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~ surviving schizophrenia

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Tag Archives: PTSD

Two Blogs and A Book

09 Friday Oct 2015

Posted by A Journey With You in bipolar, mental illness, schizophrenia, writing

≈ 27 Comments

Tags

anxiety, bipolar, blog, Blogging, blogs, books, depression, mental health, mental illness, mentally ill, OCD, poetry, Psych Central, PTSD, schizophrenia, writing

I have said this before, but I think it is important to say it again, those of us with a mental illness that blog about our symptoms, and our experiences with schizophrenia, anxiety, bipolar, depression, OCD, PTSD, etc. need to take a break from thinking so much about ourselves and our illness every once in a while.  I think our blogs are very helpful, but occasionally we need to think about other people, social issues, and the larger world. Today is my day to think about others, and to go out in the world and live life a little instead of thinking about the fact that I have schizophrenia.  As we all know, we are so much more than our illnesses – we need to say it and live it.  So, I leave you with three things:

I have a new blog up at Psych Central that I hope you will read and leave me a comment on it. I think it is worth the trip over there.

I have a good friend with a new novel out. I am on chapter 6 and it is a really interesting and fun read. If you are looking for a mystery/romance to read while you are sipping your pumpkin lattes, please check out her book. The book is The Black Velvet Coat written by Jill G. Hall. 

Lastly, I have another good friend with a very clever and artistic blog (I love it). If you like words and you like art, you will love her blog. It is found poetry and collage. If you have a minute, pop over there and see her unique work.

Don’t Take it Personally, I Occasionally Write to Force Myself to act

14 Friday Aug 2015

Posted by A Journey With You in mental illness, schizophrenia, stigma, writing

≈ 15 Comments

Tags

acitivist, advocacy, Advocate, blogs, eating disorders, homeless, mental health, mental illness, mentally ill, OCD, personality disorders, psychiatry, psychology, PTSD, schizophrenia, stigma, writing

Today, like every Friday, my husband left the house at five-fifty in order to be at the organization he volunteers at, by six.

While he is sweating over a grill making pancakes, eggs, hash browns, or whatever else is on the menu this morning, I am typing away at the computer.

My husband’s advocacy for the mentally ill and my advocacy for the mentally ill, look totally different.

My husband participates in one of the most basic and nurturing of all tasks – he feeds people. Not only that, he gets his hands dirty, he sweats, and he looks people in the eye, giving them the message that even though society isn’t meeting their basic needs for food, clothing and shelter, someone still sees them as valuable, human, and important. Someone actually sees them.

I have seen hundreds of blogs dealing with every type and every aspect of mental illness. I have witnessed so many new nonprofits being formed in order to raise awareness and combat the stigma. There are days when I feel like my voice is falling into a canyon of voices and no one can hear me, because everyone is shouting and every shout echoes off the canyon walls. The reverberations are deafening.

Who are the people writing about mental health? Who are these people educating us about life with bipolar disorder, OCD, PTSD, eating disorders, personality disorders, schizophrenia, depression and others? Well, I am going to makes some assumptions here: most of us have a home, because we appear to have access to a computer constantly, most of us are educated at some level, because we are able to write coherent sentences, most of us have access to doctors and medications, otherwise, we probably wouldn’t be able to function at a level that is high enough to keep up a blog, or write an article, or be interviewed.

In other words, most of us are privileged, and please don’t write to me and tell me because you live on disability that you aren’t privileged. Having a roof over your head, having Internet access, having enough food to eat, having access to medical treatment – all of those things make you better off than billions of people on the planet and millions of people in the United States.

How is it that the people with the most are the only voices being heard? The people with the most severe symptoms, the people who suffer the most, the ones who are our most vulnerable, the ones who would benefit most from change, are silent. They have no access to the Internet which in reality is access to the world.

I know that I have influenced a few people with my articles and my blog, because they have written me and told me their stories.

I know that I have made a difference, and I am sure every blogger, writer, and artist out there has contributed in making the world a better place for the mentally ill, at least in the circles where people are literate and have access to a computer.

But I don’t think all this blogging, all these nonprofits formed to educate and combat stigma, have trickled down to the people who need it most.

People need doctors, people need hospitals, people need homes, people need clothes, and shoes and food, and someone to care.

Our household does a pretty good job at advocacy, but the best of it isn’t done by me. I am the one sitting at a comfortable computer chair with my ice water, coffee, and snacks. Who is making life more comfortable for the severely mentally ill – that’s my husband – sweat and tears.

The Stigma runs Deep

13 Monday Jul 2015

Posted by A Journey With You in bipolar, mental illness, schizophrenia, stigma

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

acitivist, adventure, Advocate, bipolar, borderline, mental health, mental illness, mentally ill, narcissism, psychiatry, PTSD, schizophrenia, stigma

Over twenty years ago when I was working as a social worker with children and families, my colleagues would often say of their difficult clients, “S/he is borderline.”  It seemed as if the diagnosis of borderline personality had burst on the scene and every client that social workers didn’t want to deal with all of sudden had it (they didn’t of course).

