When I relapsed, it was a come down. I had to accept rather quickly that if I didn't take the meds my brain would revert back to chaos. I connected the dots; I realized that would be my life: revolving in and out of the hospital. I got hip faced with this reality. Certainly it is harder if someone has anosognosia, which is a symptom of the SZ that affects the brain. Possibly I had this awareness because I could link cause-and-effect. I knew that I alone was responsible for the decision to go off the meds, and I knew that I got sick again because of this decision.

I'm motivated to tell my story because the cost to society, the burden on families, the lost potential of individuals due to untreated SZ is too high. How could I turn a blind eye? I knew from my own experience that treatment works. Getting people into treatment is another story. It's the great good fight we fight every day.

In coming blog entries, I'd like to feature guest bloggers, caregivers and peers who are at a different place who can offer their own viewpoints and share their experiences. I would like to shift the focus and talk about strategies that could be helpful to people who are just starting out as well. Kindly e-mail me at the Connection if you'd like to be considered.