Rachel Star Withers runs a YouTube channel where she performs goofy stunts on camera and talks about her schizophrenia.
Since 2008, when the then 22-year-old revealed her diagnosis online, tens of thousands of people have seen her videos. Some of them have a psychotic disorder or mood disorders themselves, or know people who do.
They say her explanation about what a symptom like hallucinations feels like can be really helpful. So can Rachel’s advice on ways to cope with them, like getting a dog or a cat. If the animal doesn’t react to the hallucination, then it’s probably not real, she says.
We talked with people about how Withers’ videos have helped them understand these diseases. What follows is a Q&A with two of these people. The interviews have been edited for length and clarity.
I watch music videos also. But if someone were to recommend something I might watch it . For some reason I can’t view videos posted on this site in internet explorer on my phone . I haven’t tried Chrome though, I hardly use it
Never watched such videos, not sure what is holding me back, but still am inclined not to… Th queer thing is that, like the people watching the videos in this article, I found much solace and recognition in rich and detailed qualitative analyses of schizophenic experiences in research articles…
Im a youtube junkie…i would love to make humorous videos that shed light on sz…i also send ideas to youtubers so far only 1 has responded but it was positive…
This is a close representation of what it’s like for me…except its inside my head rather than heard from ears. I’ve been wanting to share it with people. I shared it with my mom so she can get an idea of what I go through in a day. But am debating if I want to share it on my facebook page. While i write a blog about being Schizo-effective it’s not something I really talk openly about with others and I don’t want people to be afraid of me…especially with the recent attacks in the news.
i’ve watched one of her videos before, she gets visual hallucination but not auditory. which i think is a lot creepier. i think she’s a stunt woman? i dunno how she does her work with all that…
I like this one a lot too. I posted it on FB and one person watched it that I know of. I’m pretty literal, so the voices being human and saying things that mind don’t say makes me not relate 100%, but it’s a good general representation. I want to “come out” about my sz but haven’t yet. I would use this video though.
I’m glad she makes those videos because I bet it does help a lot of people understand. And I think for young people especially, it’s someone to relate to who is out there and not ashamed. A great example in that respect.
Being much older and having lived with sz my entire adult life, the videos don’t help me. This forum helps me. But the videos are a good educational tool.
There is youtube channel called Bipolarline by a woman who suffers psychosis and hallucinations when she is manic. Some sz symptoms are similar to BiPolar, so might be helpful to some people.
Well I keep a blog and tell people about it, but I don’t fully talk about having Schizo-effective disorder with people because I’m afraid of that look I get when I do. There are some I don’t even talk about my blog too. It’s not a video blog (or vlog as they say) just a written one on Blogger. I sometimes write as I’m going through episodes and sometimes write after the episode and I’ve had a chance to come back down to reality.
I don’t know if it’s just me but I’ve always found writing my feelings much more effective than speaking them…I’m not an overly vocal person to begin with…and when I say something to people I’m careful of who I say what to…even with topics not of mental illness just because I try and void confrontation.
