Fast Girl: A Life Spent Running From Madness
You may not know the name Suzy Favor Hamilton. She’s a specific kind of famous and unless you’re really familiar with the summer olympics track and field events you may have never heard of her.
Favor Hamilton was an olympic runner for the US. She was an all star in school but was unable to medal once she finally got to the most important races. But more important than her running career is that she has bipolar disorder. Fast Girl outlines how her undiagnosed bipolar disorder shaped her life and took her from olympian to professional escort in a matter of a few years.
Yes, Favor Hamilton rose to the ranks of the second most requested escort, ie prostitute, in Las Vegas. Yes, apparently Vegas has a ranking system for their escorts. This was part of a year in which she now recognizes as a severe manic episode. The year ended with her attempting suicide and testing the limits of her marriage. But she came out the other side and lived to tell the tale with her memoir.
The story of her life fully demonstrates the extremes bipolar can cause in personalities. Mania is especially catastrophic because it comes with symptoms such as hyper-sexuality, impulsive behavior, inflated ego, delusions of grandure, sleep deprivation, and affinity toward risk. Clearly, this is a recipe for disaster and it’s why many people end up hospitalized when these episodes peak.
Favor Hamilton’s mania demonstrated each of these symptoms, causing her to spend more and more time away from her family to have sex for money halfway across the country. She became addicted to the rush and kept needing new thrills to top the last. This kind of self destrctive behavior is unfortunately common with mania and has led to many a downfall.
Fast Girl is an honest memoir that doesn’t shy away from the embarrassing or dangerous behavior. It’s told with an openness designed to help others understand how out of their own control a person’s behavior can be. And how they can also come back from it.
It’s never too late to return and attempt to mend fences. Fast Girl encourages loved ones to forgive their bipolar relatives or friends and try to understand that they never intended any harm. Actions are just completely different in the minds of bipolar individuals and this is not discussed nearly enough. I have been attempting to read more memoirs by individuals with mental health disorders in order to better understand this as well.
Favor Hamilton has a knack for writing that keeps Fast Girl an engaging read. Broaden your memoir diversity with this powerful but spicy story of mental illness.
5/5 olympic medals🏅🏅🏅🏅🏅
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Buy it here: Fast Girl
For another great memoir check out Troublemaker
