On July 13, 2015 Washington Post writer, Terrence McCoy, wrote the first of two stories about Alfred Postell. Postell was a Harvard Law student that would eventually become schizophrenic and ultimately homeless.
“That few remember what happened to Postell perhaps betrays the illness that seized him. Schizophrenia creeps. Some people, especially those as accomplished as Postell, can hide their symptoms for months. As the victim withdraws from social and work life, plunging into isolation, relatives, friends and co-workers may not notice anything amiss.
Then there’s a snap. Psychologists refer to this moment as a “psychotic break” or a “first break.” It’s when a victim’s slackening grip on reality finally ruptures, cleaving their lives into two clear categories: before and after.”
Read the whole story here.
