Where do you turn to when you’re delving into the depths of depression or mental illness? Exactly, where can you go? Sadia Gordon’s play I Am Having Distressing Thoughts shares her story of a quest to find help in her darkest hours to feel well again.
The play highlights the frustrations of fighting through receptionists to access a medical professional. When you mind is a whirlwind of dark thoughts and emotions the last thing someone feels like facing is paperwork.
Gordon’s experiences with the range of counsellors and medical professionals varied immensely from those who understood her “needs” and support to those who simply read from a text, often in the form of Pam (the pamphlet).
The message behind the performance is relevant and important. However, there’s a certain amount of repetition at times which would benefit from being removed to allow for a slicker performance.
Sadly this experience will be echoed time and time again. Many people are being failed by a broken system. This is simply the reality, not a political “dig”. Society appears to be in a crisis and more work and support desperately needs to be provided.
For more information please use the links below.
Three Stars.
https://tickets.edfringe.com/whats-on/i-m-having-distressing-thoughts
https://www.planmyfringe.co.uk/ShowView?id=6320
Theatre, Art and Film Reviews 
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