Game of Thrones star says psychotic breakdown after joining wellness cult: I made terrible choices

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• How an “energy healer” led Murray into a fringe wellness scene
• The moment things broke: psychosis and a hospital stay
  • Signs and triggers she describes
• Money, promise and the seduction of “specialness”
• Why she stepped back from the wellness world
• Her career, recovery and the new memoir
• Quick timeline and essential facts
• Voices and warnings from Murray’s story

Hannah Murray says a search for spiritual answers led her into a fringe wellness circle that unraveled her life. The actor describes a sudden descent into a psychotic episode, a psychiatric admission and a later bipolar diagnosis. Her new book traces the path from curiosity to crisis.

How an “energy healer” led Murray into a fringe wellness scene

Murray says the entry point was unassuming. She met an energy practitioner through a personal trainer while working on a film set. Small, seemingly benign encounters grew into deeper involvement.

• Introduced during the production of Detroit.
• Workshops and sessions promised insight and transformation.
• Group dynamics were predominantly female until a magnetic male leader appeared.

The actor recalls the atmosphere as charged and strangely intimate. She describes an interaction that felt eroticized, even when nothing overt happened.

The moment things broke: psychosis and a hospital stay

What began as spiritual exploration, she says, ended in a mental health crisis. Murray reports experiencing a psychotic episode that required admission to a psychiatric unit.

She was later diagnosed with bipolar disorder. The experience reshaped her view of wellness culture and personal vulnerability.

Signs and triggers she describes

• Intense emotional and energetic pressure in group settings.
• Power dynamics that shifted when the leader entered the room.
• Promises of special knowledge that encouraged escalating investment.

Money, promise and the seduction of “specialness”

Murray says she spent thousands chasing a sense of wisdom and uniqueness. The cost was more than financial.

She warns against assuming that only certain people are susceptible. Education or background offers no guaranteed protection, she says.

The lure of a quick fix or a “magic” solution can feel addictive, she adds, especially for those seeking a total repair of life or identity.

Why she stepped back from the wellness world

After the breakdown, Murray adopted strict boundaries around wellness practices. She avoids many common offerings she once accepted without question.

• No meditation.
• No crystal shops.
• No yoga classes.

Even gentle suggestions from others now feel risky. She notes how casually wellness advice is offered in everyday conversation.

Her career, recovery and the new memoir

Murray, known for roles on Skins and Game of Thrones, has stepped away from acting. She now focuses on recovery and processing what happened.

The Make-Believe: A Memoir of Magic and Madness collects her account and reflections. The book is due for release on June 23.

Quick timeline and essential facts

1. 2017: She became involved with the wellness group.
2. Shortly after: Experiences in the group intensified.
3. Subsequent psychotic episode led to hospitalization.
4. Medical follow-up resulted in a bipolar disorder diagnosis.
5. She retired from acting and wrote her memoir.

Voices and warnings from Murray’s story

Her account reads as both a personal confession and a cautionary tale. She urges compassion for those who find themselves entangled in charismatic spiritual movements.

Understanding is more useful than judgment, she emphasizes, because anyone can be drawn in under certain circumstances.