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Escaping The Asylum: A creative journey towards liberation
“This isn't the first psychiatric hospital I've been treated at. I've been transferred a few times before ending up here. However, I don't quite remember how it all started – it's a bit of a mental fog now, really. It is for this reason that I recently decided to start writing down my thoughts and elaborate on the situation here.“
“I think the patients, the psychiatrists, the Money Men and the Asylum Manager may have more in common than some of them would like to think. We all have a mental diagnosis.”
Escaping the Asylum is a short novel about a psychiatric patient's view of the treatment within the Asylum and the attempts to escape it once and for all. It gives pointers to issues relevant beyond those of psychiatric institutions. The written form resembles a written diary but also the patient as the narrator through present observations and thoughts on various subject.
“I think the patients, the psychiatrists, the Money Men and the Asylum Manager may have more in common than some of them would like to think. We all have a mental diagnosis.”
Escaping the Asylum is a short novel about a psychiatric patient's view of the treatment within the Asylum and the attempts to escape it once and for all. It gives pointers to issues relevant beyond those of psychiatric institutions. The written form resembles a written diary but also the patient as the narrator through present observations and thoughts on various subject.
68 pages, Kindle Edition
Published June 17, 2019
2 people are currently reading
8 people want to read
About the author
Siggy Galaen
1 book2 followersSiggy Galaen is both an author and an artist.
He has been a technical artist in the computer game industry since the mid-1990s, working with numerous companies, and is now a university teacher within the same field.
Writing, fine art and music have been hobbies and part-time work since his teenage years. He also has a high interest in astrophysics, history, macroeconomics, and human psychology. These subjects influence his written works.
Siggy grew up in Northern Norway and lives today nearby Oslo.
He has been a technical artist in the computer game industry since the mid-1990s, working with numerous companies, and is now a university teacher within the same field.
Writing, fine art and music have been hobbies and part-time work since his teenage years. He also has a high interest in astrophysics, history, macroeconomics, and human psychology. These subjects influence his written works.
Siggy grew up in Northern Norway and lives today nearby Oslo.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
December 8, 2019
A short story featuring a patient in a mental health facility, we go with the patient and hear his thoughts and impressions as he relates to everything going on around him. A very interesting take on a patient who comes to realize and believe that there is More to life than the activities he is supposed to take part in. He starts to keep his thoughts and impressions in a notebook that No one sees, as he longs for time in nature, quiet,even different food than the carbohydrate filled,sweetened choices offered.
Some parts of this book are hard to read, seeming to jump around, but overall a great story of a mental patient who sees things a different way after years in asylums, just going along with the rules.
I thank Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book, and I offer You my honest thoughts and feelings in this review.
Some parts of this book are hard to read, seeming to jump around, but overall a great story of a mental patient who sees things a different way after years in asylums, just going along with the rules.
I thank Netgalley and the author for the opportunity to read this book, and I offer You my honest thoughts and feelings in this review.
October 27, 2019
A short psychological novella about a mentally ill man (referred to as the patient) set in a mental health facility - whatever could have attracted me to read this I wonder?! I jest. In addition to the similarities, there are also a number of differences between this and my story, Seen and Unseen.
My interpretation of this story is as a commentary on a capitalist society, with a particular focus on how its subjects are blind to the enslavement such a structure facilitates. The writing is a little off at times, but this could be a translation thing. And the protagonist's voice felt a little underdeveloped. But that aside, the story is entertaining and engaging. A clever concept, well executed.
My interpretation of this story is as a commentary on a capitalist society, with a particular focus on how its subjects are blind to the enslavement such a structure facilitates. The writing is a little off at times, but this could be a translation thing. And the protagonist's voice felt a little underdeveloped. But that aside, the story is entertaining and engaging. A clever concept, well executed.
October 29, 2019
I found this short fictional story to be a compelling look at how life within a psychiatric institution would be perceived from the patient’s perspective throughout the journey from admission to discharge. I’ve spent some of my career in healthcare working on the opposite side, as a healthcare professional within similar systems, not as a psychiatrist though, and found this to be a very unique and creative way to experience the process.
