Reading stories about mental health can be difficult but if you have no triggers around them I’d recommend you to read a few starting with (Not) Alone. It’s a very short read but encompasses some very hard-hitting topics which are relevant in today’s time.

(Not) Alone by Tyler Wittkofsky is a short novella falling Henry as he navigates through his life as someone who is diagnosed with multiple mental health issues. The format in which the book is written is unique. Rather than overwhelming us with too many incidents and relationships that Henry has, he has divided them into parts. Each part deals with different people and how Henry struggles to maintain his relationship with each of them dealing with his mental health.

The first part is about his acceptance of the diagnosis and how his parents help him through it. The second one is for his grandparents. That was the sweetest of them all, in my opinion. The third part was about his brother and that was the most emotional one for me. Sibling relationships are so important, especially through mental health struggles because often we don’t know how to tell our parents half of the things that go on in our mind, and having a sibling can be helpful. I loved Henry and Leo together. The fourth part focused on friends. The fifth was about having a partner, it was also the hardest of them all and the sixth was about his pet dog.

Henry struggles with depression, bipolar disorder, and sever anxiety. Through the story which the author has divided into six different parts, Henry’s struggle with his health takes dark turns and at every single point, he finds someone in his family helping him. My personal favorites were his scenes with his brother and friends.

Tyler Wittkofsky has beautifully explained not only the struggle that goes on in the minds of the one suffering but also the dilemma the loved ones face with quotes like, “If we come off as overbearing & he feels like we’re treating him differently, then he feels like he is a burden to us & gets upsets. We wait for him to reach out to us & don’t make an effort, he feels like he is alone and nobody cares.”

His parents’ dilemma made so much sense. They wanted to help him but they didn’t want him to feel that they are treating him differently because of his diagnosis. It’s so natural for people living with depression to feel like everyone is going to leave them because they are always sad. The guilt of making things gloomy is real and that’s why Henry’s character will resonate with many. The guilt of lashing out at people you love is described in the rawest and most realistic way which can make this story a little hard to read if you are battling your demons.    

One of the things I felt missing were scenes about therapy and doctor-approved medications which are two important things for mental sickness. I get that the idea behind the story was to show how your loved ones are there for you and how important it is to open up to people you are comfortable with but I think therapy and medication also play important roles. There was also a mild language issue which got certain things a little confusing but those were very minute and hence didn’t affect the story in any way.  

The story gets intense in the last part where the author has described in harsh but real words how someone’s mind can control them to the extent that they start to question everything. How someone can become a prison in their mind? Some of the details around his episodes were heartbreaking and it can be overwhelming for a lot of people.

Although I enjoyed this one so much, I know this isn’t one of those books which everyone will be able to read. It’s a difficult one even with just 100 pages, the author manages to make you smile and feel sad and that makes a good book.

Trigger warnings: severe anxiety/panic attacks, bipolar disorder, depression, unauthorized medication, accidents, and thoughts about death/suicide.

Cons:

• No mention of therapy, doctors, or approved medication

Pros:

• Talks about some of the most relevant topics in today’s time, much needed for starting talks around mental health normal.
• Very likable and relatable characters.
• Easy flowing language and length of the book are perfect considering the topics it deals with.

Cover Score: 8.5/10

Book Score: 7.8/10

Get your copy at Tea With Coffee Media || Amazon US / UK || Google Books || Goodreads

This book was Reviewed by Akansha

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