By skyforbes 
In August 2022, millions watched a social media star’s mind unravel in real time. Over 100 videos posted in a single day documented Gabbie Hanna’s terrifying manic episode, broadcast live to her followers. But when a stranger saw an opportunity and walked into her home to join the spectacle, a public mental health crisis morphed into a chilling true crime of digital-age exploitation. This wasn’t just a breakdown; it was a horrifying look at how algorithms, apathy, and ambition can create the perfect storm, leaving a vulnerable person trapped in the center.
The Timeline of a Digital Breakdown
The crisis began on August 23, 2022. Gabbie Hanna, a creator who rose from Vine stardom to YouTube success, began posting a relentless stream of videos to her TikTok account. At first, the content was merely erratic. But within hours, it escalated into a full-blown manic episode broadcast to her nearly 8 million followers. The videos, sometimes appearing just minutes apart, became a horrifying, real-time documentary of a psychological collapse.
Her content displayed the classic symptoms of severe mania, often with psychotic features. She made grandiose claims, declaring herself a religious figure sent to save the world. Her speech was rapid and disjointed, jumping between rambling monologues, interpretive dances, and sermons delivered directly to her phone’s camera. Viewers watched as she wrote on her mirrors with lipstick and spoke in what resembled glossolalia…