I was chuckling today (high on my serotonin) that while schizophrenia is devastating, it is also good in some ways. Before I got sick, I wasn’t as motivated to learn. The stress of filling my mind with info, that I use to drown out the negative voices and thoughts, has made me more curious and more willing to take the extra time to learn specifics. I’m more intellectually challenged and motivated.
My voices, by scaring the crap out of me in a constant state for months on end have made me respond less negatively to bad.
I no longer have an inflated sense of who I am.
It takes a lot from us but what is it that schizophrenia has given to you.
It’s kind of weird to think this could be considered an advantage from being schizophrenic, but it’s the amount of free time I have now. Before I fell ill I was busy in a career that I was sore of losing dearly for years, but when I worked as residential designer I would work 60 hour weeks both at home and at work and never seemed to have any time off. Well, can’t say that now !!
I’ve been trying to think of a single perk for a while now. Nothing ever comes to mind except that I have incredible focus. I don’t know if that’s schizophrenic-specific, but…
I still experience a lot of the negativity I did before I was diagnosed. I was always angry when I was growing up. I think more clearly on Geodon and Seroquel than I did on Haldol. Intellectually, Geodon and Seroquel keep me very clear.
I like to use my Sz label when I don’t feel like socializing and want to stay at home all by myself.
Also, it is kind of a license to be a little “left of center” and not have to apologize.
It’s strange about the focus. I have more focus too on a subject but I still struggle to read Long text. It’s like the will is there but not the capacity.
I notice when I’m trying to fix computers, I get incredibly focused and can just lose track of hours and hours of time. Luckily my reading capacity hasn’t been affected too much one way or the other.
i toke care of the old and did there work pluss a job but the weekends i went out to music concerts.never real know i was ill tell i started meds and it messme up faster then NORMAL.
I know it may seem counterintuitive but I would add strength of mind. It takes someone mentally capable, resilient and enduring to make the climb back to reality. Most people just take it for granted; we fight for it.
I would say much the same for anyone who has been through hardship.
i know that my “creative periods” i sure as heck learn a lot , anything from building and designing things to learning to playing instruments and stuff. during those times I feel I understand concepts far more clearly and just feel in the zone
This illness gave me the ability to appreciate my moments of calm and contentment. I’m pretty happy with how my life is now… I wouldn’t be in this spot… in the here and now… if it wasn’t for everything that preceded it.
My Sz gave me my past… and that past gave me this present.
That can be true.when I first started being noticeably sick, I used to spend an hour appreciating the stillness around me. Although I was agitated beyond belief, the only way I didn’t collapse over was being forced into those moments of calm by the turmoil.
YEah psych meds have slowed me down. That isn’t a bad thing for someone who “Thought too much” anyways!
I can deal with the occasional positives it’s the negatives that bite me these days but saying that.
It’s nice not to live in fear!!! It’s nice to approach life like others who exist. I’m starting to figure out that for most of my adult life I’ve been paranoid and afraid and highly strung!!!
It’s nice to be mellow!!! I’d even say I’ve reached some spiritual satisfaction with my mind…Satori in the right cortex and all that…enlightenment is all chemical anyways and thanks to zyprexa and Effexor for bringing me some peace!
I’d like a piece of this and a piece of that but hey…I’m so much more even keeled these days!
Some of my best ideas come out of from psychosis. One or two I wish I followed up on when I had the energy. May go back to them one day. - Genius has its limitations. insanity…not so much ― Darynda Jones, First Grave on the Right
