Author’s Main Message
Brain on Fire – My Month of Madness touches on several important themes related to mental illness and the treatment process. Susannah Cahalan writes about the love and care demonstrated by her parents and her boyfriend, Stephen, which were vital for her recovery. She exposes the unprofessionalism of healthcare workers such as Dr. Bailey, who claimed that Cahalan was “partying too hard” (Cahalan 50). In the end, the author survived a case of anti-NDMA receptor encephalitis and fully recovered due to the lucky turn of events.
Susannah Cahalan almost fell victim to a rare disease and several medical errors in diagnosis. Despite the positive outcome, her main message is rather scary — there is no miracle diagnosis for everyone. Mental and autoimmune illnesses rarely have any logic behind them, which may sound unfair and terrifying. The author was lucky to meet Dr. Najjar, who diagnosed her condition correctly; however, many cases do not end well (Cahalan 230). Therefore, Cahalan elaborates the message and calls her disease a “gift that she would not bestow to her worst enemy, but a gift nonetheless” (232). The suffering that she had experienced gave her an opportunity to spread awareness and help many people who otherwise would have been forced to fight for survival alone. In this regard, Cahalan’s main message can be summarized as the call for unity and social awareness. The lack of awareness leads to stigmatization and isolates patients from society, contributing to their suffering.
My Reaction to the Book
Most importantly, the book surprised and terrified me about how mysterious a human organism is and how fragile human life can be. In Cahalan’s words, the doctors did not know how she contracted the disease (9). However, the developing anti-NDMA receptor encephalitis had profoundly impacted her behavior. She started to experience previously unknown feelings such as jealousy and paranoia. For instance, Cahalan remembers a sudden urge to read Stephen’s emails and investigate his relationships with his ex-girlfriend (11). It is quite disturbing to realize that a germ or a virus can totally alter behavior, dramatically changing a person you used to know.
In addition, I was astonished by how easily the precious time for helping people with mental disorders can be lost. Since mental health-related illnesses may not be diagnosed timely or correctly, people have to live with their worsening conditions. Cahalan remembers how she distanced herself from everyone because she was embarrassed by her unexplained behavior (48). The disease was already damaging her brain, but nobody could realize that and intervene. By the beginning of the second week, hallucinations and paranoia were followed by drooling and an inability to speak in full sentences (Cahalan 106). It is terrifying to imagine how many people might be suffering because they were not diagnosed in time or were ashamed to ask for help.
However, the book inspired me with the story of the successful fight against the odds. Susannah Cahalan’s example showed that professional treatment combined with love and support could beat even the mortally dangerous illness. It was heartwarming to know that Dr. Najjar, the neurologist who correctly diagnosed Cahalan with an autoimmune disease, received well-deserved recognition. Lastly, I was inspired by Cahalan’s effort of spreading awareness about mental health problems. In my opinion, the author’s sincerity and bravery are what society needs to combat stigmatization and dismissive attitude to mental health.
Stigma
Throughout her story, Susannah Cahalan experienced two types of stigmatization which can be conditionally called self-perceived and professional. The self-perceived stigma is evident from Cahalan’s behavior after initial symptoms — she ignored calls from coworkers and friends because of embarrassment (48). An example of professional stigmatization can be found in the actions of Dr. Bailey, who claimed that Cahalan was drinking too much. Cahalan believed that Dr. Bailey tripled the number of drinks she had a night in his notes (49). Regardless, the practice of assuming the patients to be liars is disrespectful.
In my opinion, the self-perceived stigma can be addressed through awareness raising activities. Society must know that mental health illnesses can affect anyone, and nobody is entirely safe. As such, mental disorders must be presented as health conditions, not negative personal identity. In regard to professional stigmatization, healthcare organizations should implement and strictly follow codes of ethical conduct. Information from the patients, their friends, or relatives should be assumed correct; the patients should see that their problems are taken seriously.
Supporting People with Mental Illness
The book showed me how the support and protection of close people could help in the recovery process and reintegration of mental health patients into social life. The author’s father and mother had forgotten about their differences and visited her at a hospital in shifts. In the mornings, Susannah’s father read her a book, or they played cards. Her mother would come in her lunch hours or after work, usually to watch baseball together (Cahalan 101). Stephen, Susannah’s partner, helped her in conversations, serving as a “layer of protective armor” (Cahalan 185). One can see how simple socialization and moral support saved the author from isolation and desperation. Knowing that if any of my family or close friends face mental health problems, I will stay by their side and do everything possible to preserve the normality of their life.
Work Cited
Cahalan, Susannah. Brain on Fire — My Month of Madness. Simon & Schuster, 2012.