I decided to write something about the "look" of sz. Twice this past week I was confronted by it. Monday I told a former co-worker I had sz and she remarked "you don't look like a sz patient." And yesterday on this site a person posed the the question "what does a sz look like?" If anyone is curious I have pics of one...ME!! Are we really that different from the non sz people? Is there a set appearance? What does the normal sz look like? I've been around the mentally ill most of my life, except for 17 years. I've never thought that we stood out from others. My appearance and my mannerisms aren't any different than the non sz people. I wear clean clothes, I shave, I walk upright with my head held high. Why does society think we look different? Why don't we change that? Why do we think we look different? Why don't we change that too? Anybody I come in contact with at the store or park haven't a clue that I have sz. I'm different than everyone, but in a crowd of people they don't know. The only way people can tell I have sz is by me telling them. There's is no set look. I believe having sz doesn't make me look different. Popeye has always says "I am what I am." I am normal. I can look anyway I choose.
Walk upright, be proud. Hold your head high.
Live, love, laugh, learn, listen,
David
