Is A Beautiful Mind an Accurate Portrayal of Schizophrenia?

I live with schizoaffective disorder, and in this video I review the popular 2001 film A Beautiful Mind and discuss whether or not it is an accurate portrayal of schizophrenia. I review and discuss various clips throughout the movie and then provide my general overview on the accuracy of the film in it’s representation of schizophrenia.
JOIN OUR ONLINE PEER SUPPORT COMMUNITY
Join a welcoming community of your peers and find comfort in sharing your experiences. By joining our community, you can benefit from the support of others who understand what you’re going through. We offer live weekly facilitated video peer support groups and text channels to communicate about a wide range of topics. Join today and start feeling less alone with what you’re going through.
• Schizophrenia Peer Support Community: www.schizophreniapeersupport.com
• General Mental Illness Peer Support Community: www.onlinepeersupport.com
HELP SUPPORT THE CHANNEL
We depend on the support of our audience to create this valuable resource. If you have found our content helpful, please consider supporting us today. Your contribution can make a huge difference and enable us to continue providing valuable resources to those living with mental illness.
• One-time donation: donate.stripe.com/9AQ6oV5S0ef...
• Monthly donation: / livingwellwithschizoph...
MENTAL HEALTH APPAREL
Wear your support for mental health! Our t-shirts, sweaters, and mugs not only spread awareness but also help support this channel. Pick up some mental health apparel today and make a statement while making a difference.
livingwell.myspreadshop.com/
SPEAKING & CONSULTING
Looking for an expert speaker or consultant for your upcoming event or project? With years of experience and a passion for mental health advocacy, I can provide the insight and inspiration you need to make a positive impact. Visit my speaking website to learn more!
www.laurenkennedywest.com/
SOCIALS
Instagram: / livingwellwithschizoph...
TikTok: / livingwellschizophrenia
Twitter: / lwschizophrenia
Website: www.livingwellwithschizophren...
#schizophrenia #livingwellwithschizophrenia #schizoaffectivedisorder #mentalhealth #abeautifulmind

[@LivingWellwithSchizophrenia]

JOIN OUR ONLINE PEER SUPPORT COMMUNITY Schizophrenia Peer Support Community: www.schizophreniapeersupport.com General Mental Illness Peer Support Community: www.onlinepeersupport.com

[@Goraiders75]

Thank u

[@Goraiders75]

It's so easy to consume a person who is al ready consumed with doubt and fear just wishing to. Be alive

[@mikemike-ck1pv]

❤❤❤

[@thesisypheanjournal1271]

You're young so you wouldn't have had the older medications. I was playing Scrabble with a woman who had schizophrenia and she got very sad and told me about her life before, the skills she had. She said that the medication was "like thinking through molasses" but it was better than the hallucinations, which were frightening. I told her that the hallucinations must really be terrifying for her to be willing to put up with the side effects of her meds to get rid of them and she nearly cried and told me that it meant a lot to her than I understood that.

[@bitchface235]

@@okidoki3201 Jesus Christ will people like you go away???

[@michaelciccone2194]

@@bitchface235 please don,"t take name of the Lord in vain.

[@michaelciccone2194]

A woman going on and on

[@michaelciccone2194]

Just let me see the movie !

[@rebecca_lauren9183]

@@michaelciccone2194 if you want to see the movie, pay to watch it. of course she's going "on and on" becuase she's reviewing it, that's the whole point of the video

[@Vikezupa]

Just wanted to acknowledge how eloquent and effective you are as a communicator. You’re interesting and easy to listen to.

[@CallmeQeoe]

This dude simpin' hard

[@stoneroses3493]

@@CallmeQeoe nothing wrong with that, she's a smart beautiful woman :)

[@lucasgarcia8285]

I feel the same way, very easy to hear her and I like that a lot isn’t going on besides her and the video, not over stimulating and easy to focus on

[@rsfilmdiscussionchannel4168]

@@stoneroses3493 She's smart, empathetic, polite and lovely. She has an amazing voice as well, really calming and soothing.

[@ghoststarstalk]

It would be fine if the narrator wasn't speaking in full steam ahead mode.

[@torchit2302]

Fan fact about the movie: all of the hallucinations of John Nash in the movie come in with the audio first and then you se the actor/actress. So first we hear the line of the hallucination from off-screen the we get to see it...

[@christa7773]

That's cool, thank you for pointing that out. I hadn't noticed.

[@Atlas_Redux]

Aaaah, that's a brilliant detail I haven't noticed before despite countless rewatches. Thanks!

[@melissajo2184]

Thank you sooooooo much for making this video!!! I greatly appreciate this! Thank you!!!! Very helpful and enlightening.

[@mosaicowlstudios]

There's also a musical motif that is always present in some way when Nash is experiencing delusions in the movie.

[@shellwilson4636]

My son has recently been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. He told me this move was "him." At first that gave me hope that he realized his delusions are not real. But, then he said, "Except mine are real, mom." Heartbreaking. Thank you for your videos!

[@erika7276]

I hope you are managing okay, that sounds so difficult. My heart goes out to you and your son

[@wheelchairgeek]

Of course they are 'real' because they really are happening to him. So it's real.

[@kellybroady6378]

I hope you and your son are doing well 🙏

[@odettalavios8649]

My son does the same thing.

[@shanna2743]

I immediately burst into tears reading your comment. I'm so sorry. My husband was diagnosed last year. My heart breaks for anyone suffering with this illness. I hope that you and your family are ok...

[@possiblepilotdeviation5791]

29:10 A point worth noting, this scene doesn't show him reduced to struggling with simple math. His work looks sloppy, but he is trying to find a pattern to illuminate the solution to a problem that to this day is unsolved, the Riemann hypothesis. It's still very high level, just not as high as once was, due to the medication.

