How do you act as a mentally ill person?

Question

I have to act like a mentally ill person, and well, I have the voice down pretty well. The only problem is that I want to 'become' the character, you know? Well, I don't know if I should twitch (if so, how much), if I should either get EXTREMELY angry or EXTREMELY depressed, no inbetween, etc.

If there is any website or anything that could possibly help me? I would highly appreciate it.

Answer 1

why do you have to act like a mentally ill person? your not pulling an insurance fraud thing? and what voice do you have down, exactly? dont twitch, that makes you look like your on drugs.. you can always tell the 'little green men' in th ecorner to be quiet, rock back and forth a bit, dont overdo it.are you supposed to be angry or depressed? angry will have overexajerated moves, like having hand on chin, then real fast moving over to hand on other chin while breathing/long breaths loudly.look pissed...or crazy can be your jesus christ and youve come to heal people....belive your him...rent the movie 'one flew over the cocoos nest' with jack nicholson, or the 'shining' with jack... he plays that perfect

Answer 2

Is this 4 a play??wella nyways yeah act extreamly drpressed and extreamly angry and twitch a lil not a lot when you get angry and cry when u act depressed but just switch between the emotions like alll of a sudden you are extram happy and humming and stuff with ear to ear smile then if someone askes how you are flip out on them then just start crying and be like im so sry and stuff and say some weird stuff and be all happy saying it

Answer 3

You might want to rent "One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest". I from my understanding would say, any behavior which is so far from excepted norm that it's is labeled by other as "crazy".You then decide which type of behavior you want to display. You might want to go on line and check DSM, it will give you the diagnostic info. for all excepted mental disorders. Their are many who believe the behavior displayed, is an attempt to keep others away. Anxiety on the other hand is a different story. Caused by an unresolved conflict between id, ego, superego. Much to involved to go into here. However it might help your acting to say, it causes tic's twitches an other behaviors. I hope this attempt to condense a extremely involved science to a few words will help you in your acting.

Answer 4

There are so many varieties of mental illness - I suppose the place to start is - what's your diagnosis?

A very simple place to start is (oddly enough)
http://www.wrongdiagnosis.com/m/mental_illness/subtypes.htm

Pick a disorder - click on it, then select the symptoms link and go from there.

For an extensive listing, check your library for the DSM 4 - this is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual for Psychological reference.

Good luck! Peace. --De

Answer 5

Tune in to The View and study Rosie O'Donnell very carefully.

Answer 6

why do you need to act like and mentally retarded person!?!?!?!?!?!?!..........
oh well you have your reasons my brother is mentally retarded so i kno let yourself get emotionall reaaly easily like if something would minorly anger or depress you get really angry or really depressed.. also dont twitch unless who you need to act mentally retarded think you have minor saizure or spazz attacks.

Answer 7

Pick up the movie ' 12 Monkeys' . . .
Pitt's portrayal nails it . . study that .

Answer 8

sounds like you already have it down pretty good

Answer 9

I dont think you have to act to hard , you seem to be doing one hell of a job all by yourself!!