A friend who I see once a year visited today. He asked me about schizophrenia and to be honest I was caught off guard.
I don’t hear voices or hallucinate so I tried and failed to explain the negative and cognitive symptoms. I did a really bad job of explaining.
Grrrr… I feel like an idiot.
It’s unacceptable for acquaintances to ask me about my symptoms because it feels like I have to prove it to them or else I’m making it all up. I broke up a whole group of friends over that. ■■■■ them.
Sorry to hear about that. This guy was just innocently asking questions though.
Maybe in your spare time make a list of things you can’t do because of your symptoms. Then you’ll be prepared, unlike I was att.
I had mostly the symptom of thought insertion for most of my life. Try explaining that to a normie. I always found it impossible.
So have you mentally prepared a response from your point of view for the next time? Guessing the point of view of how others perceive sz and how you compare to them might be informative to any listener.
It definitely can be difficult. Also makes it tougher that he caught you off guard.
I also don’t have positive symptoms anymore. If people ask though, I usually say positive symptoms indicate the presence of new challenges (hallucinations/delusions) and negative symptoms represent a lack of cognitive abilities you used to have (trouble focusing/memory stuff).
Hopefully this is helpful. Most people don’t know anything about sz/sza so it’s not easy explaining.
Yes, that’s what I’m going to do.
I tried to explain to my best friend when I got diagnosed by sending an email with an article explaining it, and I have not seen him since 
That really sucks @Joker .
It’s ok. I am past it now. I am just glad this person hasn’t done this to you as well.
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