[@curtishollerback6707]

I can't add, subtract or multiply! But I love my HP48 SX! RPN RULES!

[@alisonhummel4001]

Lauren, I just love your videos. I remember watching this movie with my mom as a kid. She has a diagnosis of Schizoaffective disorder, and even though I feel I've always been an empathetic person I can't imagine how seeing these scenes with a diagnosis of Schizoaffective or schizophrenia really feels. Side note, she was an unconditionally loving very present mother. Despite her diagnosis, medication, and struggles. No parents are perfect, but you can still be a great one with mental illness.

[@geekygirl2596]

I have schizoecfective and one of my biggest fears is what kind of effect my mental illness will have on my kids. Not just will they get it too, but how will raising them in that kind of environment affect them? I'm afraid ai would traumatize my own kids just by raising them with my mental illness, esspecially when it gets bad like it is in the movie. Or like I am now. I was able to actually be off meds and be fine (not really totally asymptomatic, but symptoms VERY well controlled) for almost 5 years. Now, i know I need to go back on meds. When the sun goes down, my symptoms come up and it sucks. Im afraid for what something like that might do to my future kids.

[@moarroz]

@@geekygirl2596 I've been on meds for few months now and only for catatonia and lack of connecting thoughts. It helps me be myself and makes life easier. I would reccomend getting back on a low dose at least to keep you regulated. I'm sure your kids love you and all of you. You do your best and love em and they will see that 💜

[@fists__]

i'm really glad you decided to comment this. every day i grieve for my child what i feel will be the inevitable decay of me, her mother. any slight possibility of having that not occur is really encouraging to hear.

[@julianasvods]

thank u for posting this ❤️ you have no idea how uplifting it is to hear a daughter of someone say this. thank you 🙏🏼

[@gordonsteen8415]

@@geekygirl2596 It is certainly possible to function without meds. However, if you have a breakdown, perhaps there is a danger that you will have to be hospitalized and recovering, assuming that you get back on meds, could take some time as your brain readjusts. Something to talk to a professional about.

[@0lyge0]

I understand how representations of people with a condition can affect how others with that condition are seen but I do want to point out the John Nash was a very real genius in the literal sense of the word. He solved classical math problems that no one else had even com close to doing. The NSA recently declassified some of his work from the 50s that involve modern cryptography concepts. If anything they probably toned down some of that for the film so he would be more relatable.

[@Rasbiff]

True, but the film does not give an accurate portrayal of his schizophrenia either. Nash did not hallucinate, his schizophrenia was of the delusional kind where he'd become convinced that a shadowy government organization was out to get him.

[@jasperwinchell6569]

It’s not the fact that they represent him as a genius that is the problem it is the fact that they link his intelligence with his schizophrenia and there are very little other representations of people with that diagnosis therefore linking the disorder to higher intelligence rather than him being a genius that also lives with it... it’s a thin but important line

[@SnailHatan]

@@Rasbiff He did hallucinate. It’s just that the hallucinations were _primarily_ (not entirely) auditory.

[@inregionecaecorum]

I met him, and heard him deliver a lecture on asymptotic ideal money as a hypothetical replacement for the gold standard.

[@jsteinberg48]

I read he did not work for the NSA or the CIA but did write a lot of letters to them (due to paranoia?) of world affairs.

[@julielparks1304]

As a parent of someone diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, I appreciate this movie for many reasons, principally for taking us along on the ride as you pointed out, to experience how real the delusions are. But the main reason I’ve mentioned the movie to many others in trying to explain the illness, is how well it illustrates how a person is still that person in all ways; kind, sarcastic, honest, loving of their wife and kids, and yet experiencing such a different reality that it impacts every part of life and relationships. I’ve wanted people to know that they are still them. An important movie. And I’m also so grateful for the important work you are doing with this channel. Not one video fails to impress me as so well done and adding so much value to the understanding of this illness. Thank you so much!

[@christa7773]

Yes! What a good point.

[@somedude172]

i havent seen the movie (didnt want to bother if it was a gross dramatization- i dont have/know anyone with anything even similar to schizophrenia, so i dont want to put any more stigmas in my head than im already subjected to in everyday life) but i thought the part where he hit the psychiatrist exemplified your point a lot. the punch was clearly a very last second decision brought on by his state of panic. and even then, it wasnt a terribly harsh blow or anything- literally just enough to get the guy off of him. he clearly didnt want to hurt anyone. he was just absolutely terrified. i cannot imagine how terrifying it would be to be having a psychotic episode, and then some random guy tries to inject you with some unknown substance. thats one of the most, if not the most, horrifying situations i can think of. i knew having a disorder like schizophrenia must be terrifying at times, just bc the idea of not being able to distinguish my thoughts from reality is a huge fear of mine and i struggle with it a little bit bc of MDD and GAD. but i never really thought about how horrifying it would be to get help... having to trust some random people, in a position of power, when youre in a mental state that makes you feel like youre in eminent danger. my heart definitely goes out to those struggling with this disorder and their loved ones.

[@julielparks1304]

@@somedude172 your description of the terror of involuntary intervention, when you’re not in a position to see it as help, will hopefully help others to be more compassionate of those with this illness. Thanks for including it. Hopefully, having an awareness of this now, will also help you to have some perspective that this is indeed help, should you ever be in a similar situation someday, although I certainly hope neither of us ever need it! Best to you.

[@edthethe]

my mom married my dad and later with hindsight realized that he was rather symptomatic. he wasn't diagnosed until years later after I was two or three and I am the youngest of three. she suspects that he had signs back when they were both in high school, but she just thought he was a little quirky.

