Snap Judgment Back to Reality
Dec 9, 2025
Join journalist and author Susannah Cahalan as she shares her surreal journey from madness to recovery. Known for her memoir, Brain on Fire, Susannah recounts waking up in a hospital with confused perceptions and vivid delusions. She reveals her diagnosis of a rare autoimmune condition and the grueling treatment that followed. Delve into her experiences with mood swings, fragments of memory, and the struggle to regain confidence. Plus, get a glimpse into her exploration of psychedelics in her new book, The Acid Queen!
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Waking Up In Restraints
- Susannah Cahalan woke up restrained in a hospital room surrounded by green curtains and cameras and smelled chemicals.
- She found an orange 'flight risk' band on her wrist and pulled at wires while begging for help.
Delusions Captured On Video
- Video showed Cahalan repeatedly calling for help, hiding her face, and believing she was on the news.
- She later realized her phone was uncharged and her conviction that someone was on the line was a delusion.
Descent From Busy Life To Seizure
- Before hospitalization Cahalan was a 24-year-old tabloid reporter with wildly swinging emotions and inappropriate laughter during interviews.
- Her boyfriend found her unresponsive and she had a seizure in the NYU waiting room.
