I tell people I have schizophrenia - bipolar- schizoaffective depending on my mood.
It’s basically the same thing, severe mental illness.
I have elements of all three.
2 Likes
I used to be really scared to tell people, because of judgement and fear, but now I’m a little more relaxed about it. I figure it’s nothing to be ashamed of, its part of me but its not WHO I am. I have more to me than mental illness.
1 Like
My father used to shout “shame on you”. It was awful.
He said that because you have schizophrenia?
No. This was before any diagnosis.
1 Like
I feel the same, my mom didn’t think I had schizophrenia and yet pdocs diagnosed me with it over the years until the last two changed it to schizoaffective as I have had rapid cycling mood swings as well as the schizophrenia side of it.
1 Like
My mum does not believe I have schizophrenia.
My mum thinks I have Aspergers and that’s all.
Despite my symptoms I’ve told her about (schizophrenia symptoms).
She thinks there is too much stigma with schizophrenia and she rather I have autism instead which I might have aswell.
Seven psychiatrists could not convince my mum I have schizophrenia.
It took me over twenty years to believe I have schizophrenia.
I believe I have it thanks to this forum and seeing others with similar symptoms.
I am stable and well now.
I have had people not believe me or hate on me for schizophrenia in the past but the biggest non believer was and is my mum.
According to her the psychiatrists are wrong.
I’m grateful she acknowledges that something was and is wrong with me because I felt it as a child and suffered.
1 Like
My father thinks I got demons and that it isn’t an illness he’s one of does super religious guys who don’t like to be wrong. Guess I’m a demon child.
3 Likes
So far no. I have gone 39 years keeping it a secret. That and I wasn’t really aware myself that it was Schizophrenia. Well I had my first symptoms at 5 yrs old. My mother told me few days ago not to tell my Aunt. My family doesn’t know. She told me they wouldn’t understand but I’m not so sure. My mother knew I think. I told her and my grandmother I was seeing things early on. I was misdiagnosed a lot. (Rapid cycling bi-polar 1disorder with psychosis, autism, etc) before I received proper diagnosis . I kept my symptoms quiet because my mother’s best friend was diagnosed with it and my mom was scared of her. I didn’t want my mom scared of me. A lot of bad things happened to me growing up and I didn’t know how to communicate to my mom or anyone so it made things worse. I’m just now opening up to people and one of my friends from Jr. High said she kinda figured I was schizophrenic. She loves me anyways and it doesn’t change anything about how she feels for me. So far the people that matter still care. If anyone doesn’t believe the diagnosis it’s because they don’t really know me and I’m reclusive anyways.
1 Like
My mother fed my delusions as a child. I thought I was possessed for the longest time. She took me to her religious elders and they said I was being followed by demons. My whole family on her side thought I was. Now that she knows I’m Schizophrenic she told me not to tell my relatives. Not sure if it’s because they won’t believe the diagnosis or if she is embarrassed.
3 Likes
I used to be painfully shy and when I told someone who knew me then, he said: I know. Now people call me a con, even though, it is their hobby to cause constant problems for me.
Yes, me! 151515
Me too. My mom is Pentecostal and was heavily into deliverance from evil spirits and fed my delusion that evil spirits are trying to infiltrate my mind
I got ill when I was about 13 and it started out with severe anxiety and panic attacks which lasted for years till my schizoaffective breakdown at 18. When I was 15 she took me to a religious elder to get me “baptised in the holy spirit” and he tried to exorcise me.
Needless to say I was terrified and screamed nonstop till he decided to stop. After that day my delusions and anxiety got worse.
2 Likes
It took me 6 years to figure it out for myself and I got sick at 38. Lots of people say I can’t possibly have it getting sick at that age but now I know I definitely have it.
1 Like
That sounds so familiar. I empathize with you. My mother is a Jehovah’s Witness. I remember she would make me pray to try to make it stop.
When I was 14 I told her I wanted out of the “religion” and we fought all the time. She said I was replaced with someone else.
I had full blown anxiety by 16.
3 Likes
My dx history = 1975 1st dx = sz , 1983/1988 = sz-a, 2005= personality disorder nos, ?-2018=paranoid pd, 2018=schizophrenia, 2019- = sz-a & Asperger’s.
People believed it but I didn’t believe I had it… I thought someone did witchcraft against me… I know better now.
The Pentecostal Church I went to was not good.
In youth group the guys that just kept saying “I’m on fire for God!” But stole, had a rep for fighting, were basically little hoodlums…the girls couldn’t get enough of them. They rarely sang in worship.
If you did everything right but were quiet about it, good luck!
I don’t like fake people.
I’m not as religious these days.
Understand I’m not trying to lump huge groups of people into one cart.
1 Like
My grade school sweetheart was from a JW family. She was a nice girl.
They may not have appreciated the Valentine’s chocolates I gave her.
1 Like
Maybe she ate them before she got home or hid them and saved them for later. 
1 Like