[@101angeladark]

In the 1950’s 60’s any family member or spouse could have you picked up and locked up for the time yes it was accurate. He did realize he was sick he started teaching again and asks a student if she can see the person talking to him. It assures him that it’s ok and not a hallucination. I have done this myself. I go to get coffee a lot and the barista will call my name I’m not always sure if it’s real. I play hard of hearing and ask others around me “did they say Jax”? I’ve been in public and I have visual hallucinations as well. Sometimes I stop a total stranger and ask “did you see that.....” if I get people saying no I didn’t or I must have missed it I know it’s probably not their.

[@chowdhuryskitchenusa7531]

Do you take medication?

[@101angeladark]

Chowdhury’s Kitchen USA yes I do a lot of psych meds.

[@wheelchairgeek]

This is so sad. Sorry

[@odettalavios8649]

I have heard of people taking pictures to see if what they are seeing is really there.

[@DP-gx4dr]

It was a long time before my family and I realized my son was diagnosed with this illness at age 41. I DIDN'T KNOW. I've been on a journey, still learning.😢

[@jasonwrites9186]

Still watching the video, but just wanted to drop a line wishing you (and everyone reading this) the absolute best. These videos are good reminders for us to listen.

[@inregionecaecorum]

I have seen the movie of course, but a few years back I had the privelege of actually meeting the real John Nash and discussing philosophy with him. A very remarkable man, and somebody who did not suffer fools gladly. He was a guest speaker at an annual economics conference at my former University and I was lucky enough to have been invited as an economics alumni to share some time with him and the other speakers. I was really saddened when I heard of his death in a car accident.

[@wheelchairgeek]

Yeah. It kind of feels like some ignorant fool took him away and also lost his life. You wonder if he knew who was in his cab if somehow the accident would not have happened.

[@MDBowron]

I have Schizophrenia, along with Autism/Asperger's, ADD, Anxiety, OCD, Depression and PTSD. I was mostly bullied in primary and high school, both physically, mentally and emotionally. I think Schizophrenia, along with other mental illnesses are adaptations to trauma. That they're basically the body and mind subconsciously trying to help keep itself safe and alive. Depression and anxiety are about avoiding bad situations, as is social anxiety, and avoidance behaviour of people with borderline personality disorder. Imaginary friends or identities could be ways for the mind to talk to itself to enact out different emotional interpretations, or can be personas created to allow the body and mind to process trauma. Avoidance can also lead to repression as in psychonerosis, script pathology based on following rules and roles, identity crisis based around awareness of different social groups and ideologies, and existential crises based around the constructed awareness of those social groups and ideologies. They're basically how the mind adapts to trauma and help it survive. It can also manifest in some spiritual forms like talking to God, Jesus or some other Prophet or Manifestation of God. It can be people listening to recreations of heroes they admire, or people who have died in the past. Basically the mind and body love itself and want the self to exist in a state of non-suffering, the mental deviance or illness being an adaptation. This need for non-suffering also leads to addictions of various kinds, not so much to the chemical or hormonal substance but the emotion it obtains through it. This may also be manifest in other forms such as different forms of sexuality, self-harming, or some other form of catharsis, also through other forms of lifestyle. Sorry if I'm mansplaining or anything like that, or not saying anything original, but this idea of the self trying to love and protect itself through various forms, I believe is universal in human nature..

[@MDBowron]

some also relate Autism, Asperger's, Psychosis, Schizophrenia, and Schizo-Affective Disorder, to the sensorimotor stage in Piaget, where there is the not full differentiation of the physical self from the physical world, and people who have that stumble in early life or development may have those elements in common.

[@wheelchairgeek]

Interesting!

[@davebowman9790]

I can relate to this post. I was abused daily by my father who was my bully. The only thing that did was make me trust everyone less gave me CPTSD.However it did build resolve and basically fearlessness and I did not have many problems in elementary middle and high school with bullied except a kid in my class who picked me up and dropped me on my head onto black asphalt. He later brought a gun to school in 12th grade and try to kill us one day. We all just as a class attacked pile on him and took away his asdault weapon. He went to prison.He was 20 years old .We were all just 16, 17& 18 years. Our teacher ran away when he pulled his weapon from his trench coat. We did the right thing.We restrained him while me and four others held him down for the police for what seemed like hours but in reality was just about 12 minutes. It is quite a vivid and clear memory fo me and my fellow classmates.We still talk about it from time to time. I gave disarmed another person from their 44 magnum. I do not scare too easily sometimes. It can be dangerous for me and I am rather rough on my own body at times.

[@davebowman9790]

I also have Aspergers and schizoaffective disorder. Wow.

[@davebowman9790]

Did we come from the same laboratory or cloning facility?

[@JoBenny67]

Would love this to become a regular series.

[@hopegold883]

Yes, especially since that’s where a lot of people get their impressions of what the disease and the people living with it are like.

[@danielsalinas9124]

Totally

[@shahadah1451]

He had to shut down, was not able to tell his wife what he was doing in order to keep her safe.

[@shahadah1451]

I do not believe that he was schizophrenic. I believe they tried to silence him with a spooky diagnosis.

[@youcrazycat1]

@@shahadah1451 Anyone can have a belief but only a few of us are experts in our field. what are you expert in?

[@Typojon1313]

I remember watching this movie for the first time. It drew me in - it did almost break my heart to learn that the real John's wife did actually divorce him in 1963. At least they did end up reuniting and remarrying in 2001.

[@Nina-sq7fy]

I studied advanced mathematics in university, and one of the first people they talked about was John Nash and this movie. But they just said that the movie was bad because the hallucinations were too strong and detailed. I really appreciate the way you explain it instead - it's just the movie's way of communicating how it felt for him, not a literal depiction.

