Patient A by A Baker
Book Description
A memoir about late diagnosis of autism and ADHD.
This book is a personal account of misdiagnosis and main purpose of sharing book is to help others feel less alone and know that you’re more than a ‘label’. Please be aware there is mention of eating disorders and mental illnesses which some may find triggering. This book is by no means a glorification of either it’s a raw account of the damage it has inflicted. However the key in this book is how to look for the small glimmers of hope in the depths of despair.
From her childhood until only recently, 35-year-old A has been perplexed by her life. She is bullied at school. She feels lonely. Even in adulthood she is treated differently from others. There are numerous visits to medical practitioners but nothing seems to solve the mystery of her life – until one day she is diagnosed as suffering from autism and ADHD – and it all begins to slot into place.
This memoir tells the extraordinary story of Patient A’s battle with not only her multiple illnesses but with those who misdiagnosed them. She finds herself trapped in an increasingly nonsensical hospital system where she is sectioned and suffers bullying at the hands of a particularly brusque nurse. She is diagnosed with anorexia, anaemia and dystonia. Experts disagree with her treatment and she even tries to become anorexic in order to please the very people who have misdiagnosed her. All this results in a terrifying tribunal where her entire future is literally on the line.
Then the worst thing of all happens. Her mother is killed in a car crash. But a vital spark keeps her going and she re-emerges, battle-scarred but resilient. Recovering from her ordeal and the passing of her mother, A trains to be a yoga teacher and jog leader. She makes new friends as she discovers old ones have abandoned her and her new- found ability to help others is proven on one particularly challenging day when she rescues someone who tries to jump from a bridge.
Join Patient A on an often frightening but touching journey towards hope, peace and understanding.
‘I didn’t have the heart to tell anyone I can’t stand flowers but, to be honest, being able to outlive the vases of various bouquets made me feel like I could keep going. Strange analogy but as the flower heads dropped it was a reminder I was still hanging in there… barely.’
Book Review
Sometimes the most powerful stories are the ones that emerge from our darkest moments. A Baker’s memoir “Patient A” is exactly that kind of narrative – a raw, unflinching journey through misdiagnosis, mental health struggles, and ultimately, self-discovery.
This deeply personal account follows the author’s 35-year journey to understanding her neurodivergent identity. What sets this memoir apart is its brutal honesty about the medical system’s failures and the devastating impact of misdiagnosis. Baker doesn’t just tell her story; she illuminates the systemic issues facing many neurodivergent individuals who are frequently misunderstood and incorrectly labeled.
The narrative weaves through various phases of her life, from childhood bullying to adult isolation, creating a tapestry that many readers will find painfully familiar. What’s particularly compelling is how Baker handles the intersection of autism, ADHD, and mental health challenges, offering insights that feel both deeply personal and universally relevant. Her experience with eating disorders and hospitalization is handled with sensitivity while maintaining its raw emotional impact.
The book really shines in its exploration of resilience. Despite facing devastating losses – including her mother’s tragic death – Baker’s journey toward becoming a yoga teacher and helping others adds a powerful dimension of hope to her narrative. This transformation echoes memoirs like Temple Grandin’s “Thinking in Pictures,” though Baker’s voice is distinctly her own.
This book will resonate deeply with anyone who has experienced the frustration of being misunderstood by medical professionals, as well as those seeking to understand neurodivergent experiences better. It’s particularly valuable for healthcare providers and mental health professionals who want to improve their understanding of autism and ADHD in adults.
