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...

May is National Mental Health Awareness Month. I had the pleasure of being interviewed on the You Matter! Podcast by host Karen Ortman, Associate Vice President, Campus Safety Operations NYU-NY. This interview explores common myths, symptoms, and ways to cope with schizophrenia and related conditions. The show looks at my recovery journey and focuses on the early warning signs, challenges of being looked at differently, and how I stay motivated to work on my recovery. Click here to listen. I appreciate Karen for bringing awareness to schizophrenia because it is not given enough attention compared to other health issues. On the show we talk about my parenting concerns, alternative treatment options, and identify my new book. My book, What’s on My Mind? Volume I, Revised Edition (2022), is the updated version of my first blog book. It has a new introduction, final chapter, and added sections at the end of the book. It is available on my author page on Amazon . The You Matter! Podcast wa...

Since 2007, I learned how to regroup, develop coping strategies, and to hold on to hope. Still, I am studying myself and ways to manage. Living with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder takes work, and it is also rewarding.   In the past, I loss myself to catatonia, delusions, psychosis, paranoia, anxiety, fear, and hallucinations. I am grateful for access to treatment, support, and mentors in recovery. I've  seen the end of the world's spiritual war in my head. I've anxiously ran away from the people following me. I lost my sense of reality, rationality, and ability to problem-solve. My faith kept me grounded but also led me astray on the road to mental confusion. Prior to my diagnosis I rationalized my hallucinations and delusions through my faith. I heard the voices in my head talking about you and me. I saw the shadows and spirits from the corner of my eye. I read their minds as they read mine. I experienced the many symptoms of schizophrenia, and rediscovered myself, dev...