The rest is people with loads of money and good careers. My brother who invited me i like very much, a multimillionaire, but i don’t know what to say when the inevitable questions comes:
“What do you do for a living”
Answer:
“Im a schizo living on social disability pension. What do you do?”
You could always say ‘I’m early retired. Enjoying life’
Yeah, perhaps. But i feel like telling a white lie.
In fact i also want to stand up to my social class and make them aware that there are people out there, who have some for them unknown barriers and problems, and that is the reason some of us are on disability.
Most of us don’t choose disability, we want to give something to the society, we want to work, but cant due to voices, negative symptoms or other aspects of SZ,
I want to be honest, without being transparent or political, angry, and envious.
Maybe i dont get the question after all and it’s all in my head 
You don’t have to go.
People always ask what you do for a living at such events.
I always tell them I’m a writer.
When they ask what kind of writer, I say “I’m working on a personal project right now”.
It usually shuts down questions when you add the word “personal”.
I don’t know what you could say, but I suggest if you are going to lie, to let your brother in on it before the party so he doesn’t blow your cover.
I see people’s eyes go dead when I tell them I work in the insurance industry. That’s okay - saves me from unpleasant socializing.
I’ve seen that look.
My husband used to be a new hire trainer for a big insurance company.
People just zone out at the word “insurance”.
I find it awkward when a barber asks me if it’s my day off work xd
I just say I’m studying sound engineering and music production.
I basically am though.
I used to tell people that I cleaned gutters. Which was true. People would do the ole “oh, thats nice.” 
It made me think @Charles_Foster @everhopeful @LevelJ1 @anon84377678 @shutterbug and the rest of you.
I don’t want to disguise myself as a normie or saying I am a writer (which I am). I want to tell the truth when asked: I suffer from a neurobiological psychiatric disorder, which unfortunately makes it impossible to work. After that I can always speak of things I’m interested in and ask what the person I am talking with is interested in and do for a living.
I have in the past always tried to “hide” my schizotypy, but since it is affecting everything in my life, I want in the future to be honest and direct about it.
People are often more accepting than I think they are, and if they are not - go to hell.
It’s hard to say how people might react. I have been very open about my schizophrenia, and for the most part people don’t seem to care. If anything, they, comment on how well I seem to manage it
And if it bothers them, like you say, ■■■■ 'em
That’s how I felt when going to graduate school to become a registered dietitian…I was on disability and received food stamps. Anyways, all these other students in my classes were much younger than me and fairly upper class, so they’d be like “oh, everyone has to eat organic fruits and veggies and everybody should eat salmon that was humanely caught…etc.” I would speak up and be like “if you’re on food stamps, you ain’t gonna pay for organic bananas cuz the regular one are cheaper.” These kids had no idea that people buy mac & cheese cuz it’s cheap and filling…most poor folks will buy one box of mac & cheese for the same or lower price than organic cabbages.
I was 27 when I went to college, and of course most were younger than me. They all hated me because I worked so hard, but they had no concept of what it took to make it in the outside world. They were soft
I worked since I was 17, and worked three part-time jobs while putting myself through college, and none of these guys had ever had a job other than Burger King. It’s hard to take, sometimes, but you just have to put your head down and do it
Hey Cragger ! I have not seen you here for awhile. Been practicing your instruments? I started writing a song tonight but there was a leaky faucet that perturbed me and I no longer feel guitar is my main instrument, I’m more into the mandolin.
I come from a different place. I work and was very active in my communty before the pandemic. People have no idea I have a serious mental illness. Yeah, I could disclose, but I’ve had over half a lifetime of AA conditioning. In AA we try not to become positive examples of our illness to the public because there is a very real chance we can slip and become very negative examples instead. So I mostly keep it under my hat unless it is quietly letting a few managers or the people I work or volunteer with know. Decision makers and community influencers.
SZ is something I contend with, sure, but it’s not my worst problem by any means. My heart is a piece of ■■■■ that will kill me sooner rather than later. I’m really trying to manage my weight. Today I was at the ER because my right retina might be detaching - seeing a specialist in the morning. Those are all more pressing issues to me than the SZ.
The only people I’m really intrested in talking about SZ with are others who share the condition. There was nothing that gave me hope when I was first DXed and I thought my life was over. I actually tried to end it a few times because of lack of hope. I managed to get better. Since I’m nothing special, me going from hopeless to doing pretty okay probably means a lot of others can, too. I want people here to know that having SZ doesn’t stop you from growing as a person. From developing new skills. From having FUN. The catch is that only a small part of that comes from the meds – we have to provide a huge chunk of the recovery ourselves.
So, uh, there.
[ bites @bluebutterfly’s ankle ]
[ sticks googly eyes on the other ankle ]
[ slither back under couch leaving a trail of whoopie cushions ]
The work thing ia just small talk. Saying all that would sorta just kill the vibe im pretty sure
Hey @Jinx good to see you! Yes I’ve been picking away at the guitar pretty much every day. The band is finally getting back together after three and a half years, so I’m a bit more motivated.
Good for you on the mandolin, I bought one but never bothered to learn playing it. My buddy got quite good on it on his own, but I don’t seem to have the motivation for it. I really should at least learn the basic chords
Great quote, Mr. ankle biter, and sad to hear you are struggling with your health. Keep on living as good and long you can. It sounds like you have had your share of problems to deal with, and did it good.
Of course i only want to disclose myself if asked. And i hope im not asked. Im a very bad liar, so if i tried with a white lie it could end in a social awkward situation.
Lol. Difficult one. Had that conversation many times. I just say I’m a peer support mentor (which i am - although not difficult to-do and anyone who’s had therapy with an MI can do it) and they assume I’m paid for it. 