I’m 51 which with schizophrenia pretty much means I don’t have much time left. Of course that includes people who checked out early by their own hands but I’ve aged quickly lately and a lot of us check out at my age anyway. So here’s some crappy advice unless you have a mild case of schizophrenia:
- If your doctors put you on SSI, or SSDI there’s a reason for it. You are not likely to make it to retirement and you are likely to relapse at some point. Then you’ll need the insurance whether or not high priced meds put you there as it is. Obesity related disorders will also suddenly come up on you without much warning.
- Lack of sleep is a killer.
- Don’t discontinue your meds if the voices go quiet. They will come back and bring their brother with them to kick your arse.
- Don’t immediately hook on to a new drug as soon as it comes out unless the existing one does you no good whatsoever.
- Early on finding the right meds is trial and error. However don’t expect perfection. The ones whose voices go away completely are lucky. The majority will have a lessening of voices and no better than that.
- You are likely to get diabetes. Sadly there ain’t much you can do about that.
- The doctors’ ideal of a “normal life” may not match your own. Mine thought me working for over a decade mainly as a volunteer and just getting my own low income apartment for a while was a big achievement. If you can find one that believes in your goals more power to you.
- You can still enjoy some aspects of life. You can travel. You can earn a living. You can have children. You can drive if they let you. But the powers “helping” you may try to discourage it. I remember a guy who received a lot of flack who donated to a sperm bank because he was schizophrenic.
- Every mass shooting puts us closer to being institutionalized. If you are planning one please stop. If you believe someone is planning one report it.
- Be good to your family. They may be all you have some day.
- You will not be able to do the things you used to do faster than you know it.
- Go somewhere as often as you can. A change of scenery is good. (except perhaps in times like these.)
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