Dr Syl's Psychiatric Analysis: "I'm in psychosis right now"

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I’m a School Psychologist and I’ve followed Lauren’s journey for years. She is genuinely one of the more compassionate and intelligent humans I’ve seen on YouTube.

For those interested, Lauren put out another video after this. She voluntarily went into a psychiatric hospital, hoping to be released this week. But, after talking with her doctor, she might be in for a while. She is doing okay. She still doesn't feel 100% in control, but she does recognize things are getting better. I love her. Her videos are incredibly informative.

I've got schizophrenia and autism. I'm in Australia and about Laurens age. Her videos have inspired me to take pride in my management. I'm doing very well.

I so feel for people who suffer from illnesses such as schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder. Thank you Lauren for being so brave.

My mom has dementia. It is really sad to see people working in stores and restaurants, or just passers-by, be so impatient or even confrontational, or just muttering, "she's crazy!" No one really knows what another person is going through, or how they got to the place they are in. Our society needs so much more compassion and a lot less judgmentalism.

She puts such a personal real intimate vulnerable and relatable grasp to the illness- she’s a really good advocate

What person in her audience made her feel guilty that she didn't film enough of her bad episodes? What the heck? She's dealing with a real disorder and she doesn't owe anyone anything! Cheers to her tho for being brave enough to be that vulnerable in this state. She genuinely looks scared of what is happening to her in this video and my heart goes out to her. Hope she feels better soon! ❤

I work in the biomedical communications field in the area of mood disorders. As a scientist, it’s really grounding and sobering to see someone who is suffering and so clearly communicate what their concerns are. Her sharing this experience is a gift. It’s important for me to see this on the personal level AND the higher-level biomedical/psych research studies. I hope she has the support and resources to feel better… and (as someone in the US) my heart breaks for those without the same access. Thank you Dr. Syl for your analysis and your work in the clinic.

I regularly watch Lauren's videos. Rob is her husband. They had a child together about 2 years ago and she also parents 2 children from his previous marriage. Lauren has a large following of caring, supportive fans. Lauren made another video after this from a psych ward where she was admitted. She said it was traumatizing.

I just want to add that one thing her channel has helped solidify is the importance of having someone there with you (as in living there) all the time to support you. It kills me to think of what a fine line she treads between being functional and being that person you see talking to themselves on the street. People with these conditions NEED support, and we need to be thankful to these people's partners and loved ones who provide that support as well.

I think it's also important to take into account that someone like Lauren is used to talking to a camera about her symptoms, and that this could potentially mask the severity of her struggles. Even the tidy, lit up room as part of the ritual of "making a video". Similarly to how someone with a long history with mental health issues and talking to mental health professionals can get into a "talking to a professional mode", where they might come across as more clear minded and stable than they actually are, but the reason they present as such is because they arent able to switch to a different mode. I of course don't know Lauren's specific situation, but it made me think about how someone's baseline is very situational, and can become an automatic way of presenting if you dont have the bandwidth to adjust to whatever is socially expected when you actually aren't on that baseline. Im not a mental health professional whatsoever. But as someone who has been in the System (TM) for over 20 years, ive often had to remind my doctors that the moment i stop seeming unwell, while saying im unwell, is the moment that people should recognise that this might be a worrying thing. I don't know Lauren, but as an example; if a friend tells me they are losing grip on reality, and are simultaneously doing everything as it should be done, that would worry me at least as much as if their house would be in shambles and all that. Not saying that you were suggesting anything else. It just made me think and such ^^

My name is Lauren as well. I have had 3 months straight of hallucinating images and voices relentlessly taking over. Once I received treatment while homelessness kept me coming to terms to what has happened, actually helped me. I believe that the voices left because of my fervent prayer and faith in The Lord Jesus Christ. I am exasperated about it. But, haven't had any episode while taking meds in 3 years. I thank God for this understanding and this experience. Even though the persistent conscientious torment made me better able to relate to what others in my family have went through.

She is so so brave. My grandma had schizophrenia and received electroshock therapy that left her permanently anhedonic which is how I knew her my whole life :(

Assuming Lauren is ok with it, I hope you continue to react to videos from living well with schizophrenia. She makes a wide range of content from creative pieces and vlogs to reactions, interviews, and informational videos. Even outside of the topic her channel is on, the amount of passion she puts into her content really deserves all the focus it can get.

I'm a graduate student in Social Work and I've followed Lauren since before I ever considered my studies and the education and vulnerability she has shown the world is such a gift. She is amazing.

My stepsister was bipolar, and her daughter has schizophrenia. Both very intelligent ladies.

Last year a close family member had a severe psychotic break. I've been following Lauren trying to understand more, because it was just a shock to all of us. I've always been depressive but never had psychosis, and I had no idea that depression could even lead to a psychotic episode. I'd always seen myself as more vulnerable to depression until this happened. It's amazing how much Lauren reminds me of her, even though she speaks a whole different language... the long pauses, the difficulty forming thoughts, the facial expressions, the things she does with her eyes, the flatness... it feels so helpless from the perspective of a carer. But Lauren has a huge amount of insight into her condition that I wish my family member did.

One of my friend was in permanent psychosis, he used to put just his head around open doors and ask us ''if he had just killed someone and are the police coming'', He was harmless, never violent in the years I knew him,, I even shared a house with him for 2 years. I was cursed also, I was fine most of the time but I had what 3 shrinks 5 years of psychiatry and a EEG later said was a Chemical Imbalance. Ive come to learn that that means they have no idea why your humanity can fall off you..

I know someone with schizoaffective disorder and most people don't know her diagnosis because there is just so much stigma around mental illness. I'm so glad people like Lauren are showing people what it's like to have schizophrenia. If more people understood and were less judgemental life could be so much easier for these people who do not want to be ill and would just love to be healthy.