Dating with Schizophrenia
by Mike Hedrick
Despite getting progressively better at social interaction, dating with schizophrenia is just too much and, every time I try, I crash and burn.
Author: Mike Hedrick
The Media’s Obsession with the Mental Illness Scapegoat
by Mike Hedrick
The media is so quick to pick up the mental illness scapegoat because it knows that people need to blame the tragedy on something.
Disclosing Through Writing About Mental Health
by Mike Hedrick
I keep publishing because people say my writing about mental health has shed light onto something they have had a lot of trouble understanding.
Bumps and Valleys of the Therapeutic Process
by Mike Hedrick
Therapy can change lives, though there are bumps and valleys in the therapeutic process. I’ve found it makes for a happier state of being in the long run.
Hard Lessons When You Have Mental Illness
by Mike Hedrick
Stepping away reminds you that you are human; another hard lesson. It took me years to realize that I am a valid human being despite my illness.
Finding Work and Making Money as a Person with Mental Illness
by Mike Hedrick
After being diagnosed with a serious, chronic illness like schizophrenia, it’s hard to find any purpose in life, including finding work with mental illness.
Disclosing Your Mental Illness
by Mike Hedrick
Disclosing your mental illness has costs and benefits, but the thing to remember is that, while it’s a tricky choice, it is most definitely a choice.
My Experience Inside a Psychiatric Hospital
by Mike Hedrick
Say the words “psychiatric hospital” to the average person and the hair on the back of their neck might stand straight up.
Waves of Ennui and Depression
by Mike Hedrick
I start to feel a bit of ennui, a French word meaning, “general malaise.” This can go on for a while until the ennui surrounds me and depression sets in.
The Tenuous Balance of Mental Health Stability
by Mike Hedrick
Maintaining mental health stability is a delicate dance that, at times, can be very unstable and can cause some serious trouble if you fall.
Finding Stability: A Path Towards a Better Life with Schizophrenia
by Mike Hedrick
Finding stability with a mental illness, like anything else worthwhile, takes time, effort, and openness to learning, and failing.
The Side-Effects of Side-Effects
by Mike Hedrick
Living with schizophrenia, I’ve been through the full gamut of side-effects. New side-effects pop up to say “hello” with each medication I’m prescribed.
The Religious Component of Psychosis
by Mike Hedrick
When I was deep in the midst of a psychotic break, I was convinced that I was a prophet sent from God to save society from its ills.
The Ridiculousness of Your Delusions
by Mike Hedrick
Living with schizophrenia, I’ve experienced all manner of delusions about the way I think the way things are, and the way they actually are.
Schizophrenia and Love
by Mike Hedrick
Love can be the gasoline on schizophrenia’s fire, playing tricks on your mind and it can lead you to places from which you may not be able to return.
The Light Switch Effect of Stress
by Mike Hedrick
The effect of stress is serious to your mental health. It’s easy to fall into delusional holes if your stress level gets to a point that isn’t manageable.
Taking Care of Yourself with Mental Illness
by Mike Hedrick
Taking care of yourself with mental illness requires some fortitude, especially in the face of a mountain of paranoia, delusions and hallucinations.
When to Pull Back When You’re Living With Mental Illness
by Mike Hedrick
Pulling back and regaining stability is complicated but it will help exponentially help in the long journey of living with mental illness.
The Family and Schizophrenia
by Mike Hedrick
Family is the most important thing for a person with mental illness. We need support and validation that we are not alone in the world
Persistence of Schizophrenic Delusions
by Mike Hedrick
Schizophrenia is an insidious disease. Schizophrenic delusions are persistent, which is one of the major reasons recovery can take such a long time.