I am fighting schizoaffective
disorder every day through my spirituality! Living with mental health concerns is challenging. Constantly,
I am reflecting on my relationships, self-care demands, and responsibilities, and
commitments. Currently, I am challenged most by controlling my high energy, and
thought-processes regarding my general interactions, and work. But I maintain hope. A combination of
mania, the side effects of my medication, and concerns with self-motivation to
perform is a frequent concern. However, I strive to practice balance among my list
of general coping skills that I use. I communicate closely with my treatment
team; psychiatric doctor and therapist, and I also vocalize concerns with those
that I can trust within my circle of influence.
In other words, I am
managing both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder daily through medication, faith in my medication, and effort to maintain optimism, and self-care! Every day I strive to maintain wellness
by focusing on balancing my wants and demands with stress management activities.
Because life is stressful, in spite, of daily events, which can be good and not
so good, I strive to add relaxation moments. These moments are not costly nor
timely. Instead my self-care regimen is subtle. I carry out increments of
relaxation based on the activity at-hand! Some of the self-care activities I practice
include: walks, word search puzzles, house chores, taking longer baths opposed
to showers, reading inspirational material, listening to music, and writing, and speaking with family and friends. Overall, my top three coping activities that
help me manage my conditions are reading inspirational material, listening to music, and cleaning my home.
My problem is my mental
illness, of course, but I know I can still live a good life through faith and hope. I identify as
spiritual, and read scriptures. In fact, I will share specific
scriptures that helps me overcome my fleeting negative thoughts associated with
the diagnoses of living with schizophrenia, and bipolar disorder. The scriptures
that inspire me the most include the following from the Holy Bible, New Living
Translation:
- Isaiah 38:15-17 New Living Translation (NLT) 15 But what could I say? For he himself sent this sickness. Now I will walk humbly throughout my years because of this anguish I have felt. 16 Lord, your discipline is good, for it leads to life and health. You restore my health and allow me to live! 17 Yes, this anguish was good for me, for you have rescued me from death and forgiven all my sins.
- Ecclesiastes 7:13 New Living Translation (NLT) Accept the way God does things, for who can straighten what he has made crooked?
- Psalm 139:13-18 New Living Translation (NLT) 13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother’s womb. 14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it. 15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. 16 You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. 17 How precious are your thoughts about me, [a] O God. They cannot be numbered! 18 I can’t even count them; they outnumber the grains of sand! And when I wake up, you are still with me!
The above inspirational
scriptures give me hope, and personally connect me to The One. Despite being
diagnosed at age 20, and now being in recovery for a few years with a young
child, I am still open to information, additional ways to practice coping with my
diagnoses, and life, as well as embracing self-care needs. I share my lived
experience to minister to myself, and to empower others.
Whenever I journal, which
is often, I record my daily reflections to God that may include a scripture, prayer, and
affirmation. Although I am open about my diagnosis, it is still a delicate topic
of discussion, as you can wholeheartedly understand! Because, the “Overcoming
Schizophrenia,” blog is my journal to you, and my God, I’ll create another special
prayer, and affirmation- just for you!
My God, my God. Thank You.
I thank You for another opportunity to share our story, in order, to reach somebody
that needs validation, and reassurance. Because You love me the way I am, I am
grateful! I know I am loved even when I do not show it to myself as strong as You do, because of my
trials and mind wars. However, today, this moment, I will give thanks again for
You, for my life! I love You, I need You. And I will overcome my concerns the
best I can with what I have- on Your schedule, because it is already done! Amen.
Lastly, I leave you with
this scripture that further inspires me to share my recovery experience, to minister to myself, and to continue coping in the Spirit.
Proverbs 31:8 New Living
Translation (NLT) Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves…
I, thank you. Take care, Ashley Smith.
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