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acitivist, advocacy, Advocate, articles, book, change, hope, inspiration, mental health, mental illness, mentally ill, poetry, psychiatry, psychology, schizophrenia, writers, writing
We received a call that we had missed our life insurance appointment. “I’m so sorry. We’ll be there in an hour.” My husband said into his cellphone.
We arrived at the office, parked the car, and went in to check in at the front desk. “Take a seat he will be right with you.” The receptionist said.
We flipped through magazines for a minute or two and then our name was called. Tyler stretched out his hand to my husband first and then to me. We apologized for missing our early appointment and handed him our life insurance policy.
While Tyler was explaining a new policy he thought we should buy, he asked me, “Are you still writing?”
“I am. I have two blogs now. A personal one and one on Psych Central, and I published a book. I write poetry and articles too – those are harder to get published though.”
“What do you write about?” He asked.
“I write about mental health.” I said.
“I am really into mental health.” He said.
Tyler went on to tell me about how he had just developed a relationship with his father and that he had sought out a counselor. I told him that what I wrote about was discrimination, and that some of it was controversial.
Then I made a decision, and I looked at him and said, “I have paranoid schizophrenia and that is what I write about.”
“Is schizophrenia misunderstood?” He asked.
“From what you know about schizophrenia, would you think that I have it?” I asked.
“No. You aren’t doing anything weird.” He said.
We signed the papers, talked about the new policy, and exchanged addresses for our favorite thrift stores before we left.
Changing over our life insurance policy made financial sense in terms of our future, and it felt good to set that safety net in place, but it also felt good to find the strength and courage to directly tell someone that I live with schizophrenia.
I can write all day and all night about what it is like to have schizophrenia, but that writing may never change what someone thinks they know about the disease – they still may think of asylums and people talking to voices only they can hear.
It is likely that once you’ve met someone with schizophrenia they become your reference point and every time you think of the illness, you will think of that person.
I love to write and give interviews about living with schizophrenia, I think it is important, but I changed a mind today, and that is the kind of advocacy that leaves a lasting impact.
I plan to change more minds, even if it is only one here and one there. I know that may not seem like it is making much of a difference, but we all know it only takes one mind to change the world and we never know the person that is going to create that change. I may have just spoken to him today.
Kudos on your courage! I agree, touching just one life is how the world is changed =)
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Thank you!!! 🙂 It only takes one.
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I will be completely honest and say that the interaction I have had with someone who has schizophrenia have been more of the negative obes …until I started to blig and net people who have schizophrenia so I thank you for opening many peoples eyes.
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Thank you for your support and honesty! 🙂
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You just never know whose life you might change. Maybe I will say “I.” Maybe a small thing I do will make a big ripple one day. Maybe it has, and I just don’t know it. What a great thought for a Sunday afternoon.
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Yes, we never know the impact we can have on a life, or on events. It is possible to be instrumental in changing the world.
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And all you have to do is be your authentic beautiful self and show up! 🙂
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Aww, thank you!!!! 🙂
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Cheers for you! You make such a difference!
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I believe all of us can make a difference!!! 🙂
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You opened his eyes and he will open others. Kudos, Sweetie!
I recall the first time I publicly disclosed my experience with Post Partum Psychosis. It was pure anguish to relive those tormented, twisted and frightening days. Having to admit that I had thoughts of killing my baby literally crushed me. But I knew it needed to be done and I knew my daughter needed to hear the story from me and not second-handed. It proved to be one of the most healing events in my life.
We are empowered when we give voice to our fears, we subtract power from them each time we speak.
Thank you again for all that you do.☕️❤️
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Thank you! It is empowering to finally learn we have a voice and that we can use it. Thanks for sharing your story!!!
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I like to think that everyone has someone who wants to hear their story. Too many hide away for fear that they will repulse or frighten someone. When we give our voice we allow others to do the same.
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I agree! I personally love to hear other people’s stories. I imagine many people feel the same way.
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