There’s a schizophrenic guy in my group who once went into a women’s room at a department store and took off all his clothes. He had been following a woman and he had the delusion that this woman was madly in love with him and would make mad passionate love with him on the floor.
Most mentally ill people I talk to have an issue with love. It is hard to feel loved when we feel so horrible about ourselves. The symbol of love for most men, I believe, is sex. So when you take off your clothes, you are opening yourself up to be ready for the love you crave and maybe even, at that manic moment, deserve.
It is difficult to express the depth of this need. It can feel like the only thing that can save your life. I had the sound off when watching that clip, so I don’t know the sound goes along with what I saw in his body language.
He was walking in a very agitated way, like he was looking for something or expecting something. I don’t know what he thought he was looking for, but I’ll bet what he really wanted was to be loved.
If he is the Kony 2012 guy, then that would fit, too. People seek attention mostly because they never feel like they are good enough. Then need the attention and the status in order to prove to themselves they are lovable and loved. It is a never-ending battle.