Statement reveals that Schultz will continue to receive treatment
As we reported yesterday, Todd Michael Schultz, partner of writer/director Bret Easton Ellis, was arrested on trespassing charges following a disturbing incident in West Hollywood last week. Mr. Ellis posted a statement on his website addressing the situation, what happened next, and what will happen in the future.
We detail the challenges of dealing with a partner who appears functional and comfortable, even when more serious psychological and addiction issues are present.
“What happened to my partner last week here in West Hollywood affected many people and I would like to offer some explanation and perspective,” the statement said.
For a long time, I was simply blind and couldn’t understand the severity of Todd’s situation or his actual illness. Mental health issues and drug addiction seem to affect every family I know, including my own. I lost my youngest sister to both of these complications last August (she passed away at age 53). Her father died in 1992 at the age of 50 after a battle with alcoholism. My partner of 14 years has been experiencing worsening symptoms over the past 10 years. Last week, a full-blown drug-induced psychosis culminated. He was arrested and days later he is still locked up in a psychiatric ward, with no idea where he is or why he is there.
There is a fine line between loving someone and enabling them. You don’t fully realize it until it hits you in the face. The tough love approach that I fear as the partner of an out-of-control addict first happened to us in 2021, when I kicked Todd out of our shared condo and required him to spend three and a half months in a recovery facility. was. He did so reluctantly, but was forced into it by me as he had no other financial options. But recovering addicts said they had to make the decision to seek help and that being forced by others doesn’t work. Maybe a little, but not completely.
I’ve always thought of Todd as an insane, insane, but functioning person. Due to our age difference, we lived semi-separate lives even though we lived together. He had his life, I had mine, and we had long conversations about books, watching movies, and eating out. Often I didn’t realize there was another Todd. People talk to me about his social media rants with concern, and I’m like, “Oh, it’s just Todd,” or “It’s just performance art,” and how unstable he is. I ignored it because I didn’t know what would happen.
Your feelings towards someone who is clearly suffering will prevent them from getting the help they need. If you are a couple, by not facing the reality of the situation and asking them for help, you are also creating problems for yourself. . With Todd, there were some weeks where he seemed to have mania and other weeks where he didn’t. He spent his days sitting quietly at his desk, reading Thomas Mann, drinking tea, and watching movies with me. There he seemed not only sane and completely normal, but also fun and charming. That was Todd, with whom I sometimes lived. I realized, too late, that I wasn’t like that anymore.
The first half of 2022 was fine after he got out of rehab. he had a job. He was taking his medication, seeing a therapist, and was calm. But then “something” started creeping in again, and in 2023 it was building until it was impossible to turn on anymore like in the summer of 2021, leading to his meltdown and arrest. Ta. The manic episodes caused by both mental health issues and drugs finally exploded in our faces. Yes, I’ve been hearing from people for years that Todd is a problem. But I also had problems because I was so absorbed in my own world that I didn’t change direction and take action.
He has a support team and will be automatically placed in a long-term dual psychiatric rehabilitation facility upon discharge from the psychiatric ward. When you live with an addict with mental health issues, it becomes a complicated dance. And what you love about it and what you care about is that they try to convince you that everything is okay, but you are also blind because you believe it and want to avoid the pain and pain. . The stress and heartbreak that comes with finally understanding the situation, its awful obviousness that you don’t want to face.
Some of you have reached out to me to tell me how much you love and care for Todd. Todd is loving, funny, intelligent, and has so much potential and talent, but that’s the Todd I primarily knew, not “Todd.” Crazy, “vindictive” and “insane” Todd used to lash out at everyone in his videos and livestreams, which I never saw and still don’t watch. I don’t think it’s too late for him and he wants to get to know Todd again, whom he first met in 2010. ”
