Shamed to Madness – A Journey to Hell and Back

About Shamed to Madness – A Journey to Hell and Back

Embark on a transformative journey with Andrew Johns as he navigates the complexities of identity. faith and managing a Bipolar Affective Disorder diagnosis in his gripping autobiography.

Pledging himself to his faith at a tender age, Andrew’s world was turned up-side down when a weekend camping trip was more ‘camp’ than expected.

Growing up in a strict fundamentalist Christian family, Johns felt shamed and persecuted by his missionary parents, the church and peers simply for being who he was – Gay!

Tormented by conflicting desires and the weight of societal expectations, he felt alien to the world around him and grappled with his sexual orientation while attempting to reconcile it with his Christian beliefs.

Mental, emotional and lifestyle instability, the result of oscillating between church and gay lifestyles caused several Bipolar Affective Disorder episodes with symptoms of mania, debilitating anxiety and depression at times leading into developing more serious symptoms of hypomania and psychosis. These more serious symptoms led to him being detained in a psychiatric ward several times between the ages of 22 and 49.

Now, at 62, he has found peace in embracing his authentic self, transcending the conflicts of his youth and struggles of adulthood to embrace self-acceptance, contentment and inner peace.

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Author Bio:
Andrew Johns is a 62-year-old gay male. Being raised by fundamentalist Christian parents, Andrew faced significant inner conflict due to his growing attraction to other men, which his church and parents believed was an abomination to God. Growing up in a Christian environment Johns was shamed and persecuted by his parents and church (as well as his peers) simply for being who he was, Gay.

Oscillating between church and gay environments, the resultant mental and emotional instability almost pushed Johns to ‘madness’, starting with his first psychotic breakdown in 1985 requiring him to be detained in a psychiatric hospital.

In his first piece of writing Andrew takes us on an honest and self-revealing journey, exhibiting a keen insight into who he has become and how his life experiences have impacted his sense of self.

Historically Andrew has enjoyed having people over for dinner and playing the card games 500 and canasta. Now retired, Andrew’s interests include spending time with extended family, including two generations of nephews and nieces and going to gym to maintain good health and flexibility and strength as he becomes older.