There were some areas in the story that were a bit confusing to the reader. This maybe because I’ve worked within these facilities and know the terminology and way many work so I was trying to superimpose my own experience onto this story although I don’t think they are even in the same medical systems.
I found many of the insights to be spot on. Especially in the final few pages. Fantastic conclusions. This may have been my favorite part. I do think when dealing with mental health issues we can perceive them too simplistically and assume that the patient’s should have more control over their own outcome by taking on their own healing. Unfortunately, I think, from my experience, truly mentally ill patients often lack the judgment and insight to even begin to do the things this patient did towards healing. So, I agree with the premise that institutionalization isn’t the one-size-fits-all solution, it also shouldn’t be discarded for all patients. Some truly need this level of care. Incorporating many of the healing ideas the patient in this story came up with would still be useful and many facilities do this.
Overall, a worthwhile and interesting read for anyone who has an interest in mental health.
#EscapingTheAsylum #NetGalley #BooksGoSocial
There were some areas in the story that were a bit confusing to the reader. This maybe because I’ve worked within these facilities and know the terminology and way many work so I was trying to superimpose my own experience onto this story although I don’t think they are even in the same medical systems.
I found many of the insights to be spot on. Especially in the final few pages. Fantastic conclusions. This may have been my favorite part. I do think when dealing with mental health issues we can perceive them too simplistically and assume that the patient’s should have more control over their own outcome by taking on their own healing. Unfortunately, I think, from my experience, truly mentally ill patients often lack the judgment and insight to even begin to do the things this patient did towards healing. So, I agree with the premise that institutionalization isn’t the one-size-fits-all solution, it also shouldn’t be discarded for all patients. Some truly need this level of care. Incorporating many of the healing ideas the patient in this story came up with would still be useful and many facilities do this.
Overall, a worthwhile and interesting read for anyone who has an interest in mental health.
#EscapingTheAsylum #NetGalley #BooksGoSocial
October 20, 2019
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing this book in exchange for an honest review.
At first, I wasn't quite sure I would really like this book. I was a bit confused. But once I got used to the way the author tells the story, I was hooked. This book should appeal to anyone who is curious about the perspective if a patient in an Asylum.
At first, I wasn't quite sure I would really like this book. I was a bit confused. But once I got used to the way the author tells the story, I was hooked. This book should appeal to anyone who is curious about the perspective if a patient in an Asylum.
October 23, 2019
I give "Escaping the Asylum" 4.5 stars!
I admit that the first half is fairly boring, and the writing is not polished - it sounds like a journal entry rather than a polished book. I even debated quitting. The descriptions of the asylum seem nothing like the asylums I've heard about. But I'm glad I stuck with it! This short but powerful book is definitely worth reading until the end!
Now that I've finished it, I want to read it again. I want to pick up on some of the nuances I missed before but would understand now. In fact, I can't stop thinking about this book. It's an important book for everyone who feels trapped in the mundane and the grind of daily life. Thank you for writing it Siggy Galaen!
I admit that the first half is fairly boring, and the writing is not polished - it sounds like a journal entry rather than a polished book. I even debated quitting. The descriptions of the asylum seem nothing like the asylums I've heard about. But I'm glad I stuck with it! This short but powerful book is definitely worth reading until the end!
Now that I've finished it, I want to read it again. I want to pick up on some of the nuances I missed before but would understand now. In fact, I can't stop thinking about this book. It's an important book for everyone who feels trapped in the mundane and the grind of daily life. Thank you for writing it Siggy Galaen!
January 1, 2023
Fascinating concept and definitely the type of genre that interests me but this didn't end up being what I was hoping/expecting. Not for me unfortunately.
*Free e-copy received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
*Free e-copy received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
November 14, 2019
An in-depth psychological maze that is poignant and quite interesting. My entire review to follow...
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews