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...

Although depression looks different for everybody there are a few characteristics that remain the same:  exhaustion, depleted energy, poor hygiene, isolation, and limited emotional responses to otherwise uplifting events. For me, exhaustion plays a significant role in having depression. Simple tasks seem like a chore. My body feels like it cannot build enough stamina to do what I want and need to do. I’ve experienced poor hygiene in the past when I was in crisis mode. Like many individuals, when I am not well I shy away from conversation and people. When I should be excited or happy, I am not. There are varying reasons why people get depressed: loss of a job, grieving, bankruptcy, finances, separation in a serious relationship, genetic predisposition, disappointments and loss, poor weather, etc. Whatever the reason for depression we need to identify signs and continue to try to overcome it before it consumes us. Focus on building your coping skills. Therefore, when depr...

My first book is here! My blog book, What's on My Mind? A Collection of Blog Entries from "Overcoming Schizophrenia," is my first book and is not my last! My book shares my personal recovery story with mental illness and offers hope and awareness. This book will be a great reading for anyone affected by mental illness and is available on Amazon for under $13.99 plus shipping. This is a great reading for individuals who are newly diagnosed with mental illness, family members, educators and students, providers, and others interested in learning about the lived experience. I hope you will continue to show your support and purchase my book.