Schizophrenia: A long term mental disorder characterized by a breakdown in the way in which thoughts and feelings are perceived, some symptoms may include aural and/or visual hallucinations, paranoia, mood instability, delusions, disorganized thinking, difficulty distinguishing between perception and reality, and disturbed behavior. For more comprehensive information on schizophrenia, please click here.
Living and Recovering with Schizoaffective and Autism Disorders
Schizoaffective and autism can be challenging diagnoses to manage; for MJ Van Dyk, therapy has been an essential component to his recovery.
My Destiny is Recovery from Schizophrenia; And So Much More
Jahnavi Elango is coping with schizophrenia to the best of her ability, ensuring that she, not her disease, runs her life.
Revisited: An Orphan’s Memorial to Her Dying Mother
Touching animated interview with psychotherapist Sheri Heller about her journey with her mother, Pearl, who lived with schizophrenia.
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Vivid Memories of My Recovery Journey with Anxiety and Schizoaffective Disorder (Part 2)
Living with schizoaffective disorder and anxiety, Leif Gregersen was hospitalized numerous times. Now he is a compassionate and vocal advocate for those in need of a voice.
Vivid Memories of My Recovery Journey with Anxiety and Schizoaffective Disorder (Part 1)
Living with schizoaffective disorder and anxiety, Leif Gregersen was hospitalized numerous times. Now he is a compassionate and vocal advocate for those in need of a voice.
How Modern Schizophrenia Treatment Steals Our Autonomy
Sarah Myers understands her schizophrenia. That is, she challenges it with logic, and develops healthy coping mechanisms to respond to her symptoms. In Sarah’s opinion, this is more than the medical industry can claim.
What I Learned Socializing With The “Insane” in Psychiatric Units
As Max Guttman puts it, there is little to do in psych hospitals except pace the hallway and swallow pills. The most worthwhile way to spend his time, then, was hearing his neighbors’ stories.
For this African American Man; there is Light, Even with Bipolar Schizophrenia
Men in the Black community are viewed as weak if they seek mental health treatment, but Derrick McQueen, a Black man with bipolar schizophrenia, didn’t let stigma stop him from getting help.
Life Has Become Wonderful: My Life with Schizoaffective Disorder (PART 2 OF 2)
This mental health recovery story focuses on Leif’s journey through hospitals, homelessness, and diagnosis. Leif learned to advocate for himself and now finds ways to do so for others. Read more in this two-part essay!
Life Has Become Wonderful: My Life with Schizoaffective Disorder (PART 1 OF 2)
This mental health recovery story focuses on Leif’s journey through hospitals, homelessness, and diagnosis. Leif learned to advocate for himself and now finds ways to do so for others. Read more in this two-part essay!
When Running From The Voices In Your Head Takes You Someplace New
Avis Yarbrough considers herself “shy” and “timid,” someone who stays at home. But when she first started hearing voices in her late twenties, she was catapulted on a trip she would have never taken otherwise.
Medication Adherence and my Schizoaffective Journey
Life with psychotic symptoms, hallucinations, delusions and paranoia is hard enough, but when coupled with suspicions of medication; it can be intolerable.
A Kenyan Man’s Journey with Schizophrenia: Therapy and Medication Work Wonders
When Kenyan university student Noah Kirui was in college, he started developing hallucinations and delusions and was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia.
From the Vault: A Hero’s Journey Gets an Encore
Ed Kozempel is a hero who understands the power of music and doesn’t let paranoid schizophrenia or bipolar get between him and his flute.
Epiphany: Radical Rainbow: A Middle-Aged Woman of Color Lives with Mental Illness in America
Trying to navigate the world as a black older woman diagnosed with schizophrenia has more than its fair share of roadblocks. Jacquese Armstrong sees that world differently than most.
The Good, The Bad, and the Obsessive Compulsive: How We Stereotype Those with Mental Illness
If all you knew about mental illness came from television, you might think everyone with obsessive compulsive disorder was a “crazy clean freak.” Alexandra Ages begs to differ—a person with a mental illness is much more than a television archetype.
The Narrow Ledge of Half-Health; My Life with Schizophrenia
“You need to accept the fact that schizophrenia is a chronic condition. You will have it for the rest of your life, so you need to start focusing on managing your symptoms.” When I heard it put so plainly, I sighed in despair.
Psychosis: A Beginning. An End.
My impaired judgement was obvious even in the early days of my illness. I exhibited so many of the symptoms associated with psychosis—a substantial drop in my grades, trouble concentrating, declining hygiene, a significant weight loss, oscillating from strong emotions to a feeling of emptiness to name a few.