[@frenchiegirlintheusa]

It's really sad that his friend can't simply just talk to him like a regular person and not focus on the illness. I know that bipolar and Schizophrenia are not the same. When my friend who has bipolar has an episode. I know to leave her alone, and when she's ready she'll call me. In the beginning, I didn't understand and I thought I did something wrong, but I realize it's her illness and she'll be ok. It's been 3 years, and she's an amazing friend and the best cook. I love her to pieces.

[@wheelchairgeek]

Wow. That's amazing. I feel my mental illness has kept people away from me. They believe they can't become close. I feel they are scared.

[@shannonhenry7608]

This movie was literally the only reference I had to schizophrenic. I am so glad you cleared up any misconceptions. I am thankful for your channel, you are really helping me to better understand my son. 💕

[@Scottjbk]

Just to clarify, we have differing experiences of loved ones being taken by surprise. My family were just as ignorant to psychosis as I was at the time. It actually angers me that I had to go missing in a nearby city and being picked up off the street by emergency services

[@Cate7451]

That sounds really rough, frightening. I think people are very prejudiced against mental illness. Accepting it and helping loved ones learn how to live with it would be great. Mental health issues affect every family and are all around us. Getting help for you earlier would have been a real act of love. All the best to you.

[@sikksotoo]

I was diagnosed more than 12 years ago and it's nothing more than a joke to my family. They insist I'm fine.

[@areuarealman7269]

​@@sikksotoothat's a cool name sikksotoo I think I get it but my mind doesn't agree with age and paranoid from a med I don't honestly don't agree with but let's up it anyway do not psychiatrist know that withdrawal mimics other things from the pill pushers that are in office at the same time .Why not just taper and let the voices go I ask I'm not in withdrawal right now ⏪ I say do you hear voices right now smart ass?

[@animalshaverights127]

Pple just believe in being perfect 🙄. Like hellooooo theres heart disease etc.

[@stoneroses3493]

What is so amazing to me is the level of self-awareness you have. I really admire and respect that. You are definitely life goals for all people with schizophrenia, as a benchmark for good mental health management.

[@ThomasJr]

anybody who spends long time dwelling on mental illness will have great self awareness. However, Lauren sometimes takes her symptoms and feelings as pertaining to everybody, not just her, and that is mistaken. Sometimes she knows this, and sometimes she fails to realize this.

[@somedude172]

​@@ThomasJr i dont think its necessarily dwelling on mental illness that causes that. you have to work on self improvement and reflection a lot when youre mentally ill, at least in my experience. before i took the time to reflect and research my illness and the effects and such, i was a hot mess. literally couldnt function. now that im more aware of my illness and its symptoms, im able to discern when my thoughts are genuine and when theyre just me being paranoid or whatever. its not dwelling, bc i did that for years and i never improved in any way- i got significantly worse, very fast. idk much about this particular youtuber bc this is only the second video of hers ive ever seen, but she just doesnt strike me as a dweller

[@ThomasJr]

@@somedude172 Yes, IN A way that's what i said, anybody who practices self awareness through CBT or other therapies will eventually be very good at understanding why they feel what they feel. It seems pretty obvious,. It holds for most diseases actually, when people undergo treatment for a long time they end up becoming experts at that disease (or at least most people do).

[@Nga_Babaye]

@@ThomasJr It's very true. I sometimes have the professionals ask for my opinions on other cases. I used to mistake it for them trying to trip me up, but then my psychiatrists told me it's just I know more about specific subjects then he ever will because I also had a child who ended up with early onset schizophrenia. No privacy is broken.

[@stoneroses3493]

You're so beautiful and classy. Your channel has been very educational for me. Interestingly, the 'misunderstood genius' trope is one particularly prevalent in autism.

[@crimony3054]

The film shows that Nash discovered his hallucinations were hallucinations because the little girl never grew older. However, that means logical reasoning is the path to success. A more accurate description is that Nash's schizophrenia subsided enough that local reasoning could prevail over the weakened hallucinations, not that logical reasoning itself could overpower the hallucinations. But the part where Nash sees the light dancing off the crystal and the lemon slices and the necktie really isn't a hallucination at all. It's how mathematicians see mathematical patterns in nature.

[@Bootmahoy88]

I agree. Seeing embedded patterns in an otherwise chaotic field is what many mathematicians do all the time.

[@chickiebaby20]

Love your videos my husband was recently diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder with major depression in the past couple of months he I believe has had it for years without undiagnosed but very thankful that now we can start healing and he can work through this together and make everyday a little easier and work towards our life goals together and having a family in the next couple of years. I had a hard time in the beginning more of the feeling that I couldn’t help him and that’s where your videos and his mental health team have been so helpful for both of us. Keep up the great work!!!🥰🥰

[@anika9203]

hope you two have an amazing life together! good luck with his recovery/therapy

[@xtkeshii]

Please don't get on strong meds pleeeewse don't.

[@galatea742]

Apparently, in the film they added the bit in about him taking newer generation medications, unlike the actual real life John Nash (whom stopped completely) so as not to encourage people to stop taking their medication! Great respect from me on that front!

[@richardsantanna5398]

That makes me lack respect for the filmmaker.

[@raedawnmason8826]

Galatea You are incorrect. It shows very evidently in the movie that John Nash STOPPED taking his pills. I watched "A BEAUTIFUL MIND" probably more than 15 times. Go watch it again.

[@galatea742]

Raedawn Mason he says near the end that he had started taking newer medications, although in the middle of the film he actively stops taking the original ones. It is just said as part of a conversation near the end, but they do drop it in there that he has at least tried newer meds.

