I Am Not A Monster: Schizophrenia | Cecilia McGough | TEDxPSU
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Published 2017-03-27
Students With Schizophrenia: sites.psu.edu/studentswithschizophrenia/
I Am Not A Monster: SCHIZOPHRENIA: sites.psu.edu/ceciliamcgough/
Cecilia McGough is an astronomer, activist, and writer as a Penn State Schreyer Honors College scholar pursuing a major in Astronomy & Astrophysics. Cecilia is the founder and current president of the Penn State Pulsar Search Collaboratory. She has been participating in pulsar research continuously since December of 2009, co-discovering pulsar J1930-1852 with the widest orbit ever observed around another neutron star, competing in the International Space Olympics held in Russia, and co-authoring her research in the Astrophysics Journal. Cecilia is a mental health activist in fighting against the negative stigma towards mental illness. She is the founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of the soon to launch non-profit Students With Schizophrenia which is the only non-profit in the United States focused on empowering college students with schizophrenia.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at ted.com/tedx
All Comments (21)
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"I am not much different from any of you" Idk there big dog, I didn't discover a star in high school while fighting off giant spiders and getting stabbed in the face by IT. You're a lot more badass than I am
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Imagine giving this speech while IT clown was taunting you from the crowd or behind your ear. Strong individual here.
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This sounds horrifying. Imagine seeing the scariest things and having nobody take you seriously. So scary. People with schizophrenia need more recognition.
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I have Schizophrenia, and this makes me feel seen. I’ve dealt with it since I was 10 (I am 18 now, and soon to be 19) and it’s been a very big struggle for me. I am like her in the sense that I can differentiate between a hallucination and reality. I am able to tell when I’m hallucinating, but it’s still difficult for me to deal with. I’m really happy that I found this video.
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My father had schizophrenia, he heard voices threatening me and my sister. He was scared and couldn’t sleep or eat and they told him to hurt people but he knew he wasn’t going to ever hurt a soul. He took his own life last year September 6th. He wrote diaries and he did sketches. He wasn’t a monster and he was scared, his name was Stephen. Edit: I was just diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and go through episodes of hallucinations, I know how my dad felt and I thank him for being so strong.
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NO ONES GOING TO TALK ABOUT HOW SHE DESCOVERED A STAR IN HIGH SCHOOL ?!?!
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I was in a psych ward. I witnessed schizophrenics in psychosis. It was frightening. Yet, even in their psychosis, I heard pearls of wisdom. I wept for them.
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Cecilia is amazing, such a strong woman. I've been suffering from depression since childhood and couldn't get into university and get a degree due to it. My biggest achievement so far has been staying alive and it saddens me. I wish I were stronger, not just strong enough to survive but strong enough to make my life right.
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Dude I can’t even do a presentation with a few people in the room and she’s doing it in front of hundreds and a clown who looks like IT
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I think schizophrenia has been demonized in movies.
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She is absolutely amazing.
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Having this disease and achieving everything she has achieved... She is the real superhero and an amazingly strong person.
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“The clown is in the audience right now.” That sent shivers down my spine
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I saw when she started to slur her speach as soon as she started her hallucination slides. You could tell that shes not bullshitting.
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I have OCD, I have unwanted and intrusive distressing thoughts which never leave me alone. I also suffered a stress induced nervous breakdown, which caused me to have very scary and real hallucinations. I have also felt ashamed to tell people about it. Thank you for sharing your story. ❤️
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I recgonized her from SBSK and seeing her now is such a transformation! She was so closed in and no eye contact and seeing her on stage is amazing! Well done!
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Shawty really co-discovered a pulsar in high school while fighting off Pennywise, Aragog, and Samara and I can’t even do long division
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“I’m just someone who cannot turn off my nightmares, even when I’m awake.” WOW.
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It takes a lot of courage to make a statement like that, I admire you and what you do for all of humanity. People with schizophrenia are normal people too , and you proved it
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her bravery will change lives and all of the pain will transform lives too.
