2025 Book
Unshrunk: A Story of Psychiatric Treatment Resistance by Laura Delano
Synopsis:
In this deeply personal memoir, Laura Delano shares the painful and powerful story of her life under psychiatric care—from her bipolar diagnosis at age 13, through more than a decade of changing diagnoses and nineteen psychotropic medications, to her eventual decision to taper off entirely and reclaim her own agency . Along the way, she interrogates the dominant narratives within modern psychiatry and questions whether, in her case, the treatment itself contributed to ongoing suffering .
What reviews highlight:
The Wall Street Journal calls it “an unsparing account… rare in its self-awareness and insight.”
NPR describes it as “a radical look at the mental health industry” with real emotional and ethical weight .
Avaist Aftab in Psychiatry at the Margins considers it a pivotal reflection on the iatrogenic harms of overmedicalization and the cultural shift it may herald .
Why it matters:
Delano’s memoir highlights one pathway out of a medicalized psychiatric life—and tragically, one she says was too narrowly suggested to her by clinicians. Her story resonates particularly with those who feel overdiagnosed, overmedicated, or misunderstood. While not an argument against all psychiatric treatment, Unshrunk powerfully challenges us to examine when it might be appropriate to reassess medication, reframe diagnosis, or reclaim narrative agency.
My reflection:
I wholeheartedly support nuanced conversation around medication‑based care. Careful prescribing and deprescribing can be appropriate, necessary, and life-changing—but they must always be contextualized within a broader, person-centered understanding. Unshrunk is a cautionary tale against overdiagnosis and polypharmacy, yet also a reminder that healing means different things for different people. I do not promote medication withdrawal as a universal path—but I deeply honor Delano’s reclaimed voice, and understand how real suffering and resilience can coexist.
“What I needed wasn’t a diagnosis. It was to be seen, to be heard, and to be believed.”
— Laura Delano, Unshrunk