What Does a Teenager’s Psychotic Break Mean for the World?
Scene from “Words on Bathroom Walls”
Not only was the novel (written by Julia Walton) adaptation “Words on Bathroom Walls” a wildly impressive storytelling of an all too real mental illness, schizophrenia, but it has shaken the world of mental health like a double-edged sword. Although categorized as a rom-com, the plotline focuses less on Adam Patrazelli’s developing romantic relationship and more on his inner turmoil of having to hide his schizophrenic symptoms from his environment, ultimately leaving his family with little idea on how to best support him.
The film is powerful in that it focuses on Patrazelli’s ongoing battle with his jumbled mind, his frustrations with his environment (e.g. having to try a variety of different medications with little to no success), his determination to conceal his schizophrenic symptoms, and his hesitancy to continue seeking out help in fear of burdening his loved ones and complicating his current living situation. Overall, the adaptation is successful in defining the gravity of schizophrenia without romanticizing it, which undoubtedly sheds light on a mental illness that continues to be misunderstood and negatively perceived.
The larger takeaway from this adaptation is that the themes of harboring resilience, seeking help, and trying various treatments are continuously internalized conflicts within individuals dealing with mental illness.This sounds cliche, but the journey towards mental wellness is a rollercoaster. This movie is a prime example that the process towards healing requires trial and error when it comes to trying different treatments, not every treatment will be compatible with you. For example, with medications, not every one of them is a fix-all miracle; you need therapeutic and/or other alternative support as an accompaniment to successful holistic treatment. The key, as Patrazelli has demonstrated throughout the storyline, is resilience. Specifically, having the resilience and courage to continue seeking help and support from loved ones and the larger community, despite how difficult the journey and the act of asking for help may be.