I am very open. I am very highly functioning and recovered. I have some issues sometimes, I have had some bad days, but the days of hearing voices from the moment I wake up to drunkenly falling asleep are over. I mainly struggle with anxiety and motivation problems, but I make straight A’s and am a competitive powerlifter. I just have very anxious mornings sometimes and find myself napping and skipping training or homework sometimes. But I come out on top, I make up my work and train harder the next time.
I posted a facebook status about my recovery and thanked my friends for sticking with me and 80 people liked it. My friends and family know all about it, they knew I was psychotic before I did. Apparently I reeked of mental illness before I was even diagnosed, I guess the whole angry antisocial alcoholic thing was a giveaway.
The only way to fight stigma is to be an example. I am open for all of the people who are not. People who know me and know about my condition know that schizophrenia is not game over and that one can achieve and live a good life despite it- I am on a full scholarship, am in the honors program and am a competitive powerlifter, and I make all A’s. That beats most normal people.
There will always be an ■■■■■■■ who talks down to you about it. Those people are often ■■■■■■ up themselves and jealous. The only people who have ever talked down to me about my condition are dropouts with drug and alcohol problems. They wish they were me- I didn’t drop out when I was psychotic and refusing meds, I was a highly functioning alcoholic and make mostly A’s and a few B’s that year, with the full scholarship and honors classes. These kids dropped out because they ■■■■■■ up, period. They didnt have a legitimate excuse, I did and didnt drop out. They dranks, did drugs and cut class, I went to class most of the time, did my work, did well on tests and exams, wrote papers, worked out and than drank every night.
Someone might talk ■■■■, some people will understand and support you. That’s when you know who is a friend and who is not. I learned that some of my “friends” were not real friends.
I still have this idiot druggie and alky friend who hangs around. Sometimes when he’s been drinking he talks ■■■■. The last time he outright insulted for being mentally ill, I verbally attacked him and told him to get in a car wreck on the way home, (he was drunk) and he just left. He made a slightly offensive remark last weekend, he said that I can’t be picky about who I date because I am insane. I was patient and handled it without cursing or raising my voice. I simply said “No, I am recovered, I am not insane right now.” which is a fact.
It’s easier to be a homosexual than it is to be schizophrenic. Again, some people will turn on you. ■■■■ them. Keep the people who support you.
but you need to follow your own heart , take care