When Bill Mahoney left for the University of Florida, he never anticipated he’d have to come home after Spring Break for treatment for a psychotic break. It all started after he took an Eastern Philosophy class where he was introduced to the concept of enlightenment. He began smoking pot, meditating, and delving deep into his mind in search of something higher than himself. Bill started having amazing, positive experiences that led


Moving Beyond the Crisis


to Life-changing Mental Wellness Photos courtesy of Erik Kellar Photography


him to believe he could communicate with others using his mind and that he had achieved a form of enlightenment. He explained, “Emotions, thoughts, and pheromones intertwined into a sixth sense that only I could pick up on.” But soon the mental links began working as a two-way street allowing people to trespass in his mind telepathically. Bill said, “I believed that God, the devil, musicians, and authors were speaking directly to me. I thought teachers and students were laughing at me, that people were conspiring against me and trying to sexually molest me mentally.” He thought the whole world – “even


those closest to me” – were against him. He became paranoid and felt so terrified and alone that he was sure he was going to die. After finally confiding in his parents, Bill was brought


home to Naples and admitted to the Crisis Stabilization Unit at the David Lawrence Center, a not-for-profit, behavioral health agency that serves children and adults with behavioral, emotional, psychological, and substance abuse challenges. Bill adds, “The best thing David Lawrence Center did for me, during my three weeks on the Crisis Unit, was show me reality in such a calm, peaceful way that I didn’t have to be caught up in these thoughts.” Bill spent the next two years working with a psychiatrist


and therapist to identify and cope with these damaging thoughts so he could return to his studies. He shares, “The thoughts slowly became more subtle, confined, and appeared more abstract.” When Bill reflects on his journey to achieve life-changing


mental wellness, he knows how far he has come adding, “It’s been quite a ride, but many positive things have come out of this experience.” He has become stable and confident enough to return to college and is about to graduate with honors with an Economics degree. As Bill nears graduation, he sees a future that holds


endless opportunities, and he attributes his success to the unrelenting support of his friends and family and the tremendous help he received from the David Lawrence Center.


FOR MORE INFORMATION: David Lawrence Center 6075 Bathey Lane, Naples, FL 34116 239-455-8500, DavidLawrenceCenter.org


12 triumph | BTG


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