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Ah, so you are a newcomer to this disease. You or your loved one has just been diagnosed with schizophrenia, and you don't know what to do. If you are one of the unlucky ones, your psychiatrist (pdoc) has just told you that you have a disorder that is lifelong, that you will be taking medications for the rest of your life, and that you should be prepared to give up on your long-term hopes and dreams of having a career and a family. She's partially right. You may have a lifelong disease and you may have to take meds for the rest of your life, though scientists are working on these two things. But, give up on having a life??? Nonsense. The author of this website is getting married within the next couple of months, has a baby due in September, and is going to start work soon. Sure, I had to give up on my dreams of becoming a physician, but it has not stopped me from pursuing other things. And, it should not stop you!
"Oh, this is the view of schizophrenia through rose-colored glasses," you may say. And, you would be right. On Floor 3, "Verses and Writings," I detail much of my struggle with sz...and it was a struggle. 12 hospitalizations, 4 psychiatrists, 5 psychotherapists, 2 suicide attempts, and a thirteen-month stay in a nursing home and I had just about had it. Yes, sz is a struggle, one that will tear a person to shreds...whether it is a consumer or a caregiver. But, with some hard work and little luck it is possible to live a happy life with sz. |
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