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Outlook: They said my brain was ‘on fire’

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16/01/2023 GMT

They said my brain was ‘on fire’

BBC World Service - Outlook, They said my brain was ‘on fire’

Consumed by a mystery illness, Susannah Cahalan almost lost her life and sanity

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)

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They said my brain was ‘on fire’

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