A Journey Through a Psychotic Breakdown shatters taboos about coping with mental illness.

Written in first person, this story by Douglas Gonçalves tells the moving account of the executive when he faced a psychotic episode that made him a spectator of his own fate and changed his life forever.

São Paulo, December 2022

In 2004, Douglas Gonçalves, a 34-year-old hotelier from São Paulo, embarked on a personal journey after having a psychotic episode. He now faces the transformations he experienced, shedding light on his memories, his past, his traumas, and untying the plots of destiny. The narrative culminates in the treatments for the disease through an engaging and dynamic tale, free of prejudice.

The author’s account provokes reflections on the current causes that trigger this disease and demystifies the issue. According to medical statistics, one in four people will have mental health problems throughout their lives, which will greatly affect their personal, professional, and social existence.

Spirituality and health

In the author’s opinion, the narrative aims at warning people who are prone to developing psychotic episodes and helping families quickly identify them. It also wishes to alert doctors to a more patient-centered treatment approach: an associative diffusion between spirituality and health, which refers to the relevance of spirituality in the treatment of mental illnesses.

Ancestry and affection

The narrative was written as a journal in a simple and direct, sometimes humorous style. It highlights challenging moments, such as the dramatic experience lived by the author in New York during the September 11 attacks, marriage concerns, familiar conflicts, and professional dilemmas, all leading to the breakdown. Gonçalves offers the listener a moving analysis, so much so in the post-pandemic world.