A Raw and Visceral Tale. An Inspirational Story for All.

A harrowing seven-day journey. The Factory of Maladies is an unflinching memoir that delves into the realities of mental illness, the complexities of family dynamics, and the search for healing.

An inspirational life story. When Debbie Hartung awakens in a psych ward, her memories fragmented, she embarks on a confusing and disorienting experience. With dark humor and frank honesty, Hartung’s narrative exposes the stigma surrounding mental health, uncovers the impact of her family's dynamics, divulges the danger of cults, and explores the inadequacies of our current mental health system.

From heartbreak to healing. Born from the pages of a notebook and a miniature pen smuggled in by a kind nurse, this memoir is both heartbreaking and hopeful, offering readers a deeply personal yet candid story of healing. Through her stream-of-consciousness writing, Hartung confronts PTSD, depression, and anger, turning pain into healing. The Factory of Maladies is more than her experience in the psych ward; it’s a book about healing yourself—an inspirational life story that uncovers, enlightens, and ultimately provides healing to the hopeless.