Overcoming Schizophrenia

I'm grateful for my sanity- I've learned not to take it for granted. I'm grateful for my health insurance and effectiveness of my medications to keep symptoms at bay. More importantly, I'm grateful for my family and extended family (friends). I'm able to bounce back because I have a solid support system and treatment team. Modeling Recovery When my family and I learned about my schizophrenia we didn't know what to expect nor what recovery could look like. Back in 2007, when I was diagnosed, there weren't people- black nor white disclosing their illness on public platforms like YouTube and social media.      There was nobody to model recovery for me- being a young black woman. However, I saw the movie with Diana Ross- Out of the Darkness. A movie made for television about a young African-American female living with schizophrenia. In short, she dropped out of medical school and suffered with her diagnosis. Fortunately, she got involved in her recovery and star...

Image via  Freepik This post was written by Adam C. on living with schizophrenia. Adam continues to contribute great articles that provide effective approaches to managing recovery. I encourage you to read and share your thoughts.  Additional articles written by Adam on the Overcoming Schizophrenia Blog include the following and more: 8 Mental Health Tips for Living With Schizophrenia Get Through These Major Life Changes While Living With Schizophrenia Improving Your Self-Esteem for a More Well-Rounded Life For Addicts, Recovery Means Creating a New Life Stepping Stones: A Journey Through Change with Schizophrenia Navigating life with schizophrenia presents unique challenges, yet it also offers exceptional opportunities for personal transformation. Embracing significant life changes can foster resilience, opening doors to new paths and possibilities. This journey isn't just about managing symptoms; it's about leveraging change to enhance personal growth and well-being. T...

How can I help my loved one? How can I support their recovery? These are common questions I get from caregivers and supporters of people living with a diagnosis. I will identify three general tips to solidify your goals to empower your loved one. Before asking how can I help my loved one, consider this: are they ready to move forward in recovery right now? Is this what they want, or what I want? Recovery demands ownership of the process. Here are some dos for supporting your loved:  1) Give options and practice shared decision-making,  2) Focus on strengths, and  3) Keep the trust.  First, nobody likes being told what to do. Therefore, practice shared decision-making. Empower your loved one with options. For example, instead of saying you’re going to this program or that personal care home, discuss the choices. I understand how this could work, first-hand. Eventually, I didn’t want to stay with family, I wanted to live on my own. My mother didn’t want me to leave, bu...

Regaining motivation is tough but it is possible. Resiliency is an inherent gift. In spite of setbacks we learn how to manage. However, some of us unconsciously turn to quick coping strategies that may spiral out of control and lead to an unhealthy lifestyle. These quick fixes may include but are not limited to smoking, substance abuse, overeating, abuse of prescription drugs, and dysfunctional relationships. Ultimately these habits may lead or worsen depression and our mental makeup.  My depression looks like extreme exhaustion, lack of motivation, oversleeping, poor eating habits, irritability, isolation, anxiety, no excitement, and minimal fluctuation in mood. This is not me. Depression may also include: poor hygiene, suicidal thoughts, recurring hospitalizations, and suicide attempts. Depression looks different for everybody. However, the common denominator is feeling low, unlike ourselves, and suffering in a mediocre state of mind and lifestyle. If any of these feeling...