I would try to remember how sweet it feels to be free of symptoms. Even during my illness, at least over the last couple years or so, I have symptom free moments. I get to enjoy the moment and appreciate things large and small.
If I could feel like that for large parts of each day, it would be wondrous.
With our experience on this side of sanity I think we are in a sense blessed with empathy for others. So I would also try to treat everyone in that light — we are all facing a great struggle. If nothing else, this illness is a reminder that I should be kind to others.
It’s weird but through careful “baby steps” my life is starting to get better than it was before I was sick. I try to be healthier now and appreciate life more. I don’t have the constant stress of grades and school. There are a lot of symptoms I have to deal with and I often fail at tasks that used to be simple for me. But every success makes me happy. I guess if I recovered more fully, I’d still be on the path I’m on now. I guess if I fully recovered the first thing I would do is have an extremely productive day. Like I said before, recovering from symptoms is like getting out of jail. What’s behind you is all the time you lost. In front of you is how to restart life over. The goal with the illness is to loose as little time as possible by avoiding “doing nothing.”
I think i would be too indoctrinated into believing i could do very little because of experience - similar to people who leave jail and are too scared to live in the outside.
I think I would find myself without the skills and history of someone successful (for example)
all my trying to achieve and finding myself I’ve done it would be difficult starting from scratch again and what skills could i realistically learn with a bunch of college kids ?
also i would be fighting Agism and Aspergers
I will feel that I have lost some of my personality, but at least I can go to exhibitions and build a career as an artist, and go out with friends in concerts and in general to be with people
I would do everything I can not do now. I would probably choose a good job and new friends. I would travel more, spend more time reading, painting, studying. And most importantly, I would try to be happy.
For the brief time my voices left it was like trying to reconnect with a World I didn’t know anymore because I had lived too long in the other one. It was severe culture shock and exciting at the same time. I will admit I wish I had time to get used to it though as the drug eventually stopped working on the voices.
Oh man, I would go apple and pumpkin picking. I’d paint something that didn’t look like it came from the depths of hell. I’d eat healthier and kick my disordered eating habits. I’d go camping. Join a volleyball league. Hang out with a few friends. Go to drinks and not get drunk. I’d ride a bike. Save money. Find a new place to live. I’d take on more classes and hours at work. I’d watch tv! I haven’t watched tv in almost a year! I might even consider going to Walmart every now and then:joy: Although I’m pretty sure even the typicals hate walmart:joy:
i think i would be able to finally get a job and support my partner. she needs to be taken care of like her parents want her to be, they don’t agree with me not working and kay having to work to help support everyone.
