The Dialectics of Mania is a personal account of a manic and psychotic episode experienced by Andrew Turtle. It begins with the distress of losing his job and follows the escalation into mania, the onset of psychosis, and the experience of being sectioned and admitted to a psychiatric ward.
The book details what it’s like to live through acute mental distress—how thoughts, emotions, and perceptions shift dramatically—and describes the day-to-day reality of psychiatric hospitalisation. It covers both the internal experience of mania and the external challenges of being in a system that can be disorienting, impersonal, and at times, dehumanising.
This account also raises questions about current mental health practices, particularly the quality of care provided in psychiatric settings. It calls for greater emphasis on respectful, person-centred support and highlights the importance of seeing people in crisis as partners in their own care.
