10 Ways American Horror Story Cult Explores Mental Illness In America Through Ally

When Ally witnesses the clowns in the supermarket, her experiences are questioned due to surveillance footage. Oz demonstrates that he's more fond of Ivy when he wants her to stay after a night terror rather than Ally. Winter leaves Ally and Oz behind during the blackout even though Winter knew that Ally was depending on her. When Winter’s attempted seduction and sexual assault of Ally is revealed to Ivy, she doesn’t listen to Ally’s side of the story. Instead, she slaps her and attempts to take Oz away, telling her she has Winter and her clowns.

All of these events push Ally into isolation, and it happens because people she considers important don't understand her behavior (Ivy and Oz in particular). Her mental state worsens because isolation is the nemesis of successful mental health treatment.

Many guidelines for mental health treatment, such as the treatment of schizophrenia, recommend socializing, such as assisted employment, community treatment and involvement, and family intervention. The prevailing stigma towards mental illness in the mainstream media interferes with socialization, especially in light of the recent shootings involving the mentally ill.

For example, Jared Loughner, the man who shot former representative Gabrielle Giffords, was described as deranged and demented by newspapers five years after the event, but it was well known by this time that he suffered from an untreated mental illness. Negative media portrayals can make someone with a controlled mental illness feel isolated. If they disclose their illness they might be treated as a danger for no reason. They'll feel different, and might end up harming themselves psychologically if they withdraw from social interaction.