What do you think?
Rate this book
It's All In Your Head Art Book 2nd Dose Edition Hard Cover
It's All in Your Head (Hardcover) by Shawn Coss
Over 250 Pages
Featuring Over 60 Depictions of Mental illness as the Monster We Fight
Use by Therapists Globally
A part of The German Psychology College Textbook
A Visual Learning Art Book to See How Mental illness Can Really Fell Like
Can Be Used to Help Understand Those Who Struggle with Mental Health by Understanding It Ourselves
Created by Shawn Coss with Over 11 Years of Experience First Hand with Mental Health Population as an ER Nurse
"Back in 2016 I wanted my artwork to have more substance to it, more emotion. I decided to research and study various mental illnesses and noticed there wasn't much out there in terms of art that really showed how it can feel for so many of us. I went on to create 32 different raw and unapologetic art pieces of various mental health disorders and opened up pandora's box on what the monsters can really look like. I continued building the series as the years have gone by and have become an advocate for all who struggle with their mental health. Because we are not alone in this. " - Shawn Coss (Author/Artist)
Over 250 Pages
Featuring Over 60 Depictions of Mental illness as the Monster We Fight
Use by Therapists Globally
A part of The German Psychology College Textbook
A Visual Learning Art Book to See How Mental illness Can Really Fell Like
Can Be Used to Help Understand Those Who Struggle with Mental Health by Understanding It Ourselves
Created by Shawn Coss with Over 11 Years of Experience First Hand with Mental Health Population as an ER Nurse
"Back in 2016 I wanted my artwork to have more substance to it, more emotion. I decided to research and study various mental illnesses and noticed there wasn't much out there in terms of art that really showed how it can feel for so many of us. I went on to create 32 different raw and unapologetic art pieces of various mental health disorders and opened up pandora's box on what the monsters can really look like. I continued building the series as the years have gone by and have become an advocate for all who struggle with their mental health. Because we are not alone in this. " - Shawn Coss (Author/Artist)
270 pages, Hardcover
Published January 1, 2015
3 people are currently reading
34 people want to read
About the author
Shawn Coss
9 books66 followersHi, if you're looking for Shawn Cross, that's another guy who definitely doesn't do the art I do. At least I don't think. But anyways, I'm a dark art artist from Ohio. I've been working at my craft professionally for 9 years as an independent artist as well as an artist for the widely popular webcomic series, Cyanide & Happiness. I'm also a co-owner and artist for Ohio based lifestyle brand, Any Means Necessary clothing.
Though I've been known for my association with Cyanide & Happiness, in 2016 I created the mental health series, Inktober Illness, as part of the annual Inktober series which completely altered my art direction to focus more on artwork that helps create a conversation on mental health. My art has been all over the internet and bodies of many fans and it's still spreading. It's been life changing to say the least that an artist from Ohio is able to connect with so many who feel like they don't have a voice.
Though I've been known for my association with Cyanide & Happiness, in 2016 I created the mental health series, Inktober Illness, as part of the annual Inktober series which completely altered my art direction to focus more on artwork that helps create a conversation on mental health. My art has been all over the internet and bodies of many fans and it's still spreading. It's been life changing to say the least that an artist from Ohio is able to connect with so many who feel like they don't have a voice.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
March 8, 2025
Sometimes I come across books that feel as if they were made with me in mind. Shawn Coss’s inventive, dark look into mental health is one such book. It’s All in Your Head is made up of Coss’s artist depictions of mental health disorders and challenges, often depicting these as demonic entities. The art pieces show what these problems feel like to the people suffering from them. Coss takes inspiration from his 11 years as an emergency department (ED) nurse along with his personal “struggles with depression, mania, and ADHD.”
[Image: I Find Comfort in My Darkness ]
The artwork also comes with plenty of text from Coss, giving explanations for his choices and what he is trying to achieve with his work. As a social worker and therapist myself, I can say that there is much in the book to help people who struggle with mental health better understand themselves. There is much to be said for representing disorders as monsters external to us, things that we can fight.
[Image: The disorders represented in the book]
It’s All in Your Head also makes for good, creepy fun for the general public. Coss brings a sense of humor to the material and the artwork is all around very cool.
