Overcoming Schizophrenia

Stress, genetics, and life disruptions effects our mental health. Stress is a common trigger for health conditions. Depression is an uncomfortable stage of existence. It's like being out of shape and trying to run a mile. Knowingly starting the mile at a disadvantage. Being out of breath and eventually walking it out portrays a snit bit of the internal battles I live with every day. Depression the Quicksand My depression tries to rob me of my peace to manage daily events. Poor hygiene and high anxiety threatens my livelihood and routine. Depression reinforces how low energy, mood, and lack of motivation to keep moving lessens my quality of life. For me it's like walking in quicksand and reaching for help in any way possible yet unable to get out.     Signals that low moods are dominating my life is the severely heightened need to sleep longer hours and take three-hour naps. Getting inadequate rest after 12 hours of sleeping. When my depression worsens it effects my pay, ...

In this blog article I reflect on my last hospitalization that took place a couple of years ago. I share my process of recuperation. Provide insight on strategies to maintain support and guidance with caregiver and the treatment team. Give tips for you and your loved ones on how to manage the recovery process after hospitalization. Schizophrenia's Mind Wars Early warning signs my mental health is spiraling out of control begins with poor sleeping patterns. Specifically, not sleeping enough. Excessive energy to pull all-nighters. Followed by delusions and a range of false beliefs.     Mine starts with obsessive thoughts and hyper-religious ideas. Frequently, I'm a victim of situations. Recurring ideas of being spied on and followed. My train of thought runs rampant and uproots hallucinations. Going into the Hospital My last hospitalization was in 2022. Initially, I was ordered by my doctor into an in-patient facility. However, released within 72 hours despite my symptoms ...

Enjoy reading this blog? Continue diving into my world of recovery by looking at my blog books. I've reduced the price of all three for the holidays: What's on My Mind? Volume I, Revised Edition, A Collection of Blog Entries from Overcoming Schizophrenia What's on My Mind? Volume II, Coping Takes Work What's on My Mind? Volume III, Controlling the Weight of Depression Click here to visit Ashley's Author Page. What's on My Mind? Volume I, Revised Edition, A Collection of Blog Entries from Overcoming Schizophrenia This is a must read because it's provides a closer look inside my mind during the traumas of being engulfed in my symptoms of schizophrenia but also the triumphs of recovery. It is a record of the beginnings of my recovery and advocacy work. What's on My Mind? Volume II, Coping Takes Work This is a great read that encourages you to consider therapy. Coping Takes Work discusses the benefits of therapy and offers a wide range of coping skills that ...

I'm a mental health support person and take pride in my work assisting others on their recovery journey. My position enables me to work on treatment teams alongside mental health professionals such as psychiatrists, therapists, case managers, and substance abuse counselors.       My job is important because I can better relate to peers with mental health conditions. Encouraging them to press forward in spite of living with a brain disorder that can be debilitating. This position is highly effective, needed, and growing nationwide. The Certified Peer Specialist Peer support is a growing element in treatment services. It's a Medicaid-billable service here in Georgia. Mental health support persons work with clinicians an peers in recovery to promote healthy coping tools and lifestyle habits.      The position is titled, certified peer specialist or CPS. Our job is to model recovery and share our stories when relevant. Moreover, educate peers on their m...

These last few months have shown me how my mental health symptoms comes to the surface in cycles. That's my bipolar element of the schizoaffective disorder. Living with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder can be rough therefore I appreciate my good days when I can get more work done and boost my self-confidence through completing different tasks.     For a while I was waking up tired. Mentally drained without reason. I felt exhausted and unmotivated. Sometimes, I slept my days away.      I'm grateful for my good days. Lately, I've had better days. Now I can get out of bed more easily and concentrate on the tasks at hand to complete assignments. I'm proud of myself for doing the small tasks like house chores and other responsibilities such as work.     I found a way to work smarter and not harder. I'm thankful for what I can achieve. Whenever I pray I give thanks to my higher power for my sanity. I don't take these things for granted.     I've ...