Coping Skill #7 - Never Let Anyone Tell You What You Are or Are Not Capable of Accomplishing

Unfortunately, providers, who most often see us when we are at our worst, can sometimes be spoilers.  On occasion, they may be willing to settle for a measure of stability.  Is the phrase - "you have to accept the fact that you have a disability and will never realize the goals that you set for yourself before you became ill" - familiar to you?  This may be true for some our old ambitions, but certainly not all of them, and probably not for those most important to us.  The truth is, we are the only ones who can determine which of those old ambitions are the ones we still want to achieve, and are, to us, still worth the struggle to do so, even though these might now require a much greater effort on our part to succeed.  I know that my goals, and approaches to accomplishing these, have changed dramatically over the fifty years that I have had schizophrenia, and that these goals and approaches will continue to change as I continue to struggle with this mental illness.

So, measure your progress against where you were the day before and not against what other people have accomplished.  After listening to the advice of others you trust and who understand your situation, including your psychiatrist and therapist, decide for yourself what you are, and are not, capable of achieving, then challenge yourself by setting your own goals.  If you remain compliant and work hard at this, you will be surprised at what you can accomplish.  The old adage that states "nothing ventured, nothing gained," is particularly apropos to those of us in recovery.

One of the most important gifts my first psychiatrist gave me was to never tell me there were things I couldn't accomplish.  He did say that some things might be more difficult for me to do, and that others might be very difficult, but he never told me there was anything I couldn't do.  I figured out for myself that I would never become a rocket scientist or get elected President of the United States.

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Please remember, this writing reflects my own experience and opinions.  If you, or a loved one, are experiencing the symptoms of schizophrenia, or any other mental illness, you should seek professional assistance.