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Material Type | Library | Call Number | Suggested Age | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Book | Searching... Milton Public Library | 152.46 SPE | Young Adult | Searching... Unknown |
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Summary
Summary
It can be hard to find the words to describe the icky feelings that seem to come from nowhere and sap all your joy and energy. You can tell that your brain just isn''t pulling off the same tasks as others, and you''re constantly bouncing between feeling nothing and feeling the weight of everything. It''s hard enough to admit that you''re struggling, but how do you even begin to navigate getting help when it feels like there''s an enormous gap between you, your peers, and the adults in your life who keep saying they want to support you but just don''t seem to get it?
This is not your doctor''s dry health pamphlet or a preachy self-care listicle. The Beasts in Your Brain is a guide and companion equally for you and your loved ones, here to provide that essential first dose of information, understanding, and validation about mental illness and how it affects the young people of today. This book knows how much harder things are for you and your generation, how out-of-touch much of the advice out there is (after all, how are you supposed to "just unplug" when more than half your social life is conducted online?), and how identity, circumstances, and stigma can affect your experiences.
Though they might be scary or seem unstoppable, the beasts can be defeated. It will be hard work, but it is not work you will ever have to do alone. This book will be your first partner in your battle against the beasts, reminding you that there''s always hope and humor to be found in openly talking about the realities of living with mental illness. Together with the support of your loved ones and the practical knowledge and tools you will learn in this book, you can win this fight.
Though they might be scary or seem unstoppable, the beasts can be defeated. It will be hard work, but it is not work you will ever have to do alone. This book will be your first partner in your battle against the beasts, reminding you that there''s always hope and humor to be found in openly talking about the realities of living with mental illness. Together with the support of your loved ones and the practical knowledge and tools you will learn in this book, you can win this fight.uch of the advice out there is (after all, how are you supposed to "just unplug" when more than half your social life is conducted online?), and how identity, circumstances, and stigma can affect your experiences.
Though they might be scary or seem unstoppable, the beasts can be defeated. It will be hard work, but it is not work you will ever have to do alone. This book will be your first partner in your battle against the beasts, reminding you that there''s always hope and humor to be found in openly talking about the realities of living with mental illness. Together with the support of your loved ones and the practical knowledge and tools you will learn in this book, you can win this fight.uch of the advice out there is (after all, how are you supposed to "just unplug" when more than half your social life is conducted online?), and how identity, circumstances, and stigma can affect your experiences.
Though they might be scary or seem unstoppable, the beasts can be defeated. It will be hard work, but it is not work you will ever have to do alone. This book will be your first partner in your battle against the beasts, reminding you that there''s always hope and humor to be found in openly talking about the realities of living with mental illness. Together with the support of your loved ones and the practical knowledge and tools you will learn in this book, you can win this fight.ed. It will be hard work, but it is not work you will ever have to do alone. This book will be your first partner in your battle against the beasts, reminding you that there''s always hope and humor to be found in openly talking about the realities of living with mental illness. Together with the support of your loved ones and the practical knowledge and tools you will learn in this book, you can win this fight.
Reviews (2)
Kirkus Review
Journalist Speller draws from her personal experience with mental health as a teen and adult as well as extensive research and interviews in her debut nonfiction. The author writes that early in her research, the Covid-19 pandemic hit and people found themselves living in unprecedented times. Her topic then took on a new urgency as mental health experts warned of the effects the pandemic was having on adolescents. The resulting work is both a detailed and informative account of mental health illnesses among teenagers and a comprehensive, step-by-step guide to recovery. Throughout the book, the author guides the readers through a healing journey that starts with naming and acknowledging their mental illness and moves on to finding professional treatments, a support system, and different techniques and coping tools, including technology, to face these challenges. Speller writes with humor and a personable style that projects empathy and inclusivity, making her readers, no matter their race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender, or financial background, feel seen, heard, and empowered. The "brain beasts," as she calls mental illnesses, almost come to life through powerful, full-page, stylized grayscale illustrations. As the narrative progresses, so too does the art, leading to the final message: an assurance to adolescents that they are bigger than the beasts in their brains. A valuable guide for teens struggling with mental health and the people who care about them. (glossary, source notes, bibliography, resources, index) (Nonfiction. 13-18) Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Booklist Review
This reassuring guide acknowledges that many teens are suffering from anxiety and depression, assures readers that these feelings are legitimate and authentic, asserts that mental illness is real and demands a medical response, and offers a series of strategies that range from learning to recognize symptoms and use appropriate vocabulary to ask for help to finding trustworthy professionals and healing therapies. Author Speller describes herself as "a journalist, a former mentally ill teen, and a currently mentally ill adult." She exudes authenticity and empathy and tackles issues that can limit access to mental health care, whether financial, social, or legal (consent laws for minors vary from state to state). There's a chapter on self-harm and suicidal ideation (readers are warned that the content may be triggering and are given the option to skip forward) and another about screen time. There's also constant validation, assurance that every life is precious, and an ongoing emphasis that everyone is entitled to help in overcoming mental health challenges. Comforting, calming, and duly documented, this timely offering has multiple applications.
