Psychosis is unfortunately one of those mental conditions that society has deemed one of the "scary" mental health challenges. Upon hearing the word, one might picture the latest Hollywood blockbuster horror relying on offensive tropes or the latest news story of the murder of a psychotic person "in self-defense." Ultimately, nothing positive. We hear this word thrown around a lot, but what does it actually mean? What do people with psychosis experience? How does it affect their lives?

This wonderful book hopes to answer some of these questions from the perspective of the people living with the condition.

Simply put, this book is absolutely outstanding. If you know anyone with the condition, have it yourself, or just want to learn more for the sake of it, this is a vital book to start exploring what it actually means to be psychotic.

Thank you so much to Jessica Kingsley Publishers for a free eARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

This is an excellent own–voices guide to what it’s like to live with psychosis. Conibear includes personal anecdotes and experiences as well as those from diverse others. It is written in plain English with a conversational tone that can do a lot to explain and destigmatize psychosis.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I liked the way in which the book has been split up with a part on myth-busting, one on addressing stigma and a final part on living well to address many different elements of psychosis. I appreciated the chapter Language Matters for addressing the stigma in using words such as psychotic, mental, delusional which needs to be addressed more often as with the availability of social media many mental illnesses and symptoms have become used in a slang like way more often which is harmful to many and lightens the seriousness those who live with them face. I also appreciated the paragraph For People Who Want to Help as I myself don’t experience psychosis but am always open to learning different ways I can help and support those around me. I liked the short paragraph on the interviewees with a mini biography and their socials where appropriate and the positive media representations of psychosis but at the end too. I did appreciate the resources at the end and how they were split for the USA and the UK but it does feel very as there are so many more countries in the world that readers could be looking for this type of information from and it takes like a day to research the best psychosis support in more countries. I was also glad that there were references provided at the end so I can do some further research but maybe it should have been called a bibliography instead as there’s no way without reading the reference to know which one is relating to what in the book.

Book Review: The Myth-Busting Guide to Psychosis: Demystifying Hallucinations, Delusions, and How to Live Well by Kai Conibear

Kai Conibear's The Myth-Busting Guide to Psychosis is a powerful and insightful book that achieves the rare feat of being both deeply educational and remarkably accessible. Aimed at demystifying psychosis, this book serves as a comprehensive guide to understanding what psychosis truly entails—what it feels like, how it impacts individuals differently, and, most importantly, how to live well with it. Conibear's approach is compassionate and inclusive, making this a vital resource not only for those living with psychosis but also for their loved ones and the clinicians who support them.

As a psychologist who has lived with psychosis since the age of 11, diagnosed at 21, I have long sought accessible material that could help my loved ones grasp the realities of my daily experiences. The Myth-Busting Guide to Psychosis fills this gap perfectly. Conibear’s writing is clear and approachable, making complex concepts understandable without ever feeling reductive. The book's potential to aid thousands of people with psychosis, along with their families, is immense.

What sets this book apart is its focus on lived experience. Conibear collaborates closely with individuals who have firsthand experience with psychosis, grounding the book in authenticity and ensuring that it resonates on a deeply personal level. This approach is something I am particularly passionate about in my own research. It's easy for clinicians to fall into the trap of viewing a diagnosis as a series of symptoms rather than understanding the unique, nuanced experiences of those living with it. Conibear’s inclusion of these voices makes the book not only reliable but also genuinely validating for readers like myself.

In addition to its educational value, the book provides practical advice on coping mechanisms, which is something I have found surprisingly scarce elsewhere. The strategies shared in this book have the potential to be life-changing, offering tools that I will likely carry with me forever.

Overall, I give The Myth-Busting Guide to Psychosis a resounding 5 out of 5 stars. I wholeheartedly recommend it to anyone living with psychosis, those who love someone with psychosis, and clinicians who work with individuals experiencing psychosis. This book is more than just a guide; it's a beacon of understanding and support in a field that desperately needs both.

Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read and review this book. These opinions are completely my own.

I have a family member with drug-induced psychosis and it can be very frightening at times. He tends to call and want me to stay on the phone with him and I rarely know what to do. I was extremely excited to find this book and I plan on getting it for the rest of my family. It's easy to comprehend and helps me with working with him to calm him down.