Sarah Fay

In this episode, Sarah Fay, an expert on Substack, discusses the unique voice of work on Substack. She highlights the importance of community-building, self-publicity, and the integration of commercial offerings. The chapter also explores the benefits of Substack for writers and the power of memoirs and addressing mental health. Craft advice, content preferences, and reflections on Substack and future goals are also discussed.

In a thought-provoking discussion, Sarah Fay, an award-winning author and mental health advocate, emphasizes the need to rethink mental illness. She explores her own experiences with misdiagnoses and the dangers of self-diagnosing, especially in the age of social media. Fay critiques mental health perceptions shaped online and the complexities of recovery versus clinical definitions. She advocates for understanding personal narratives in mental health and shares effective strategies for navigating the recovery journey with empathy and resilience.

Sarah Fay, an author and activist with a rich background in mental health writing, dives into the complexities of mental health diagnoses. She critiques the DSM, arguing that these labels often lack validity and can shape one’s identity. Fay shares her own misdiagnoses, highlights the flaws in the chemical imbalance theory, and discusses the overprescription of psychiatric medications by primary care doctors. The conversation advocates for a more holistic approach to mental health, emphasizing the need for understanding emotions beyond mere diagnoses.

Join Sarah Fay, an author and mental health advocate, as she challenges the validity of mental health diagnoses and their impact on personal identity. Sarah shares her journey of being labeled with various disorders, revealing how these identities shaped her behavior and recovery path. She argues against the chemical imbalance theory and criticizes the DSM's labels, advocating for a focus on recovery rather than diagnosis. Through her experiences, she highlights the need for systemic change in mental health treatment and the importance of questioning labels.

Award-winning author Sarah Fay and former NIMH Director Thomas Insel discuss moving away from simplistic mental health diagnoses, prioritizing self-work for healing, and not letting struggles define identity. They highlight the flaws of the diagnostic process, advocate for personalized care, and emphasize support, hope, and societal perception changes.