Rich E. Schneeberg was a happy guy strolling the vibrant streets of Brooklyn. You’d never know this the day we see him wandering aimlessly down busy railroad tracks, in a manic suicidal episode later in his life.

We get to know him as an ambitious boy with dreams of success. While working as a teacher, he begins to study real estate, seeing that as his key to achieving the American Dream. The driving force behind his desire is the wonderful family life his father and mother provided for him and his desire to do the same for his future family. All of this is endangered and altered when he is prescribed antidepressants and experiences their unexpected side effects.

Through flashbacks we see him moonlighting as a real estate agent and teaching during the day, where he begins to experience burnout in the classroom. While seeing good results from his efforts in real estate. He decides to take a leave of absence from his teaching job to care for his infant child, taking on the role of “Stay-at-Home Dad.” His life takes a turn when he develops insomnia, begins to  experience depression, and an addiction to daytime TV and he feels as if he has hit rock bottom. 

Desperately seeking help, he checks himself into a hospital and the doctor prescribes sleeping pills and anti-depression medication. He slowly discovers his antidepressant medication’s side effects. Hallucinations, manic episodes, and suicidal tendencies take him away from his family to 10 stays in psychiatric institutions in 3 years, negatively impacting important parts of his family life and social interactions.

We see him struggle with the consequences of shock therapy, how his sexual drive and ambition take a hit, affecting him physically and mentally. We witness him slowly adapting to his new lifestyle by making changes to his routine, environment, and life, all resulting from his journey from the nuthouse to the penthouse.

With sheer determination and a shrewd investment plan, we see him rise from the ashes of his mental distress. His wise investment ventures lead him to become a successful real estate investor, and he portrays his story to the masses through TV, in an ironic climax, as he begins to recover, we see him interact with his loved ones, expecting his life to begin anew, but instead they walk away from him. He uses his status as a multimillionaire to become vocal about his mental health advocacy, appearing on TV and testifying in FDA hearings about the dangers of antidepressants.

It is a story of triumph of the human spirit, where you realize that although there are hardships, through sheer will, hard work, and determination, you can get through anything. Through simple “conversation therapy” and no medication, Schneeberg finds a happy ending for himself, inspiring generations to come.