Inspiring Movies
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Therapy is amazing and life-changing. Being educated about emotional and mental well-beingĀ is without a doubt very beneficial to preventing crisis. However, sometimes we just want to crashĀ on our sofa and dive into reading a good book or binge-watch Netflix. Being able to mix bothĀ these things is not only possible, but has proven to be beneficial.
Several therapists were asked about movies they recommended or would recommend to theirĀ patients. You would be surprised to know that many movies Netflix or Disney+ puts in yourĀ recommendation lists are in fact inspirational movies that have a good chance to enhance yourĀ mental well-being.
Matthew Welsh, MS & Ph.D., says this is one of his favourite mental health movies. StarringĀ Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx, it documents the friendship between a Los AngelesĀ journalist who befriends a schizophrenic, homeless, Julliard-trained musician.Ā Throughout the film, Downey struggles between being a good friend and trying to āfixā Foxx,Ā ultimately delivering a powerful theme. āSteve is conflicted throughout the movie aboutĀ whether or not he should try to treat or āfixā Nathanielās schizophrenic condition; or if he shouldĀ accept Nathaniel for who he is and just try to be his friend,ā Welsh says. āThe resolution of theĀ movie, without spoiling the plot, helped me realize that true friendship means to love andĀ accept others for who they are and also for who they are not even if they have a mental illnessĀ that is inhibiting their life. This perspective can open our hearts to allow ourselves the freedomĀ to be who we are and who we are not.”
Laurie Hollman, Ph.D., also recommended this critically-acclaimed classic starring RobinĀ Williams and Matt Damon. Damon plays a young man who works as a custodian at HarvardĀ after being violently abused by his father growing up. āHe secretly solves an equation on aĀ blackboard in the hall, is eventually discovered by a professor who gets him away from beingĀ imprisoned for a fight, and then meets Robin Williams, his dear therapist who helps him findĀ love and meaning in his life.āĀ
This 1999 drama starring Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie is based on Susanna KaysenāsĀ memoir of the same name. It follows a young woman who spends a year and a half at aĀ psychiatric hospital after a suicide attempt in the 1960s. Jolie won an Academy Award for BestĀ Supporting Actress for this film, but Iris Waichler, MSW, LCSW preferred Ryderās portrayal of aĀ woman with a borderline personality disorder.
Finally, āThe Anonymous People is a documentary that describes the state of the addiction recovery community as it attempts to adapt and evolve traditional 12 step ideology into aĀ modern world.Ā It highlights several personal recovery stories while taking a new look at howĀ the growing number of recovering people in our world can support each other,ā MichaelĀ Damioli, LCSW, says.
Hopefully, you did not watch all these movies, or maybe I inspired you to rewatch one of them.Ā If by watching one of these movies, you feel anxious about your mental health, we recommendĀ that you turn to the right resources and seek the appropriate help. Certified Listeners Society isĀ always ready to listen to your concerns. Do not hesitate to reach
-By Kenza El Machkour