Last Updated on September 29, 2023
Sitting down with the ghost of Sarah Pardee Winchester and my old OUIJA Board, I worked my way through my Abnormal Psychology essay sentence-by-sentence, or rather letter-by-letter.
Tasked with the challenge of picking someone famous and diagnosing them with a mental disorder, I immediately thought back to my blog post about the Winchester Mystery House. Considering Sarah Winchester built a house with 160 rooms, 2,000 doors, and 10,000 windows, I thought she might a good place to start.
Based on the criteria listed in DSM-5, I diagnosed Ms. Winchester with Schizotypal Personality Disorder and began mapping out my essay for Abnormal Psychology.
Wishing I could ask Sarah Winchester a few questions regarding her personal history, I decided to do probably the most un-scientific thing possible and took out my old OUIJA Board to talk to her directly.

When I asked Sarah if she agreed with my diagnosis, the planchette slid to “YES.” I repeated my question and once again, the planchette flew over to “YES.”
Hahaha, I’m totally kidding. Though if that did happen, I’m almost certain I would have included it in my essay. x)
Unfortunately (or perhaps… fortunately), Sarah did not respond to me. I rarely have OUIJA Board experiences that work. I can only think back to one time when I was legitimately freaked out by it and that was when I was in middle school.
I ended up having to write my Abnormal Psychology essay without quoting Sarah Winchester… not that I could have really used the information even if she did respond but still. Wouldn’t Sarah Winchester be considered a primary source? 😉
Oh i can’t wait to do abnormal psych. First year is so shit and boring. Stats and labs. Who cares. Just tell me about my crazy mind!
Hope you enjoy it! It’s very interesting!
Write your life history. Use your family to get a second view.
I have and I don’t want to ask them. I have finally found out I have DID that’s why I can’t remember everything but in thousands of pieces
It could have been one instance of getting to study your own mind and its socalled unconscious thoughts; you can go back to the Ouija if you really are serious about studying yourself empirically.
Yeah, my OUIJA Board is home right now but once this semester ends, I may give it another try!
Dude, you’re in college!
I could be your correspondent for borderline personality disorder misdiagnosis when mild traumatic brain injury syndrome is closest.
I have to be honest, I’m not exactly sure if I understand your comment. Who are you suggesting has borderline personality disorder?