“I have long waited for a popular science book on psychological and mental illnesses—a wise book, without fear or prejudice. One that allows people to read and understand, making them feel that mental illnesses are no different from physical ailments, and seeing a psychologist is as normal as visiting a dentist. This book is exactly what I wanted. I believe that after reading it, everyone will have more knowledge, more understanding, and more answers about mental illnesses.”
--Denis Butin, Clinical Psychology Expert and Psychologist, Partner at Empatika IT, Ru-Beacon Analyst, and Bestselling Author.

“Depression, anxiety, Asperger’s syndrome—how often do we use these long, elegant words in a week without considering their true meanings? This book brings clarity to perspectives on mental illnesses, distinguishing superstitious myths and outdated data from mainstream modern science.”
--Asya Kashentseva, Science Journalist and Winner of the “Enlightenment Education Award”.

“…It’s been a long time since we’ve read a psychiatry book like this: both popular and scientifically sound, witty and modern…”
--Russian Popular Science Magazine “Schrödinger’s Cat”.

“Before reading this book, I didn’t think a normal person needed knowledge about psychiatry. Now, I believe we absolutely do. First, this book will help you organize your thoughts. Second, it might save you from pointless self-treatment. Third, it will make you more humane toward those with mental illnesses. Fourth, it is truly very well-written.”
--Yana Zubtsova, Editor-in-Chief of www.beautyinsider.ru.

“Philosopher Michel Foucault once pointed out that ‘madness’ is not actually mad—they just differ from other ‘normal’ people. But instead of being accepted, they were confined to new prisons—mental hospitals. It’s time to revise this theory, and this book will show you what truly works.”
--Anton Korablev, Editor of Online Magazine “Knife”.

★ ​​Third edition printed!​​ Over 40,000 copies sold! A five-star bestseller in the psychology category on the leading Russian online bookstore Ozon!
★ ​​Acclaimed by readers and media,​​ with hundreds of positive reviews—a rarity among comparable titles on the market.
★ ​​Rights already sold for Ukraine!​​
★ This book is an accessible guide to mental health conditions. Grounded in extensive scientific research and expert interviews, it serves as an unbiased encyclopedia to help readers recognize, prevent, and address mental disorders.
★ ​​Especially relevant​​ for anyone living in a fast-paced urban environment and facing daily stress and anxiety.

According to World Health Organization statistics, 7 out of every 100 people suffer from depression, 3 from bipolar disorder, 1 from antisocial personality disorder, and another is likely to have schizophrenia. Does this sound like a disaster? Not if you have a basic understanding of mental health and modern treatments.
How can you tell if someone is mentally healthy? What should you do if you discover you have a mental illness? How do you explain it to your family? What steps should you take when family or friends show signs of a mental disorder? How can we help without causing offense? Why do people develop mental illnesses? Do you still believe they result from poor lifestyle choices or as punishment for sins? Should the average person be educated about mental health?
With advancements like MRI, EEG, and other scientific progress, our understanding of mental illness has grown immensely. This book will help you clearly distinguish between, for instance, antisocial personality disorder and social anxiety; understand the origin of inner voices (and why intrusive thoughts sometimes occur); and provide insights into common conditions such as depression, bipolar disorder, antisocial personality disorder, anxiety, borderline personality disorder, Asperger’s syndrome, and schizophrenia. With clear reasoning, this book will steer you away from futile self-treatment, foster greater compassion for loved ones with mental illnesses, and help you with prevention.

Darya Varlamova​

Darya Varlamova holds a degree in media studies and works as a journalist, contributing to platforms such as Slon.ru and the “Theory and Practice” website. She also studied theatrical techniques at the Moscow Film School and has a dedicated interest in topics related to mental health.

​​Anton Zayniev​​

Anton Zayniev is a graduate of the Management School at the University of Economics. At the age of 22, while researching treatments for his migraines, he discovered public medical science databases. This sparked his deep fascination with neurobiology, particularly the influence of brain chemistry on human behavior.
Both Darya Varlamova and Anton Zayniev have personally experienced depression. This motivated their extensive research and culminated in the creation of this guide, which they dedicate to everyone who seeks to understand psychological and mental illnesses.