[@Toadspring]

@@raedawnmason8826 i just finished watching it again and it’s during a scene late in the movie after the time jump forward (i think the time jump to the 90’s but i can’t remember) anyway He clearly says to one of his colleagues that he’s taking some of the newer medication, the implication being that the newer, more refined meds have reduced side effects The stuff he stopped taking was those meds from the 50s because they had so many side effects watch again and let me know. i could be wrong but i don’t think so

[@Jukestar]

Same. Not only does it show disrespect for John Nash and his story, but it also reeks of big pharma intervention. You can be a functioning schizophrenic without the need for medication. I would know. @@richardsantanna5398

[@joeastham0]

In my experience working with an adult who experiences schizoaffective disorder (just one experience of many variations, obviously) the realization that the delusion is false can really be a 180 degree turn immediately, but then it can go right back to thinking that delusion is very real again in short order. Im glad that's not something you've ever had to experience because it seems (as an outsider) to be just a terrible tumult.

[@geekygirl2596]

Yea. For me its I know I am sick before and after, but I won't nessicarrily say it durring.

[@derrickkmartin4037]

I just wanna say you helped me a lot because I often get treated differently when they find out about my mental health so I don't have many friends and well you make me feel like I'm not alone and now I have ways to help through drawing and painting and poetry so thank you

[@jenjones90]

😊

[@bamafencer12]

Hugs 🤗

[@vjcarter4657]

I love my friends with schizoaffective disorder. They are amazing

[@ThomasJr]

I wanna be your friend, can we be friends?

[@PauloNideck]

Great video, I could understand the movie plot more clearly after watching this.

[@Salty-cracker68]

I need to watch it again

[@djsecretstashknight8821]

I no

[@thisisme3238]

Great movie explanation here...movie is extremely well made. Anyone that hasn't seen it, should! 👍🤔

[@rolfjohansen5376]

Asperger here, I did "invent" my own perfect world as a child , with friends I had interactions with. I did not make any out of the normal world , found it illogical and strange.

[@andrewheroux2442]

Thank you Lauren. Mental illness is different for everyone.

[@scottcupp8129]

Yes. If you've met one person with schizophrenia, you have met one person with schizophrenia.

[@glensher2859]

I have been around people with schizophrenia for much of my life. I am very impressed by your rationality and eloquence. The key to happiness/success is having a supportive network of friends and family. Sadly many people who suffer a mental illness do not have this. Their journey is much, much tougher. Remember John Nash went through many terrible experiences and he still had the support of his wonderful Alicia. What would his life been like without her? Keep up your excellent work. Please take a break from it all when it becomes overwhelming.

[@serayamartinez9950]

I appreciate your pointing out of how it takes the audience along with John on whether something is real or not. And, perhaps believing that it is. I remember feeling that way as the viewer. That really simulated mental illness in a way that I had never understood or experienced before.

[@warldpeace2019]

I live with schizoaffective disorder, I've had it over 20 years. Thank you for making these videos

[@Lynn_Clifton]

How incredibly insightful it is to hear your thoughts on this as someone who experiences similar challenges as Mr. Nash in real life. I've listened to several of your videos now and learned so much about the disorder. When my eldest was just out of high school and off to college one of his long and strongest friends, a beautiful and gentle and down to earth kid that we adored as though he were one of our own children appeared on our doorstep at 4 a.m. in a very confused and disoriented state, wearing a pair of shorts, no shoes and no shirt. It was 40 degrees. I have absolutely no idea how I knew, but I did, immediately. I also knew that most males have their first onset just at around his age. I brought him inside, wrapped a blanket around him, listened to him explain his reality, fed him some leftover homemade stew, grabbed him some clean clothes and a towel. I just listened. Not horrified or afraid or incredulous. I think I gave him a hug, told him I was glad he made it to our house safely and that it was very nice to see him. I told him I thought since he had been up all night that it'd probably be good for him to take a quick shower (he was covered in nicks and scratches from walking barefoot through anything he came across in a b-line from his house several miles away to ours) and curl up in my eldest son's bed for some much needed sleep. He was grateful. While he was showering and resting I had my husband go to work as normal only early and then call the young man's mother, whom he still lived with. We still keep in touch occasionally. And I hope he knows how much we still love him and that he will always be welcome with loving arms and safety rather than possibly feeling betrayed. I cannot imagine being in a similar mindset and being reacted to with fear and anger. I'm sorry it's so often the reaction. I'm incredibly thankful for your channel bringing insight and light into such a misunderstood area. I hope your parents are as proud of you as I would be. ❤

[@joshuaneace6597]

It is Dr. Nash, not Mr. Nash.

[@viktork5905]

I really liked your frequently using the phrase "and whatnot" for some reason :)

[@zakamoriarty]

I remember watching this film when it came out and found parts of it relatable back then. I think overall it's a reasonable depiction of schizophrenia (even if the visual hallucinations are very elaborate). I watched this several years before I spent time in a psychiatric hospital and it took many more admissions over the years to be correctly diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. I remember a part in the movie when Marcee is running around on the grass at Princeton and if you look carefully none of the pigeons fly away at all, even though she is running through them - a subtle sign she is actually a visual hallucination.

[@UdoADHD]

Keep in mind that this is the 1950s. If in year 2000, perception of schizophrenia was that of someone who is absolutely bonkers insane, I can only imagine that 50 years earlier schizophrenia was something you just would NEVER believe a loved one had

[@elizabethconroy7665]

Did you read the book by Dr.Elyn Saks, The Center Cannot Hold. She is an extremely intelligent Professor who lives with Schizophrenia Fantastic read and very enlightening Love your Posts Thank you

[@kathrinjohnson2582]

I just read it. I absolutely love this book!!!

