subject.
230 pages, Kindle Edition
Published April 1, 2021
140 people are currently reading
4689 people want to read
About the author
Lucy Foulkes
6 books42 followersDr Lucy Foulkes is an academic psychologist, specialising in mental health and social development in the adolescent years. She is a senior research fellow at the Anna Freud National Centre for Children and Families in London, and an honorary lecturer at University College London (UCL).
Losing Our Minds: The Challenge of Defining Mental Illness – which examines how to think and talk about mental illness in a more helpful way – is her first book.
Lucy can be found on Twitter (@lfoulkesy) and Instagram (@drlucyfoulkes).
Losing Our Minds: The Challenge of Defining Mental Illness – which examines how to think and talk about mental illness in a more helpful way – is her first book.
Lucy can be found on Twitter (@lfoulkesy) and Instagram (@drlucyfoulkes).
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 120 reviews
February 3, 2022
Real Rating: 3.5* of five
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: The author identifies and discusses, in clear and un-jargonized even-handed ways, the many poles of our society's increased awareness of mental health issues. Has the openness resulted in more frank and open acknowledgment of the central issue, or has it resulted in armchair psychologists diagnosing themselves and others with serious problems and then browbeating physicians into prescribing expensive medications for them? That answer is "yes" and that should tell you whether this is the book for you.
Highly recommended for anyone who's said, "that orange guy's a narcissist," and felt smugly superior about it. Like me.
I RECEIVED A DRC FROM THE PUBLISHER VIA NETGALLEY. THANK YOU.
My Review: The author identifies and discusses, in clear and un-jargonized even-handed ways, the many poles of our society's increased awareness of mental health issues. Has the openness resulted in more frank and open acknowledgment of the central issue, or has it resulted in armchair psychologists diagnosing themselves and others with serious problems and then browbeating physicians into prescribing expensive medications for them? That answer is "yes" and that should tell you whether this is the book for you.
Highly recommended for anyone who's said, "that orange guy's a narcissist," and felt smugly superior about it. Like me.
January 4, 2022
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: Jan. 25, 2022
Dr. Lucy Foulkes is a UK-based psychologist, with a focus on adolescent mental health and development. Her novel, “Losing Our Minds” is a powerful look at how our definition of “mental illness” has changed over the years, what events and genetic material can contribute to the presentation of a mental illness, and the language and social vernacular used when discussing mental illness, and how it can be both positive and negative. As Dr. Foulkes focuses in her personal practice on young adults, they play a particularly prevalent role in her book as well, mainly focusing on the physiological and emotional effects of puberty on the brain, and the benefits (and disadvantages) of social media when it comes to adolescent identity and mental health.
Foulkes provides an engaging and interesting look at mental health, presented in a consumable way. She does not use heavy, scientific language, and she provides definitions and detail where necessary, without appearing condescending. “Minds” is broken down into chapters and sub-sections, and each one is as interesting as the next. Foulkes uses her personal experience with anxiety and depression as an introductory point (and she revisits it occasionally), but is clear to point out that individual experiences with mental illness do and will vary.
“Minds” discusses a lot of the ‘hot button’ issues regarding mental health in a way that presents both sides equally and represents them fairly. For example, Foulkes talks about social media’s negative influence on youth mental health, but also discusses the positive benefits. Similarly, she talks openly about the language we use when discussing mental health, and how it can both help and hinder those who suffer.
“Losing Our Minds” is an honest portrayal at how society sees mental health, and how it has changed over the years. Anyone with an interest in mental health (personally, academically, or both) will find “Minds” to be interesting and informative, and it will definitely leave readers with a new way to look at not only mental health, but society’s view of it, and how our own biases and behaviours may in fact be hurting those who suffer from it.
Expected publication date: Jan. 25, 2022
Dr. Lucy Foulkes is a UK-based psychologist, with a focus on adolescent mental health and development. Her novel, “Losing Our Minds” is a powerful look at how our definition of “mental illness” has changed over the years, what events and genetic material can contribute to the presentation of a mental illness, and the language and social vernacular used when discussing mental illness, and how it can be both positive and negative. As Dr. Foulkes focuses in her personal practice on young adults, they play a particularly prevalent role in her book as well, mainly focusing on the physiological and emotional effects of puberty on the brain, and the benefits (and disadvantages) of social media when it comes to adolescent identity and mental health.
Foulkes provides an engaging and interesting look at mental health, presented in a consumable way. She does not use heavy, scientific language, and she provides definitions and detail where necessary, without appearing condescending. “Minds” is broken down into chapters and sub-sections, and each one is as interesting as the next. Foulkes uses her personal experience with anxiety and depression as an introductory point (and she revisits it occasionally), but is clear to point out that individual experiences with mental illness do and will vary.
“Minds” discusses a lot of the ‘hot button’ issues regarding mental health in a way that presents both sides equally and represents them fairly. For example, Foulkes talks about social media’s negative influence on youth mental health, but also discusses the positive benefits. Similarly, she talks openly about the language we use when discussing mental health, and how it can both help and hinder those who suffer.
“Losing Our Minds” is an honest portrayal at how society sees mental health, and how it has changed over the years. Anyone with an interest in mental health (personally, academically, or both) will find “Minds” to be interesting and informative, and it will definitely leave readers with a new way to look at not only mental health, but society’s view of it, and how our own biases and behaviours may in fact be hurting those who suffer from it.
August 16, 2021
This book reminds me of what first aiders are taught when triaging casualties. The ones who are shouting and making a lot of noise are okay for now, they're in pain but they're surviving. It's the ones who are deathly quiet and still that you need to be worried about.
And so is the premise for this book. Foulkes purports that with the recent rise in spreading awareness of mental health issues, there have come associated problems: the overmedicalisation of mental health. Seemingly everyone "feels depressed" or is "having a panic attack" or "has OCD about the mess in their kitchen". Theses statements bandied about with abandon in the current climate result in the delegitimizing of people's experience with genuine mental health disorders.
There is clearly a difference between feeling mildly "anxious and down", or feeling cripplingly suicidal with no thoughts of being able to drag yourself out of a black hole. Awareness spreading is beneficial in the fact that it highlights mental health issues, yet does it just make people more tempted to self-identify with these issues- Oh I feel low/despondent/insert other symptom or feeling here, I must have depression/anxiety/insert other mental health condition here?
It is such a contentious subject. Foulkes highlights how the press often perpetuate the situation with attention grabbing headlines such as "Suicides up by 200% during the pandemic", and then providing a link for the Samaritans number. Switch to the Samaritans worker who states that there really is no evidence for the exaggerated headline, but they are already overstretched with trying to help those already calling their helpline.
So what is the answer? Foulkes admittedly, doesn't really know. Labelling doesn't help, but then it does in some small part for those needing help. Awareness helps, but only in context. Treatment helps, but only for those who really need it.
A thought provoking read indeed.
And so this brings me back to my original analogy. The ones who are the quietest are usually the ones seriously suffering. No social media posts, no cries for help, just dark, crippling silence.
And so is the premise for this book. Foulkes purports that with the recent rise in spreading awareness of mental health issues, there have come associated problems: the overmedicalisation of mental health. Seemingly everyone "feels depressed" or is "having a panic attack" or "has OCD about the mess in their kitchen". Theses statements bandied about with abandon in the current climate result in the delegitimizing of people's experience with genuine mental health disorders.
There is clearly a difference between feeling mildly "anxious and down", or feeling cripplingly suicidal with no thoughts of being able to drag yourself out of a black hole. Awareness spreading is beneficial in the fact that it highlights mental health issues, yet does it just make people more tempted to self-identify with these issues- Oh I feel low/despondent/insert other symptom or feeling here, I must have depression/anxiety/insert other mental health condition here?
It is such a contentious subject. Foulkes highlights how the press often perpetuate the situation with attention grabbing headlines such as "Suicides up by 200% during the pandemic", and then providing a link for the Samaritans number. Switch to the Samaritans worker who states that there really is no evidence for the exaggerated headline, but they are already overstretched with trying to help those already calling their helpline.
So what is the answer? Foulkes admittedly, doesn't really know. Labelling doesn't help, but then it does in some small part for those needing help. Awareness helps, but only in context. Treatment helps, but only for those who really need it.
A thought provoking read indeed.
And so this brings me back to my original analogy. The ones who are the quietest are usually the ones seriously suffering. No social media posts, no cries for help, just dark, crippling silence.
May 23, 2025
This is such a nuanced take on mental health from an author who has both professional training and lived experience with the subject. She discusses the ways that mental health awareness campaigns have had mixed results. On the one hand, more people who need help are seeking it, but on the other, greater awareness of mental health terms and “therapy language” have resulted in misconceptions.
An example she gives which is deeply personal to me is that of OCD, a condition I experienced in its serious form when I was younger. Most people are not aware of the way intrusive thoughts and compulsions interact in this extremely distressing disorder, but most people THINK they know what it means: being a Type A perfectionist with a spotless home. The misuse of this term obscures what the actual illness is and harms those who have it.
