When Domas experienced his first psychotic episode, he did not yet understand what was happening. Faces of passers-by in the street began to change shape, the spotlight of a film camera made him squint, and it seemed as if someone was following him. After a consultation with a psychologist, it became clear that this was psychosis and that it needed treatment. This meant moving to the Vilnius Mental Health Centre, taking high doses of medication, attending therapy sessions, and trying to come to terms with a new, unfamiliar reality.

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“Everything really seems as if seen from a bird’s-eye view. Before I started creating this story, I hoped I was already well. It turned out that this was only the beginning of learning to live with psychosis. What does it mean to experience psychosis? I kept asking myself whether I had recovered. And is it even possible to recover from mental illness?” Domas reflects. In this story, he tries to understand what happened to him — and, at the same time, to help those closest to him understand it too.​

 

Content warning: the piece may not be suitable for sensitive listeners.

 

This piece was created as part of the “LRT Radio Academy 2025” training and mentoring program.

If you’d like to learn how to tell stories through sound, sign up for “LRT Radio Academy 2026.” For more information, visit radijoakademija.lrt.lt