A Step in the Right direction!

Hello,

I haven't been on the site in awhile and thought I would write a blurb on my personal progress through the illness.

It is funny actually, my diagnosis has been through a number of changes though I do still feel the residual effects of the psychosis that had once overwhelmed my life. I have come a long way from the basket case that I once was, that is for sure.

I have gone through the diagnosis of Paranoid Schizophrenia, then Psychosis NOS and OCD with psychotic symptoms, either way, I have struggled mentally to overcome what I feel is the hard times of the illness and feel (when specific symptoms are present), that schizophrenia is still looming in the background (or psychosis I should say), but I have definitely gained alot of ground on reality and my career.

My advice to the average mental health consumer is that overcoming or maintaining a level of normality in life and work is a constant everyday struggle which takes time and perseverance. I find that mental health consumers have a higher sensitivity to how they feel, the way they function (especially mentally) and have to make sure that each day they take notes on specific events and environments that trigger what I would consider an outbreak. These outbreaks, are the simple causes and effects that can potentially send ones mental health into a zone of despair or fear. Recently I have found many different methods to help me maintain a good mental health, though it took time and the help of medication, I found that over the long run I began to feel better. It would take days for me to write the strategies that I have used. The bottom line is that the consumer has to be prepared to maintain focus through the intensity of symptoms and enjoy the seemingly normal days. The overall perspective of this blurb, is the fact that once the consumer uses the proper strategies things will eventually tone down, and the periods of good days will last longer and longer as time passes and the better things will be!

Good Luck!