Armchair Expert with Dax Shepard Suzanne O'Sullivan (on over diagnosis)
22 snips
Mar 5, 2025 
Suzanne O'Sullivan, a neurologist and award-winning writer, discusses the significant issue of overdiagnosis in medicine. She highlights the complexities surrounding epilepsy, psychosomatic disorders, and the rise of self-diagnosis culture. Suzanne also explores the impact of societal beliefs on health, revealing how collective phenomena can manifest physically. The conversation touches on how the myth of sonic weapons and health anxieties, exacerbated by social media, complicate our understanding of true medical conditions, advocating for a more compassionate approach to health.
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Psychosomatic Seizures
- In Suzanne O'Sullivan's seizure clinics, 20% of diagnosed epilepsy patients don't have epilepsy.
- Their seizures have psychological causes, a common neurological phenomenon.
Psychosomatic Symptoms: Real and Serious
- Psychosomatic symptoms are real and can be more severe than those from physical illnesses.
- Dissociation, a brain protection mechanism, can cause fainting, collapses, or convulsions.
Monica's Epilepsy
- Monica Padman describes having nocturnal seizures, muscle soreness, and being diagnosed with epilepsy.
- Suzanne O'Sullivan confirms this aligns with typical epilepsy symptoms.
