I live a relatively normal life. I’ve read people with Sz can live a relatively normal life sometimes with medication, but under intense scrutiny they may appear abnormal socially. This is me.
I’ve been reading that Sz can cause cognitive impairment. I have this and it got a lot worse in my 30s. I started hearing voices at 37, so I’m assuming the two go together.
I felt ashamed about having these issues. However, I’m a little glad to know they are Sz related. So, I’m not just weak or stupid.
I thought I would share.
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No one is weak or stupid with this disease.
But, you’ll see a lot ofnus pushing for folks to do things. It isn’t to be mean, it’s to try to get them to have a better life.
Personally, I came back from severe psychosis and now lead a mostly normal life. I mask well enough to fool anyone except people that are looking for something odd.
But, that doesn’t mean life is easy or that I’m 100% capacity 100% of the time. Far from it. I’m symptomatic with anxiety nearly 95% of the time and on the really bad days it triggers sza symptoms.
Only my closest friends see me during those times and only 1 friend offline. That’s also my boss, she’s my in person besty. Lucky, I know. My online besty alsoxhas MH issues, so they can tell if I’m off my nut. I don’t hide things from them.
Right now, I’m sort of at 50% capacity. Got some really dire news concerning my husband’s health. That messes with me hard core, BUT to anyone else watching I seem to have it all together mentally. That’s because hubby doesn’t realize how bad hos new diagnosis is and I’ll be damned if I fall apart on him.
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I’m sorry about your husband. 
That has to be really hard.
This is such a nice and thoughtful response. Thank you so much. It really helps.
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Hang in there guys. Love is the answer.
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Anytime.
Just remember only you control your life. We all have external stressors, it’s how we react that defines how our days will go.
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@anon4362788 I am so sorry to hear of your husband dire news. bummed.
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Thanks @jukebox . It’s bad. He probably has 6 to 9 years left. But, I have to be a rock for him and the kids.
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Everyday I go through battle as with most of the MI people. It’s me the silently productive working one vs me the idle angry vexed one. I just have to overcome the second and be the first.
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Oh no @anon4362788 ! 6-9 years only? I’m so sorry. What’s wrong with him if I may ask? I feel so bad for you and him and your family.
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His neuropathy has moved to affect hos autonomic nervous system. That controls your organs. Right now the communication between his heart and brain has been affected resulting in his blood pressure not being regulated properly. It doesn’t raise when he changes positions, so he passes out and falls a lot. Also affecting his digestive system.
When it gets to respiratory, game over.
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Man. That’s just plain awful. Your kids must be so scared. When my husbands kids see him pass out or his legs give out beneath him it really scares them. And he’s not even dying. His spine and neck issues cause lots of problems including periodic loss of consciousness. It freaks us out. My biological daughter hasn’t seen it happen yet. She’s lucky.
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They are, when he falls or gets unsteady. It’s really difficult for him because he is, a big, burly dude, that suddenly went from being the one that did all the heavy work to needing to sit down after standing or walking a few minutes.
Neither he nor the kids know about the shortened life expectancy. I don’t have the heart to tell him. The doctor can do that. But I watched this happen to my mother, so I know how it goes.
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I’m sorry and sad to hear that @anon4362788 .
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I’d let the dr say it too. They can answer any questions with expertise. But you’ll be able to offer the comfort and experiential knowledge after. Hopefully, in your way, find things to help bring him healing and peace. Your kids too. Knowing death is coming too early is extremely hard to handle. And the suffering he’ll endure is awful too. I hope you find things that comfort him. I’m so sorry
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Thanks. I appreciate the thoughts.
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I’m graduating and will be going to graduate school. People all called me stupid like 6 years ago.
But none of my achievements matter because the society will discredit it anyway. I’m just a schizophrenic to them.
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Oh my god I wish I could do something to help, so sorry to hear this news. Best wishes, I hope things go as well as they can given the circumstances.
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I was strongly impaired at the outset. I pushed back hard and I believe I have recovered most of my function. I have to say this took many years and it happened so slowly that I would not have been able to track the change at points without my recovery journal to refer back to.
Very sorry to hear this.
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I’m on disability and feel disabled by it, I just stay home and only go out with my support worker
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It’s my memory and being able to concentrate on a book and tv/movies sometimes. I’m wondering if the antipsychotics cause me problems with concentration.