On Air with Douglas

On Air with Douglas


Author, Andy Behrman: Electroboy (Bipolar & Mental Illness)

October 05, 2014

For years Andy hid his raging mania under a larger-than-life personality. He sought a high wherever he could find one, and changed jobs as some people change outfits -- filmmaker, art dealer, hustler; whatever made him feel like a cartoon character, invincible and bright. Electroboy is about living life at breakneck speed. Andy hopped on flights from New York to Tokyo and Paris at a moment's notice, spent $25,000 without a bit of thought on a huge shopping spree and stayed awake nights exploring the underworld of nightlife in Manhattan or whatever city he happened to be visiting, in search of the perfect high. But when Andy turned to art forgery, he found himself the subject of a scandal lapped up by the New York media, then in jail, then under house arrest. And for once he didn't have a ready escape hatch from his unraveling life.  Andy was misdiagnosed by more than eight doctors and even when he was finally diagnosed with this chronic illness, he was treated unsuccessfully with any regimen of medication. Ingesting handfuls of antidepressants and tranquilizers, he felt his mind lose traction. With no hope of his condition stabilizing, he turned to the last resort: electroshock therapy also known as electroconvulsive therapy (or ECT). Andy underwent nineteen electroshock treatments over the course of about a year and a half.  Electroboy is currently being made into a major motion picture. Not only is Andy working on a sequel to Electroboy, but he is also writing a self-help book for sufferers of depression and bipolar disorder. Please visit his official website for full bio and more information: http://www.electroboy.com

Andy joins us to discuss his book, his future projects, his own story and take callers who live with bipolar and depression.  Feel free to call in even if it's anonymous.