I’m not a social worker anymore so I am not up on the latest things that social workers talk about, but I am a participant on social media, and the same thing is going on today with narcissistic personality disorder. All of a sudden everyone who seeks attention on social media by constantly posting selfies or information about themselves is called a narcissist. Of course having narcissistic personality disorder is more complicated and disruptive than posting a high number of photos or seeking praise on Facebook or Instagram. People with this personality disorder lack empathy, and see themselves as superior to other people (to name a few of the difficulties).

I often hear jokes about having schizophrenia, but I rarely hear schizophrenia talked about with the same disdain as I do narcissism, or that I used to hear about borderline personality disorder.   With schizophrenia most of the stigma comes from the media and their love of sensationalism (stories about killers, the homeless, etc.).

Now, there is a difference between schizophrenia, bipolar and a personality disorder. All articles classify schizophrenia and bipolar as a mental illness. But with a personality disorder, because it deals with character and personality some still define it as a disorder rather than a mental illness. In 2002, this article which supports changing personality disorders from a “condition/disorder” to a mental illness was written.

I hid my mental illness for almost twenty years, because of the fear of being judged and misunderstood. Thankfully, I wasn’t shamed or embarrassed into not seeking treatment though. For others it is different. The pressure not to be seen as sick, especially with a mental illness or personality disorder can keep them from getting the help they need. My psychiatrist said his patients prefer to see him in his clinic (a general practitioner’s office) because then people don’t know they are visiting a psychiatrist they assume they are there for high blood pressure or an annual check-up, or any other reason to see a general practitioner.

I want to help create an environment of acceptance where everyone who needs treatment, feels safe and comfortable to go and get that treatment. If one of us with “mental health issues” (OCD, PTSD, social anxiety, an eating disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, depression, borderline personality disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, etc.) is being targeted as a “negative” or a “bad” person by society, I think we need to step in and set the record straight.

I want everyone to know that people with schizophrenia don’t hear voices one hundred percent of the time. I want people to know we don’t all believe in conspiracy theories, or any number of other harmful stereotypes. I want the same truth to get out about other mental health issues. Not all writers are narcissist (I read an article that claimed that they were the other day), and not all people who seek constant approval and validation on social media are either. We throw that word around inaccurately in the same way we use the word depression to mean sad. “I’m so depressed today.” When anyone that has suffered true depression will tell you that it doesn’t last one day, and if you are at work, typing on Facebook, making plans to go out that night, you are most likely “sad” or “down” but not truly depressed. Depression does not equal sad or a lack of motivation. Depression is a serious illness that is deadly it is not something you feel because you missed a sale at Nordstrom’s. (“I’m so depressed that I missed that sale!”) No.

Until there is a better understanding and reduced stigma around all mental health issues, we need to speak up, and speak out. We need to correct people when they casually say that someone has narcissistic personality disorder, or that they are depressed. We need to help reduce the misinformation and negativity around all mental health issues.

The progress we make in educating about one diagnosis is a step in the right direction for all of us.

When it gets better for one, it gets better for all.  No one is alone in helping make changes, we are in this together.

Memorial Day and Mental Illness

24 Sunday May 2015

Posted by A Journey With You in bipolar, mental illness, schizophrenia, stigma

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Tags

bipolar, Memorial Day, mental health, mental illness, military, psychiatry, psychology, PTSD, schizophrenia, stereotypes, stigma, veterans

In honor of Memorial Day, I would like to recognize the men and women who died in the United States Armed Services. I know that is the reason we stop and pause this time of year.

I would like to pause for other service members this year too.

I would like to recognize all the members of the military who were injured during active duty.

Another group I would like to mention and give recognition to are the men and woman who serve their country and come home with PTSD, anxiety, and/or depression. We have lost way too many lives to suicide, more casualties of war.

Lastly, I would like to include the young men and women who were first diagnosed with a mental illness while serving their country. Many young people sign up at 18 or 19 and there are times when symptoms don’t show up until people are in their 20’s. So, this is also for those who became disabled by a mental illness while serving.

Now, what would most of these people be called who served their country, and possibly put their lives at risk to protect and defend others?  What word best describes them? Veteran? And in some cases, hero?

Why then, when we have so many people who wore the uniform who are battling with mental health issues do we easily, carelessly, insensitively and recklessly throw around the words, crazy, insane, lunatic, bipolar, schizo, manic, depressed, batty, nut job, etc.?

Every time I log on to social media, I see these words used by people who are educated. I see them used by people who care about justice and equality. The mentally ill are truly the last group of people where it is socially acceptable to use derogatory language about their condition. I have seen social media wars over race, and issues involving LGBT rights, but not once have I seen someone even stand up to the jokes that fill social media about mental illness.

The mentally ill are the most marginalized group in the county. No one deserves to be stereotyped, stigmatized, bullied, or have their life threatening condition made into a joke or saying on social media. But when those jokes are made knowing that so many veterans suffer from these illnesses, we should know, it is way past the time for compassion and change.

Back to the fallen, we remember and honor you. RIP.

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