Overcoming Schizophrenia

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 prepare...

In my interview with Lauren from Living Well With Schizophrenia we discuss some of the challenges of parenting while living with a diagnosis such as schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder. As a mental health advocate I aim to continue to empower you with information to change perspectives that is to fight the stigma of mental illness, and to connect.  In short, Lauren and I talk about my experience in recovery and how I manage symptoms and crisis as a mother... This is the first of a few interviews that we did.  To learn more about Lauren's advocacy and recovery story subscribe to her YouTube channel, and visit her website, Living Well With Schizophrenia:  https://www.livingwellwithschizophrenia.org/ Thank you Lauren and Rob for the opportunity to provide insight into this much needed discussion for hope and awareness. For our viewers- thank you.

I need to create a better crisis plan because my current plan involves me addressing concerns to my treatment team, which is also needed, but I should include some members of my support network into my crisis plan. I realized my crisis plan needed improvement when I  hesitated on a couple of questions, for example: "who do you want to make decisions for you in the event you can't?" This shows me that I need to sit down with a couple of individuals in my immediate circle to make sure they understand my preferences and how I would like to be treated in the event I need them to make decisions for me.  Do you have a crisis plan? Are your supporters aware of your preferences in the event of a crisis? To learn more about schizophrenia visit NAMI, Choices in Recovery, and Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia (Canada).