Pardon My Psychosis: To the Edge of Insanity and Back

Pardon my Psychosis is a candid expose of Mr Coast's walk into a frightening and confusing psychotic chapter of his life as he becomes manic (unbeknownst to him) over several weeks. The book details his hallucinations and thoughts of grandeur along the way (sometimes a bit alarming what he believed along the way). James details his thoughts regarding his Christian faith as he seeks to do the will of God. You also see much grace and gentleness within Mr Coast as he ministers to other hurting and confused people in an inpatient psyche unit.As a practicing physician who sees patients, both in the clinic and ER, I have tried my best to help those who suffer both physically and mentally.Pardon My Psychosis allowed me to peer into the very difficult path of psychosis and grew compassion in me for those whom are affected by mental illness. I know, as much as any other the need for explanation, as any good physician wants to help his patients understand the complexities of their ailments.Pardon my Psychosis reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made by a loving God who is the only one who ultimately understands the complexities of our human condition. Unfortunately we are not as strong as we think we are, and that is good to remember as we learn to trust in a loving God. Enjoy!

Good reading

This is a book that drew me in and kept me reading quickly. While reading it I kept thinking this was actually a real experience for the author. Now every time I hear of people doing things that seem out of the ordinary or bazaar I wonder if they have a mental illness. I think everyone who deals with mental illness either in their careers or family or friends should read this book. It is a very valuable tool. I know it changed my way of thinking for sure.

As the daughter of a mom with bipolar 1 disorder, this story hit home hard! James does an excellent job of taking you inside his head while battling psychosis and breaks down the stigma attached to mental illness. I also love how he shows God working the good through some of the most dire circumstances. I couldn’t put it down and look forward to reading more from this talented, emerging author!

It was good to see the inner thoughts of someone going through this experience. If you are looking for a good read, this is the one! James’s book will take you on a wild ride which will bring you back to ground zero while finding the book difficult to put down!

I love how open and honest James was about his experience. It’s very eye opening and I think this book will help any readers that are struggling with mental heath issues.

This book is amazing. I could not put it down. I was hooked wanting to know what happened next. James is so extremely brave to share his story. This is a must read.

"A once normal life now shattered like a piece of defective pottery at the hands of its distraught maker."In what will be definitely remembered as one of the most smashing debuts of 2024, James Coast takes the readers by the hand and invites them to occupy his headspace during the tempestuous outbreak of mania. The authenticity and bravura by which the author handles his subject matter are indicative of a bona fide talent who took a big risk in his first writing attempt, choosing a distressing, even disturbing, main theme, nevertheless ultimately scoring highly in every aspect. While Pardon My Psychosis may be classified as a memoir, it certainly stands out among the other works of the genre. The author is himself the first-person narrator of a story that is brimming with insightful introspection and profound inner monologues that allow the quintessence of mania to be fully revealed. The book features a powerful first sentence, with Coast employing a sublime metaphor that encapsulates the essence of mental illness and sums up its devastating consequences for the sufferer.The relationship of the narrator with God is one of the core motifs permeating the entirety of the text and Coast, a devout man of faith, is daring enough to intermingle psychosis and religion, never losing focus and remaining respectful towards the readers, believers or not. The author excels in the parts where he sinks his teeth deep into the description of the disrupted thought process and overwhelming elation experienced by a manic person. At one point, Coast makes use of a vivid simile as he mentions the Holy Book: "The words were a jumbled bowl of prophetic spaghetti." Confusion reigns in the narrator's mind, leading him astray to the perilous road of grandiosity, the pinnacle of the sickness; the man believes that he is God's chosen, thus as omnipotent as the creator of the universe.Despite the book being a true-to-life account of the author's personal experiences while battling mental illness, it often feels more like a thriller, the tension gradually escalating to reach a climax and then melting away to let the afflicted breathe freely again and find his footing in the world, away from the distortion and turmoil imposed by the sickness. As a bipolar myself, I was diagnosed 11 years ago, and I've been on medication since, I know first-hand the hallucinogenic perception of reality by the manic and I always aspired to write someday an account of my own experience. After reading Pardon My Psychosis, though, I realize that I couldn't come even close to Coast's brilliant and accurate portrayal. His prose is something to be relished and doesn't even for a moment allow the reader to think that the author is a novice. I cannot recommend this title strongly enough and I want to thank Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with a free ARC in exchange of an honest review. The title will be released on March 19, 2024.