United Press International Features Michelle Hammer
Michelle Hammer, 36, of Astoria, N.Y., said she finds it therapeutic to post on Instagram, Tik Tok and YouTube when she’s experiencing auditory hallucinations due to schizophrenia, diagnosed at age 22. They have plagued her since high school, when an internal voice told her she was dumb.
“It was telling me I was a bad person,” said Hammer, who owns a mental health clothing and lifestyle brand called Schizophrenic.NYC and is a member of Fountain House, a New York City-based national mental health nonprofit.
For a few years, the mental health advocate has shared videos, sitting on her living room couch and talking to herself. The posts caused a stir on social media, Hammer said, explaining, “I get all kinds of responses — everything you could possibly imagine.”
While some people thanked Hammer for being open about her illness, others suggested that she seek God’s help in delivering her from bondage.
“People, for some reason, think schizophrenia is extremely dangerous. What I try to do is change that perception,” she said, adding, “I’m not hurting anyone at all. It’s not what you think. There’s no violence involved.”
