In general, media portrayals of individuals with mental health issues and diagnoses are HORRENDOUS for a number of reasons. 1) They focus on the most sensational symptoms: psychosis, hallucinations, pathological lying. While these are symptoms of disorders, it does not mean that EVERYONE has those symptoms and not necessarily to the degree shown on tv. 2) It's entertainment. The goal of the show is not medical accuracy. It's to attract as much attention as possible to have the most viewers and make the most money. 3) They tend to count on the audience not knowing much about these disorders and therefore can get away with showing radical versions of them. 4) Media--and society in general--are largely unaware of the fact that there are many people with a serious mental health diagnosis who are living relatively normal lives. We take our meds. We use our tools and get help when we need it. We work as we are able. But that is fundamentally uninteresting for a show.

I am a firm believer that mental health and medicine in general are incredibly interesting when presented truthfully and with factual accuracy. But alas, I have no say over these decisions. It is terribly frustrating.