8 Things I've Learned About Living With Schizophrenia

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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