Interview with Troy Lovett, March 12, 2021

Interview Summary

Troy Lovett identifies as someone with borderline schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). In this interview, Lovett talks about the connections his parents had with neighbors and a minister that likely led them to choose Highland Hospital as his next place for treatment. He discusses several significant moments in 1959 that led up to his hospitalization in 1960. Lovett discusses how he felt upon being released from Saint Joseph Hospital on December 15, 1960. He talks about the original purpose of shock treatments, and how the shock treatments affected him specifically. Lovett explains the thought process behind his compulsions, saying that every action caused an 'emotional flash' of a red light which meant he couldn't proceed, or a green light which meant he could. He explains how he would either have to earn the right to do something pleasurable or fun by paying for it with compulsions. Lovett talks about some of his compulsive actions related to religion, how he has learned to have more control over them, and how they have changed over time.

Lovett talks about the period between him being released from Saint Joseph Hospital in December 1960 until he was hospitalized again at Highland Hospital in March 1961. He talks more about how the shock treatments had affected him. He talks about trying to keep his mental health a secret. He talks about the stigma surrounding mental illness. He talks about being taken to Highland Hospital in Asheville, North Carolina on March 8, 1961. He talks about his first night alone at Highland Hospital. Lovett talks about the philosophy of Highland Hospital, that mental health is connected to physical activity. Lovett discusses the history of Highland Hospital, beginning with its founding by Dr. Robert Carroll in the early 1900s. He talks about the fire that occurred in 1948 that resulted in the death of nine patients, including Zelda Fitzgerald. Lovett describes the grounds of Highland Hospital. He talks about his relationships with the other patients at Highland. Lovett describes a typical day at Highland Hospital.

Interview Keyword

Asheville (NC.) Highland Hospital Shock treatments Dr. Robert S. Carroll Zelda Fitzgerald Fires Williamsburg (Ky.) Obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) Group therapy Volleyball Religion Borderline schizophrenia Thought processes Compulsive behaviors Compulsions Dr. Norman Polansky Saint Joseph Hospital Rituals Dr. Charman Carroll Landon Ray John Nash

Interview LC Subject

Highland Hospital (Asheville, N.C.) Child mental health. Childhood Compulsive behavior. Families. Mental health. Mental illness. Psychiatry. Psychology, Pathological. Psychology. Repetition compulsion. Psychiatric hospitals Physicians Psychiatrists Psychologists. Shock therapy

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Interview Usage

Interviews may only be reproduced with permission from Louie B. Nunn Center for Oral History, University of Kentucky Libraries.