Tony Mantor: Why Not Me the World
Katie R. Dale's Mental Health Story: Living Beyond Crazy
Fri, 02 May 2025
Send us a textKatie R. Dale shares her journey from hospital patient to mental health author and advocate, offering insights into living with bipolar disorder type 1 with psychotic features and how writing became her path to healing and helping others.• Started blogging in 2014 after hospitalization as self-therapy before expanding into professional advocacy• Wrote memoir "But Deliver Me From Crazy" chronicling her experiences from teen years through mid-twenties• Found writing helped process intense memories of psychosis and mania with "crystal clear" recall• Recommends OARS approach for supporting loved ones: Open questions, Affirm feelings, Reflect understanding, Summarize conversations• Shares practical coping strategies including 15-minute time management blocks and tactile comfort objects• Emphasizes importance of medication (calls hers "magic pill") while noting finding the right one often requires patience• Currently working on faith-based books exploring the distinction between psychotic voices and spiritual experiences• Maintains hope is possible despite invisible illness through proper treatment, support systems and faithResources available at katierdalecom/resources including downloadable support guides and connections to organizations like National Shattering Silence Coalition, Treatment Advocacy Center, and Fresh Hope for Mental Health.https://tonymantor.comhttps://Facebook.com/tonymantorhttps://instagram.com/tonymantorhttps://twitter.com/tonymantorhttps://youtube.com/tonymantormusicintro/outro music bed written by T. WildWhy Not Me the World music published by Mantor Music (BMI)
Chapter 1: What inspired Katie R. Dale to become a mental health advocate?
Oh, it's my pleasure. If you would, tell us a little of your journey on how you became this author, speaker and mental health advocate.
Pretty self-proclaimed. When I started blogging, I guess we could start there. I began blogging for my own website and blog back in like 2014 after I had gotten out of the hospital inpatient. So I called myself an advocate then. Got involved with some other kind of outlets with BP Magazine, going to an event with them, and then...
It really has just snowballed, I guess, with my involvement with NSSC, National Shattering Science Coalition, and other ministries and nonprofits. I think that's where I started the advocate role. I also worked clinically as a social worker at an outpatient clinic in Missouri.
You mentioned in your background that you drew inspiration to write about your journey. What's the story behind that? When did you get the first idea and when did you finish your book? What's been the response and how has it been going since you finished it?
It probably started while I was in the hospital the first time at 16. As I'm a naturally creative, gifted person like that, I've always loved to write and draw. But channeling that, even with that insight in the hospital at 16, telling the doctor sitting there in the conference room when he's meeting with me and, you know, what do you think about this place?
He asked, I'm going to write a book about this place. And so I did. And just that insight. kind of fulfill my dream to write, to publish a book and spread the message of, you know, this is real and it affects people that have normal, healthy, happy lives or that come from all different walks of life.
And I think writing it was cathartic, the book, and continues to be as I write blog posts or articles. It just helps open that area up to help other people see what it's like to be going through an episode and that they can identify maybe, you know, okay, that's where she got and how she got there and gives them a reasoning behind why we think the way we do when we're in those states.
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Chapter 2: How did writing help Katie process her mental health journey?
Since you mentioned you're writing a book based on your lived experience, how did that process influence your thoughts as you put some of those moments on paper?
That's an amazing, yeah, it's for whatever reason, I mean, I'm sure it's neurological and psychological and all that, but for whatever reason, I was able to capture these memories in these states of mind, like crystal clear almost. And they were so intense, these events and the episodes and the psychosis and the mania and the depression that I couldn't not think about them.
You know, I did have a little bit of PTSD going on there, but it definitely, the capturing it in writing and the memories just helped not reliving it, but interpreting the narrative. Like, what did I go through? It was so crazy and so unreal. Like, how did I make sense of it? Well, that's how I made sense of it. I wrote it out.
Once you finish writing the book, what were some of the responses that you were getting? In this particular situation, writing your book is almost twofold. One, you have the lived experience. However, you're also writing it for some of the people that might be going through some of the things that you've gone through, which shows people hope because if you can get through it, so can they.
How have they reacted to your book since you released it?
There has been good responses, I think. Because most people don't have the disorder, and I'm assuming most people who read the book don't have the disorder, it gives them an eye-opening look into what it's like. Those who have the disorder, they've reached out to me and said, oh my gosh, I've been through so many similar circumstances. You're spot on with this. You tell it the way it is.
Now, I do wonder... because I actually just came out with the audio book a couple weeks ago. I do wonder if people are listening in and like, oh, that's triggering. Like, oh, that's this. It's a little bit sensitive in some places. Talk of suicidality and spirituality. And I'm a fully open book there, literally and figuratively. So I do not put a trigger warning in the book.
And I do wonder if people have been triggered to a degree. So that's just a kind of a thought I've had since writing it that I haven't had anybody come across with me saying, hey, that was triggering. But at the same time, it's something to know.
