I am not sick I don't need help

About 50% of all people with schizophrenia and manic-depression do not understand that they are ill and refuse treatment.

Whether you are a family member or a therapist, in this book you will find hope in what the new research is revealing about the problem of poor insight into illness.

Prepare to be surprised and to have new hope. There is much you can do to conquer denial.

Customer Reviews:

A must read for families of the mentally ill

By Carol Evans - March 1, 2001

Xavier Amador has performed a tremendous service for families and therapists by translating the research on insight into mental illness into a highly readable and very practical book. Family members and therapists who read this will find their frustration with a "non-compliant" consumer melting away to be replaced with empathy and compassion, qualities that will enable them to begin laying the groundwork for a cooperative relationship with their loved one/client. Step-by-step methods for developing that relationship are clearly laid out, making this one of the most helpful, hopeful books to come along in a long time for those who treat or live with a mentally ill person. I Am Not Sick...adds to the number of excellent books written for families of the mentally ill, and, in my opinion, tops the list. I just wish it had been available 20 years ago when my sister became ill. I am convinced that she would be much better off today if we had had access to this information.

Very Helpful

By A. Farrington - February 1, 2006

This book is helpful in many ways but I think it's especially helpful if you're having trouble communicating with a mentally ill person or find yourself fighting with them about issues related to (or resulting from) their illness. This book teaches you about a person's "insight" into their illness and now that I understand that concept, I communicate differently with and have a better relationship with my loved one. This was the first mental health book I read from cover to cover; it is easy to read without overcomplicating anything. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for help communicating with or dealing with a mentally ill person.

Title says it all

By Carla Jacobs - April 6, 2003

The title says it all. As an advocate for people with mental illness, daily I get calls from family members asking, "Why won't my loved one accept--seek--help." Amador's book answers that question: Because the person is suffering from a brain disorder, they think, "I'm not sick; I don't need help." Mental illnesses such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are brain disorders. As such, they may impact the person's ability to make viable judgement about treatment and, in many cases, even preclude the victim of the illness from recognizing they have a treatable medical condition. And, if you do not think you are ill, why would anyone accept treatment?Amador's book explains in layman's terms the aspects of mental illness known as "lack of insight". At one time, lack of insight was considered to be the results of stigma, and indeed there is stigma surrounding mental illness. Today, science recognizes in some people lack of insight is the... read more