About Pathological:
In this stunning debut—both a memoir and a work of investigative journalism—author and former advisory editor at The Paris Review Sarah Fay explores the ways we pathologize human experiences.
With exquisite detail and a precise presentation of fact, she digs up her own life at the root to finally ask, Is a diagnosis a lifeline or a self-fulfilling prophecy?
Powerful, mesmerizing, and unputdownable, Pathological sits alongside the other brave and inspiring classics of our time that explore a more intelligent, forgiving, and nuanced approach to human suffering.
Masterfully written, distinctively researched, deeply humane . . . Genius.”
—Anthony Swofford, author of Jarhead
“A major contribution . . . A necessary book.”
—Johann Hari, author of Lost Connections
“This book is a triumph of the spirit and the flesh.”
—Eliza Griswold, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of Amity and Prosperity
Over thirty years, doctors diagnosed Sarah Fay with six different mental illnesses—anorexia, major depressive disorder (MDD), anxiety disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and bipolar disorder.
Pathological is the gripping story of what it was like to live with those diagnoses and the crippling impact each had on her life. It is also a rigorous investigation into the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)—psychiatry’s “bible,” the manual from which all mental illness diagnoses come.
Yet as Fay found out, some of our most prominent psychiatrists have been trying to warn us that the DSM is fiction sold to the public as fact.
In Pathological, former advisory editor at The Paris Review and award-winning writer Fay calls for a new conversation about mental health diagnosis, one based on rigorous transparency.
About Cured: The Memoir
In her highly anticipated sequel to ‘Pathological,’ Sarah Fay presents ‘Cured’— a groundbreaking exploration of recovery from mental illness that challenges everything we think we know.
Cured is more than a book—it’s a call to rewrite the story of mental illness.
In this highly anticipated sequel to her stunning debut memoir Pathological: The True Story of Six Misdiagnoses, award-winning writer and former advisory editor at The Paris Review, Sarah Fay, delves deep into the largely untold story of mental health recovery.
After spending twenty-five years in the mental health system as one of those “hopeless” cases—chronically suicidal and unable to live independently—Fay achieved what many deemed impossible: full recovery.
Cured is both a memoir and a work of rigorous investigative journalism. With the same exquisite detail and precise presentation of fact that characterized Pathological, Fay examines the fascinating history of the mental health recovery movement. She poses a question that could reshape our understanding of mental illness: What if recovery is possible?
Drawing from her extraordinary journey and extensive research, Fay challenges the prevailing narrative surrounding mental illness. She explores why the possibility of full recovery is rarely discussed in mainstream mental health conversations and how this silence impacts those struggling with diagnosis.
Powerful, meticulously researched, and deeply humane, Cured stands alongside other brave and inspiring classics of our time that advocate for a more nuanced, hopeful approach to human suffering.
It is an essential read for anyone touched by mental illness, mental health professionals, and those seeking a deeper understanding of one of the most pressing issues of our time.
Unlock the full journey of Cured for $30 a year.
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To read or listen to the complete Cured, choose the discounted annual subscription for $30—about the price of a hardcover book. Each purchase brings awareness to mental health recovery.
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