Sure. Now, you've mentioned two or three different things. What was the diagnosis that you got that actually led you to writing the book?
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Chapter 3: What are the responses to Katie's book, 'But Deliver Me From Crazy'?
Yeah, absolutely. I think what it does, because yours is such a success story in itself, now you're writing books, you're blogging, and people can see that. I think one of the good things that's really coming from this is You got through it. Now you are in a position where you can advocate and help others. This way they realize that they are not alone.
Absolutely. Yeah. Isolation and that state of mind, especially when you can get into like anosognosia where you don't realize you're sick. Like that, that's another layer where she's like, I'm the only one in it and I don't even realize I'm in it. Like that can be debilitating on its own. But yeah, for people to realize they're not alone, this is why we don't take our medicine.
And this is why we're going through this because you have a diagnosis of an illness in your brain and it happens and you didn't do anything to cause it.
Do you get a chance to speak to some people when they get out to attend some of your events? they can give you some of the impressions that they are going through and then tell you how that your book is absolutely helping them?
I mean, I had people come up to me and say, oh my gosh, like the title of the book, seeing just the title or the front of the book with a cross and the pills. And it says crazy across the front because, you know, they're like, oh, that's me. I'm crazy. I could relate to that right off the bat. So-
There's that piece of, you know, it's almost shock value of like, hey, you know, we're all a little bit crazy and weird. But at the same time, like not everybody can relate to the bipolar psychosis. So I hope to make it more understood so that people, if they have somebody who they know, you know, family or friend to them that develops it or has had it, they have more answers to what and why.
Now, you mentioned that you had a truly great support system, which everyone knows is very important in a person's life. For those that might be listening to this, they may be just starting to go through some of these things that you've gone through. They might have a loved one that is going through something very similar as well.
What do you or could you tell them that gives them a pathway to knowing that the future can be better?
Okay, so there are plenty of resources that I have compiled. I offer a download on my website. There's pretty much like a 10, 12-page download. You can print it out, fill it in. But it has vetted resources. I can list a few, like National Shattering Silence Coalition. They're a nationwide U.S.-based nonprofit. They're raising awareness online.
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Chapter 4: What coping strategies does Katie recommend for supporting loved ones?
But those open-ended questions for them to explore with you, what they're going through, what they're feeling, what they're thinking, what they're experiencing. Hear them out as much as you can. Give them the space and the time to explain. A, the next letter in the acronym stands for affirm. So affirm. Validate. You do not have to agree.
You do not have to value judgment a sign, like that's good or that's bad. But at least saying, I hear you, I understand, or that must be hard. I can't imagine, but that sounds really hard right now. Make them feel heard and understood through affirming them. And then R is reflections. Reflections.
where you kind of summarize what they said to you and, in your own words, paraphrase back to them what they're feeling, thinking, going through, so that they know that you understand them to a degree as best as you can. And then ask this pretty similar reflection to summarize and wrapping up the conversation. Okay, so you must be going through this X, Y, Z, or A, B, C, and...
You know, just summarize, wrap it up so that there's closure for that moment, for that time.
Yeah, that makes sense. Now, what about when they're agitated? If the person's autistic, they can have a meltdown. It can last 15, 20, 30 minutes or whatever the time frame may be. But what about conditions like schizophrenia, PTSD or other mental health challenges? Those intense feelings can linger so much longer.
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Chapter 5: How does Katie describe her support system during her struggles?
How do you support someone through that, helping them find a path so they can calm down and regain control?
What's been helpful for me and I think other people is the time-based schedule. Give yourself, like I love this tool, give yourself a handful of things that need to get done and a handful of things that you want to do. and space it out like 15 minutes increments. So for the first 15 minutes, do something that you need to get done. Make yourself kind of do it.
The next 15 minutes, relax and do something you want to do that you enjoy. That helps with your time awareness and helps you focus at those points, you know, after an hour goes by and then You realize, oh my gosh, I've gotten four things knocked out or I've been able to enjoy and I haven't really paid attention to the time. Because time can be very stressing and triggering for people.
If they don't have a sense of purpose or if they don't have a sense of a place to go or look forward to, that can help calm somebody down and make them more productive.
Yeah. So what about the noise? I've heard many people talk that they have noises in their head. Okay. How can that be addressed so they can help them settle down some and be more comfortable with themselves?
You know what? I haven't encountered that that I can recall, except when I was in the hospital and there was like a high pitch ringing because of the side effect of the medicine. And I was just freaking out, like, you know, the high sensitivity and auditory input. So definitely what helps me in those situations is holding on to something that's tactile, that's like soft or like soothing.
I think I have a, I don't know if it's affinity for things, but like when I'm, it's kind of funny, it's a quirk of mine, but when I have like a pet, like a cat or a dog around their ears, I love to put my fingers around their ears because the sensation to me is very soothing. And not everybody has that. I don't know if I've met anybody else who has that quirk.
