S. F. Prescott

Disturbing and dark.

At age 40, James was diagnosed with type 1 bipolar disorder after a sudden psychotic break. The life-altering experience has led him to pursue his passion for writing to inform, inspire, and provide hope to those navigating a mental illness or know someone who is. He is also the founder of Voicelesstovictory.org, a place where mental health and ministry meet.

Published March 19th, 2024.

I was deeply disturbed reading the author’s personal journey through psychosis. I’m familiar with the disorder, bi-polar I, after witnessing it first hand some years ago with a work colleague. Nothing can prepare you for something like that. In Coast’s detailed description the hallucinations he endured were terrifying to read about, and the way in which it affected his close relationships left me feeling awful for him. It’s a thought-provoking memoir that raises awareness about mental illness, and an important book, but it’s not a light read.

For readers who enjoy first hand accounts of mental illness, dark topics, and heartfelt stories.

Synopsis:

Hallucinations and delusions of grandeur weave through James’s perception of reality, setting in motion the swift unraveling of time and space around him. Speaking with angels and defending his home against demons becomes an ordinary day.

Until it’s not.

When his mind shatters at work, the ER doctor suspects drugs, and his wife fears a tumor, but James wonders what all the fuss is about. His ability to see beyond the natural realm has burst into the open, and he is none the wiser.

As the doors to the psych ward close, his wife disappears into the darkness, leaving him to fight the spiritual battles that ensue.