Semester of Graduation
Fall 2025
Degree Name
Masters of Arts in Professional Writing
Department
English
Committee Chair/First Advisor
Dr. Aaron Levy
Second Advisor
Dr. Amanda Pratt
Third Advisor
Keaton Lamle
Abstract
The main premise behind Girl, You Crazy is to inform others of what life is like as someone who experiences psychosis (specifically schizoaffective disorder), as well as show the warning signs that I believe people should be aware of. This text is a nonlinear narrative of my personal experience that explores themes of substance abuse, hallucinations, religion, interpersonal conflict, and family dynamics starting from 2019 through 2025, through the onset of symptoms to diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. This work also entails some of my experiences as a gay Black woman who was raised in a religious family, bullied throughout my time in public school, living in various locations in Georgia throughout my undergraduate, post-graduation, and my current living situation while in graduate school. I detail navigating political turmoil and my feelings about religion, drugs, mental health, and more.