[@mirkatofficial]

I love that book. Was very helpful for me.

[@yelenarotar2307]

Will read it!

[@alj007]

I love that book

[@hkingdev]

There's another book "Mind Estranged" by Bethany Yeiser who also had schizophrenia

[@snoozyq9576]

I was lucky to have a good support network when I through my first psychosis. The way they rallied around me has really touched my life forever

[@marisolreyes8295]

Thank you so much for your perspective, as the mother of a young man with this illness I am always trying to gain more knowledge regarding this illness. 🙏

[@rg8808]

You sound like a caring mom your son is fortunate to have you. Wish your family patience and strength that you may get through this, better days are ahead.🙏

[@aaymathebest4705]

Madison Reyes...What medicines is he taking?what did they diagoned to him?in which age did he diagonsed?...What were his first symtoms?....can you tell me please about your son's,how he behaved before his illness?

[@marisolreyes8295]

@@aaymathebest4705 he is diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder when he was 16 he is 21 now. He has been on all kids OF meds risperidone lithium abilify pills and injection . he currently manages his positive symptoms ( voices) using cbd.

[@aaymathebest4705]

@@marisolreyes8295 thanks for replying

[@aaymathebest4705]

@@marisolreyes8295 can you tell me about And...what's mean cbd?..What type of voices does he hear?

[@Ursella999]

Thank you for making the comment about the uselessness of police in the scenario of a wellness call or emergency involving someone experiencing psychosis.

[@belonging9200]

You are truly inspiring and wonderful. I live with Complex PTSD and just hearing you speak about your mental condition so clearly and with integrity is very inspiring.

[@Dfg697]

LOVE seeing a real person who has been there review examples of mental health in the media!!! Very interesting and also helps educate the viewer. :)

[@alayciia1193]

Left this video to go watch this movie on Hulu and came back to the video. This movie was so heart touching

[@jmk1962]

Thank you so much for your thoughts on this film. It was so insightful. I've not watched it before but think I will now after watching your review. I constantly refer MH professionals to your channel, as I still find it disturbing how so many of them working in the so called 'caring profession', mainly at the lower end as in the HCA's (health care assistants) show such little understanding or empathy when supervising patients with pyschosis thinking that bullying them or threatening them with seclusion will make them 'behave' not knowing that this will only add to the patients distress and anxiety and that they will then become disruptive when they are scared and heightened and feel under threat. Sadly I have seen this happen time and time again and this is in some of London's top hospitals where they should know better. There is still so much ignorance out there but you don't expect it from MH professionals. Keep doing these videos they are so educational and so helpful to us relatives fighting for our loved ones to get better care.

[@witedove24]

You’re so articulate and well read, and very self-aware. It’s wonderful to watch your videos, especially as an educator when I haven’t experienced these things, your videos are very helpful and informative so that I can be able to explain these experiences to my students. I also just enjoy listening to how you explain things in general.

[@nadahmekhlef7948]

My sister sometimes wants to let go of medicine but I tried to explain to her that taking her pills is important for her issues and helps me to take care of her. No one can live normally and easily with those illusions...but medications make life safe and easy

[@getseongko5838]

Hi Lauren! If you haven’t seen it yet I’d recommend a game called “Hellblade: Senua’s Sacrifice” that’s been lauded as an excellent portrayal of psychosis. Would love to hear your thoughts on it!

[@airheadaaronyuen]

This is one of the most engaging and authentic KZbin videos I’ve watched in a while. Thank you for sharing your experience and being vulnerable

[@Fungafufu]

Another thing to take into consideration when talking about John is, as mentioned before, that he was a genius. That alone could also have had an impact on the way he interacted with people and the world. I’ve known very intelligent people that have odd social skills (not so much as lacking them, just different), or people who were raised with parents that allowed mean behaviours justified by their kid’s intellect.

[@reversevaccum]

I like how you look concentrated on what you are watching. It’s hard for me some times to appear as if I’m paying attention even when I’m fully engaged

[@olivermakower2479]

I had an period of time, before taking my meds, that felt like I was being pressured into highly violent behavior. I find this an area I struggle with, when dealing with the stigma in my personal situation. I experienced what I believe to be fairly significant cognitive dissonance at the time.

[@wheelchairgeek]

I would like to hear more about this.

[@c.wander555]

I've studied schizophrenia before and now as part of psychopathology at Uni I've been given this movie to watch to "understand" the mental illness. I gotta say Im going to talk to my professor about it because I really don't like having a whole class learning about exaggerated symptoms and the movie being a reference for what it's like. I'm referencing your review of the movie and SBSK's interview to an actual person diagnosed with it. I'M SO GLAD I didn't waste time watching this movie and saw your video instead. Thank you for this content. I appreciate you and your work

[@cindypatterson8157]

This film is one of my most favourite, it moves me everytime I've watched it. Such a brilliant mind..

[@sofiaali7264]

Hi, I love watching your videos! I can totally relate to you. I was diagnosed a year ago with schizophrenia, I first had a big breakdown, and hallucination where everyone out there in the street were out to get me. So I was so afraid to go outside. Everything was just so dark and negative in my mind. Up to now I'm still processing the diagnose, and still trying to be okay with it. Please keep posting videos, to make us feel better, and that life can be "normal" too living with schizophrenia.

[@theguyver4934]

I was schizophrenic at an early age i think i developed the illness in my late teens but i'm not sure it's been difficult for me ever since I haven't been able to concentrate on things

[@NoNo-pd5dd]

you describe the reasoning in the scenes so well, and i Identify to a lot of it in the way you describe, even some of the ones you don't really experience . thank you sooo much for your videos, they help me understand my self better.

