How did you feel about getting a schizophrenia diagnosis?

DX'd - Other
21

I was relieved because it explained so much of what was going on with me

22

how hv u been doing since then?

23

Iā€™ve never grieved over it, I always assumed it was curable. The body has an amazing capacity to heal itself when you treat it well, and give it the right nutrients.

24

I didnā€™t believe anything was wrong with me and thought my parents were trying to ruin my life. I was still slightly delusional and gained a ton of weight because of the medication, was feeling sedated all the time and sleeping 16 - 17 hours a day and thought how it could possible get any better and that my life was over. I was very confused.

Itā€™s when I relapsed and the new medication I am taking kicked in that I came to terms with my illness. I accepted it finally but eventually became depressed after coming out of psychosis. Iā€™ve come to terms with a lot of things, my childhood, all the abuse and Ive forgiven everyone that has hurt me. With time Im attaining more and more inner peace.

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25

I cried a littleā€¦I really wanted things to get better.

26

It was hard to accept at first that I have a mental illness itā€™s like I was damaged goods and family and friends treat you different but with time I came to terms with it and also became med compliant

27

I knew it was schizophrenia but when the second psychiatrist told me I have schizophrenia, after a while i was feeling a burden on my chest and I was feeling that everyone on the streets knew my diagnosis.

28

The first time I found out I had psychotic disorder I didnā€™t think deeply of it, the second time I didnā€™t either untilā€¦ The med side effects kicked inā€¦ Then I was like omgoshā€¦ I hope I recover

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29

For me, I was relieved. I thought at first it canā€™t be true, but it was and I was relieved.

30

Took a long time to get a handle on it. Though I was developing multiple personalities but I came here to chat and the boards and learned a lot in a short space of time.

So. Best thing ever. Got on meds. Took a while to find the right combination but living without the constant narrative on everything, the paranoia and the depression is the best thing ever.

It was the start of something great for me.

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31

I more or less was not surprised when the Sz diagnosis came out. I was at such a low point in my life and in relapse - i spent the half hour consultation crying my eyes out to the doctor - whilst listenining ā€œto theirā€ microphones i was that far gone.

It was a relief. And Touch Wood im on the road to recovery now.

32

Running commentary?

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33

Me and my family pretty much knew but at first it felt good to have a name an answer to whatā€™s wrong with me but now If i tell someone i have schizophrenia i worry what they have as a pre conceived notion of it alot of people dont understand.

34

It sounded serious so i went and google it.

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35

Shocked but not shocked. My previous diagnosis was bipolar but I just got paranoid delusions during my ā€˜manicā€™ episodes and was mainly depressed. I got a new pdoc about 3 years back and he changed my diagnosis to paranoid schizophrenia. Iā€™m shocked because my old pdocs never suggested sz. Iā€™ve had bipolar and ASD as suggestions previously.

36

Getting the diagnosis was no big deal at the time because I knew what it was but I didnā€™t know what the consequences would be. Getting a diabetes diagnosis was far worse because I know more about that.

37

Iā€™d wish I knew. My memory has been completely erased from that time.

38

It seemed like a good fit to my symptoms. I know a lot about the diagnosis and had expected something like it. I was actually a bit relieved they were taking it seriously.

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39

I had no idea what schizophrenia was. When I got diagnosed, I was relieved but later realized it had a horrible stigma attached to it. Also I was extremely psychotic at times, so I spent many years in confusion and in despair.

Others were more accepting, until I realized my family absolutely hated the dx and would do anything to stop me from saying it.

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40

When they told me I have sz I was very confused and struggled with the diagnosis. It didnā€™t make sense and it didnā€™t fit me perfectly

But then when they said I have sza it made sense and I accepted it and things fell into place