i have mixed feelings myself about this. on one hand i want and need sympathy and then i want to consider myself disabled on the other hand i am proud and want to say there’s nothing wrong with me.
how about you?
judy
2 Likes
I used to have imposter syndrome really bad for a long time because I always believed my psychosis was coming from fear of my environment. I thought I could overcome my fears and scary thoughts though if I were just in a nurturing environment. I had high hopes for a long time that things “would get better” for me, but it turns out that people hate me because of my illness and I get accused of being a psychopath all the time.
1 Like
Sometimes the label enables people to help me.
Everything from priority for utility outages and discounts to taking someone with me to the cinema.
Oh and my bus 
pass and discount 
rail card!
1 Like
it took awhile for me to consider myself disabled and it took my therapist and my partner convincing me to realize it. i thought at first it was just fixable with a few pills and i’ll get better and am able to stop the meds when i feel better. boy did that serve as a wake up call when i stopped meds for the first time.
1 Like
I always thought schizophrenia was a mental disability or at least it felt that way to me… 
Yes! My psych and I had long talk about this the other day. My hang up was that I felt I wasn’t allowed to feel happiness because I collect government benefits although I paid into them before I had to quit working. I don’t enjoy the label disabled but I think if it can give a person some security both financially and emotionally I think it’s okay to take advantage of the benefits just as long as it doesn’t turn into exploitation. IMFUO!
1 Like
One year I was the same. I moved in with an aunt I have in Costa Rica. I was from America. And I was totally delusional and when things started to get rough I started to have this love for pain. That was what kept me pushing myself to work harder and socialize more.
And even with that delusion, I was frequently having burnt out days which canceled out my hard working days. I came back to the US feeling like I died.
Unfortunately, yes I am. The voice that gives me the trouble is always attacking me. Especially in the shower and the bathroom in general. Him and his demon wife also did a sustained spiritual attack against me in 2006 by simulating beheading my child. Who was only seven yo at the time. These demons attack me endlessly. I cannot handle any extra stress or my symptoms go nuts. I fought it for along time. I thought I could pray it away. Nope. Good luck.
i want and need sympathy
I wouldn’t mind a bit of that. But I’ve yet to get any. It’s bizarre.
1 Like
sympathy comes in many forms, no? perhaps you’ve received it but hadn’t noticed? 
even the little things can make me write poems, sometimes. 
1 Like
No, but I’m also in the earlier stages. I’m still accomplishing things and feeling like I’m doing something worthwhile with my life.
2 Likes
I’m definitely not disabled, I think there were some months here and there when I couldn’t work. Work is good for me I’ve learned to work through a lot of issues over the years. The APS work for me I feel very functional but life is a little less than it once was. But I look forward to a glorious after life and am content with what I have in life.
Well I have SzA… But I do definitely feel disabled. On one hand I have some cognitive deficits but on the other hand the unpredictable nature of my mood swings and psychotic episodes makes it impossible for me to hold a job. I can do the work in most cases, I was great when I was working in the pharmacy, but then I had a hypomanic episode which caused me to do some pretty shitty things… I get fired when I’m hypomanic, I quit when I’m depressed or psychotic… The meds help, I don’t have as many mood episodes as I used to… But when I do, they ■■■■ everything up. I can’t consistently support myself, much less provide for a family. My paranoia also affects my relationships with other people and keeps me from building friendships or romantic relationships.
1 Like
I am a 100% disabled veteran. Schizophrenia is my only ailment. I don’t tell people this but it’s still been a tough pill to swallow.
You have to learn to accept that you just can’t do the things you used to do. And it’s even harder to accept that you probably won’t get much better.
2 Likes
I am disabled legally twice over.
I have been deemed disabled by the State and Federally (SSDI)
There are some things that I can do on my own but there are also things that I need help with.
1 Like
Yes I am disabled …Only thing i now want is positivity…!!
2 Likes
I’m also a 100% disabled veteran for schizophrenia. When people ask me what I do for a living. I tell them I’m a disable vet. If they ask why I’m disabled. I tell them I don’t .like to talk about it. That stops them from asking more question.
As I look back over the years. I can see how this illness has haunted my life for many years. I was kick out of high school for not showing up because of it. I was discharge early from the Navy for it. I have tried college many times over the years, but finally quit trying. Same thing for working.
So I guess I do feel disabled.
5 Likes
Wow, it’s nice to find I’m not the only one! I’m a US Army Vet and after being discharged and then eventually couldn’t hold on to a job, long-term, the VA assigned me 100% Disability Rating under Schizophrenia umbrella.
In a way, being disabled/sick can wind up being a blessing. It’s almost like an early retirement, despite the illness.
1 Like
I just tell people I am a retired Marine. I was medically retired and they let me do 4 years schizophrenic in limited duty and I made it to 20 so I could have retired without the medical. I don’t tell people I am disabled but when you tell them you go to the VA for dental they figure it out for themselves.
2 Likes
I am blessed to be high functioning, however I still find it challenging to do some things based on what symptoms are active. My psychosis only affects my academic functioning, as when I’m delusional my mind is on other more exciting/serious things than my studies, so I’ve failed a few classes because of that. When I am depressed oddly it’s the opposite. My academics stays fine but everything else suffers. I don’t shower regularly, brush my teeth or my hair, dress like a bum if I get dressed at all, find no pleasure in anything so I stop doing all of my hobbies and mostly just sleep all day when I’m not dragging myself to classes or work. My quality of life becomes very poor. So I can’t say that my illness doesn’t affect my functioning at all.