Skip to main content

Safe Zone

Over the years, I’ve gained insight on living with schizoaffective disorder. Identifying my triggers, warning signs and needs. Living with a diagnosis is challenging. The greatest trigger - excessive stress. 

How can we maintain balance when life is stressful? Can an individual ever classify themselves in a “safe zone?”


Your Support Network is Crucial

Since my diagnosis in 2007, and periodic medical setbacks, I’ve recognized how I'm susceptible to highly intense situations that can upset my balance. In the past, I didn’t consider myself fragile. I thought I could control my illness and for 11 years I did. Yet, I couldn’t outrun, deny, nor overlook the breath of chaos that eventually came back to consume my mind and create havoc for me and my family. I’ve had three hospitalizations and two arrests. 


Based on my experience, the greatest antidote to controlling breakdowns is having a strong support system, but what does that mean?


Mobilizing your support network and being prepared for a crisis. My last breakdown in 2023 could’ve turned my world completely upside down. Despite my breakdown, I was fortunate to have my inner circle of family and friends to help me. They worked together getting me into treatment, coordinating care for my child and two dogs.


Fighting Back

How can we handle crises? 


Having a crisis plan in place will undoubtedly ensure a safety net for yourself and family. That means having access to information such as the contact for your nearest loved one, doctor’s office and other pertinent information. A psychiatric advance directive will identify decision makers when you’re extremely unwell. 


However, every state doesn’t recognize these plans. There is an informal psychiatric advance directive that will help guide your support network - the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP) developed by Mary Ellen Copeland. I’ve utilized my WRAP and motivated peers to create theirs. I’ve witnessed the effectiveness of it by seeing health professionals follow the plans.


Conclusion

Finally, I’ve come to the conclusion that my condition will continue to plague me in cycles. Even though I’m in a good mental space I’m still vulnerable to medical setbacks. I won’t consider myself in a safe zone; ever.


However, I can minimize the chaos symptoms create. I’m not fearful of being hit with the symptoms of schizophrenia because I have a strong support system. Unlike before, I’ve come to realize I can’t prevent crises but I can prepare for them by letting others know my needs, preferences and important information. 


Therefore, we might not be able to win battles but we can still win our wars.
Labels:

Comments

Linda's Relaxing Lair said…
How lovely that you are sharing this to help others! I wish you all the best in your future endeavours. Warm greetings from Montreal, Canada.
September 18, 2025 at 2:16 PM
Ashley Smith said…
Thank you for your encouragement! Warm regards, Ashley
October 8, 2025 at 3:13 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Lack of Trust: A Byproduct of My Mental Illness

In this entry, I'll share my experiences with Schizophrenia in regards to feeling lack of trust in others, paranoia, and isolation.... I remember my many episodes with Schizophrenia where I felt uneasy because of lack of trust in others. In the past, isolation was a giant bullying me around. Sometimes my mind would take me to a place of fear, hurt, and an unsettling spirit, which started with what seemed like a strange look, or a different feeling around an individual, when in reality it was another symptom of my undiagnosed illness- paranoia. My paranoia was rampant and dictated my life prior to experiencing a crisis, which led me to jail and into forced treatment and to receive an official diagnosis of Schizophrenia in 2007. In other words, my illness created enemies in my mind. For instance, I once believed my favorite kin was against me and I felt like she wanted me to fail, and I eventually thought she was conspiring to harm me. However, she never said anything to imply these ...
14 comments
Read more

Fear to Openness about Medication

I am concerned that I may be slipping into depression that may get worse if untreated. Prior to the birth of my child I never had a bout with depression, but as my body changed so did my hormones and my susceptibility to depression. A few months ago I was diagnosed with postpartum depression and at the time I knew I needed extra support from my my treatment team. I knew I needed to focus on my mental health because my anxiety level was up and down, it was difficult to concentrate, and I felt extremely overwhelmed and afraid my mental illness would rear its ugly head and try to destroy my recovery accomplishments. I spoke my therapist who contacted my doctor and let them know I was coming in the next morning as a walk-in, which I did and we tweaked my medication. Now, its hard to focus and to carry out minor assignments, sometimes I feel anxious for no reason, I am extremely tired and sleep more than usual, and I feel like I am on a downward spiral. Yet, I have reason to be. I have ...
12 comments
Read more

From the Terrors of Psychosis to Hope and a Better Life

For me, experiencing psychosis is an experience I will never forget. In short, psychosis is when an individual cannot distinguish reality. I endured a psychotic experience at the age of 20, almost five years ago, and still remember the terrors of the illness- officially diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenia in 2007. The manifestation of the illness dominated my livelihood whenever I was extremely suspicious, confused, forgetful, irritable, distant, irrational, and hearing criticizing voices when nobody was around. In my mind, everyone was envious of me because I had godly talents. I thought I could read people's minds and understand them, and sometimes they could read my mind as well. I rationalized these strange beliefs by my faith in God and the miracles of the Bible. I believed I was on a mission for God and eventually thought I was Jesus Christ being persecuted again when I was arrested for a crime I committed while not in the right state of mind. The bizarre thoughts increased....
9 comments
Read more