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Head Case: My Brain and Other Wonders

Edgar Allan Poe

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In Head Case, Susannah Cahalan tells the harrowing story of her sudden descent into madness and the baffling medical mystery that unfolded.

Head Case: My Brain and Other Wonders

by Cole Cohen

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	820 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	238 pages

One day, Cahalan was a healthy 24-year-old woman. The next, she was experiencing bizarre symptoms: hallucinations, seizures, and paranoia. Within days, she was admitted to the hospital, where doctors struggled to diagnose her.

Cahalan's story is a fascinating and terrifying look at the power of the human brain. It is a reminder that mental illness can strike anyone, at any time. And it is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit.

The Descent into Madness

Cahalan's symptoms began subtly. She started having difficulty concentrating at work. She became increasingly anxious and irritable. And she began to experience strange, fleeting hallucinations.

At first, Cahalan dismissed her symptoms as stress. But they soon became more severe. She began to have full-blown hallucinations. She saw people and animals that weren't there. She heard voices that whispered threatening messages.

Cahalan's behavior also became increasingly erratic. She started to neglect her appearance. She stopped eating and sleeping. And she began to lash out at her family and friends.

Within days, Cahalan was admitted to the hospital. Doctors suspected that she was suffering from a mental illness, but they couldn't be sure. Her symptoms were too bizarre and inconsistent.

The Medical Mystery

Doctors performed a battery of tests on Cahalan, but they couldn't find anything wrong with her. Her brain scans were normal. Her blood tests were negative. And her psychiatric evaluation was inconclusive.

As Cahalan's condition worsened, doctors became increasingly desperate. They tried a variety of medications, but nothing seemed to help. Cahalan's symptoms continued to spiral out of control.

Finally, one doctor suggested that Cahalan might be suffering from an autoimmune disease. Autoimmune diseases are caused by the body's immune system attacking its own tissues.

To test this hypothesis, doctors performed a biopsy of Cahalan's brain. The results were shocking. Cahalan was diagnosed with anti-NMDA receptor encephalitis, a rare autoimmune disease that attacks the brain.

The Road to Recovery

With a diagnosis finally in hand, doctors were able to start treating Cahalan. She was given high doses of steroids and plasmapheresis, a procedure that removes antibodies from the blood.

Cahalan's recovery was slow and difficult. But over time, her symptoms began to improve. She gradually regained her memory, her speech, and her motor skills.

Today, Cahalan is a healthy and happy woman. She has written a book about her experience, called Head Case. She is also an advocate for mental health awareness.

Head Case is a powerful and inspiring story about the power of the human brain and the resilience of the human spirit. It is a reminder that mental illness can strike anyone, at any time. And it is a testament to the importance of early diagnosis and treatment.

Head Case: My Brain and Other Wonders

by Cole Cohen

4.2 out of 5