In a society where psychosis is often met with fear and misunderstanding, author Becky Parry offers a radically different perspective in her new book, Healing from Psychosis: We Are Living in a Simulation. Part diary, part spiritual testimony, and part survival story, the book invites readers to question conventional assumptions about reality, consciousness, and mental illness. By sharing her intimate journey through emotional breakdown, altered states, and spiritual visions, Parry challenges the stigma surrounding diagnoses like psychosis and schizophrenia, arguing that such experiences may carry spiritual significance rather than being dismissed solely as pathology.
Parry's account begins during a period of profound physical and emotional exhaustion. Diagnosed with psychosis and living with Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E.), she describes feeling disconnected from society and reality itself. As her experiences intensified, she began questioning mainstream explanations of consciousness and mental illness. The book explores simulation theory, metaphysics, spirituality, multidimensional reality, and the possibility that human perception extends beyond what modern society typically accepts. "I understand many people may not agree with my interpretations," Parry says. "But these experiences felt completely real to me, and writing about them became part of my healing."
Unlike traditional inspirational memoirs, Healing from Psychosis refuses to tidy suffering into simple lessons. Through real-time diary entries, readers witness fear, confusion, despair, vulnerability, and gradual transformation. Parry openly discusses suicidal thoughts, emotional isolation, stigma, and the devastating impact of severe psychological distress on identity and self-worth. Yet alongside the darkness, she also explores healing. She reflects on practices that became meaningful during her recovery, including spirituality, meditation, Emotional Freedom Technique (EFT), Matrix Reimprinting, breathwork, and journaling. As a qualified Coach, Mentor, and Alternative Therapist, Parry brings years of experience in holistic healing to her reflections.
A major focus of the book is the societal stigma surrounding psychosis and schizophrenia. Parry hopes her story encourages empathy toward individuals whose experiences do not fit neatly within conventional frameworks. "We are often taught to fear what we don't understand," she explains. "But behind every diagnosis is a human being trying to survive." This message is particularly important at a time when mental health conversations are growing but still often lack nuance. By framing her experiences as both psychological and spiritual, Parry adds a controversial yet compassionate voice to the debate over how society treats those with non-ordinary states of consciousness.
The book's title reflects its most provocative theme: the idea that reality may be far more complex than modern society assumes. While readers may interpret the book differently based on their own beliefs, Healing from Psychosis ultimately speaks to universal human experiences of suffering, identity, fear, loneliness, hope, and the search for meaning. The result is a work that is simultaneously controversial, compassionate, emotional, and deeply introspective. It matters because it challenges the medical model's monopoly on truth, offering instead a narrative that honors the subjective reality of those who suffer. In doing so, Parry provides a platform for voices often silenced by stigma, urging a more open-minded and empathetic approach to mental health.
Healing from Psychosis: We Are Living in a Simulation is available now via major online booksellers. By sharing her story, Parry hopes to inspire more compassionate discussions surrounding psychosis and to remind readers that behind every diagnosis is a human being seeking understanding and healing.