She also talks about the fact that while mental health campaigns urge people to “just ask for help,” that help is often not there. Public mental health programs are deeply underfunded and have long wait lists. And when normal levels of, for example, worry or grief, get pathologized, that wait gets even longer for people who are desperate for help.
I’m a big fan of this book, and I would especially recommend it to those without much knowledge of mental health issues, because the author does such a good job of explaining them. But this book has such depth that I think it will also appeal to anyone with a curious mind.
An example she gives which is deeply personal to me is that of OCD, a condition I experienced in its serious form when I was younger. Most people are not aware of the way intrusive thoughts and compulsions interact in this extremely distressing disorder, but most people THINK they know what it means: being a Type A perfectionist with a spotless home. The misuse of this term obscures what the actual illness is and harms those who have it.
She also talks about the fact that while mental health campaigns urge people to “just ask for help,” that help is often not there. Public mental health programs are deeply underfunded and have long wait lists. And when normal levels of, for example, worry or grief, get pathologized, that wait gets even longer for people who are desperate for help.
I’m a big fan of this book, and I would especially recommend it to those without much knowledge of mental health issues, because the author does such a good job of explaining them. But this book has such depth that I think it will also appeal to anyone with a curious mind.
July 25, 2021
I’m going to try to keep this review short and sweet because I could write pages about how amazing this book is, and I still wouldn’t be able to do it justice. Lucy Foulkes has written one of the most important mental health books that I’ve ever read, and all I could think after finishing it is that I hope it gets the recognition it deserves and gets into the hands of as many people as possible.
Foulkes manages to cover just about every important aspect of the mental health conversation in such an excellent, nuanced way.
Are we talking about mental health too little or too much? Are people underdiagnosed or overdiagnosed? Do antidepressants help or are they mainly just a placebo? Are mental health rates rising because we’re more willing to talk about it more, or are we misusing the language and diluting the meanings associated with mental illnesses?
The answers to these questions aren’t black and white, but they’re conversations that need to be had. And aside from these, there are dozens of other important topics that Lucy Foulkes brings to the table in this book.
After a lifelong battle with addiction and mental illness, since getting clean in 2012, my passion has been helping others and being an advocate for mental health. With that being said, I can’t think of one person who doesn’t need a copy of this book. Every parent, teacher, doctor, employer, mental health professional, and others need a copy of this book so we can all work together towards more solutions and better conversations around mental health.
Foulkes manages to cover just about every important aspect of the mental health conversation in such an excellent, nuanced way.
Are we talking about mental health too little or too much? Are people underdiagnosed or overdiagnosed? Do antidepressants help or are they mainly just a placebo? Are mental health rates rising because we’re more willing to talk about it more, or are we misusing the language and diluting the meanings associated with mental illnesses?
The answers to these questions aren’t black and white, but they’re conversations that need to be had. And aside from these, there are dozens of other important topics that Lucy Foulkes brings to the table in this book.
After a lifelong battle with addiction and mental illness, since getting clean in 2012, my passion has been helping others and being an advocate for mental health. With that being said, I can’t think of one person who doesn’t need a copy of this book. Every parent, teacher, doctor, employer, mental health professional, and others need a copy of this book so we can all work together towards more solutions and better conversations around mental health.
August 31, 2024
Maybe I'll know that my mental health has turned a corner when I finally stop borrowing every new book about the topic that my local branch library happens to acquire. Or maybe one of them really will contain The Answer. This one is not self-help or personal memoir; it is concerned with mental illness as a concept and therefore reminded me of Our Necessary Shadow: The Nature and Meaning of Psychiatry. Although Foulkes has experienced mental illness herself, that is incidental. Her book is about the way it is discussed in Britain nowadays, examining whether there is evidence of an epidemic of mental illness, especially among young people, and what factors influence actual and perceived rates thereof.
I really appreciated the measured, precise, and evidence-based writing style. Foulkes carefully walks a line by arguing that emotional distress is increasingly at risk of unnecessary medicalisation (e.g. grief being treated as depression), but also that mental illness is genuinely widespread and under-treated. The two points aren't mutually exclusive; population-level mental health is full of seeming paradoxes. However I am readier than this book to place most blame on capitalism. Advertising is based on creating problems and dissatisfaction so that some product or service can be presented as a solution, e.g. mental health apps. (I hate apps so have never tried any of these, but was once prescribed automated online CBT that made me feel worse.) Meanwhile actually being disabled by mental illness makes it harder to extract labour and profit from you, so doesn't garner much sympathy. As a wise tumblr post once put it: mental illness hasn’t been destigmatised but commercialised.
Foulkes argues that an increasing equivalence between negative emotions and disabling symptoms of mental illness results in multiple problems:
I also share Foulke's dislike of the 'mental illness as a superpower' narrative. I call it bullshit, while she expresses herself more politely:
I've never understood how it could possibly be a 'superpower' to do self-destructive and irrational things that you know are self-destructive and irrational yet somehow cannot stop. While I've read refutations of this stuff before, Foulkes provides the best discussion I've yet come across at the social rather than personal level. She points out that mental illness is now discussed in popular culture, news, and society, which was not the case in previous decades. Unfortunately the current discussion is often ill-informed, reductive, and counterproductive:
She also suggests scepticism towards inflammatory media claims, which generally misinterpret the evidence. However the aim of this book is not to deny that rates of mental illness among the young do seem to be rising. Instead it seeks to temper the panic around this with reference to the available evidence, which indicates a slight rise rather than an epidemic, as well as relevant context. Although it's quite brief, What Mental Illness Really Is… makes a lot of nuanced and thoughtful points about how mental illness is treated and talked about these days. Perhaps I liked it partly due to confirmation bias, because I agree with Foulkes about the superpower narrative. There wasn't a lot in the book that was wholly new to me, but it's undoubtedly a valuable synthesis. I do appreciate books about mental illness that avoid generalisations or emotive claims and use anecdata sparingly.
I really appreciated the measured, precise, and evidence-based writing style. Foulkes carefully walks a line by arguing that emotional distress is increasingly at risk of unnecessary medicalisation (e.g. grief being treated as depression), but also that mental illness is genuinely widespread and under-treated. The two points aren't mutually exclusive; population-level mental health is full of seeming paradoxes. However I am readier than this book to place most blame on capitalism. Advertising is based on creating problems and dissatisfaction so that some product or service can be presented as a solution, e.g. mental health apps. (I hate apps so have never tried any of these, but was once prescribed automated online CBT that made me feel worse.) Meanwhile actually being disabled by mental illness makes it harder to extract labour and profit from you, so doesn't garner much sympathy. As a wise tumblr post once put it: mental illness hasn’t been destigmatised but commercialised.
Foulkes argues that an increasing equivalence between negative emotions and disabling symptoms of mental illness results in multiple problems:
Most obviously, the expansion of mental illness terminology undermines the experience of the people who are most seriously ill. These are the individuals whose symptoms have become so intense and overwhelming that they cannot function in their life, causing immense distress and significantly impacting their relationships and their ability to work or to go to university or school; the people whose symptoms may be putting their lives at risk. [...]
If a student approaches their personal tutor or friend saying they have depression, that person may easily be thinking to themselves: Yeah, who doesn't? As a lecturer, I found that the sheer volume of students who self-identified with these problems made it very hard to distinguish what level of help was needed for whom. [...]
If we describe everything using psychiatric terminology, another risk is that people will become sceptical of mental illness itself. The unhelpful language of 'snowflakes' is an example of this. [...] Tabloid papers know this language is inflammatory; that's why they use it - and why the rest of us should not.
I also share Foulke's dislike of the 'mental illness as a superpower' narrative. I call it bullshit, while she expresses herself more politely:
The anxiety disorder and depression I experienced were not superpowers. There was no treasure to be found. The cave I fell into was dark and empty and cold and it took a long, long time to find my way out. The primary thing my experience taught me was that mental illness is a horrible waste of time, energy, and life. I'm not proud of the experience.
I've never understood how it could possibly be a 'superpower' to do self-destructive and irrational things that you know are self-destructive and irrational yet somehow cannot stop. While I've read refutations of this stuff before, Foulkes provides the best discussion I've yet come across at the social rather than personal level. She points out that mental illness is now discussed in popular culture, news, and society, which was not the case in previous decades. Unfortunately the current discussion is often ill-informed, reductive, and counterproductive:
In society right now, the most seriously ill people still don't have a voice. This is partly because this individuals are just too unwell: in the throes of serious illness, most people are not able to be interviewed, for example, or to advocate for themselves on twitter. But it's also that severe mental disorders are considered unpalatable and scary: we don't understand, and don't know how to respond to, a person who is hallucinating or starving themselves or planning to take their own life. The most distressing, debilitating disorders are being kept behind closed doors. As part of moving the conversation forwards, we need to make space for these voices to be heard. When people with severe mental illnesses cannot share their own experience, others need to help them do it, or advocate for them. This obviously includes more rare disorders like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and OCD but it also needs to cover the disorders we think we understand: we need to communicate just how limiting and devastating depression and anxiety disorders are as well. Only then can we try and promote the distinction between these experiences and other forms of psychological distress and difficulty.
