Interview with Troy Lovett, March 25, 2022

Interview Summary

This interview with Lovett focuses on his time at Lee Edwards High School in Asheville. While continuing to undergo psychotherapy at Highlands Hospital with Dr. Polansky, Lovett began his sophomore year in high school. Lovett describes his struggles with expressing his emotions and compulsive behavior. Lovett also mentions that his grandmother had told him about some of his relatives' struggles with alcoholism. Lovett believes that he has an addictive personality in part because of a genetic predisposition to addiction. Lovett describes what it was like to start a new school in an unfamiliar environment while trying to cope with his mental illness. Lovett struggled with perfectionism and put pressure on himself to get good grades. Through a combination of school and psychotherapy, Lovett began to cope better with his mental illness. Lovett discusses how he was supported by family and friends back in his hometown of Williamsburg, Kentucky. Lovett talks of preparing to leave Highland Hospital after fifteen months. Lovett concludes the interview with a reflection on his interest in Billy Graham and his love of baseball.

Interview Keyword

Dr. Norman Polansky Addiction Lee Edwards High School (Asheville, N.C.) Family Depression Routines Schedules Extracurricular activities Support Billy Graham Sports Baseball Alcoholism Grandmothers Fathers Mothers

Interview LC Subject

Mental illness Mental health Mental illness--Treatment Highland Hospital (Asheville, N.C.) Asheville (N.C.) Schizophrenia Schizoaffective disorders Education High schools Williamsburg (Ky.) Teenagers Adolescence Patients Psychotherapy Coping Compulsive behavior Hallucinations Auditory hallucinations Emotions Recreation Friendships Interpersonal relations

Interview Rights

All rights to the interviews, including but not restricted to legal title, copyrights and literary property rights, have been transferred to the University of Kentucky Libraries.

Interview Usage

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