Pathological: The True Story of Six Misdiagnoses

Written by Sarah Fay

Narrated by Gabra Zackman

USA TODAY NATIONAL BESTSELLER

AN APPLE BOOKS PICK OF THE MONTH

""Sharply personal and impeccably detailed.""—Kirkus Reviews (starred review)

""[A] fiery manifesto of a memoir.""—New York Times

“Masterfully written, distinctively researched, deeply humane … Genius.”—Anthony Swofford, international and New York Times bestselling 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

Is a psychiatric diagnosis a lifeline or a self-fulfilling prophecy?

In this stunning debut—both a memoir and work of investigative journalism—bestselling author and former advisory editor at The Paris Review Sarah Fay chronicles her harrowing journey through six psychiatric diagnoses that began when she was just twelve years old.

Diagnosed with anorexia, major depressive disorder, anxiety disorder, ADHD, OCD, and bipolar disorder over twenty-five years, Fay lived under the weight of each label—until finally, while in her forties and no longer able to live independently, she began to question the very system that defined her. With exquisite detail and wry honesty, she digs up her own life at the root to reveal the crippling impact of overidentification with psychiatric diagnoses, especially for young people.

Pathological is both a cautionary tale and a deeply researched exposé. Fay discovers that some of our most prominent psychiatrists have been warning us that psychiatry's diagnostic bible—the DSM—isn’t the scientific manual it’s touted to be.

Powerful, mesmerizing, and unputdownable, Pathological calls for a new conversation about mental health—one based on transparency and patient empowerment. It sits alongside the other brave and inspiring classics of our time that explore a more intelligent, forgiving, and nuanced approach to human suffering.

• Language: English
• Publisher: HarperCollins
• Release date: Mar 29, 2022
• ISBN: 9780063068711

Reviews for Pathological

[citizenjoyce · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a very interesting criticism of psychiatry, psychiatric meds, and the DSM written by a pretty unappealing woman. After all the pain she goes through I'm left thinking that, rather than psychiatry, what she needed was a good grandma or life coach or best friend who could have guided her toward some reasonable goals in life and told her to stop thinking only about herself all the time. But I know, that's what people without major psychiatric disorders usually think about those with them.