She also suggests scepticism towards inflammatory media claims, which generally misinterpret the evidence. However the aim of this book is not to deny that rates of mental illness among the young do seem to be rising. Instead it seeks to temper the panic around this with reference to the available evidence, which indicates a slight rise rather than an epidemic, as well as relevant context. Although it's quite brief, What Mental Illness Really Is… makes a lot of nuanced and thoughtful points about how mental illness is treated and talked about these days. Perhaps I liked it partly due to confirmation bias, because I agree with Foulkes about the superpower narrative. There wasn't a lot in the book that was wholly new to me, but it's undoubtedly a valuable synthesis. I do appreciate books about mental illness that avoid generalisations or emotive claims and use anecdata sparingly.
May 14, 2022
I made it 50 pages in before DNFing.
How did I get 50 pages into a book ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF DEFINING MENTAL ILLNESS, without the author bringing up the irreparable harm done to many people due to psychiatrist larping as doctors of a hard science?
A book like this should be focused on the harm done when people are misdiagnosed or when a blanket catch-all "label and prescribe a pill" method is applied to everyone.
Furthermore, the author is incredibly disorganized, her points aren't clear, she jumps from one point to another without any rhyme or reason.
I think this author just wanted to write a book, but didn't want to try.
And tell me how you're gonna quote Allen Francis without mentioning he took 500k from Risperdal to create treatment guidelines? How?
This author is another shill for massive corporations. No mentioning of blatant conflicts of interest between doctors on the board for the DSM and pharmaceutical corporations. No attention given to people who have been harmed by psychiatry. If you're gonna write about a book about the problems with psychiatry, maybe you could...I dunno...mention EVEN ONCE the human cost of not reforming psychiatry?!
50 pages in and I give up.
If you are interested in mental health reform, some far better books to check out are
1) Toxic Psychiatry by Dr. Peter Breggins
2) The Emperor's New Drugs (can't remember the author's name, just google it)
3) Crazy Like Us by Ethan Watters
or peruse any of the great articles on the Mad in America website. Do they get a little anarchist and wild with the anti-psychiatry? Of course they do. You're dealing with people who have been irreparably harmed by psychiatry. You don't have to agree with everything they say to listen to their hurt.
Also, the book Sickening by Dr. John Abramson. The number 1 issue facing the mentally ill is the conflicts of interest between the pharmaceutical companies and medical professionals. This is a problem that is pervasive throughout medicine and Abramson's book does not specifically focus on mental health. Most of the book talks about drugs for heart disease and diabetes actually.
But the best thing that we could do for mental health reform is to cut the financial ties between pharmaceutical companies and the medical community, because the mentally ill are aggressively pushed into drug treatment in a way that no other community of unwell people is. Pharmaceutical companies control the research, so little research is done on alternative treatments. Neuroleptics, often give to schizophrenics, literally produce a lobotomy effect. They limit interaction with the frontal lobe. Sure, that stops symptoms. A lobotomy would also stop symptoms. Maybe there's a less harmful treatment that would help schizophrenics lives a happier and more stable life?
As long as pharmaceutical companies line doctors pockets and fund the bulk of the medical research, we'll never find out.
And the author of this book deadass quoted Allen Franics without mentioning how Risperdal lined his pockets. Is this author also getting money from pharma companies? I don't know. But I find it suspicious as hell she didn't mention that.
Not one line addresses the harm done to patients by diagnostic parameters that are too broad (or why drug companies might want to give doctors like Allen Franics-the lead editor of the DSM-IV money to sway the diagnostic criteria in their favor-the broader diagnostic criteria is, the more people will be diagnosed, and the more people will be given drugs-obviously, this is great for the bottom lines of pharma corporations). You'd think a book ABOUT defining mental illness could talk about the harm done by diagnostic parameters that are too broad and how pharma funding has likely broadened DSM categories.
Nope.
50 pages in and just a lot of disorganized nonsense: "I was depressed, covid 19 was bad, we need diagnostic criteria, but we also have to be careful, there was a public awareness campaign one time!"-Holy shit, lady....where was your editor? This is a jumbled mess. I am active in many psych patient online communities and I mean this without a hint of humor, I've read actual word salad posts from schizophrenics mid-episode that were easier to decipher than this book. At least with those, I had at least some idea the general POINT they were trying to make.
How did I get 50 pages into a book ABOUT THE CHALLENGES OF DEFINING MENTAL ILLNESS, without the author bringing up the irreparable harm done to many people due to psychiatrist larping as doctors of a hard science?
A book like this should be focused on the harm done when people are misdiagnosed or when a blanket catch-all "label and prescribe a pill" method is applied to everyone.
Furthermore, the author is incredibly disorganized, her points aren't clear, she jumps from one point to another without any rhyme or reason.
I think this author just wanted to write a book, but didn't want to try.
And tell me how you're gonna quote Allen Francis without mentioning he took 500k from Risperdal to create treatment guidelines? How?
This author is another shill for massive corporations. No mentioning of blatant conflicts of interest between doctors on the board for the DSM and pharmaceutical corporations. No attention given to people who have been harmed by psychiatry. If you're gonna write about a book about the problems with psychiatry, maybe you could...I dunno...mention EVEN ONCE the human cost of not reforming psychiatry?!
50 pages in and I give up.
If you are interested in mental health reform, some far better books to check out are
1) Toxic Psychiatry by Dr. Peter Breggins
2) The Emperor's New Drugs (can't remember the author's name, just google it)
3) Crazy Like Us by Ethan Watters
or peruse any of the great articles on the Mad in America website. Do they get a little anarchist and wild with the anti-psychiatry? Of course they do. You're dealing with people who have been irreparably harmed by psychiatry. You don't have to agree with everything they say to listen to their hurt.
Also, the book Sickening by Dr. John Abramson. The number 1 issue facing the mentally ill is the conflicts of interest between the pharmaceutical companies and medical professionals. This is a problem that is pervasive throughout medicine and Abramson's book does not specifically focus on mental health. Most of the book talks about drugs for heart disease and diabetes actually.
But the best thing that we could do for mental health reform is to cut the financial ties between pharmaceutical companies and the medical community, because the mentally ill are aggressively pushed into drug treatment in a way that no other community of unwell people is. Pharmaceutical companies control the research, so little research is done on alternative treatments. Neuroleptics, often give to schizophrenics, literally produce a lobotomy effect. They limit interaction with the frontal lobe. Sure, that stops symptoms. A lobotomy would also stop symptoms. Maybe there's a less harmful treatment that would help schizophrenics lives a happier and more stable life?
As long as pharmaceutical companies line doctors pockets and fund the bulk of the medical research, we'll never find out.
And the author of this book deadass quoted Allen Franics without mentioning how Risperdal lined his pockets. Is this author also getting money from pharma companies? I don't know. But I find it suspicious as hell she didn't mention that.
Not one line addresses the harm done to patients by diagnostic parameters that are too broad (or why drug companies might want to give doctors like Allen Franics-the lead editor of the DSM-IV money to sway the diagnostic criteria in their favor-the broader diagnostic criteria is, the more people will be diagnosed, and the more people will be given drugs-obviously, this is great for the bottom lines of pharma corporations). You'd think a book ABOUT defining mental illness could talk about the harm done by diagnostic parameters that are too broad and how pharma funding has likely broadened DSM categories.
Nope.
50 pages in and just a lot of disorganized nonsense: "I was depressed, covid 19 was bad, we need diagnostic criteria, but we also have to be careful, there was a public awareness campaign one time!"-Holy shit, lady....where was your editor? This is a jumbled mess. I am active in many psych patient online communities and I mean this without a hint of humor, I've read actual word salad posts from schizophrenics mid-episode that were easier to decipher than this book. At least with those, I had at least some idea the general POINT they were trying to make.
February 13, 2022
The theme of this book is "IT IS MORE COMPLICATED THAN THAT! THE BRAIN IS COMPLICATED AND MENTAL ILLNESS IS COMPLICATED AND WE BOTH NEED MORE AND BETTER THERAPY AND THERAPISTS AND TO NOT OVER DIAGNOSE!" And I am in full support of that thesis. But the problem with complexity is that people don't like it. In some ways the complexity of the brain and the emergent phenomena of thinking, feeling, behaving are beyond our ability to grasp in totality, and what's worse, nuance makes life harder and more difficult and we in many (most?) cases don't want that. So it makes this book feel a bit like a polemic aimed in all directions, both at the limitations of our current diagnostic model for mental illness, the wrongness of those who want to stigmatize or deny the ways our brans/minds can go wrong, and those who may not want to admit that calls for awareness and acceptance can have downsides (especially when mental health providers are underpaid and undervalued).
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
**Thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for a free copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 28, 2022
This is a good comprehensive discussion about mental illness. To start, the authors takes on what actually defines clinical illness versus normal reactions to stressful events. An actual diagnosis through that is most used is the DSM-5, but this changes many times. Illness is not so easy to put in one category and often what matters is the degree of suffering, the change in one’s ability to manage their life, and the longevity of it. It is important to know that chronic mental illness often starts in adolescence. Severe illness is easier to see, and almost always shows up before age 24 years. Subtler illness the author argues may not be clinical illness, but actually adapting to life stressors such as grief, loss, and normal anxieties as life changes. This was easy to read and understandable information.
The introduction of Social Media was discussed primarily about young people. Yes, it can have a profound effect on vulnerable individuals as you can look up Pro-Anorexic sites and find others, sort of normalizing the behavior. I definitely think some guidance is needed for young adults to identify dangerous behavior and be discouraged from seeking these sites out. However, there are many social media sites that are from people active in recovery that can offer help and hope to those who are suffering. I do think Social Media can be a serious problem as people are always on and managing their ‘Public Branding’ of themselves. I am not sure seeing and reading only the best of others lives is true or helpful long-term. Yet, Social Media is new and all new things usually present both positive and negative outcomes.
Discussion of the Covid-19 Pandemic I thought was very good. How much effect it will have really is yet to be seen. Will there be resiliency and most ok or as this drags on longer and longer, will we see more pathological illness.
This was written by an author living in the UK so some issues are different. Yet, it seems like waits for help are long there, too. Yet, often people in the US can not access services due to lack of adequate health insurance. This is a huge barrier.
Discussion about biological pre-disposition offers insight, but it is hard to pin down. We are unlikely to find an ‘anxiety gene’, it is far more complex then this, yet clearly it plays a crucial role. Hearing that Anti-Depressants in clinical trials offer little more positive results then a placebo is certainly troubling, but hardly new news.
So, I thought the author covered a lot of ground quite well. People with chronic mental illness need more support then 10 minute psychiatric visits. It seems obvious that managing an illness requires more then just a quick visit for medicine and more clinicians to talk to about how to best cope with this. Also, there is a big gap about talking about illness, seeking help, and then you are left on your own. More after care for longer periods of time is needed, the same as is done with physical illness. Another important point is how mental illness has a strong genetic component. It was not really discussed how having family members ill and the chronic stress this causes on an individual and what support is actually available. I would say little. It is a serious problem.
Overall, a very thorough book that is trying to look into the multi-faceted issue of mental illness, from the mild to severe. I found this book offered much needed information.
I had both the e-book an the audio 🎧 version for this book. I think with non-Fiction that enhances the books.
Thank you NetGalley, Luck Foulkes, St. Martin’s Press and MacMillan Audio for a copy of both the e-book and the audio book. I very much appreciate this.
The introduction of Social Media was discussed primarily about young people. Yes, it can have a profound effect on vulnerable individuals as you can look up Pro-Anorexic sites and find others, sort of normalizing the behavior. I definitely think some guidance is needed for young adults to identify dangerous behavior and be discouraged from seeking these sites out. However, there are many social media sites that are from people active in recovery that can offer help and hope to those who are suffering. I do think Social Media can be a serious problem as people are always on and managing their ‘Public Branding’ of themselves. I am not sure seeing and reading only the best of others lives is true or helpful long-term. Yet, Social Media is new and all new things usually present both positive and negative outcomes.
Discussion of the Covid-19 Pandemic I thought was very good. How much effect it will have really is yet to be seen. Will there be resiliency and most ok or as this drags on longer and longer, will we see more pathological illness.
This was written by an author living in the UK so some issues are different. Yet, it seems like waits for help are long there, too. Yet, often people in the US can not access services due to lack of adequate health insurance. This is a huge barrier.
Discussion about biological pre-disposition offers insight, but it is hard to pin down. We are unlikely to find an ‘anxiety gene’, it is far more complex then this, yet clearly it plays a crucial role. Hearing that Anti-Depressants in clinical trials offer little more positive results then a placebo is certainly troubling, but hardly new news.
So, I thought the author covered a lot of ground quite well. People with chronic mental illness need more support then 10 minute psychiatric visits. It seems obvious that managing an illness requires more then just a quick visit for medicine and more clinicians to talk to about how to best cope with this. Also, there is a big gap about talking about illness, seeking help, and then you are left on your own. More after care for longer periods of time is needed, the same as is done with physical illness. Another important point is how mental illness has a strong genetic component. It was not really discussed how having family members ill and the chronic stress this causes on an individual and what support is actually available. I would say little. It is a serious problem.
Overall, a very thorough book that is trying to look into the multi-faceted issue of mental illness, from the mild to severe. I found this book offered much needed information.
I had both the e-book an the audio 🎧 version for this book. I think with non-Fiction that enhances the books.
Thank you NetGalley, Luck Foulkes, St. Martin’s Press and MacMillan Audio for a copy of both the e-book and the audio book. I very much appreciate this.
April 5, 2021
A wonderful overview of the complicated nature of mental illness and mental health problems. I can't recommend this book enough for those who want to get a decent understanding of the issue, particularly if they have friends or family with mental health problems. For a small book it really is quite thorough on how we understand the issue, and how we can contribute to a mentally healthier society.
The book is especially good for busting myths and asking the right questions of contributing factors. So often simple answers like the reason for an increase of mental health issues being due to a "snowflake generation" are just not based in the evidence at all!
She introduces a range of conceptual issues, encouraging a nuanced understanding of mental suffering. Although I don't agree with everything Foulkes writes, being more critical of the term "mental illness" myself, I think this book contributes a remarkable resource for any novice reader to understand the issue a little more.
The book is especially good for busting myths and asking the right questions of contributing factors. So often simple answers like the reason for an increase of mental health issues being due to a "snowflake generation" are just not based in the evidence at all!
She introduces a range of conceptual issues, encouraging a nuanced understanding of mental suffering. Although I don't agree with everything Foulkes writes, being more critical of the term "mental illness" myself, I think this book contributes a remarkable resource for any novice reader to understand the issue a little more.
February 3, 2022
Losing our Minds by Lucy Foulkes is a look at the ever-changing nature of defining mental illness.
Mental illness is influenced many varied factors environmental, cultural, genetic and many others. While we tend to think of depression as feeling low there are many different symptoms that can be present in someone who is depressed. There is not one straightforward way to diagnose and treat someone with a mental illness.
While I appreciated the thorough scientific information the author conveys my eyes did glaze over at points. There is a lot of detailed information about how mental illness affects regions of the brain and genetics and it was a bit too much for MY brain. In some ways, this book felt a little more like a textbook than a book for casual reading.
Overall, this is a good read for someone interested in a thorough look at mental illness and the science behind it. I appreciated the authors obvious knowledge and thoughtful discussion on the topic of mental illness. I hope that this is a conversation we continue to have as a society.
Mental illness is influenced many varied factors environmental, cultural, genetic and many others. While we tend to think of depression as feeling low there are many different symptoms that can be present in someone who is depressed. There is not one straightforward way to diagnose and treat someone with a mental illness.
While I appreciated the thorough scientific information the author conveys my eyes did glaze over at points. There is a lot of detailed information about how mental illness affects regions of the brain and genetics and it was a bit too much for MY brain. In some ways, this book felt a little more like a textbook than a book for casual reading.
Overall, this is a good read for someone interested in a thorough look at mental illness and the science behind it. I appreciated the authors obvious knowledge and thoughtful discussion on the topic of mental illness. I hope that this is a conversation we continue to have as a society.
October 24, 2024
A really careful, nuanced, wide-ranging exploration of the issue. I really appreciated Foulkes' even-handedness: in nearly every chapter, debates about treatment or the meaning of statistics are presented with equal care given to both sides of an argument, often without betraying her own leanings.
The social media chapter I found very challenging: she proposes that it's not just an engine of damage to mental health but that it amplifies existing emotions and social positioning in a way that can make people's mental health better or worse.
She also treats the idea that mental health has broadened as a category with appropriate sensitivity and rigour. Just because there's a spectrum from normal experience to pathology doesn't mean mental disorders aren't a real thing! Makes the point too that reserving the language of disorder for the genuinely distressing and disabling cases actually serves everyone, too.
I really enjoyed it! And disagree with lots of the critique in other reviews here too...
The social media chapter I found very challenging: she proposes that it's not just an engine of damage to mental health but that it amplifies existing emotions and social positioning in a way that can make people's mental health better or worse.
She also treats the idea that mental health has broadened as a category with appropriate sensitivity and rigour. Just because there's a spectrum from normal experience to pathology doesn't mean mental disorders aren't a real thing! Makes the point too that reserving the language of disorder for the genuinely distressing and disabling cases actually serves everyone, too.
I really enjoyed it! And disagree with lots of the critique in other reviews here too...
April 27, 2021
Clear, lucid overview of what mental health is and isn't, and why the language we use is so important.
February 3, 2022
So good!
August 3, 2024
3.5 ⭐️
June 23, 2021
If you would like to get an updated, comprehensive crash course on our current research-based understanding of mental illness, its rates, contributing factors on many levels, and the nuances of the conversation around it, then you should really pick up Losing Our Minds.
Dr Foulkes does an excellent job at exploring how rates of mental illnesses might - or might not be - increasing, and explaining all of the possible contributing factors: from the more simple of the biological, to the incredibly nuanced of the environmental. I was very pleasantly surprised at how well Losing Our Minds tackled the newest of concerns of online spaces and social media. It is usually in the public and media discussions around them, where nuance can get lost in ways that end up being counterproductive. Dr Foulkes, on the other hand, is clearly informed about the necessity of nuance, avoids the aforementioned pitfalls, and explains how and why they happen in the first place.
This is one of those books which not only fully deserves the critical praise it has received, but turns out to be more impressive than expected based on its acclaim. It is written in a very understandable way, yet tells the full story with all its details and uncertainties, and draws clear conclusions without oversimplifying or generalizing. Most importantly, Dr Foulkes is compassionate and empathetic throughout this work, always recognizing the humanity behind what the research aims to study and describe. I really wish more people have read this, especially those who might have conversations around mental health awareness, such as educators, and university tutors.
A personal recommendation: If you aim to gain a more detailed understanding of how experiencing mental illness feels like for the person going through it, reading a memoir after finishing Losing Our Minds, such as Shoot the Damn Dog: A Memoir of Depression (mentioned by Dr Foulkes on p.21) could give some additional understanding. Dr Foulkes portrays this experience really well in the parts of the book where she writes about herself dealing with depression and anxiety, but the scope of Losing Our Minds is wide, so a memoir focused entirely on those experiences would compliment this work well.
Dr Foulkes does an excellent job at exploring how rates of mental illnesses might - or might not be - increasing, and explaining all of the possible contributing factors: from the more simple of the biological, to the incredibly nuanced of the environmental. I was very pleasantly surprised at how well Losing Our Minds tackled the newest of concerns of online spaces and social media. It is usually in the public and media discussions around them, where nuance can get lost in ways that end up being counterproductive. Dr Foulkes, on the other hand, is clearly informed about the necessity of nuance, avoids the aforementioned pitfalls, and explains how and why they happen in the first place.
This is one of those books which not only fully deserves the critical praise it has received, but turns out to be more impressive than expected based on its acclaim. It is written in a very understandable way, yet tells the full story with all its details and uncertainties, and draws clear conclusions without oversimplifying or generalizing. Most importantly, Dr Foulkes is compassionate and empathetic throughout this work, always recognizing the humanity behind what the research aims to study and describe. I really wish more people have read this, especially those who might have conversations around mental health awareness, such as educators, and university tutors.
A personal recommendation: If you aim to gain a more detailed understanding of how experiencing mental illness feels like for the person going through it, reading a memoir after finishing Losing Our Minds, such as Shoot the Damn Dog: A Memoir of Depression (mentioned by Dr Foulkes on p.21) could give some additional understanding. Dr Foulkes portrays this experience really well in the parts of the book where she writes about herself dealing with depression and anxiety, but the scope of Losing Our Minds is wide, so a memoir focused entirely on those experiences would compliment this work well.
December 12, 2021
I loved this book, I’ve been a GP since 2007 and often stood back and wondered at how so many people in the population have ended up on antidepressants, am I part of the the problem by prescribing these? Are we really more depressed and anxious than previous generations? This book goes into depth on all these issues I’ve pondered over the years and I loved it. The writing is really engaging, there’s just the right amount of research to give the book weight and credibility without being dry and dull. The author shares some of her personal experiences without it feeling like she’s over sharing or using the book for her own therapy (many books on this topic do in my opinion).
I’ve read several books in this field, many of which are mentioned in this book but I loved the breadth of this and also how very up to date it is. Excellent all round whether you work in the field of health or are just interested in what’s happening around us in society I can’t recommend this enough.
I’ve read several books in this field, many of which are mentioned in this book but I loved the breadth of this and also how very up to date it is. Excellent all round whether you work in the field of health or are just interested in what’s happening around us in society I can’t recommend this enough.
April 11, 2022
Losing Our Minds brought a nuanced and complex look at the conversation surrounding mental health. Dr. Lucy Foulkes, is a psychologist and educator who uses her lens to take a better look at awareness of mental heath issues vs. an actual DSM-5 diagnosis.
Her evidence based research was thoughtfully shared and this book gave me so much to think about. While it was a little dry at times, the idea that we are very easily able to discuss mental health in today's society, yet understanding the complexities of over diagnosis, self diagnosis and and implement long term treatment besides just medication (helpful but only one part of the puzzle) is still quite misunderstood.
This perspective was thoughtfully presented and I will be thinking about this one for a long time. Foulkes narration was well done and I enjoyed listening to this non-fiction read.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for my free review copies.
Her evidence based research was thoughtfully shared and this book gave me so much to think about. While it was a little dry at times, the idea that we are very easily able to discuss mental health in today's society, yet understanding the complexities of over diagnosis, self diagnosis and and implement long term treatment besides just medication (helpful but only one part of the puzzle) is still quite misunderstood.
This perspective was thoughtfully presented and I will be thinking about this one for a long time. Foulkes narration was well done and I enjoyed listening to this non-fiction read.
Thank you to St. Martin's Press and MacMillan Audio for my free review copies.
June 30, 2021
Fantastic book, providing much needed clarity to such an important yet misunderstood area of health. The book breaks down complex topics, such as the inner workings of the brain, and what different psychological diagnoses really mean, and makes them easy to understand. There is even a section focusing on how to talk to people who are going through mental health struggles. Everyone should read this book, so we can adjust the way we talk about mental health, and therefore be able to more effectively help those who really need help.
October 25, 2022
This was a very interesting scope on mental illness. It is a great book especially for spreading awareness. The amount of statistics you will come across in this book will wow you and provide an entirely different perspective on our current state of mental illness. I really enjoyed this book and heavily recommend it to anyone interested in mental illness.
November 5, 2021
Clear, well-researched, thoughtful, and nuanced.
Almost feels cheating to say because our views align to such a high degree - there are pages at a time that follow certain lesson plans/lectures from my classes.
Almost feels cheating to say because our views align to such a high degree - there are pages at a time that follow certain lesson plans/lectures from my classes.
November 14, 2022
What Mental Health is (and what it isn't) Book Notes
Don’t believe in the high rates of mental health
Those who self harm tend to do it as a form of distraction or they feel that they deserve to be in pain
Suicide rates dropped in countries where they experienced economic growth, better standard of living, improved access to medical care and restricted access to certain methods to suicide
The stigma for men to seek help could be a contribution to the high male suicide rate
Anxiety takes 2 forms, panic and worry. Worry is when you are concerned about the future.
According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), there are 9 symptoms to consider for low mood:
Depressed mood for most of the day, nearly every day
Lose interest in majority of activities
Significant weight loss/loss of appetite
Insomnia (no sleep/struggle to sleep) or Hypersomnia (sleeping too much)
A slowing down of thought and reduction of physical movement
Fatigue
Feeling of worthlessness
Diminished ability to think or concentrate
Recurring thoughts of death
Just because a loved one has recently died, doesn’t mean that you can’t also be hit by depression
There have been studies on twins which show that there could be a biological trait regarding mental health which could be passed onto children.
There are no biological markers for mental health so in order to find a potential cause, they must get information from the patient first and compare brain scans from those who experience something and those who don’t.
The lack of funding is causing a major issue for mental health. Lack of access to help.
Parenting plays a huge role in how the child grows up to deal with the real world. Overbearing/overprotecting might seem to be good but when someone grows up and doesn’t know how to deal with situations for themselves, small problems will end up seeming like a big problem.
Most abuse cases come from the mother (80% of the time) because they are the person who tends to bring the child up.
When a child was exposed to abuse, they’re more likely to be triggered by photos which contain faces expressing anger, an increase activation in their amygdala (a region critical in processing threat and fear)
Being repeatedly let down or betrayed by others can undermine a person’s ability to form any secure relationships at all.
There are 2 coping styles for dealing with mental health: active and passive. Active coping strategies include looking for solutions to problems, seeking social support, and talking about difficult events with trusted other people. A passive coping style is more problematic and is all about avoiding dealing with the stress. It includes rumination (dwelling on the problem), suppressing thoughts about it and self medicating with alcohol or other substances.
Those who engage in positive reappraisal, recognising that something wasn’t their fault, for example, or finding benefits in difficult situations, are less likely to be badly affected. But the more you subjectively view something as threatening, harmful, out of your control, and leading to a loss, the more at risk you are of developing long term psychological difficulties.
So the way we respond to stress is a complex combination of our biology, psychological tendencies and upbringing, not a question of moral character.
An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behaviour.
Mental illness isn’t just tied down to just biology. Even the environment affects how we behave. Something that has happened at work might trigger one emotion, and this could have a domino effect, triggering other feelings. Low mood > lack of motivation to get things done > a drop in self esteem because you couldn’t get it done.
Mental health issues tend to start around the age of 24.
In order to achieve social competence, we must develop a key capacity: the ability to understand what other people are thinking and feeling.
A positive view of ourselves is critical in protecting ourselves against mental illness.
Even a short term of sleep makes it harder to regulate emotions
Social media is more addictive than substances because it’s normalised and there are no restrictions to it. The way we use the platform will affect our mental health. Those who are consuming negative posts will naturally be affected and will lead towards negative feelings towards themselves. If you use it as a platform to connect with others, it could uplift your mood and improve mental health.
Be aware of being dependent on getting likes on a post. Your mind will overthink about the situation “Why don’t people like my photo? Am I ugly? Is my face fat? Do my legs look skinny?
Self-worth shouldn’t be based on how others view you. It’s how you view yourself.
Social Media could be an amplifier to someone’s situation of loneliness.
The internet is promoting bad habits such as eating disorders. Exposing people to things which they were unaware of, it might increase in people participating in it. The internet has both pros and cons with regard to access to information. People now have access to ways for suicide and exposure to methods could lead toward actual deaths.
Promoting others to seek help for mental health is a double edged sword. When we don’t have access to help (getting a therapist), it might create more problems than it solves. Some might get the idea that they have a mental illness but in fact they are just suffering from a short term of sadness, which is a natural feeling which shouldn’t be looked down as something you shouldn’t experience. Those who might not need the service are in fact pushing away resources from the people who genuinely need the support. The feeling of isolation will grow their anxiety, a lack of hope in becoming better, and this could result in suicides.
The importance to have as friend to talk to, someone who is actively listening to what you’re saying
Be your own reason to smile
The first step to improve the current situation for mental health is to allow space for normal human emotion in response to difficult events without labelling it as a disorder, even when that emotion is devastation.
4 key themes from a survey about treatment
They wanted to be able to perform and fulfill their normal social roles (like being a parent or going to work)
To accept the illness and manage current symptoms
To have techniques to cope with depression in the future, should their symptoms resolve and reoccur
To achieve personal goals, like improving self-esteem
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is something which could help a patient deal with their mental illness. The way to help the recovery process is to identify why you are feeling the way you are feeling, but this is harder than it seems.
Stop thinking of the worst case scenarios. Most likely, it will go smoothly. The more you fuel the bad thoughts, the more weight you’re giving it. Think more positively and this will have a knock-on effect on their overall mood.
The best method for treatment is to find someone who you can completely connect with. The better bond between the therapist and patient, the more success it will have. Building trust is important. It will help the patient to open up and this process will help identify what the problem is
Active listening is a must for those who are helping someone with mental illness.
Physical exercise is a good way to boost self esteem and mood.
Time is a thing that is bigger than depression and anxiety and can disprove their lies.
It is normal to have a setback but you must not give up on the road to recovery. Everyone has their ups and downs but it’s better to fall and get up than to fall and stay on the ground.
Summary:
Mental health isn’t just one definition which fits all. The way we bring up our children and behave with others around us will have a significant impact on their life. The way we deal with our feelings matters. If we think more positively about life, the better outcomes we’ll have. Overthinking, stressing and worrying about things out of our control does no good to us. We need to be aware of how we use social media, as it has both benefits and risks. Be mindful of how we treat others. As a human being, all we want to feel is self-worth (how you view yourself in a positive manner) and to be able to achieve our life-long goals. Treat others with a positive mindset, actively listen to their problems, make them feel like they have worth in this world. They do matter. We might be facing a problem with the lack of funding for mental health, but we can do our part to those who are suffering in silence. You don’t need to suffer in silence. Be active on the journey of self-improvement.
Don’t believe in the high rates of mental health
Those who self harm tend to do it as a form of distraction or they feel that they deserve to be in pain
Suicide rates dropped in countries where they experienced economic growth, better standard of living, improved access to medical care and restricted access to certain methods to suicide
The stigma for men to seek help could be a contribution to the high male suicide rate
Anxiety takes 2 forms, panic and worry. Worry is when you are concerned about the future.
According to the Diagnostic Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), there are 9 symptoms to consider for low mood:
Depressed mood for most of the day, nearly every day
Lose interest in majority of activities
Significant weight loss/loss of appetite
Insomnia (no sleep/struggle to sleep) or Hypersomnia (sleeping too much)
A slowing down of thought and reduction of physical movement
Fatigue
Feeling of worthlessness
Diminished ability to think or concentrate
Recurring thoughts of death
Just because a loved one has recently died, doesn’t mean that you can’t also be hit by depression
There have been studies on twins which show that there could be a biological trait regarding mental health which could be passed onto children.
There are no biological markers for mental health so in order to find a potential cause, they must get information from the patient first and compare brain scans from those who experience something and those who don’t.
The lack of funding is causing a major issue for mental health. Lack of access to help.
Parenting plays a huge role in how the child grows up to deal with the real world. Overbearing/overprotecting might seem to be good but when someone grows up and doesn’t know how to deal with situations for themselves, small problems will end up seeming like a big problem.
Most abuse cases come from the mother (80% of the time) because they are the person who tends to bring the child up.
When a child was exposed to abuse, they’re more likely to be triggered by photos which contain faces expressing anger, an increase activation in their amygdala (a region critical in processing threat and fear)
Being repeatedly let down or betrayed by others can undermine a person’s ability to form any secure relationships at all.
There are 2 coping styles for dealing with mental health: active and passive. Active coping strategies include looking for solutions to problems, seeking social support, and talking about difficult events with trusted other people. A passive coping style is more problematic and is all about avoiding dealing with the stress. It includes rumination (dwelling on the problem), suppressing thoughts about it and self medicating with alcohol or other substances.
Those who engage in positive reappraisal, recognising that something wasn’t their fault, for example, or finding benefits in difficult situations, are less likely to be badly affected. But the more you subjectively view something as threatening, harmful, out of your control, and leading to a loss, the more at risk you are of developing long term psychological difficulties.
So the way we respond to stress is a complex combination of our biology, psychological tendencies and upbringing, not a question of moral character.
An abnormal reaction to an abnormal situation is normal behaviour.
Mental illness isn’t just tied down to just biology. Even the environment affects how we behave. Something that has happened at work might trigger one emotion, and this could have a domino effect, triggering other feelings. Low mood > lack of motivation to get things done > a drop in self esteem because you couldn’t get it done.
Mental health issues tend to start around the age of 24.
In order to achieve social competence, we must develop a key capacity: the ability to understand what other people are thinking and feeling.
A positive view of ourselves is critical in protecting ourselves against mental illness.
Even a short term of sleep makes it harder to regulate emotions
Social media is more addictive than substances because it’s normalised and there are no restrictions to it. The way we use the platform will affect our mental health. Those who are consuming negative posts will naturally be affected and will lead towards negative feelings towards themselves. If you use it as a platform to connect with others, it could uplift your mood and improve mental health.
Be aware of being dependent on getting likes on a post. Your mind will overthink about the situation “Why don’t people like my photo? Am I ugly? Is my face fat? Do my legs look skinny?
Self-worth shouldn’t be based on how others view you. It’s how you view yourself.
Social Media could be an amplifier to someone’s situation of loneliness.
The internet is promoting bad habits such as eating disorders. Exposing people to things which they were unaware of, it might increase in people participating in it. The internet has both pros and cons with regard to access to information. People now have access to ways for suicide and exposure to methods could lead toward actual deaths.
Promoting others to seek help for mental health is a double edged sword. When we don’t have access to help (getting a therapist), it might create more problems than it solves. Some might get the idea that they have a mental illness but in fact they are just suffering from a short term of sadness, which is a natural feeling which shouldn’t be looked down as something you shouldn’t experience. Those who might not need the service are in fact pushing away resources from the people who genuinely need the support. The feeling of isolation will grow their anxiety, a lack of hope in becoming better, and this could result in suicides.
The importance to have as friend to talk to, someone who is actively listening to what you’re saying
Be your own reason to smile
The first step to improve the current situation for mental health is to allow space for normal human emotion in response to difficult events without labelling it as a disorder, even when that emotion is devastation.
4 key themes from a survey about treatment
They wanted to be able to perform and fulfill their normal social roles (like being a parent or going to work)
To accept the illness and manage current symptoms
To have techniques to cope with depression in the future, should their symptoms resolve and reoccur
To achieve personal goals, like improving self-esteem
Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) is something which could help a patient deal with their mental illness. The way to help the recovery process is to identify why you are feeling the way you are feeling, but this is harder than it seems.
Stop thinking of the worst case scenarios. Most likely, it will go smoothly. The more you fuel the bad thoughts, the more weight you’re giving it. Think more positively and this will have a knock-on effect on their overall mood.
The best method for treatment is to find someone who you can completely connect with. The better bond between the therapist and patient, the more success it will have. Building trust is important. It will help the patient to open up and this process will help identify what the problem is
Active listening is a must for those who are helping someone with mental illness.
Physical exercise is a good way to boost self esteem and mood.
Time is a thing that is bigger than depression and anxiety and can disprove their lies.
It is normal to have a setback but you must not give up on the road to recovery. Everyone has their ups and downs but it’s better to fall and get up than to fall and stay on the ground.
Summary:
Mental health isn’t just one definition which fits all. The way we bring up our children and behave with others around us will have a significant impact on their life. The way we deal with our feelings matters. If we think more positively about life, the better outcomes we’ll have. Overthinking, stressing and worrying about things out of our control does no good to us. We need to be aware of how we use social media, as it has both benefits and risks. Be mindful of how we treat others. As a human being, all we want to feel is self-worth (how you view yourself in a positive manner) and to be able to achieve our life-long goals. Treat others with a positive mindset, actively listen to their problems, make them feel like they have worth in this world. They do matter. We might be facing a problem with the lack of funding for mental health, but we can do our part to those who are suffering in silence. You don’t need to suffer in silence. Be active on the journey of self-improvement.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 6, 2022
Losing Our Minds: The Challenge of Defining Mental Illness by psychologist Lucy Foulkes explains why it’s so hard to define what mental illness is and how it happens. The author herself has experienced mental illness, and while this is not a major focus in the book, I thought it was great that she did bring that perspective into it.
The author explains that it’s important to understand not only what mental illness is, but also what it isn’t. Regarding the medicalization of mental illness, she advocates for making a distinction between normal, unavoidable human distress and the more severe manifestations that constitute illness. The book takes a very middle ground kind of approach, acknowledging that psychological pain exists, causes distress, and is valid, but recognizing that not all suffering constitutes a disorder.
The first chapter looks at reported rates of mental illness in the population, breaking down what those numbers mean and questioning whether or not more people are experiencing mental illness now compared to in the past. I thought the author did a good job of taking readers through her process of evaluating different statistics and making it clear that numbers can’t simply be taken at face value.
The book then looks at the normal/disorder continuum and how that fits with categorical diagnostic systems like the DSM. Attention is given to various factors that can influence the development of mental illness in the areas of biology, environment, and the various processes going on during adolescence. The author takes the approach that mental illness is complex, and it can’t be reduced down to either all one thing, whether that’s biology or environment.
There’s an interesting chapter devoted to social media, and again, the author’s approach was very balanced. She addressed both positives and negatives associated with social media use, cautioning against oversimplification, especially when there isn’t a lot of data to go on. She suggested that social media may be more likely to reflect and amplify what’s already going on for individuals rather than create brand new issues. For example, cyberbullying is a problem, but most people who are being cyberbullied are also being bullied in their in-person world.
After looking at these different factors that can influence the development of mental disorders, the book returns to the question of whether mental illness is becoming more prevalent, as seems to be a common perception. The author points out how difficult this is to determine. For example, if suicide rates are going up, how much is that influenced by changes in reporting of suicides (in 2018, the standard for reporting suicides in England and Wales shifted from beyond a reasonable doubt to a balance of probabilities) or under-treatment of depression in children and adolescents due to the FDA black box warning on antidepressant use in this population group?
In the chapter devoted to language, the author advocates for reserving some language for serious illness rather than using the language of disorder to refer to all experiences of distress. She adds that linguistic inflation can contribute to people getting the wrong advice for what they’re actually experiencing.
The book ends with two chapters focused on getting help. The first is about professional help, the different forms that may take, and the reality of how difficult it can be to actually access. The final chapter looks at ways we can help ourselves and other people in our lives. The author reiterates that experiencing distress is hard, but it’s a fundamental part of being human, and not everything is immediately fixable.
I really liked this book. There’s so much talk of black and white in popular conversations about mental health and illness, and this book fully embraces the grey areas. The author skillfully validates both illness and non-illness experiences of suffering, while at the same time establishing that treating all experiences of suffering as though they’re the same or as though they’re all disordered doesn’t serve anybody.
The book brings together a lot of different ideas about mental illness in a very balanced way, making it clear that not every idea is going to match up with every individual’s experience. The author draws on a lot of research findings, but these are presented in an accessible way, with appropriate context to help readers understand what those pieces of information actually mean.
I was impressed by the way that the author presented the complexity of mental illness in a simplified way without sacrificing that inherent complexity or getting into reductionism. Overall, I thought that the book was extremely well done, and it will make an interesting read both for people who have personal experience with mental illness and those who do not.
I received a reviewer copy from the publisher through Netgalley.
The author explains that it’s important to understand not only what mental illness is, but also what it isn’t. Regarding the medicalization of mental illness, she advocates for making a distinction between normal, unavoidable human distress and the more severe manifestations that constitute illness. The book takes a very middle ground kind of approach, acknowledging that psychological pain exists, causes distress, and is valid, but recognizing that not all suffering constitutes a disorder.
The first chapter looks at reported rates of mental illness in the population, breaking down what those numbers mean and questioning whether or not more people are experiencing mental illness now compared to in the past. I thought the author did a good job of taking readers through her process of evaluating different statistics and making it clear that numbers can’t simply be taken at face value.
The book then looks at the normal/disorder continuum and how that fits with categorical diagnostic systems like the DSM. Attention is given to various factors that can influence the development of mental illness in the areas of biology, environment, and the various processes going on during adolescence. The author takes the approach that mental illness is complex, and it can’t be reduced down to either all one thing, whether that’s biology or environment.
There’s an interesting chapter devoted to social media, and again, the author’s approach was very balanced. She addressed both positives and negatives associated with social media use, cautioning against oversimplification, especially when there isn’t a lot of data to go on. She suggested that social media may be more likely to reflect and amplify what’s already going on for individuals rather than create brand new issues. For example, cyberbullying is a problem, but most people who are being cyberbullied are also being bullied in their in-person world.
After looking at these different factors that can influence the development of mental disorders, the book returns to the question of whether mental illness is becoming more prevalent, as seems to be a common perception. The author points out how difficult this is to determine. For example, if suicide rates are going up, how much is that influenced by changes in reporting of suicides (in 2018, the standard for reporting suicides in England and Wales shifted from beyond a reasonable doubt to a balance of probabilities) or under-treatment of depression in children and adolescents due to the FDA black box warning on antidepressant use in this population group?
In the chapter devoted to language, the author advocates for reserving some language for serious illness rather than using the language of disorder to refer to all experiences of distress. She adds that linguistic inflation can contribute to people getting the wrong advice for what they’re actually experiencing.
The book ends with two chapters focused on getting help. The first is about professional help, the different forms that may take, and the reality of how difficult it can be to actually access. The final chapter looks at ways we can help ourselves and other people in our lives. The author reiterates that experiencing distress is hard, but it’s a fundamental part of being human, and not everything is immediately fixable.
I really liked this book. There’s so much talk of black and white in popular conversations about mental health and illness, and this book fully embraces the grey areas. The author skillfully validates both illness and non-illness experiences of suffering, while at the same time establishing that treating all experiences of suffering as though they’re the same or as though they’re all disordered doesn’t serve anybody.
The book brings together a lot of different ideas about mental illness in a very balanced way, making it clear that not every idea is going to match up with every individual’s experience. The author draws on a lot of research findings, but these are presented in an accessible way, with appropriate context to help readers understand what those pieces of information actually mean.
I was impressed by the way that the author presented the complexity of mental illness in a simplified way without sacrificing that inherent complexity or getting into reductionism. Overall, I thought that the book was extremely well done, and it will make an interesting read both for people who have personal experience with mental illness and those who do not.
I received a reviewer copy from the publisher through Netgalley.
July 17, 2023
I love how she really explained how technology and social media isn’t actually proven to worsen mental illness it’s just people who are mentally ill may be more affected by the negative aspects of technology. Made me feel better to know my phone isn’t making me sad and anxious rather I am making myself sad and anxious lol!
April 18, 2022
Really glad I read this. As the title indicates, the author addresses challenges of defining (and therefore diagnosing, coping with, and treating) mental illnesses. Appreciate her blend of professional and personal experience with the topic.
February 2, 2022
This was a great read for anyone who wants to know where to start with understanding mental health. She presents digestible research that both validates the experiences of those suffering from mental health and acknowledges how much professionals do not know about its causes. There is not a blood test or specific gene indicating a sure diagnosis for illnesses such as bipolar or anxiety. She addresses the controversial topic that younger generations are "more mentally ill". There has been an increase in diagnosing as the DSM-V has expanded both horizontally and vertically criteria for diagnosing. This has both positive and negative benefits as some find solace in putting a name to their symptoms and feel that they can better understand their struggles, and others may fall into a self-fulfilling prophecy. As rates of mental illness rise, many point fingers that younger people are "snowflakes" because "everything is trauma" (boo)-- so where is the line? At the end of the day, Foulkes explains that we should be thankful that more people are feeling comfortable to express mental health concerns and are seeking help and that professionals need to adequately and accurately help those receive the most appropriate level of care so that we can do what we can with what little mental health resources there are available.
