Out of my mind

Description

Out of My Mind is an intimate portrait of twenty-three year old John Cadigan, the filmmaker's brother who became seriously mentally ill while he was an art student at college. Soon after his first psychotic break John asked his sister, the filmmaker and his primary caretaker, to document his story. Filmed over three years, the siblings narrate the story of John s painful deterioration despite various therapies. Rarely has the family experience of the early stages of schizophrenia been articulated so clearly. John's acute self awareness and his intense art work make him the ideal subject. He describes what is is like to be labeled psychotic, to become catatonic and to feel like part of your mind is working against you. Day to day John struggles with a steady stream of paranoid and violent thoughts. John continues to battle his illness which has now been diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder. Obtaining an accurate diagnosis, medical benefits and housing were part of the arduous process of searching for help. Despite multiple hospitalizations he tries to lead as normal a life as possible, relying on the love and support of his family.

Runtime

29 min

Creator

Cadigan, Katie

Subjects

Genre

Date of Publication

1996

Database

Alexander Street

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