Checking In on My Health

The other day I spoke to a relative and they told me I sounded very well. They asked me how everything was concerning my medication and how was school. I am doing very well, the medication I am on helps tremendously and I am thankful to have my mind back and am able to do activities I enjoy doing such as participating in groups and leading group sessions. I plan on starting school this fall. I know I keep pushing it back, but I am hopeful that I will actually start college again soon.

When I start school I plan on taking two classes at the most and leading one to two peer groups on the side. If it is too stressful I'll just drop one course and focus on the one course and my groups. It sounds like a lot I know, but I think I will be able to manage it if I continue to participate in group therapy and communicate with my support system (i.e., people I trust and can rely on such as my family, therapist and doctor).

I want to make something clear schizophrenia or any illness for that matter does not affect everybody the same way, and that goes for medication as well. For example, just because one type of medicine works for Bob it does not mean that that same medication will work for Sue.

Also, there are different types of schizophrenia (i.e., paranoid, undifferentiated, residual, disorganized, and catatonic), and several medications to choose from. I am fortunate that my doctor and I found a medication that works for me (I tried a few medications before finding the right one). I knew the other medications were not for me because of their side effects, the medication I am on now has little side effects that is manageable.

To learn more about schizophrenia go to Embracing My Mind, Inc., the National Alliance on Mental Illness, and Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia (Canada).