do u tell u have sz to selected people. or educating to strangers about sz when encountered with an issue be safe. ?
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I am completely open about my sz. I post about it on Facebook, I wear a schizophrenia t shirt in public, and I write papers about it at school. It’s not a path I would recommend for everyone, but I enjoy it. I had a lot of trouble keeping it a secret, because it made me feel like I should be ashamed of it. I don’t want to be ashamed, I want to be accepted. I live in a very progressive city with a group of open-minded friends, so it was easier for me. Most of my friends are trans, polyamorous, and/or have a mental illness of their own. For them, schizophrenia is just my own personal character quirk. I ran into a bit of trouble at my last job, when my supervisor who already didn’t like me found out because of my doctor’s note requesting special accommodations. She ignored the note and there was a whole big thing with an ADA violation, and she got demoted. But I don’t think it was discrimination. I think she just hated my personality, and used my disease as an excuse to make things difficult for me. The rest of my work stood by me through the whole thing. I believe that as long as you work hard, treat people well, and act in a non threatening manner, most people will accept you. But it’s possible I just got lucky because of where I live.
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If your strong stick up for it…
If your not be a cagey about it.
If your struggling with symptoms daily then no.
It’s all about you and how you deal with it. I am as previous poster…I’m aggressively social but I don’t tell everyone…I’m open about it but I’m discrete about who I tell. I let people know me before I say something but at certain places like my cricket club it’s well known! I’m still not divulging with everyone.
It all depends on you and how you’ll handle it! It’s good sometimes to unload…if you pick the right people it’s good to be yourself…with others fock em…they will never ever know your suffering!
I’d say be strong and be selective!
Schizophrenia still carries a lot of stigma. Educating strangers about how it affects you won’t dispel their prejudices. If you live in a very conservative area I would keep it discreet.
Choose who you tell wisely.
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I’m going to be in the minority here but I wouldn’t tell a soul. My dr told me to never tell anyone and even when I was talking to the radiator all day I didn’t tell my wife. I have a desire to avoid any stigma and stay as functional as I can in the eyes of other people.
I can see the desire for the opposite too. I also see a desire to go off all meds and let my head explode. But I don’t. It’s not easy to keep it all to yourself but for me that’s what this forum is for. If people can live well telling others I’m supportive of that but there are many cases that go the other way.
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thanks all for your comments. right now i am selective and only when i feel like i can disclose, also will make sure that it does not affect me or others in any way. but have an urge to open up in an amicable way.
i used to be social once but now totally antisocial. slowly inching towards seclusion. but i never want that. the voices are making me sick each and everyday. only way i can open up about these is this forum exactly.
yes my place is conservative. we all are not very open minded. so its better to keep it to myself here.
but what if there is a psychotic episode and we need to explain to people who ask questions and are deciding people about our situation. it may be at work or home. what best answer could we give? this question is abstract as the episode can be of any type from verbal to physical.
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Love to see …can u post iTs picture…i am eager…
I’ve never gone psychotic over night or as some snap reaction, maybe over hours… but tell your dr or the hospital dr all your symptoms. Try to have insight for whether you’re going psychotic or not and tackle it early with meds. If all else fails just get to a hospital. Walk out of work, tell them you leaving cause you feel sick, or whatever and get to a hospital asap
The shirts are all on that website.
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I live in a conservative neighbourhood @Melomaniac It is similar to the Stepford Wives.
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wow that is amazing @Ninjastar I don’t think I can ever do something like that 
I am so happy to hear it though!
Very close friends know I have a form of anxiety… and family knows. Other people maybe know I have OCD…
when i became psychotic i got off work but i convinced or lied everyone around to escape the place. it failed massively and now i am resorting to meds. so i trust meds that it wont happen again. but i am sober and guilty always now. alright going to pdoc now for 4th time after episode lets see what he says.
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I appreciate u sri cause u can work beside ur illness…
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i have not seen or read stepford wives. but will do.
Sri have u reached ur home…
yes and i off to see pdoc in few min.
Keep us posted how it goes…
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As much as I support and respect people who act as advocates for their illness I am not one of those people. I tell only my family and close friends. I don’t want to possibly hurt my job prospects, and don’t want the stigma that comes from random people who don’t know anything about anything. Plus I just view it as my personal business. I don’t need everyone knowing. There are still things I don’t talk to my family and friends about.
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