Life Under a Cloud

Diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, Joseph Bowers began his lifelong journey through treatments and drug therapies as beliefs within the psychiatric community and societal attitudes changed. This is his story and his beliefs about what needs to be done to improve the situation now facing those with severe mental illness and their families.

Beginning life with a normal and happy childhood, at age 17 Joe Bowers had his first psychotic episode resulting in hospitalization in the Middletown State Mental Institution. Diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic, he then began his lifelong journey through treatments and drug therapies as beliefs within the psychiatric community and societal attitudes changed. This is his story and his beliefs about what needs to be done to improve the situation now facing those with severe mental illness and their families.

Joseph Bowers was born and raised in Upstate New York. With an A. A. degree from Sullivan County Community College and a B. S. from the University of Arizona, he and his wife settled in Southwest Wyoming where they raised their three children. Now retired, Joe enjoys fishing, golfing, bike riding and traveling. He continues to look for ways to become involved as an advocate for the severely mentally ill and their families.