How psychosis bends your reality - BBC

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Published 2019-05-15

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At 23 years old, David Harewood had a psychotic breakdown and was sectioned. As he puts it, he ‘lost his mind’.

On World Mental Health Awareness Day 2017, David took to Twitter and spoke publicly about his experiences for the first time. He was overwhelmed by the response. Now David wants to tell the full story – to piece together what happened to him and help other people understand what it is like to experience psychosis.

In this film, David lets viewers into the realities of experiencing a psychotic breakdown, opening up in a way he has never done before – and in a way that viewers rarely, if ever, have seen anyone, let alone a well-known person do. Meeting up with old friends who were with him when he was sectioned, David realises quite how much he blocked out and travelling up to his hometown of Birmingham, he starts to put the pieces together with his Mum. But he doesn’t want to just trace his own story - David spends time with combined emergency NHS mental health and police teams in Birmingham as they go out on 999 calls to treat people in distress, he meets young people who are living with psychosis at an early intervention group in Solihull run by psychiatrist Erin Turner and spends time with two inspirational young people to talk about their own experiences of psychosis, their treatment and ongoing recoveries.

David Harewood: Psychosis and Me | BBC

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All Comments (21)

@TPW13 5 years ago

I had a psychotic phase in my life when I stopped taking an anti depressant abruptly as well as quitting cannabis at the same time. I became absolutely sure that my friends and family knew something about life that I didn't, and were plotting against me. I thought that everyone was moving up north because there was going to be a "purge" or some kind of event that would kill everyone who wasn't in the loop and moving north. I became obcessed with god and everything seemed like a sign or signal from god that I was meant to be doing or knowing something that I didn't. One day while hanging out with my dad I suddenly got the idea he was taking me out to sea to drown me and I jumped out of the moving car and walked back home (I lived alone at the time). It's hard to put into words and I still don't really understand what was going through my head at the time. Luckily it was only temporary and after 8 months of chronic depression afterwards I am back on my feet and loving life without smoking pot and drinking every day. I'm not sure why i'm sharing this on a youtube comment but it feels good to talk about it and know other people go through it aswell. Great video thanks David.
@ukkendoka 5 years ago

I have so much respect for somebody who talks frankly about a condition like this.
@pythonjava6228 5 years ago

As a person who has experienced psychosis I really appreciate this guy talking about it. I already liked him as an actor but now I love the guy
@saramn272 5 years ago

David if you ever read this, your vulnerablity is opening up worlds for us, thank you sincerely
@gallgu624 5 years ago

Psychosis is probably in the top five of the most stigmatized things in society. Cheers dude congratulations on getting past that part of your life and thank you for opening up about it.
@thenativist6330 1 year ago

When I had a psychotic break it wasn’t euphoric at all. I was scared, anxious, delusional, and nearly offed my myself.. one of the toughest experiences I’ve ever endured..
@kekedarius 5 years ago

Only in the UK could watching the sunrise and saying good morning to everyone be a sign of psychosis
@AppleJackJay 5 years ago

Respect to this man. Wishing him health and happiness
@Robinson8491 5 years ago

'Reality was, I was away from all my mates, totally alone, and I was really unhappy. And that's not really the time to start smoking weed'. Recognizeable and relatable
@BWPT. 5 years ago

Having had psychosis myself on many occasion I know how hard it is to open up about this stuff, especially being an actor and in the public eye. Much respect.
@sambridges6647 4 years ago

I was diagnosed with psychosis. Your in a different world with so many beliefs and views on the world and what it has stored in it. Mine was thinking I was on a tv show and people around the earth were watching me act. Thought I was being payed millions and was on set but I was in my own house. Just like the Truman show if you have ever watched that. Fear, aggression, hearing voices, hallucinating, a feeling of absolute high and a crippling low. It’s amazing to see someone else talk about it and who has experienced it in a similar way. God bless him and anyone who has experienced it. I’m better now and getting better every day
@AM-sw9di 8 months ago

This happened to me at a similar time, i was a student, far away from my family, no friends and not feeling in control of my life. I used to walk around at night for hours, i remember also feeling the same way he did at sunrise when everything was new. Bless him for coming out and talking about his experiences!
@jamesmiddleton1278 5 years ago

Psychosis can be terrifying, and horribly debilatating. And can happen to you or any of your family . But its not contagious or shameful. Don't look down anyone with mental health problems. Don't stigmatise them. Have an open conversation with them. We'll be better for it.
@marian3nene45 5 years ago

Bravo to him for speaking up about yet ANOTHER mental health stigma, psychosis. 👏👏 #MentalHealthAwareness
@chrismackay9268 5 years ago

As an ex heavy drug user I count myself lucky I never experienced this, but one of my good mates recently did experience something similar to this and it is absolutely heartbreaking to witness.
@DarioHaruni 1 year ago

I have experienced drug-induced psychosis 3-4 times. It is the worst thing imaginable. I wouldn't wish it as a punishment to anyone.
@arq500347 5 years ago

I have a lot of respect for anyone who is openly talking about their life’s journey. I a lot of respect for you David!
@ralitsapapuchieva255 2 years ago

This is for everyone going through psychosis: Stay strong, you will be all right! You’re not alone. Contact someone to help you through this. I had drug induced psychosis from weed and DMT and i felt like i’ll never feel ok and my life is lost but it’s not. I am completely fine and happy right now after 2 months of recovery without medication. I am back to my normal life like nothing has happened. So have hope and patience and everything will be okay♥️♥️
@helloeverynyanz 1 year ago

6:43 seeing how he starts to get really serious at the end really tugs at my heart strings. im also sort of bothered by the fact many people on social media like tiktok have started to glorify mental illnesses. im glad theyre shedding light on it but the fact that many of them (mostly teenagers) are lying about having mental illnesses bugs me a lot i dont understand why being mentally unstable is seen as being cool in a way because i see people comment "omg literally me1!" when they dont relate to it at all idk what im on about anymore
@dabzvapelord 9 months ago

I work in a psychiatric ward. Some of the most wonderful, gentle and kind people I've met have a diagnosis of psychosis. I always think it's important to consider how we keep notes to ensure if they access them one day they see that we saw those things in them.