A Vain & Misguided Decision: Abandoning Schizoaffective Disorder Medication
I am trying hard to make good decisions. I see my psychiatrist regularly. I take my medication. I try to live a healthy lifestyle with schizoaffective disorder.
Transcending the Pain of Schizoaffective Disorder
Schizoaffective bipolar type is a disease characterized by mood swings and depression, in addition to psychosis, delusions, and paranoia.
A Soldier Comes Home, and a Battle with Mental Illness Begins
The doctors recommended that I receive an Honorable Discharge from the Army with a 100% Disability Rating: not what I had planned for my life.
Dating with Schizophrenia
Despite getting progressively better at social interaction, dating with schizophrenia is just too much and, every time I try, I crash and burn.
The Media’s Obsession with the Mental Illness Scapegoat
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
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
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.
5 Twitter Accounts That Help Explain Life with Schizophrenia
A round-up focusing on schizophrenia Twitter accounts that serve our community through education, empowerment, and meaningful engagement.
Hard Lessons When You Have Mental Illness
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
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.
My Experience Inside a Psychiatric Hospital
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
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
Maintaining mental health stability is a delicate dance that, at times, can be very unstable and can cause some serious trouble if you fall.
Episode 3 – An Interview with Documentary Filmmaker Glenn Holsten
Glenn Holsten discusses the making of his mental health documentary film, Hollywood Beauty Salon.
22 Mental Health Podcasts
In celebration of our new podcast, we’ve rounded up 22 mental health podcasts that are doing their part to #buststigma around mental illness.
The Side-Effects of Side-Effects
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Schizophrenia is an insidious disease. Schizophrenic delusions are persistent, which is one of the major reasons recovery can take such a long time.
Making Random Connections When You Have Schizophrenia
One of the things people with schizophrenia do that isn’t that widely understood is the tendency to make connections out of seemingly random things.
Why Mental Health Recovery Can Take Years
The only advice I give is to be there and, above all else, give it time. Time is truly the only thing that can heal in situations like these.
An Orphan’s Memorial to Her Dying Mother
Sheri Heller is a powerful survivor who now helps others who have experienced trauma. This short film shares her journey with a mom who had schizophrenia.
Delusions Of Grandeur With Schizophrenia
Delusions of grandeur are part of the experience of psychosis. It’s ok if you’re a little crazy. You’re certainly not alone.
Schizophrenia & Talking To God
There are nights where I lie in bed, staring up at the ceiling and I ask for help. Sometimes the voice comes; sometimes it doesn’t. By now, I’m used to it.
Schizophrenia & Hearing Mysterious Voices
If you’re having trouble with schizophrenia and voices, first, try to recognize the reality, that the voices are just a chemical imbalance.
I Have Schizophrenia
Yes, I have schizophrenia. But I don’t want to sit around feeling sorry for myself because I have schizophrenia, and life can be difficult sometimes.
What Schizophrenic Psychosis Feels Like
Psychosis is defined as a severe mental disorder in which thought and emotions are so impaired that contact is lost with external reality.
The Pain of Being Labeled Crazy
The pain of being labeled crazy doesn’t present itself as one big sweeping hurt, more like a series of small little jabs as you go through your days.
Schizophrenia Symptoms in Relationships
Schizophrenia Symptoms in Relationships – I’ve struggled with so many different complications, nuances, symptoms, side-effects and annoyances.
Living With Schizophrenia
Living with schizophrenia has made me aware of this fact: I have a mental illness that causes me to question the reality of things.
Hyacinth’s Journey Home: Surviving Schizophrenia, Drug Abuse, and Homelessness
Hyacinth wrestled with the toxic combination of schizophrenia, drug abuse, and homelessness. 18 years ago she discovered Project HOME, changing her life.
Eric Cureton’s Journey to Independence
Eric’s story begins with sadness and isolation. Today, Eric has uncovered a strong sense of self, created supportive relationships, and learned coping skills.
A Hero’s Life
Lost to paranoid schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, Ed was in limbo for 30 years before finding the right medication and community to heal and play music.
Torrey Pines
Interview with Clyde Petersen about Torrey Pines, a stop-motion animated adventure film about coming of age with an undiagnosed schizophrenic single mother.
Delaney Ruston
Interview with Delaney Ruston about her documentary Hidden Pictures, where she visits India, China, South Africa, France & the USA looking at mental health.
The Metamorphosis of Sanetta Watkins
In this excerpt from the documentary Hollywood Beauty Salon, Sanetta “Butterfly” Watkins shares her metamorphosis recovery journey with schizophrenia.