[@ClaytonHardee]

I appreciate your commentary and thoughts with this movie. I have had dozens of situations (before being treated for my Schizoaffective disorder) where I hallucinated in a very elaborate detail on a grand scale. I used to go on nightly walks through various neighborhoods and there were times when it felt and looked like I was in an entirely new and vastly different neighborhood for upwards of 30 minutes before things became more familiar. I remember asking myself if this new neighborhood was so close to the apartment why hadn’t I found and walked through it before? I realized that I had to be hallucinating but my hallucinations were so very, very detailed and solid. I thought it was reality and for a time it was, at least to me. Then I would have a new episode and would remember that I had been through this whole thing before that were just hallucinations but again it seemed so detailed, and so very real. There was a tug of war within my own mind.

[@christa7773]

Your content is consistently amazing. Thank you!

[@dannyallen2894]

I only just discovered your channel a couple of days ago, and I just want to thank you for what you are doing! Your videos are very informative, and I am sure that they are helpful for people who know firsthand what you have experienced as a result of your living with schizophrenia.

[@paulinejohns8798]

I just came upon your channel...thank you for what you do. I am understanding my illness better with each video.❤️

[@thediabeticpup]

I've been waiting for this episode for a long time! I'm so happy.

[@shieh.4743]

Great discussion. Thank you. I have 2 family members with schizoaffective disorder and it is helpful to know what they have experienced. 1 manages the illness fairly well and the other struggles more so, but this helps me see the importance of compassion and understanding for both.

[@tashik8151]

First degree relatives?

[@shieh.4743]

@@tashik8151 A cousin and an aunt (same side of the family) and first degree relatives, but not immediate family members.

[@lulazeta8965]

So glad su say it… since there is people out there who don’t seem to realize that keeping a distance from afflicted persons is enough. Afflicted people appreciate being listened …just listened…without judging Shieh.

[@rawhamburgerjoe]

You have a great gift for sharing your experience in a way that other people can relate with and understand.

[@vmine88]

Thank you very much for all you do. We love you! You are so eloquent and your communication skills and self awareness are your guiding light. Stay strong

[@savednorwegian]

Very good analysis, thank you :) Wish you well and the best!

[@anika9203]

I love this movie, it was very emotional and gripping. I watched it for the first time 2 years ago when we were going through the schizophrenia unit in my psychology class. My psychology teacher also loves this movie and used it to teach us what it can be like living in an alternate reality(although clearly a bit dramatized), it was really helpful to be able to refer back to all of his delusions and hallucinations progressing throughout the movie as examples of how to diagnose or recognise symptoms and really helped me ingrain the definitions and examples into my head for the exam lol. The movie its self is amazing, really makes you care about John and made his delusions seem so real, so when it was revealed he was schizophrenic is was like you were living through it with him. I wish I found your channel while I was doing psych, all of your videos are so informative and insightful.

[@ByThePupsies]

Thank you for this heartfelt movie review! Listening to your inputs made me appreciate more my loved ones who have schizophrenia. More of this, please! I wish you and your partner well this 2021!

[@tammyevans5799]

I really appreciate you for sharing your personal experiences with us so that we may truly understand this illness. How brave you are .... Thank you so very much!!

[@Ms_Wolf]

Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU for your insight! Soooo very helpful for me, trying to understand this illness and how to best support my loved one throughout this journey. 🙏 truly grateful

[@youtubeyoungestgrandmastor4523]

When do you ever have down time. You have been doing a great job of keeping up with your channel.

[@syncopowerstations]

This is very important to me in terms of my interest in psychology and my interest in the art of story. You've done and EXCELLENT job!

[@manalilalex1819]

Thanks for the sincere review and sharing of your experience

[@mrbrandoncole1]

You have a way of explaining these things so clearly and so brilliantly. I have a much better understanding of this disorder because of watching a few of your videos and, naturally, I jus HAD to check this one out as this is one of my favorite movies of all time. Keep up the amazing work. You really are doing such a wonderful thing as far as helping to educate ppl and rid the world of the twisted perceptions of this disorder. I hope you know how wonderful of a service you're doing for society.

[@legallyredone5561]

It is amazing and encouraging to see someone so well-spoken and put-together in Lauren's videos. You are authentic and inspirational as I wonder how others peceive me knowing I have mental illness, and now I know that its possible to present well to others. (So said while I hide behind my window blinds so neighbors don't see me.) There is hope!

[@bessiesiamas1225]

You are doing an amazing job in raising awareness about this illness, with these videos. I hope that you are getting something beneficial by doing them.

[@sandy4923]

Lauren I think that you explain very good the relationship about a false mental memory in relation of how it was represented in the movie. Thanks for your work!

[@vivian4949]

I can totally see the extreme empathy in this young woman's face 💖💖💖💎💎💎

[@rg8808]

Thank for your honesty Lauren, your perspective helps many people. For everyone going through szhizophrenia, my hope is that you have good support in place as this will make all the difference. For those taking care of sons, daughters, and loved family, my prayers go out to you for continued strength and patience. With positive outlook and right meds, better days are ahead for your loved ones and yourself.🙏

[@wooh88]

What a great thing to do. Thank you so much for opening up and helping people to understand this illness from your own experience. I have family member who is suffering from this disease and I don't always know how to understand or communicate with her. Your video make me understand from her standpoint. I really appreciate your kindness and courage for helping out.

[@bernardhilario4395]

Insightful indeed! Thanks very much!♥️♥️♥️

[@kiousagi]

There is a documentary on John Nash. It would be interesting to see you do a review on that in comparison to the movie.

[@shipaskof8371]

Your videos are excellent. Im so sick and tired of lay people with no personal experience diagnose numerous mental illnesses in their friends families colleagues and even in people they dont know.

