Margot Kidder performed for the world as Lois Lane in the 1978 "Superman" film. However, in her own mind she performed a more difficult and complicated role. Even as a young woman Margot felt different. Her mental world was full of flights of fancy and different personalities. In her early 20’s, Margot began to see a psychiatrist who prescribed drugs, including Valium for what he diagnosed as manic depression.

Over the years, Margot received many other diagnostic "labels." But none of these labels explained what was happening inside. She says, "they’re all bogus labels . . . none of it changed the fact that half the mornings I would wake up not knowing who I was going to turn out to be that day." Margot’s most difficult time occurred over three days in April 1996. She spent three days on the run in the streets of Los Angeles, convinced that her life was in danger. Her delusion seemed completely real to her. She says, "a delusion is fascinating."

Margot’s delusions may have been fascinating and terrifying, but they brought her condition out into the open. She remembers, "there was a great sense of relief. It wasn’t in the closet anymore and I could talk about it." Margot’s confidence inspired her to visit Dr. Abram Hoffer, founder of an alternative therapy called orthomolecular medicine. According to orthomolecular medicine, many symptoms of mental illness come from chemical imbalances in the body. For example, schizophrenia or manic depression may be caused by deficiencies in various vitamins.

Dr. Hoffer used diet modifications and large doses of vitamins and minerals to treat Margot’s symptoms. She discovered that she was allergic to wheat, eggs, and dairy. She eliminated these foods from her diet and took supplements to keep her system in balance. She says, "the key to all of it is balance, getting the whole system balanced again." Today Margot continues her acting career in Canada and the United States, and she has become a spokesperson for the Canadian Mental Health Association. She says, "I didn’t ask be in this position of being a poster child for mental health. It feels really good to be able to let other people get out of the closet."

"Half the mornings I would wake up not knowing who I was going to turn out to be that day."

"There was a great sense of relief . . . it wasn’t in the closet anymore and I could talk about it."