I Am Not A Monster: Schizophrenia | Cecilia McGough | TEDxPSU

Summary

Cecilia McGough, an astronomy and astrophysics major at Penn State and founder of the Pulsar Search Collaboratory, shares her personal battle with schizophrenia. She describes her hallucinations and the stigma surrounding mental illness, advocating for open conversations and support. McGough's journey includes her struggle for treatment and her mission to establish 'Students With Schizophrenia,' a nonprofit to empower and provide resources for college students with the condition, emphasizing that success is possible despite mental health challenges.

Takeaways

• 🌌 Cecilia McGough is an astronomy and astrophysics major at Penn State and the founder of the Penn State Pulsar Search Collaboratory.
• 🔭 In high school, Cecilia co-discovered a pulsar, a super-dense neutron star that emits electromagnetic radiation.
• 🏅 Her discovery led to opportunities such as representing the United States in the International Space Olympics and being a Virginia aerospace science and technology scholar.
• 🤯 Cecilia has been living with schizophrenia, a mental disorder characterized by a range of symptoms including delusions and hallucinations.
• 💭 Schizophrenia is an individual experience, and not all individuals with the condition exhibit the same symptoms.
• 🕊 Cecilia's life took a turn during her freshman year of college when she attempted suicide due to the severity of her hallucinations.
• 🤡 She experienced vivid hallucinations, including a clown similar to 'It' from Stephen King's adaptation and spiders that seemed real or imagined.
• 🗣️ Cecilia found it challenging to distinguish between hallucinations and reality, which affected her academic performance.
• 🚑 After her suicide attempt, it took eight months for Cecilia to receive the medical help she needed, highlighting the barriers to treatment for mental health issues.
• 📢 Cecilia became an advocate for mental health and openness about living with schizophrenia, founding the nonprofit 'Students With Schizophrenia'.
• 🌟 She emphasizes the importance of not letting anyone dissuade you from seeking medical help for mental health conditions.
• 🏆 Cecilia's story is a call to action to change the perception of schizophrenia and to support those living with the condition to lead successful lives.

Q & A

What is the Pulsar Search Collaboratory and what role did Cecilia McGough play in it?

The Pulsar Search Collaboratory is an organization focused on the discovery of pulsars. Cecilia McGough is the founder and president of this group, and she co-discovered a pulsar during her high school years.

What is a pulsar and how is it formed?

A pulsar is a super dense neutron star that emits dipole electromagnetic radiation. It is formed when a star much larger than our sun blows away its outer layers, leaving behind a dense core, which can become a pulsar.

How did Cecilia's discovery of a pulsar impact her life?

The discovery of a pulsar opened doors for Cecilia, such as representing the United States in the International Space Olympics in Russia and becoming a Virginia aerospace science and technology scholar.

What is schizophrenia and how is it diagnosed?

Schizophrenia is an umbrella-like diagnosis with various symptoms, including delusions and hallucinations as hallmark characteristics. However, not all individuals with schizophrenia exhibit these symptoms, and each person's experience with the condition is unique.

How did Cecilia's life change in February 2014?

In February 2014, during her freshman year of college, Cecilia attempted suicide, marking a significant change in her life as she began to experience severe hallucinations and the impact of her schizophrenia became more prevalent.

What kind of hallucinations did Cecilia experience?

Cecilia experienced hallucinations of a clown similar to the one in Stephen King's adaptation of 'It', spiders of various sizes, and a girl resembling a character from 'The Ring'. These hallucinations were disturbing and affected her daily life and academic performance.

How did Cecilia manage to cope with her hallucinations?

Cecilia learned to ignore or pretend she was not seeing what she was hallucinating. She also became adept at discerning when she was hallucinating and developed strategies to avoid triggers, such as the color red.

What was the turning point for Cecilia in seeking medical help for her condition?

The turning point for Cecilia was her suicide attempt and the subsequent realization that she needed treatment. It took her eight months after the attempt to get the help she needed.

Why did Cecilia decide to become a mental health advocate?

Cecilia decided to become a mental health advocate after experiencing the support she received when she opened up about her schizophrenia. She wanted to help others with the condition and change the face of schizophrenia.

What is the mission of the nonprofit organization 'Students With Schizophrenia' that Cecilia founded?

The mission of 'Students With Schizophrenia' is to empower college students with schizophrenia, providing them with the resources they need to stay in college and be successful.

What is the significance of the statistic that 1.1% of the world's population over the age of 18 has some form of schizophrenia?

The statistic highlights the prevalence of schizophrenia, affecting 51 million people worldwide and 2.4 million in the United States alone, emphasizing the need for awareness, support, and resources for those affected.

Why did Cecilia feel it was important to openly discuss her schizophrenia?

Cecilia felt it was important to openly discuss her schizophrenia to challenge the stigma, raise awareness, and show that it is possible to be successful despite having the condition.