[Image: One of Coss’s depictions of agoraphobia]
Do I have any complaints? Nothing serious. I wish that the author could have included page numbers for easier access to certain parts. I also wish Coss could have included a date of publication. While this Goodreads page says 2015, the hardcover version of the Second Dose Edition I purchased in 2025 contains artwork dated as late as 2020. Beyond that complaint, this is a fine book for anyone interested in mental health disorders and/or horrific artwork.
***************************************************************************
[Image: Book Cover]
Citation:
Coss, S. (n.d.). It’s all in your head: Second dose edition. Any Means Necessary.
Title: It’s All In Your Head: Second Dose Edition
Author(s): Shawn Coss
Year: publication date not provided
Genre: Nonfiction - Art, mental health
Page count: 270 pages (approximately)
Date(s) read: 3/7/25 - 3/8/25
Book 54 in 2025
***************************************************************************
[Image: I Find Comfort in My Darkness ]
The artwork also comes with plenty of text from Coss, giving explanations for his choices and what he is trying to achieve with his work. As a social worker and therapist myself, I can say that there is much in the book to help people who struggle with mental health better understand themselves. There is much to be said for representing disorders as monsters external to us, things that we can fight.
[Image: The disorders represented in the book]
It’s All in Your Head also makes for good, creepy fun for the general public. Coss brings a sense of humor to the material and the artwork is all around very cool.
[Image: One of Coss’s depictions of agoraphobia]
Do I have any complaints? Nothing serious. I wish that the author could have included page numbers for easier access to certain parts. I also wish Coss could have included a date of publication. While this Goodreads page says 2015, the hardcover version of the Second Dose Edition I purchased in 2025 contains artwork dated as late as 2020. Beyond that complaint, this is a fine book for anyone interested in mental health disorders and/or horrific artwork.
***************************************************************************
[Image: Book Cover]
Citation:
Coss, S. (n.d.). It’s all in your head: Second dose edition. Any Means Necessary.
Title: It’s All In Your Head: Second Dose Edition
Author(s): Shawn Coss
Year: publication date not provided
Genre: Nonfiction - Art, mental health
Page count: 270 pages (approximately)
Date(s) read: 3/7/25 - 3/8/25
Book 54 in 2025
***************************************************************************
January 6, 2026
I forgot I pre-ordered this hardcover book last year in 2025 but I was pleasantly surprised when it showed up today 6/01/2026. I immediately read the entire book and have gone back and re-looked and re-admired every detail put into each page.
It’s good to finally felt understood and seen.
A certain small section that has stuck to me as it made me chuckle for a moment was:
“Well Karen, I don’t like drawing f***ing flowers because I want everything to die, and you smell”
and then
“that’s not how’d i reply but would be pretty entertaining if I did.”
It’s good to finally felt understood and seen.
A certain small section that has stuck to me as it made me chuckle for a moment was:
“Well Karen, I don’t like drawing f***ing flowers because I want everything to die, and you smell”
and then
“that’s not how’d i reply but would be pretty entertaining if I did.”
December 16, 2025
I wanted to love this book but it just wasn’t what I had hoped for. There were many typos throughout. I would have hoped some independent eyes had read through for obvious mistakes, if not an actual editor. Maybe that’s my OCD talking? The writing seemed like an afterthought instead of a complement to the art. The art itself was interesting and thought provoking. Overall, however, it left me wishing for more substance.
April 7, 2025
The artwork is creepy and extremely cool. While I liked the various mental health disorders the author chose, i wish there was more data on what they actually are. Sure there are little blurbs from NIH, but I wish there was more - more clinical insight.
October 22, 2025
I was hoping it would go more into detail and have more disorders but I enjoyed the artwork and realized I have more mental disorders than I thought lol. the adhd artwork is really exactly how I feel. you can tell the author is familiar
March 9, 2025
A chilling and accurate take on mental health disorders w/ stunningly dark artwork.
October 6, 2025
amazing collection
September 28, 2025
Interesting art style, and I'm glad to help support an artist. Writing wise, his style wasn't quite my cup of tea. Did appreciate light diagnostic information that was cited and reading his experiences.
Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews