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8 Things I've Learned About Living With Schizophrenia

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I would like to say first that I am a peer support worker. For those who don’t know, it means I use my personal lived experience to help others who are struggling in the hospital and in the community as well.

Here are some things I’ve learned from living with schizophrenia”

1. Every day is different. You realize that somedays you are happy and other times you are paranoid. Sometimes anxiety hits you, too!

2. I remember one patient told me once you’re diagnosed, you realize there are much more problems than just from the illness itself.

3. I still sometimes think there’s a conspiracy against me. I find I think about it typically at night when I’m mentally tired.

4. I would love to learn how to take everything slowly, but man I’m like a bulldozer starting many projects at the same time.

5. I discovered a passion for mental health and now I’m working in it. Sometimes unfortunate things can turn out to be productive.

6. If it wasn’t for my support system, I would be in a bad place right now, no doubt

7. I wish everybody just peace. Peace is one thing I would buy for a million bucks.

8. I want to make peer support universal, thats why I’m trying to start my own nonprofit. I also have a Facebook page for peer support information with more than 500 members

Thank you so much for reading this and I look forward for your comments.

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Originally published: January 27, 2017
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