It’s All in Your Head is a powerful and deeply human documentary that sheds light on Porphyria, a rare, often misunderstood genetic disease that has silently affected families for generations.

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The documentary was born through the personal journey of Michael Pera, a Porphyria survivor whose diagnosis became the key to unlocking a painful family history. As Michael sought answers to his own condition, he discovered that Porphyria was hereditary and that both his mother and grandmother had suffered for years without ever knowing the cause. Misdiagnosed, dismissed, and misunderstood, they endured their illness at a time when awareness and medical knowledge of Porphyria were limited or nonexistent.

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This revelation inspired the novel It’s All in Your Head, written by Hugo Stefano and Michael Pera, which tells the story of Michael Pera’s family across generations. The book captures not only the physical toll of the disease, but also the emotional and psychological burden of being told that the pain was imagined when it was anything but.

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When MYTH Entertainment decided to bring this story to the screen, the goal was clear: this documentary would not focus on a single voice or a single experience. Porphyria is not isolated, and neither are those who live with it.

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In collaboration with Ms. Desiree Lyon, Founder of the American Porphyria Foundation, MYTH Entertainment uncovered the true scope of the disease revealing that thousands of individuals around the world are living with Porphyria. Many continue to face delayed diagnoses, complex symptoms, and profound challenges navigating the medical system.

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As a result, It’s All in Your Head features a diverse group of participants from multiple states across the United States, including:

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• Patients living with severe and rare forms of Porphyria

• Individuals whose lives were permanently altered before receiving a diagnosis

• Medical specialists dedicated to understanding and treating this complex disease

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Through these voices, the documentary exposes the realities of Porphyria while honoring the resilience of those who live with it every day. It is a story of suffering, survival, and, ultimately, awareness.

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It’s All in Your Head is more than a documentary. It is a call to listen to patients, to families, and to stories that for too long have been ignored.            

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