Overcoming Schizophrenia

After a friend told me about the Plans to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) program I did some research on it and it is a great program. The program benefits people who have Supplemental Security Income (SSI). PASS allows SSI recipients to earn additional resources or income and put it aside to pay for education, to start a business, to fund training, etc. Under the program, the person will not lose their SSI benefits, and their SSI will not be reduced. To learn about the program click here . To learn more about schizophrenia check out Embracing My Mind, Inc. , the National Alliance on Mental Illness , and Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia (Canada).

Prior to my diagnosis of schizophrenia I was very active in school and extracurricular activities. I played a role in cross country, an internship, AWANA church program for youth, and school. Eventually, my illness interrupted my studies and I was forced to drop out of school temporarily due to the stresses of school, finances, and life changes. I worked for a little while until my illness took that opportunity away from me too when I had a nervous breakdown. When my illness was made known, everybody (i.e. psychiatrist, therapist, mother, treatment team) suggested that I make a change and to take things slow for a little while. Therefore, I did not work for the first year after my diagnosis, and I applied for Supplemental Security Income. In the meantime I participated in a clubhouse for young adults and I was fortunate to return to school for one class. Making the change was challenging for me, because I am used to juggling so many different activities. After it is said and done, I am...

I applied for Medicaid over a month ago and I am still waiting for a reply. I wish they would hurry up an either deny me or approve me, so that I can move onto Plan B. Plan B is turn in my denial letter to the clinic and let them pay for my medicine or pay a portion of the costs. When I spoke to a Medicaid representative they told me I would be approved or denied between 45 and 60 days. That is a long time! What if my medicine runs out, now I taking samples from the clinic, but after next week I will not have any left. I cannot afford to be without the medication, I know that if I stop taking it the symptoms will return and I will hear voices, have trouble concentrating, and get paranoid. I hope I do not have to come out of pocket for this medicine, but it seems like that is what is about to happen. My SSI check does not give me the leisure to have extra money to pay for medicine.

What's up with me, recently I am following through on Plan B by studying marketing at home. I picked up a book called Strategic Marketing by Douglas West, John Ford, and Essam Ibrahim. The book is going pretty well. I've also applied for Medicaid, so I am waiting for approval so I can fill my perscription, until then, the doctor is giving me samples to hold me over. I am starting to think about plans for next year. I want to start school this summer and start a part-time job in sales. I want to work to lead the life I used to live, when I was going to school and working. However, I am hesitant about getting the extra income because I don't want disability benefits to be cut. But maybe once I start working, I won't need SSI anymore. My New Year's resolution is: Pay off school debt in order to get official transcript Start school this summer Work part-time Buy a car Improve credit score I had an eerie dream the other night, I dreamed I heard voices telling me to go a...

You have been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia or some form of mental illness, so what next? Here's what I did after my diagnosis... Find a psychiatrist- someone who prescribes medication Apply for social securitiy disability- you may need it if it is hard for you to keep a job due to disability Apply for health insurance- it comes with SSI Talk to a psychologist or therapist- they help you adjust to your illness Join a peer group- NAMI (www.nami.org) has peer groups all over the U.S., join one Learn about your illness- I found books and read information off the Internet Take your medication - it is the most important thing you could do to recover Stay positive there is hope with treatment Build relationships with health care providers- I joined a peer group that is lead by my therapist and it meets under a weekly basis and I have a good relationship with my therapist Be honest with health care providers- I have open dialogue with my health care provider because I know that th...