Going To War

While mental health awareness is on the rise, it is still a heavily stigmatized subject, with people feeling as isolated and misunderstood as ever. Their symptoms, experiences, and challenges are frequently ignored by health-care professionals and support systems alike. Whether it’s the health-care or judicial system, author Crystal Wolfer knows from personal experience and her advocacy work how corrupt and broken these systems are. Going to War (With Myself) is a genre-bending manifesto on the importance of destigmatizing mental health and the pervasiveness of injustice. Crystal’s personal anecdotes provide insights on living with disabilities, battling anxiety and depression, and her journey to find faith. A love letter to her younger self shows the tremendous dedication and persistence to overcome crushing negative self-talk and outsider criticism. A fictional short story illustrates common inequalities, especially wrongful convictions, through a glimpse into the life of a widowed single mother and her son. This exposure of various forms of discrimination—the people and organizations behind them—will hopefully bring about meaningful change in our lives. Perceptive and candid, Going to War (With Myself) demonstrates the power of spirituality and the necessity for self-reflection on the path to healing and self-acceptance. It’s an essential reminder that mental health isn’t shameful—but not talking about it is.