MovieChat Forums > You're Gonna Miss Me (2005) Discussion > How Long Will It Last?

How Long Will It Last?

posted 16 years ago by shiftlive
3 replies | jump to latest

Roky is doing so well right now. He is touring/playing live all of the time and considering recording a new album. With the help of his brother and medication he was able to get back on track. Here is my concern, his brother Sumner has now adopted his mother's attitude towards medication. He has ebcouraged Roky to stop taking his meds. While he is doing well now, I can't help but wonder how long that will last. Every person I have know who has dealt with schizophernia that was to point of their needing to be medicate has seen the abandoning of that medication lead to their personal downfall. The patient, and many times their family, will think, hey I'm doing great I don't need medication. It's just blocking who I am, I don't need to depend on drugs. Those involved forget that, yes the person is doing well and they were not doing well before, without the medication. I just fear that his brother's new "Menatsl Illness does not exist" stance may end up hindering further recovery in the long run for Roky. Granted, Roky is now in controll of his own life, Sumner is no longer his legal guardian. I just hope that the people who care about Roky are keeping a close eye on him and his well being and will encourage him to get back on medication if he needs it. I can't help but feel that Sumner must have his own mental health issues which he is dealing with, perhaps they run in the family, and that by denying the existance of mental illness he is able to turn a blind eye to his own problems.
I'm just curious as to what other folks think. Do you feel that it's better that Roky comes off of his medication? What do you think the long ter effects of being unmedicated will be?

[–] dragster-2 16 years ago

I am no expert on this matter and I have dug very little into Roky's private life. I have always loved his music and the 13th Floor Elevators of course. This is a tuff matter for anyone to judge or comment on. I think ONLY Roky knows what's going on in his mind....in positive and negative!
LONG LIVE PSYCHEDELIC MUSIC!

"I have seen and heard things in my life that are best left UNTOLD!"

[–] Saturday8pm 16 years ago

I'm editing my original post in case anybody read it ... HAH! I just finished the film and the extras, so I'm better prepared to comment, as my post had several glaring errors.

First off, it's impossible to tell why Roky is moving his face so much at the 2nd hearing. At the fadeout, it's possible it's one of the many side effects of neuroleptics, such as tardive dyskinesia, an involuntary muscle spasm. That scene gave me an uncomfortable feeling, though. It wasn't just Roky's facial tiks, did you notice the length of his fingernails? Not good! Hygiene is a ruler by which we measure someone's overall health. I also get the feeling that the person holding the camera ( under Sumner's supervision ) is skeptical too. Sumner gave his brother a great gift, nothing against Evelyn, hey, she's never stopped caring. It's too easy for a family destroyed by substance abuse to reel against using more substances to regain control. But, medication does and can work. Some people can come off meds successfully, but this is rare, and they still require close supervision.

The biggest problem I have, though, is the psychologist, who haughtily scoffs at the existence of schizophrenia. There have been too many "doctors" who align themselves with famous patients to make a name for themselves. The most infamous in my mind is Eugene Landy, who got so close to Beach Boy Brian Wilson, that he actually got writing credit to some of Brian's tunes! Another snake was the guy prescribing all that dope to Judy Garland.

Now look, we don't know all there is to know about the human mind. But to suggest that schizophrenia doesn't exist is crossing a dangerous line. After all, that psychologist isn't the sick one, and as far as we know, he's not putting his own health in someone else's hands.

[–] Otto_Partz_973 16 years ago

Extremely well written and interesting post, Mr. 8pm. Thanks.

I too was astounded at the psychologist's dismissal of any and all mental ailments and the benefits of medication, and of Sumner's total embrace of that viewpoint.

I'm wondering if Scientology has reared its' ugly head. The diatribe against psychiatry was disturbingly reminiscent of the Scientology point of view. For Roky's sake, I hope his brother isn't taking him down that dark path. They can't afford it, financially or emotionally.

I hope that Roky is doing well. An amazing voice, a gentle soul.

'I don't want no commies in my car. No Christians either'. - Bud, Repo Man (1984)