But something that you can find that you know helps relieve some kind of stress like that.
Okay. Now, let's take the noise to a different scenario. They're hearing noises, which may be voices, that they're hearing that we don't hear. Mm-hmm. How do you help settle that down? Because they are hearing it in their mind. However, the other person is not hearing it. What are the steps you might need to take to help them on that?
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Chapter 6: What resources does Katie suggest for mental health support?
Yes.
Yes. There was one particular medication that sounded very similar. The doctor said, let's try this one. He said, no, I've already done that one. The doctor said, this is the one that you've used. This is the one that we need to use.
Yeah. Yeah.
He tried it. It worked really well. He said, this is my magic pill.
Yes, yes. I don't shy away from using the term magic pill because I know there's that connotation with it. But for me personally, vilify is my magic pill. Without that five milligrams, man, I would be out in left field. So I do believe that the medicines can be found, the right medicines can be found.
So what's up next? Are you writing a new book? Is there anything else that you're thinking about possibly doing in the future?
Yes. So I kind of have a three-pronged business slash ministry. I'm an author, I'm an artist, and I'm an advocate. And one of those is making money for me right now. So I think I'm going to go forward starting something like freelance work on Upwork, which I already do freelance work, but I'm looking forward to doing more artwork and graphic design for people.
But that aside, in terms of books, I am still writing and I'm working on two books at the time. They are faith-based Christian living genre with tying in my mental health with it and my background in psychology and everything. I'm actually drawing out the dynamic of hearing voices and hearing God's voice because there's a difference. And I like to explore that in what I'm writing.
So I'm kind of bringing those two things together in the next couple of books that I have in the Christian living market. And what else am I up to? Yeah, that's where I enjoy It's a labor of love. It's what I love to do.
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Chapter 7: How can loved ones effectively support someone with mental health issues?
So if you could expand a little bit on the different voices that you just brought up. You are saying that the voices differ. So how can you tell? How do you tell them this is what you're hearing or this is what you could be hearing? Can you tell us the difference between the two?
From personal experience, when I heard voices in a psychotic state, they were... erratic and raspy and chanting and loud and in my inner ear like shouting other times i might have heard voices and they were so convincing i i think it was it says i'm like it was somebody in the room but as far as god's voice that according to the bible is a still small voice that we hear in our heart.
And based on Four Keys to Hearing God's Voice through Mark Ferkler, he's the founder of Communion with God Ministries, taking out of a book of the Bible called Habakkuk. He goes into kind of defining how we can access God's voice. And that is the first key is being still. The second key is envisioning Jesus there with you in your mind's eye.
The third key is tuning to spontaneous flow, letting things bubble up within your heart, being open to that. And then the fourth is writing it down and documenting everything. If it lines up with God and who he is in the Bible and his nature, it's God's still small voice speaking to you.
If it doesn't line up with God and his nature and his loving, encouraging voice from the Bible, it may not be God. So, yeah, that's where I'm going with those things. And I guess I would hope that gives some clarity.
Yeah, sure. So do you have the opportunity to do many live events where you get to be there in person, get the stories from people, get a chance to interact with them? There's nothing better than getting stories from people that follow you and of course have read your book. They then can share their personal experiences and really relate to what you're trying to put across with it.
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Chapter 8: What is the OARS approach in motivational interviewing?
At this time, I'm not doing many live events being I'm so remote. I mean, I'm going on like podcasts and summits online, but it's mostly like a one way avenue because I don't have that two way audience where I'm present with them, unfortunately. Yeah. Yeah.
Yeah, I get that. I mean, podcasts are good and so are the online things. In the end, all that matters is you're getting your point across and helping people. Now, how do people find you? For those who want to follow you, reach out to you, what's the best way for them to do that?
I'm at katierdale.com and I'm everywhere on, well, I say everywhere, but most places on social media. At Katie R. Dale is my handle. So it's across the board. Facebook is where I'm usually at. Starting to get into Substack. So, yeah.
So in closing, what do you feel that's important for the listeners to hear that they just need to hear on what you're trying to do?
Maybe drawing out just to make a point of like, There's a lot of confusion in mental illness, but there's a lot to be said for truth. And the person of Christ who draws people to himself when our world is very broken, I think we can all agree, there's always hope.
I think leaving you with the thought that, you know, despite how hard it is to suffer with an invisible illness like bipolar disorder or others, I find so much comfort in that knowing that Christ who lives in me has seen everything I've seen through my eyes, you know, has heard every voice and seen every vision or thought, you know, seen every thought and knows me intimately.
And to me, that's very comforting because he is a good God and he has answered my prayers to bring me back to a whole mind. And there's hope for everyone for that.
Yeah, yeah, that is great information. This has been really good. Good conversation, good information, a lot of good things for my listeners to hear. So thanks for coming on.
Thank you for having me, Tony. This is awesome. Thank you so much. It's great getting to chat with you and getting to know you a little bit. This has been really neat. Thank you so much.
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