January 28, 2022
A Look at Mental Illness Today
Dr. Lucy Foulkes, the author, herself a sufferer with anxiety and depression, gives a clear description of many of the problems plaguing the identification and treatment of mental illness today. There are more effective treatments for mood disorders than there were in the past, but there is also much news about the subject. The main stream media is often more sensationalist than helpful in discussing treatment options.
Dr. Foulkes simplifies many of the concepts and deals with a wide variety of topics from social media in both good and bad aspects to the way we talk about mental health symptoms and how it can help people to be more accepting. However, it can create an environment where people not experiencing actual medical symptoms can get caught up in diagnosis and treatment whether they need it or not. While effective in severe cases, the treatments also come with side effects that can be devastating.
I found this a very readable book on a somewhat difficult and controversial subject. It provides good technical information. It also provides a perspective on both individual mental health problems and treatments and gives a perspective on the societal problems of mental health identification and treatment.
I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.
Dr. Lucy Foulkes, the author, herself a sufferer with anxiety and depression, gives a clear description of many of the problems plaguing the identification and treatment of mental illness today. There are more effective treatments for mood disorders than there were in the past, but there is also much news about the subject. The main stream media is often more sensationalist than helpful in discussing treatment options.
Dr. Foulkes simplifies many of the concepts and deals with a wide variety of topics from social media in both good and bad aspects to the way we talk about mental health symptoms and how it can help people to be more accepting. However, it can create an environment where people not experiencing actual medical symptoms can get caught up in diagnosis and treatment whether they need it or not. While effective in severe cases, the treatments also come with side effects that can be devastating.
I found this a very readable book on a somewhat difficult and controversial subject. It provides good technical information. It also provides a perspective on both individual mental health problems and treatments and gives a perspective on the societal problems of mental health identification and treatment.
I received this book from St. Martin’s Press for this review.
February 8, 2022
Losing Our Minds by Dr. Lucy Foulkes: **** I received a free copy of this book from NetGalley for my honest review***
Losing Our Mind By Dr. Lucy Foulkes attempts to raise awareness of mental illness and the challenges of defining and treating these illnesses. Futhermore,it offers tools on how to approach mental illness if you or someone you know is struggling.
While this book was dry with statistics about mental health, I read it in one day. She writes an easy read for a nonfiction book on mental health. Dr. Lucy Foulkes introduces her book by telling us about her own struggles with anxiety. This is what I appreciated most about the book was when she was sharing her own story or quoting writers with mental illnesses. Numbers really can’t describe the human cost of a society that cannot give mental illness the resources it deserves. The personal stories also did a good job of distinguishing normal distress from mental illness.
With that said, it was impressive the amount of studies and research that fills Losing Our Minds. Most times, the studies showed that we still don’t have a solid answer for what causes and what cures mental illness. However, Dr. Lucy Foulkes takes great strides to argue that the genetics, environmental issues and stressors all take a part in why some people develop mental illness.
While I agree about mental illness being a combination of factors, clinicians don’t always treat patients like they are a complex combination of body, mind and environment. Yet, she states they know this in mental health research. Does that matter if that’s not patients’ experience, I wonder?
I think the book could have had more about systemic oppression and mental illness. Although, as I mentioned, there were some quotes from people with mental illness, I wanted more of experiences of people with mental illness as opposed to impersonal studies. Also, she did not include people who believe in reframing words like neurodivergent, which I found strange since she had a language chapter.
Also, while I think the book did a good job of debunking myths about anxiety and depression, I felt the framing of PTSD could have been better. In the book, she first talks about PTSD regarding war and terrorism. Fair enough because these were the first recognized causes of PTSD. But she continues to emphasize these causes in later discussions of trauma. And even though she mentions child abuse, especially sexual abuse and/or neglect, can cause PTSD, she doesn’t talk about how sexual assault and child abuse may be the highest risks for PTSD. Considering this is a book debunking myths about mental illness, it would be helpful to challenge the idea that PTSD is for military and the police.
This was a really informative book. I had minor issues with the book as mentioned before, but I learned a great deal from the quick read. I love the tools she offers at the end of the book, including how to work on your own mental health, how to bring awareness about mental illness, and how to help others. I give Losing Our Minds a 4 out of 5 stars.
Losing Our Mind By Dr. Lucy Foulkes attempts to raise awareness of mental illness and the challenges of defining and treating these illnesses. Futhermore,it offers tools on how to approach mental illness if you or someone you know is struggling.
While this book was dry with statistics about mental health, I read it in one day. She writes an easy read for a nonfiction book on mental health. Dr. Lucy Foulkes introduces her book by telling us about her own struggles with anxiety. This is what I appreciated most about the book was when she was sharing her own story or quoting writers with mental illnesses. Numbers really can’t describe the human cost of a society that cannot give mental illness the resources it deserves. The personal stories also did a good job of distinguishing normal distress from mental illness.
With that said, it was impressive the amount of studies and research that fills Losing Our Minds. Most times, the studies showed that we still don’t have a solid answer for what causes and what cures mental illness. However, Dr. Lucy Foulkes takes great strides to argue that the genetics, environmental issues and stressors all take a part in why some people develop mental illness.
While I agree about mental illness being a combination of factors, clinicians don’t always treat patients like they are a complex combination of body, mind and environment. Yet, she states they know this in mental health research. Does that matter if that’s not patients’ experience, I wonder?
I think the book could have had more about systemic oppression and mental illness. Although, as I mentioned, there were some quotes from people with mental illness, I wanted more of experiences of people with mental illness as opposed to impersonal studies. Also, she did not include people who believe in reframing words like neurodivergent, which I found strange since she had a language chapter.
Also, while I think the book did a good job of debunking myths about anxiety and depression, I felt the framing of PTSD could have been better. In the book, she first talks about PTSD regarding war and terrorism. Fair enough because these were the first recognized causes of PTSD. But she continues to emphasize these causes in later discussions of trauma. And even though she mentions child abuse, especially sexual abuse and/or neglect, can cause PTSD, she doesn’t talk about how sexual assault and child abuse may be the highest risks for PTSD. Considering this is a book debunking myths about mental illness, it would be helpful to challenge the idea that PTSD is for military and the police.
This was a really informative book. I had minor issues with the book as mentioned before, but I learned a great deal from the quick read. I love the tools she offers at the end of the book, including how to work on your own mental health, how to bring awareness about mental illness, and how to help others. I give Losing Our Minds a 4 out of 5 stars.
December 27, 2024
Can I give more *???
I came across Lucy Foulkes at an education conference. Her talk was thought provoking , challenging and also sensible, so I bought her book to delve deeper. I would say this is essential reading for anyone working with young people but also for those who have experienced mental illness or supported anyone with psychological illness and distress including depression, anxiety and EDs.
The author explains the ways in which various MH conditions are diagnosed and the how categorisation has changed over time. It was fascinating to learn more about the challenges in diagnosing conditions and also possible treatment options.
I found Lucy’s thoughts and concerns regarding the over medicalisation of language resonated with me as did her concerns regarding diagnosing conditions. For example, are you ‘depressed’ if you feel sadness following a bereavement or are you experiencing natural feelings of grief? In her talk, she focused on the trend of self diagnosing via platforms such as tik tok and this certainly seems to be an increasing ‘thing’.
I’m not sure I can do this book the justice it deserves in a review but to summarise, it’s a fantastic, and very accessible, read.
I came across Lucy Foulkes at an education conference. Her talk was thought provoking , challenging and also sensible, so I bought her book to delve deeper. I would say this is essential reading for anyone working with young people but also for those who have experienced mental illness or supported anyone with psychological illness and distress including depression, anxiety and EDs.
The author explains the ways in which various MH conditions are diagnosed and the how categorisation has changed over time. It was fascinating to learn more about the challenges in diagnosing conditions and also possible treatment options.
I found Lucy’s thoughts and concerns regarding the over medicalisation of language resonated with me as did her concerns regarding diagnosing conditions. For example, are you ‘depressed’ if you feel sadness following a bereavement or are you experiencing natural feelings of grief? In her talk, she focused on the trend of self diagnosing via platforms such as tik tok and this certainly seems to be an increasing ‘thing’.
I’m not sure I can do this book the justice it deserves in a review but to summarise, it’s a fantastic, and very accessible, read.
January 29, 2022
Dr. Lucy Foulkes is a UK-based Psychiatrist who has written a very timely and important book about understanding mental illness - and helping destigmatize it as well as differentiating between general anxiety disorders and more chronic mental illness. There has been a lot of press in the US and the UK about the rising prevalence of anxiety among the younger generations. Many causes have been attributed (but not grounded in scientific research) such as social media influences, parenting, the "snowflake" generation, etc. Her book meticulously cuts through all of the noise to help reframe what is mental illness and in turn appropriate interventions based on the diagnosis. She also sheds light on different aspects of mental illness which is helpful since often we see it all lumped together in one bucket. As a parent, I found her research and explanations extremely informative and enlightening.
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