What comes to mind when someone mentions schizophrenia? Unfortunately, many people have little or no idea what it’s like to live with schizophrenia. Their preconceptions about this illness are formed by films and the media, frequently inaccurate and sensationalized.
Four SANE Peer Ambassadors shared what they believe people consistently get wrong and what they wish they knew about schizophrenia.
I do not possess a ‘dual personality.’
When I disclosed that I had schizophrenia to someone, they inquired, ‘Who are you when you are not Sandy?’ I needed to explain that I suffer from schizophrenia but only have a single personality.
When people found out I had schizophrenia, it felt like ‘untrustworthy’ was etched on my foreheads. I am a dependable and dependable friend. Individuals can lead meaningful and productive lives when provided with the appropriate supports and treatments.
When experiencing an episode, you should not assume that we are incapable of absorbing what is going on around us, that we cannot hear what people are saying or understand how they treat us. We have developed a hypersensitivity to the world.
And what I wish they were aware of….
If people understood how difficult it is for me to maintain my sanity, they might be less judgmental.
I’ve had to reorganize my life to accommodate my schizophrenia. While schizophrenia is a debilitating mental illness, it is not always the death sentence that was once believed. My voices and delusions are not made up. They are genuine. It is not simply a matter of ‘having it all in my head’ or ‘pulling my socks up.’ What I am experiencing is real and has ramifications.
Despite how devastating it has been to my life, it has taught me about humanity’s vast reach. As a result of my diagnosis and hospitalizations, my perspective on the world and on myself shifted. Nothing can be taken for granted when one’s mind has taken them to unfathomable places.
~ SANE Peer Ambassador Sandy Jeffs
People make the worst-case scenario.
The mythical concept of good and evil is repeatedly invoked, which is frustrating. Because, in my experience, the most frightening stage of psychosis is the initial stage and its untreated state.
When the message is positive or what we want to hear, we frequently give weight to people who have experienced otherworldly directions and voices. However, once the messages become negative, we associate them with illness. Anyone who hears the negative side is viewed as evil and is frequently linked to schizophrenia.
And what I wish they were aware of….
In general, schizophrenia is misdiagnosed. This has an effect on how people who have been diagnosed believe they should behave.
How I expected to be versus how I am after 17 years of diagnosis is a world apart. People need to understand that it is possible to live a completely normal and ordinary life. It may not sound glamorous, but normal and ordinary are palatial compared to what I imagined I would become.
~ SANE Peer Ambassador Barnum Barktun Rehabilitation is a possibility
Recovery is possible
While most people understand that recovery is possible, they frequently misunderstand what recovery is and is not. Those who understand see it as leading a self-determining, meaningful, and contributing life without necessarily having to return to how one was before they received a diagnosis.
Additionally, the recovery process is non-linear. Setbacks are inevitable, but with the proper support, they are manageable. Everything will be fine with persistence and determination.
People frequently struggle to comprehend the breadth of experience. Schizophrenia can be affected different people in vastly different ways, and what helps one person recover may not help another.
And I wish they were aware…
While it’s wonderful not to hear voices or have strange thoughts, I attribute my weight gain to the drug. This has resulted in physical problems such as sleep apnea and type 2 diabetes. However, the latter can be reversed with a low-carb, high-fat diet and exercise.
On balance, I’ve concluded that taking the drug is preferable to not taking it, but it can be a real struggle. I’m drawn to non-medical interventions and alternative viewing experiences, but I’m stuck with the medical approach. It’s infuriating. However, I consider myself fortunate to be healthy and functioning at the level that I do.
~ SANE Peer Ambassador, Gregory R. Ralls
It is not the result of a poor upbringing.
People need to know that schizophrenia is not having multiple personalities, it does not make people dangerous, it can be treated, there’s a lot of treatments available, and it’s not caused by a bad upbringing
And I wish they were aware…
After four decades of living with schizophrenia, I can assert that the vast majority of people with schizophrenia can:
- Lead fruitful lives
- Restore normal function
- Take care of their bodies and practice self-care
- Become self-sufficient
- Encourage social interaction and the development of a social network
- Be accountable for their actions
- Educate themselves about their own symptoms, risky triggers, and medication side effects.
- Conduct a thorough investigation of all available beneficial community services in their immediate area.
- Are capable of setting simple, attainable goals with the assistance of a clinician, family member, or friend
- Can resume a vocation, schooling, or employment.
~ SANE Peer Ambassador, Evan Bichara
Source: Four things people get wrong about schizophrenia. (2018, May 18). In SANE Australia.
If you need help, please check out our crisis resources.