Overcoming Schizophrenia

  I've been on edge for the last week, waiting. Waiting to smile. Waiting for my new book, CRUSHING THE SPIRIT OF DEPRESSION. And, today I can finally breathe- and smile.      This book screams HOPE, JOY, & REJUVENATION. It will make you feel better. Crushing the Spirit of Depression focuses on The Creator, and motivation to explore your potential and persevere and achieve your hopes and dreams.      I created a book I wish I had on my shelf for difficult times, which we all have had at some point in our lives. The book aims to encourage you and your loved ones whenever going through something and reflecting on those widespread depressing ordeals that happens in life. Which are stressful and bring us down; financial hardship, grief and loss, health problems, low mood, and self-esteem. Or, simply to maintain wellbeing, clarity, and self-encouragement.      Crushing the Spirit of Depression has 30 prayers that praises, and holds conv...

I have been declared insane by society. I have been feared. I have been labelled. I have been disappointed by many because of rejection. I lost my mind, twice due to psychosis, but I came back stronger than before. We are not to blame for this illness, nor the stigma that society places on us. I am whole. I am worthy. I am strong. I am better today because of who I am and what I've been through. I have a mental illness, but it does not have me. I will continue to try to overcome. I will continue to aim to cope daily. I will continue to fight in my spirit, in my walk and self-care routine, because I must, in order, to live . I commend my peers for striving to overcome the fight. The fight against self-stigma. The war within our minds, and the struggles we aim to endure daily. I stand with you not simply in symptoms nor words, but through this fight called life, stigma, and mental illness- the label, the confusion, the pain that we must preserve through every day. Remember this...

In the past, somebody criticized me for being too positive on my blog. The truth is I write blog posts when I am in a good place. I have highs and lows just like everybody else. I choose to practice optimism and to envision a hopeful outcome. Applying a hopeful attitude is intentional. I work very hard to stay hopeful. As you know, this condition is life-long and can be saddening when compared to other conditions.  Recently, I reflected on the idea of not having this medical challenge. If I did not have schizophrenia I would be able to work full-time. If I did not have schizophrenia I would not have to endure question and answer sessions about my health when I get involved in a romantic relationship. If I did not have schizophrenia I would enjoy life more... Fortunately, I cut myself off this downward spiral. I reminded myself that everybody has challenges; they may not be severe such as a mental illness, but yet, and still severe. I am grateful for this life journey; ch...

This month (June) is the anniversary of my mother's life. The picture of me and my mother was taken while I was in high school. In this picture, we were standing on the porch in front of her antique shop. There are countless lessons she instilled in me, however, entrepreneurship is one of the few at the top of that list. Another is how to be a great supporter and mother by making loving sacrifices for one's child. While I was not well, and at my worse, she stopped working to relocate, in order to care and support me. I love my mother, and that experience portrayed the woman, and mother I aim to be remembered by my own child. I saw an American Greetings card and purchased it for myself. I think of my mother everyday, I want to acknowledge and celebrate her with another soothing image for me. I am honoring my mother's life and passing due to stage four breast cancer. I am also honoring all amazing mothers and women who've impacted us in loving ways among a milli...

I have a lot to say, however, I am hesitant to blog about it, because I am working on a couple of books. I will publish a collective piece with peers, and also publish my follow up book to What's On My Mind? later this year (2017). While I am excited to share my recovery journey I am frequently challenged by the ability to appropriately delegate my writings between the blog and book. My "Overcoming Schizophrenia" blog is still my healthy outlet and love... I appreciate all readers and strive to give my love to them forever through my self-expressive writings in order to relate, educate, and to further empower our growing recovery community and tight-knit recovery network; online and in-person. In fact, there have been many times when I got on my laptop to develop a blog entry on life lessons of my recovery, but chose not to complete it in order to convert it into a chapter in my book. Once, I valued my Bible more than anything...then it was my journal; like a safe...

I am alone, and not lonely. I’ve been performing different homemade self-love activities to nurture and to love and to pamper myself with a level of contentment of satisfying my own loving demands.  Last week I created a bulletin board of a collage collective of old greeting cards that my family and friends gave me. I included hand-written notes from friends, and pictures of myself and family. Today, I researched and printed lyrics of songs that identifies my spirit and self-care needs for right now. I really listened to the music’s words, and not just the tune, and beat; like I usually do.  These two songs spoke to the essence of my self-care identity, for now... 1)  Monica, “Love All Over Me” …I got love all over me, And I don’t want to get it off… Even my skin is changing, I’m feeling warmer… You put the color back in my life... 2)  Tink, “Treat Me Like Somebody” Somebody real is hard to find, Somebody worth all your time, ...