They said my brain was ‘on fire’
Susannah Cahalan was in the grips of a strange mystery illness, at risk of losing her sanity and her life. Her eventual diagnosis would reveal a deep stigma around mental health.
Susannah Cahalan was a young, ambitious journalist living in New York City when out of the blue, she started having hallucinations and seizures. She became increasingly paranoid, erratic and psychotic. Her family was terrified and doctors were baffled. Susannah was in the grips of a strange mystery illness and at risk of losing her sanity and her life. Her eventual diagnosis – a rare neurological disorder – would reveal a deep stigma around mental health.
Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com
Presenter: India Rakusen
Producer: Maryam Maruf
(Photo: Susannah Cahalan. Credit: Courtesy of Susannah Cahalan)
Last on
More episodes
Broadcasts
- Mon 16 Jan 2023 12:06GMT´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service
- Mon 16 Jan 2023 18:06GMT´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service except East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa
- Mon 16 Jan 2023 23:06GMT´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service East and Southern Africa & West and Central Africa only
- Tue 17 Jan 2023 00:06GMT´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service South Asia
- Tue 17 Jan 2023 03:06GMT´óÏó´«Ã½ World Service except South Asia
Contact Outlook
Info on how we might use your contribution on air
Podcast: Lives Less Ordinary
Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected