Your list of successes dwarfs me. I did earn a BA from an accredited college. I taught music off and on and would still be working if I hadn’t been hampered by visual problems.
overcome the positives of sz and have greatly recovered. I believe that I have also made some progress on so called “secondary negatives”. Whether these were med related, sz related or ptsd related I dont know, but anhedonia has mostly been destroyed. some progress on motivational problems as well.
I decided to take up guitar hobby six months ago and have stuck with it and continue to make progress.
Started doing some electrical work for relatives and have kept some of the skills involved.
Ummmm…all I can come up with atm…may post some later.
Don’t forget the great job you do here as a mod and support member. You are appreciated by many of us and you are good at your job. @Bowens@anon4362788
I graduated from OU with a degree in architecture, never got licensed, designed about four hundred homes before I got sick though…proud of that.
I put myself through college.
I play three instruments, cello, guitar and banjo. been playing all my life…don’t play the cello anymore though.
I have been married twice, first one lasted seven years, working on my second marriage going on two years in september.
overcame my illness and not suicidal anymore…a big feat to me.
lost all my extra weight, now under 200 lbs…only at 187 now.
quit drinking alcohol except for twice or three times a year now.
selling prints of my artwork now and hope that is successful as it has been so far.
painted many paintings in my lifetime.
self published a book that is now being used as a textbook in psychiatry college.
Sometimes in some subjects I got top grades not bad for someone who wagged all the time.
I got my drivers license at aged 32.trying to get it since 16.
I survived ovarian cancer.
I rescued my fur baby and saved her life.
I got my aged care certificate.
I once held down a full time job at a cafe for four months.
I managed to work a little in my life not much but something is something.
I exercise every week.
I jumped and did horse riding that was scary.
I became vegan.
I drove to sa from Gold Coast under direction of my x through walki talki as he was driving infront.that was a huge deal as I’m not a confident driver.
I don’t dare drive far or to many places by myself.
Living in sa country with family there.(x and dogs)
Gave good love to loved ones.
My x boyfriend said I enriched his life and improved it.and made him lose ten kg through sex and eating vegan.
Every book I managed to read is a success to me.
I learnt how to cook some meals and I can bake a little.
I got through mental illness days and childhood.
I hated being a child.
I said no to my mum and stood up to her that I am aloud to be my own person with own taste and i don’t have to do what she says.it’s bloody difficult.I try to avoid fighting so sometimes give in to keep the peace but i don’t want to be o exient push over to anyone.
I didn’t become an alcoholic drinking daily even though the only time voices were quiet was if I was super drunk or sleeping.
So far I have managed to survive bad parenting, crawl out of a bottle, stand up from a wheel chair, escape the psych ward, and not fall into an open grave yet. I’m also married to a smokin’ hot woman.
I’ve managed to hold down a full time job for 15 years, lived on my own for 13 years, been in a (semi-long distance) relationship for 4 years, kept a side gig as a theatre music director off and on for 16 years (working a production right now). Not always been easy, not all of it hospital-free, but I’ve made it this far.
I graduated high school and 82 at the same time I went to college for 3 years and got my doctor’s degree in Automotive I want a art certificate with a scholarship and went to K-State I took Industrial drafting for 3 years also I got married twice and had two kids and two step kids I was married for over 17 years and one year to the first wife I went on to do research studies and participated in more than 22 studies in my lifetime ranging from inpatient outpatient and long-term although I cannot list the medicines for you I can say that I have done the majority of schizophrenia medicines in testing I have built two garages and one house I feel that I have confidence to lock my lifetime by traveling to Alaska and rescue efforts in Belize I have done many volunteer jobs worked for the Salvation Army been a manager of two stores did industrial and body work on horses and ambulances and stretch limos now that I am retired I just play with my band loogie thank you for your time Dr Zen
Regained a healthy weight
Quit smoking
Got a Bachelors post-sz
Did smart investments
Supported my family members
Travelled the world and lived on 3 continents
Exercised daily for the last 12 days
Get up each morning before 7:30 am
Before my relapse I earned an associate’s degree in History, worked at the Library mainly as a volunteer for 10 years. worked as a VISTA volunteer for 3 years, climbed Mt. Kennesaw in GA one day in the Winter when the road was closed due to the season, road my bike for about 30-40 miles one day, walked down a number of nature trails in Kansas and Tennessee, bowled, played tennis, frisbee golf, real golf (twice), and minature golf as well. While my mental skills were not always that great I made up for it using my physical abilities, and achieved a few things scholastically and vocationally before the side effects of the drugs became overwhelming along with some mistakes I made along the way. I also played a role in the bringing up of one of my nieces because her father needed the help. I wasn’t perfect but no one ever is. Oh yeah I wrote a few poems and short stories.
Worked in the education field for many years as a special ed paraprofessional aide and substitute teacher.
I also was able to marry and at one point owned a house.
I also saved my MIL life when her heart stopped beating.
I performed CPR as I am certified.
I’ve got a degree in economics
I’ve got onto the council register for council housing (I live in a council home and am not homeless)
I am learning to drive
