Coping in a small town

I understand exactly where you are coming from. Your story sounds very familiar to my own. I am currently 47 years old and was first diagnosed with schizoaffective illness at the age of 23.I have not worked since 2000 but I stay busy by doing volunteer work in a gift shop at a local hospital and at my church. I do enjoy my time at the gift shop. I would like to find a part time job but for now I am thankful I am able to do volunteer work. I really don't have many friends and my social life is spent with my family.

I would like to recommend to you to try to get out and make some friends. I also believe web-sites like this one can be very beneficial and provide us with how other people living with schizophrenia are getting along.

Hi, I'm Christina and I'm one of the expert bloggers here.

I just want to say you've come to the right place for support and encouragement.

Continue to post blog entries.

We look forward to hearing from you!

cb

Hi David,

What about joining a small bible study weekly at a non-denominational church.  They are a group of people committed to your well-being and you won't feel as lonely.  You don't have to mention your illness until you are comfortable and trust their intentions.  Try to be honest as possible if you need to leave out the details.  Just tell them that you don't work like me and the real reason you're there...like make friends.  It will be in itself rewarding because it will help develop your social skills as a paranoid schizophrenic.  Just tell the group that you have bad social skills and they will understand.

Plus it's very cost efficient since you are at a certain fix income ... from what you wrote.  Sometimes the bible study provides rides for you if you don't have a car...I'm sure they can arrange something. 

From experience in the past, my illness a few times did cause me to be suspicious of my bible study members because I saw them often but that was my illness.  Some of my bible study members know of my illness and are very understanding and even those who don't know don't really notice.

God bless.