The Collected Schizophrenias

Esmé Weijun Wang was born in the mid-1980s, and her journey through psychosis, diagnosis, delusion, and recovery began shortly after she graduated high school in the early 2000s, although she had always experienced some symptoms. Although progress has been made since the 2000s toward destigmatization and better social support for people with mental disorders, the issues that Wang outlines in her essay collection are still prevalent, important, and destructive to the people affected by them.

In several of her essays, Wang addresses the common misconceptions and demonization of schizophrenia that exist in Western culture. Whereas in many Eastern societies, the ability to hear voices or see visions is viewed as a gift, it is seen as a sickness, a curse, or a debilitating disorder in the West. Many factors contribute to the negative images of schizophrenia and related disorders. These include popular culture depictions that either exaggerate or mystify schizophrenia symptoms; Wang mentions The Exorcist, which depicts demonic possession, and Legion, which glorifies schizophrenia as a superpower. Neither of these exaggerated stereotypes is helpful, and Wang notes how negative depictions perpetuate fear and ostracization toward those with this disorder. Additionally, overly positive depictions act to add to her