A life dismantled,
a self reclaimed.
In this raw and unflinching collection of essays, an anonymous author lays bare a life unravelled by burnout, undiagnosed autism, and the relentless pressure to perform in a world that never quite fit.
From the collapse of a creative career to a solitary trek across the French Alps, these piercing reflections trace the journey from breakdown to breakthrough. With unwavering honesty, the author dismantles the myths of ‘functioning’, confronts the weight of self-censorship, and finds liberation in embracing a neurodivergent identity.
Through vivid encounters with wildlife, candid accounts of mental health, and a hard-won lens of self-acceptance, A Comprehensive Breakdown speaks to anyone who has ever felt out of step with time, society, or themselves. This is not a guide to reinvention, but a testament to the messy, deeply human process of becoming yourself.
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Early Reviews
Adapted and condensed from original reader testimonials.
★★★☆☆
The essays are short, reflective, and easy to dip into, perfect for reading in quiet moments. The author’s anonymity invites deeper reflection and allows readers to see themselves in the writing. Though non-linear, the structure mirrors the author’s mind and offers a more honest insight into their experience.
★★★★★
A Comprehensive Breakdown is a deeply honest exploration of what it means to live for years without knowing you’re autistic, and what happens when you finally do. Through themes of perfectionism, masking, and the quiet ache of trying to belong, the author traces the emotional fallout of self-denial and the healing that comes with self-acceptance.
Written with sensitivity and clarity, this memoir offers comfort to anyone who feels different, and understanding to those who wish to know what life on the spectrum truly feels like.
★★★☆☆
As someone also diagnosed with autism later in life, I found much of this deeply relatable. A short, easy-to-read collection of essays, the most powerful are those exploring the author’s experience of autism.
Selected Passages
“I had to forego functioning to discover what I was actually feeling. To realise there is no real self unless others are allowed to perceive it.”
The Myth of Functioning, p. 11
“Healing rarely seems to be a return to where you were. It’s the slow making of space for who you might yet become.”
Reflecting on the Future, p. 68
“This is why I don’t feel alone in the mountains. It’s groups of people that give me a sense of isolation. When you’re silent and solitary, away from the noise, nature is humming with activity.”
The Mountains, p. 37