I don’t tell employers, I didn’t tell my professors, I didn’t tell my college friends, I didn’t tell my anybody on facebook, I didn’t tell my gym mates, I didn’t tell anybody unless you were working for the mental health system…I had 2 friends who knew between 2010-2016, one was my ex who lived out of state and died before I got out of grad school, the other had a sz brother and she saw me back when I was actively psychotic so I just told her that I was fine on meds.
After grad school back in like 2015, I finally eased up a little and told 2 cousins and my current best friend. They’re okay with it, but I glossed over my traumatic experiences in the psych wards.
It’s a difficult double life. I hate living a lie, but I haven’t known anything except how to lie to pass as normal since like 2011 or even earlier. I must protect my soul and the remnants of my shattered ego, so I don’t take that risk. I wish I could. I just keep living a lie, I guess, it makes life simpler in some respects.
Good on all you who have found the security to do so! Elyn Saks, the lawyer/professor who is also a paranoid sz, came out to the whole world through her book, The Center Cannot Hold, and she has received a genius award and accolades, and she is my hero! Maybe one day I will be financially and emotionally secure enough to tell my story outside of a fake name.
I told a good friend of mine from high school she asked if I was seeing anyone and then asked if I had a job. She didn’t text back and that was an hour ago
I definitely understand people’s different perspectives on this. Just like I don’t condemn people for staying in the closet about being gay I wouldn’t condemn someone for keeping their medical issues private. For me schizophrenia manifest it’s Self too often in the former of cognitive and negative symptoms and I feel it’s important for people close to me to understand those symptoms so they understand me better. Maybe I wear the Schiz badge a little too proudly but it’s just my preference. It took years to get to this level of openness about my “illness” or disorder.
I even put it on my dating profile, that’s the only place I “lead” with my disorder
Currently, insurance broker. Previously, bulk fuel delivery driver. Prior to that, information technology (collaboration platforms architect, but the stress did me in). Also own my own photo studio and DJ biz. Hobby is podcasting. I help run a community radio station on a volunteer basis, I’m a 4-H project leader, and I help coach archery at the school.
a few examples spring to mind…the murderer who also ate his victim… not matter how he goes about it I do not see him doing anything but adding to the stigma… so to be a positive role model for sz to fight the stigma is basically impossible for him… being ultra violent and super sz is probably not the best model for ambassador to the masses… we are not all stable and harmless … I was just saying some of our sz brothers and sisters should not wave the sz flag… I also said regardless you should let your support system know just some people should not go further than that… again just coming out is not going to kill the stigma when we have cannibal murderers amongst us…
I too am both gay and schizophrenic. When I was younger, I was totally out of the closet on both issues, my lesbianism and my sza. But, now that I’m older and living with mostly 70 to 100 year old people in an assisted living facility, I am more cognizant of stigma here in this environment than I was elsewhere among younger people my own age. When I moved in here, I was flat out told by the executive director to keep my mouth shut about my sza if I knew what was best for me. He knew nothing about my lesbianism. I just assumed it was the same way with the lesbianism. So, I keep silent.
I tell all my friends and some of my acquaintances. My family knows. But I’m not going to tell my fellow students or my professors. And when I start working, I probably won’t tell my coworkers either. Not unless they become friends.
yeah i told my husband and he looked like he was gonna puke, my best friend figured it out on her own and is okay with it I guess my little sister I told but I dont think she really understands, Im not telling anyone else Id rather not deal with the look of horror like the hubs had
I definitely know how it feels. I’m still trying to become comfortable telling people I’m sz (and bi), it feels like I’m coming out of the closet every time I meet a new person.
@moonbeam is ‘TheSchiz’ available as a username? I think I tried it when I first signed up but now I can’t remember! If it’s available I totally want it
