Share Your Story

Thousands of people have let us know how much People Say I'm Crazy has meant to them: how it made them feel less alone, how it gave them hope, and how it fosters compassion and understanding.

We've heard from people like John, suffering from a mental illness. We've heard from their families and friends. We've heard from mental health professionals. We've even heard from those who may not be personally affected by the disease, but who nonetheless were touched and even changed by the film. They all have a story to share.

We hope you will share how mental illness has touched your life.

Here you can share your story, and read the stories of others. We can all learn so much from each other.

Highlights from Your Stories:

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Story topics: mother, NAMI, psychosis, recovery, teacher

In 1994, I was a mother of two, a Montessori teacher, and writer who was suddenly thrust into a world of psychosis. I was a trained therapist who became an incoherent stranger to herself and a devoted wife who separated from my husband overnight and had two affairs that were as brief as my manic episode of that time. Mine has been a journey of forbidden happiness, grandiosity, paranoia as well as delusions, and at its worst, nearly fatal suicide attempts. When I was 34 I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had a psychotic breakdown to a non-functioning state.

It took me thirteen years of treatment, education, and faith in mental heath professionals to reach stability and face my mental illness head on. As of this writing, I am on recovery and committed to working with NAMI as a Stigma Buster, a presenter for a program called In Our Own Voice. I hope to offer hope to those who live in the shadows of mental illness by helping erase the faceless anonymity of bipolar disorder. All my writings have the same purpose and both my poetry and prose speak of the struggles but also of the gains of suffering from a mental illness.

People Say I’m Crazy is an inspiring movie who certainly helps people who are having difficulty accepting their diagnosis or who have lost faith that they can reach stability. Families who travel this arduous road will benefit from this masterpiece, which should also appeal to anyone searching for information and enlightment on mental illness and its recovery process.

- From a writer in Los Angeles
Story topics: bipolar, depression, honest, self

I just now watched "People Say I'm Crazy"--seriously just ten minutes ago.  Wow.

So many people dramatize the facts of schizophrenia and end up delivering a very skewed view of it to the public.  It just ends up furthering people's unfounded fear of mental illness and people afflicted with it. 

I personally have struggled throughout my life with depression and bipolar disorder, from the time that I was 11 and diagnosed.  It took until I was 24 years old to find the right mix of medications that stabilized me and had acceptable side effects in order for me to move on with my life, get married, have children, and actually enjoy the process of being alive each day. 

It was so refreshing to see someone be honest with themselves and the camera, do things that are by nature so difficult to do in front of the camera, and let us in on their lives.  This really is reality television and I don’t think I’ve ever seen QUALITY like this on the airwaves.

Beyond all of my praise for the film, I want to thank John, personally, for allowing us a look inside his life.  He emotes so well on film that it was evident how hard some of the process was for him, and I felt conflicted right along with him, even though I was enjoying the film.  I hope that all of the praise he has gotten from the results of it – and the knowledge that he’s giving every viewer an amazing gift - has been repayment for his struggle.

- a mom
Story topics: counselor, schizophrenia, son

I’ve never seen anything like your film.  Astounding. First, personally - my son was diagnosed with schizophrenia many years ago and he is now 41.  I have a professional interest as well.  I am a counselor and group facilitator at a growth center.  None of us have ever seen such a REAL film before.  It’s like watching our lives.  Thank you.

- a mother in Canada
Story topics: artist, schizophrenia, self

I have a similar diagnosis and am as well classified "disabled" because of my problems... it is so hard to allow people to see your episodes let alone video tape it for the world...

My mother saw the film too.... now here i am attempting to write an email, not something I would typically do. i really just felt i have so much in common with John.... I too am an artist and in school for photography… I’m hoping the worst of my problems are behind me -- though from what my therapist tells me the worst years medically may be what I’m coming onto... Right now I am finally finding some balances in medications.

Your story is being heard and affecting people out here. You have touched me not just as an artist but as a fellow "crazy" person. OH and by the way there definitly are plenty of girls out there who like big guys, I should know I’m one of them. :c)

- a college student
Story topics: bipolar, self

I was originally diagnosed schizophrenic in 1993.  The label has changed to bipolar.  I have felt all the same things that John has felt to some degree.  The film brought tears to my eyes. 

Never have I met anyone who shares similar experiences as I have.  I get paranoid, sometimes psychotic.  I deal with a lot of anxiety.  I get depressed.  In the beginning I went into a catatonic and panic state.  I've been to hospitals and half way houses.  All of them were very different. 

I am grateful to John for sharing with us his traumatic life experience.  It helped me a lot and I hope more people get to see it.  Thank you for this insight. 

- a woman in recovery
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