I got to know both John Nash and Silvia Nasar, through working as the math consultant for the film "A Beautiful Mind". I had about a day's notice to meet with Ron Howard, Akiva Goldsman, and Todd Hallowell for my interview, and I somehow managed to read the book in that interval. This excerpt is wonderful and shorter.
Me too. One is surrounded by his immediate family (who are well-to-do), providing him a home, i.e. more than a place to live: unconditional love and support, safety, and heaps of patience in the face of frequent problematic behaviors and offensive outbursts. He is, in fact, a mathematical genius and was a semester short of a Ph.D. before his mental health utterly collapsed and the school had no choice but to send him packing. He seems to be dimly aware that he suffers from serious mental illness, but never sticks with treatment for any length of time. He's now alienated from most of his friends of several years ago, and sticks close to home. I have hope that one day he'll make a recovery and be able to pursue some of his brilliant insights into the physical sciences.
The other friend alternates between being a street person for long stretches and a recluse living in a townhouse that a distraught family member purchased for him years ago. He is now estranged from his family, without any support besides meager monetary assistance from the government. He ends up arrested and/or beaten by the police two+ times per year. His paranoia and erratic behavior are off the charts – I've become physically afraid of him on several occasions and departed his presence in haste. An uncle of his and I signed papers to have him committed at one point... but the docs only kept him for a couple of days, since he refused all treatment while staying fairly well behaved (after some wild episodes at the beginning of his confinement). I learned the latter details from his public defender... long story. Of course, after he was turned out on the street, he spiraled down even further and none of us (friend, family) saw him for a couple of years. This friend is not so intellectually gifted as the first, though he possesses a remarkable memory and attention to detail. Sadly, I have little hope that he'll ever make a recovery or be able to find a way to support himself. I'm worried he's going to end up dead in a ditch at some point, and it makes me sick to my stomach that "the system" can't do more for him.
Thanks for telling your stories. It's very clear that you care for them. It's personally comforting to know that there are those out there who don't simply dismiss these sorts of issues. Help as much as you can, and continue shareing your stories/struggles. Every ounce of awareness helps.