[@madelinebrennan7603]

soooo articulately and beautifully examined by you. i am a family member to two people with schizophrenia, and when i watched this film, i thought, "this captures how real the delusions/hallucinations feel to the individual experiencing them," but not because the hallucinations ARE that elaborate, but as you said, were shown in a filmic way, how real they might be experienced by a person (through false memories, auditory hallucinations, etc.). i watch your videos to learn more as a family member, and since i've struggled myself with depression for years, to also learn/reinforce things like coping strategies for symptomatic periods if my own life. you are really doing a wonderful service precisely because you are so articulate, empathic, and insightful, including by stating repeatedly that you are giving YOUR experiences with the illness. thank you :)

[@shystudyspy]

I’m so impressed by how much work this video must have taken. It’s also really interesting!

[@snuffyscorner]

My heart really goes out to you and anyone living with this illness or any type of it. I'm so grateful that you are putting out this content, because compassion and empathy from others toward those suffering from any mental illness is sorely needed. I think your videos facilitate that needed depth of understanding and emotional understanding. Thank you so much.

[@greivinvillalobos2464]

I was thinking about the movie The Cable Guy. Sombody tell me if it is another case of kinda of something

[@marlenebtagelman2451]

Thank you, Lauren. I am now learning more about my friend.

[@healingfear]

I've watched a few of your videos and this is another excellent one. The man I love most dearly, although we are not together now, also has schizoaffective disorder. His descriptions run very closely along the lines of what you talk about. Thank you for your videos.

[@williamkraemer8338]

These presentations are the most sophisticated and dignified presentations of living with schizophrenia that I have ever seen. They keep getting better.

[@roxyndra]

Fantastic review. I love the open realization that people may be observing reality whilst their brains exaggerate. That doesn’t even seem crazy. It’s just the brain being hyperactive and hyper aware, really. Less scary that way, even if still scary.

[@fists__]

i have to say: i've seen a few of your videos now and i am admittedly both impressed & ashamed by how articulate you are. my cognition has gone to shit & that's probably the symptom that saddens me the most.

[@StarOfArtemis]

weird how I just finished watching this movie, and now your videos here. The odds. Fantastic movie, thanks for the review!

[@jennifersanchez5599]

Thought that this was an insightful analysis of this movie. Made me see the movie from a whole new perspective. Great job!

[@fragitude]

I have schizoaffective disorder and I can relate to the intelligence part as my last IQ test I took I scored 165. Despite the movie I thought the smarter you are the less likely one is to have a mental disorder. Imagine my surprise when I was diagnosed.

[@hummiebubs6967]

I love this movie and have wondered how accurate it was. Thank you for this video!

[@alyce-kayruckelshaus1224]

Lauren, Not only was this very helpful in understanding how the film related to reality, but you also provided very helpful insight as to what's going on with someone when they're experiencing psychosis. I really appreciate your openness in sharing your experiences and your input.

[@danieljackson654]

I value your commentary considerably. I would like to say two things. First about John Nash. While I was struggling to write my dissertation, a serious challenge to mental health, I stumbled across the Nash Equilibrium Principle, which not only gave clarity to my work but clarity to my mental processes. Second, the film does treat, albeit in vignette fashion his return to Princeton University (a major point of the story), how he deals with his mental illness. When his colleague asks him if he still has the hallucinations, he says yes; when asked how he manages, Nash says it's a "diet of the mind." What a wonderful description. The second example, somewhat amusing, is when the representative of the Nobel Committee comes to his classroom, Nash asks a student leaving the classroom to look at the gentleman and tell him if he is Real. The student, smiles and says cheerfully. "Yes he is real." I would like to say that high pressure high outcome graduate programs and think tanks have a LARGE number of very strange personnel. Many border on Idiot Savant. Nash was brilliant and thrived in RAND/Princeton environment because there were other "egg heads," as they were called, with equally bizarre behavioral repertoires. Thank you very much for commenting on this film. It remains in my top ten and Nash is a hero of mine. Your insights are wonderfully appreciated.

[@alistaircaradec2180]

Hi, Lauren :) Thank you for this video and for all the work that you do to help further understanding of schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. I found your channel while researching. As a member of other minority groups (I am transgender, gay, and diagnosed with severe chronic depression and social anxiety disorder), I feel compassionate representation is extremely important. I’m currently working on a novel in which the main character lives with schizophrenia and, more than anything, I want to make sure I’m not misrepresenting a vulnerable and very stigmatized group of people. Looking at what resonates with you, and with others in the comments, looking at what’s not helpful, what’s sensationalizing or romanticizing, is extremely eye-opening. In addition to researching, I will of course be consulting with sensitivity readers with first-hand experience. I hope to be a good advocate and promise to keep learning and listening. All the very, very best, Ali

[@geekygirl2596]

Love this! I attempted to start a novel once where the main character was basically me in this sort of alternate reality/life story. I have schizoeffective disorder and am autistic, but I have had "air freinds" and sort of this "alternate self" since I was about 4. She's more just me, but with a different name. "Juanita" by Shania Twain is a perfect descriptor of what I am getting at with my "alternate self" in that, she's basically me unleashed. But, she's also older and has a much more interesting back story I guess? I don't know if I really ever lost interest in writing my book, so much as I didn't really know what I wanted to go over first lol.

[@silent_day]

Thanks for talking about about A Beautiful Mind! I like that movie and I always wondered how accurate it is.

[@theo.s.1114]

Always enjoy watching people review media depictions of mental illnesses they personally deal with or communities they are a part of. Find it can really help give perspective, as media majorly impacts our impressions of things. Would be very interested in seeing a video of you reviewing the American tv show “Perception” (2012), if that is something you feel like doing.