Schizoaffective Disorder

I have schizoaffective disorder, adjustment disorder and borderline personality disorder. Without my meds I'm depressed, paranoid, manic, and I hear screaming in my head. Between the ages of 5 to 35 I attempted suicide 24 times and I was hospitalized inpatient 8 times and I lost count of how many times I went to a non hospital treatment facility. I've got scars on both ankles where I scraped and gouged my fingernails until I hit bone when I was manic.

My reality is not pretty. But since January of 2020 I've been the most stable and happy I've ever been. I've got a clear mind. I don't have constant suicidality. I don't self harm. But the last week before the next dose of my meds is rough. My depression creeps back in, the paranoia, the manic episodes.

And when I get a new diagnosis, I spend weeks researching. I'll spend hours, and when I'm hungry or need to go potty I tell myself "10 more minutes.." and the next thing you know an hour has gone by.

It's not just depression. My mom doesn't believe that I have these disorders. And she's so judgemental. My friends want me to cut ties but then I'd have no family. I try my best to establish healthy boundaries. I do my best. But my day to day is a nightmare. I just wish people understood.

#SchizoaffectiveDisorder

It happened again yesterday. On my daily walk, I was listening to a band I hadn’t heard in many years. But during my favorite song of theirs, a lyric landed with a thud. It was a tasteless joke about schizophrenia, one of many that I overlooked until my son was diagnosed with the disease in 2012.

During his senior year of high school, a guest speaker was invited to raise awareness about mental illness. She asked, “How many of you are afraid of people with schizophrenia?” Every hand shot up. Imagine how my son felt. She must not have expected that there would be someone with this condition amongst “normal” students.

Schizophrenia isn’t the only mental illness treated like a punchline. People will casually say, “I’m so OCD about my closet” or “The weather is bipolar lately.” But stereotypes about schizophrenia are more insidious, often involving bizarre behavior and even violence. These manifestations do exist, but are rare. In the meantime, there is an insulting assumption that wisecracks about schizophrenia are harmless, since their targets are oblivious and won’t “get it.”

My son’s schizophrenia is the invisible kind, which makes it all the more likely that he’ll hear this misguided humor. He has a degree, a job he likes, close friends, and many interests and activities. He doesn’t suffer from positive symptoms like auditory or visual hallucinations. But no one came forward to support us after his breakdown. Mental illness is often called the “no casserole” affliction. And in a way, I get it. It’s awkward to reach out when privacy seems appropriate. But I hope that we can work to erase that stigma, and especially not to handle it by poking fun.

It doesn’t help when there are T shirts with jokes about hearing voices. Or describing two things in juxtaposition as “schizophrenic.” True, humor can be a great coping mechanism. But it should be initiated by the person with schizophrenia, and not imposed on them.

On The Mighty, schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are represented. The disease manifests itself in a vast number of ways, so generalizations are not helpful. But one thing is always true, and that is that it should never inspire ridicule. Instead, there should be deep respect for every individual facing such a profound challenge. We should be learning, not laughing.

#Bipolar #Depression #GAD #OCD #PTSD

Save this for later- self care is such a huge part of coping & mental health recovery. I hope you can all find at least one thing to add to your routine!

Never underestimate the power of self care. ✨ #Addiction #MentalHealth #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #SchizoaffectiveDisorder #Anxiety #PTSD #Fibromyalgia #ChronicFatigueSyndrome

As we close our 2024, these are some fantastic reminders 🎆 for our mental health.
Pick which firework you need the most & tell us in the comments below! I'll meet you there!
#PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #MentalHealth #SchizoaffectiveDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Depression #Addiction #Migraine #Anxiety

These tips aren't necessarily therapy, but they are all great ideas for when we feel overwhelmed, super emotional, moody, sad/down or anxious.

Are there any on the list that work for you? Are there any you'd like to try? I'll meet ya in the comments & post mine! #PTSD #MentalHealth #Anxiety #MoodDisorders #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #SchizoaffectiveDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Addiction #ChronicFatigue

Let's define success a different way than the world does. What if having a different weekend routine than the week helped your emotions/mental health and physical health?

I leaned in therapy about the power of a routine during the week & the power of choosing a weekend routine that restores you and resets you for the coming week.

Which of the things on this list would you be willing to try on your weekend? Mine will be in the comments below!
#PTSD #MentalHealth #SchizoaffectiveDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Addiction #Anxiety #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder