As mental illnesses like anxiety and depression become more accepted in the mainstream, schizophrenics still suffer from arguably the worst amount of stigma.
Though slightly more men than women suffer from schizophrenia, women who are diagnosed with it are the group of mental illness sufferers least likely to get support from their romantic partners. Schizophrenics, regardless of gender, are particularly at risk of homelessness and have a heightened risk of suicide.
Though there’s no “cure” for schizophrenia, with proper care, it can be treated.
“Unlike what many think, schizophrenia is not a hopeless condition that dooms those with the condition to a life of tormenting, homelessness, and violence,” Russell L. Margolis, M.D., Clinical Director, Johns Hopkins Schizophrenia Center, told Revelist. “With thoughtful and carefully monitored treatment with medicines, psychotherapy to assist the person with schizophrenia in managing symptoms and life challenges, and strong support services for such matters as employment and housing, most people with schizophrenia have the potential for leading satisfying and productive lives.”
But these support systems are not always available, especially for women, who already struggle to be “believed” by mental health professionals. Women even wait longer in emergency rooms to be seen.
For a schizophrenic, proper care isn’t something that can wait — it can literally mean life or death.
Revelist spoke to four women diagnosed with schizophrenia about how the illness — and stigma — they battle every day.
I don’t know it just seems like some people want to just poop on everything or watch the world burn. I’m in a horrible mood and I have to go to a primary care appointment for my anxiety related chest pains. This sucks.
I’m going to try to find my er report it’s around here someplace. I have anxiety symptoms they said, and that my heart is healthy but I still get chest pains.
I’m hoping that maybe I’ll get a medication for anxiety but I’ve heard most of them suck or are highly addictive. So I don’t know. All I know is I can’t keep up with this show right now. I hate seeing doctors.
I take Gabapentin for anxiety. It’s not as effective as the stronger drugs, but it takes the edge off and it has a low potential for abuse/addiction. It does make me a bit manic if I take it too often, though.
Great article. I love the firsthand stories. Maybe one day I’ll actually write one.
I take gabapentin too for anxiety but it’s starting to be ineffective and I don’t want to increase the dose I want a small dose of something more effective.
It’s saying that women with schizophrenia are more important than men with schizophrenia it’s all feminist power play saying that men have everything easy. I posted my video but it seems no one watched it.
It’s not saying that women with schizophrenia are more important than men. It’s saying that women with schizophrenia face a lot of challenges. That is true. This particular article focused on women because the majority of their readers are women. There is no evil plot or feminist power play. There are also articles specifically about veterans with schizophrenia, because every group faces their own challenges and stigma. Those articles aren’t saying that veterans are more important either. Just that they face a lot of difficulties. It is a fact that if a man and a woman go to the doctor with identical symptoms, the woman is more likely to be diagnosed with BPD and the man is more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia.
My life was so screwed up, because I had a major dose of paranoia and delusions of reference. People who are more successful with SZ usually have a milder form of it. I couldn’t get my Masters without meds. I had thought blocking and catatonia. I worked through school and that added stress. I also had a selfish and lazy boyfriend. Oh well…
This was a good article. (Your contribution to the cult of Feminism is appreciated.)
