I just want to gauge how many people believe they can recover and what recovery looks like for you? I don’t mean being cured of schizophrenia, I mean able to function again in some way.
Please comment, I’m really interested in what you think.
11 Likes
First of all I want to clarify that I’m talking about SCHIZOPHRENIA, but you are free to extrapolate to other diagnoses
like schizoaffective.
Of course I believe in recovery!
FULLY Recovered to me means the following things:
being able to work in excellent jobs, including management jobs and cognitive jobs( that requires cognitive recovery,
in particular).Being able to study successfully. being able to do household chores and live independently.
Beating the negative symptoms by being active and enterprising.
PARTIALLY Recovered:
That can mean a lot of things. I consider myself partially recovered.
That includes a PARTIAL remission of symptoms( in my case the positive and ones have receded, cognitive are left).
That also includes finding meaning in life. Overcoming feelings of suicide.
Being able to somehow occupy yourself all day long( either with non-job stuff or with a low grade job for some).
Having plans for when you get better.
Among the partially recovered the job status- some are unable to work, some are able to work but in jobs they feel are beneath their league( for example clerk, janitor).
Among the partially recovered the capacity to live independently also differs- some are able to,
some need help.
Doing your best to make a full recovery.
Regarding whether recovery is possible- it depends on the case.
I believe that in most cases(never say ALL) at least some level of improvement is possible.
The degree to which you manage to recover depends on both effort(how hard you try to recover)
and luck( how severe is your case, how well you respond to medications, the existence or lack of support from your family or from authorities)
8 Likes
I believe in recovery for sure. There are people who recovered: Elyn Saks, Cristine McGough, Eleanor Londgen, Jorge Assis, @shutterbug, etc.
There is a theory about the growth mindset which can help with recovery.
3 Likes
Thanks Erez! According to your model of recovery, I am fully recovered. I work in a cerebral work environment and I live independently (albeit with my soon to be husband).
4 Likes
I believe a schizophrenic can fully recover have a job marriage kids house education, but still will have symptoms sometimes.
1 Like
Hi turtle, I do believe in recovery. I think it takes a very positive attitude and diligence. That being said recovery for me is being able to express myself, while having peace of mind.
2 Likes
the harder you ‘try to recover’ !!!
the more stress the more mishaps and the more hospital admittance
I thought i was getting on well with my recovery. The last 2 years i have been attempting early career theatre making
in parts that were more stressful come close to not functioning because i was doing too much and taking everything very seriously and not really containing it.
I have gained 2 stone from stress and overeating … never been so highly strung and busy and the full length play was in production with full cast and production team, location £10,000 grant and it still all went to pot after a few sessions.
now waiting for a decision from the funding people - i’ll know by 21 May.
if we can carry on we will but it’s actually all got too much.
if it goes ahead I have to pay people to get it done including lunches which i was doing
I feel like after the progress happened it now went wrong and to start up again is stress and i don’t know if i’ve got it
P.S
god that is negative all i’ve said above focused on failures i’ve had a lot of my short peices performed all over and i stilll had to edit just to put this
Yes My path to recovery began with acceptance
My diagnosis recently changed
from paranoid schizophrenia
to s/a bi polar
I consider that an improvement
I really believe that it takes hard work in order for us to recover, but I also believe that luck plays a big part.
There are some people with SZ/A that have a hard time recovering even when on their meds.
3 Likes
I think I’ve reached a plateau of functioning. I’m stable but not much else. I’m grateful that I haven’t had to go to hospital for the last 3 years.
But I’m stuck in low-functioning land. I can’t see that changing anytime soon. But it doesn’t upset me for some reason. Maybe I’ve just accepted it.
Excellent post, very relatable. I totally believe in making a full recovery for me personally. Abilify has helped me SO much since I was prescribed it, I feel as though it’s given me my life back. Given me a functional mind back. And I’m so so so grateful for that.
5 Likes
If recovery means the symptoms getting better, than I am on the right path of recovery. I came from severe psychosis at age 19 non-stop for about my first 2 1/2 years after being diagnosed. I spent almost the entire 1980’s in hospitals and various group homes. But nevertheless (I love this word for some strange reason, it rolls off of the lounge) In 1983 I started working again and I have worked pretty steadily since. And done other productive things too. Today, I drove to the courthouse to drop off a check for $290.00 for a ticket I got a month ago for making an illegal right turn on a red light.
This has absolutely nothing to do with the topic but this is what I did today and it irks me.
5 Likes
I like “nevertheless” too. c: 
1 Like
I function as well as I ever will, past the age of wanting to take on the world.
3 Likes
I learned HTML and CSS a year ago. I proved myself that I can learn (I thought I had a lot of cognitive deficits). I’m now learning about Advertising and it’s being interesting for me. I can pressume that, while I’m having interests on things and learning, I’m recovering. If I can learn anything, I can learn social skills as well. I think it’s all about changing mindsets.
2 Likes
Yes, I believe in recovery…but what is recovery? I think everyone here has their own definition. I have mine, too:
Ideally, recovery (to me) means being able to hold a part-time or full-time job while maintaining a few friendships and juggling a hobby or two without everyone coming to the conclusion that you have a MI.
Basically, It means being able to pass as normal in most areas.
I don’t know why being able to pass as normal is such an important thing for me; it’s like a marker of recovery for me for some reason, though. The day I started to get through the day without apologizing for some random laugh or a moment of mumbling to myself–that was when i felt recovered. I still feel that without a full time job, I am not “fully recovered.” I still feel that I am on the path of recovery, though, with wonderful new horizons out there…
Interesting question, because so many of us have different ideas of what recovered means. To one person, it could mean just being aware of your sz/a. To another, it could mean having a friend, or a job…or actively leading a double life among the normals…
2 Likes
Even though I still experience some symptoms, I suppose I am mostly recovered - for the moment, that is. I work, have a few friendships and my own place, but I recognize I could go sliding back at any time. I really doubt that I have had my last ever hospital stay, that there will never again be a major setback for my mental health.
1 Like
To be fully recovered I say, no symptoms. No negatives or positives. You live your life as other people do. No anxiety attacks or anything. Job. Having a job that challenge your cognitive abilities.
I believe with practice you can get better even with sz. I challenge myself every day. Doing cognitive “workout”. I need to come back. I need to recover. I’ve been ill for 9 years. It’s enough now.
3 Likes
I thought I could find healing. It was just harder to move that stone than I thought it was going to be.
Jayster
3 Likes