Closer to Recovery Part II

In the past doctors, relatives, and friends gave up on individuals living with schizophrenia. Eventually, the patient gave up hope too. However, today there is a new era of medicine, attitude, and hope towards schizophrenia. Newer medications work effectively to diminish the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and have fewer side effects. The success stories of Carol North, Elyn Saks and people living with schizophrenia on this blog, show their power of determination and drive to overcome obstacle. I am thankful to have a support group that believes in me. My family, blog associates, and health professionals support my efforts to overcome the stigma attached to this illness. With that being said, I was given a marketing internship with a non-profit organization that helps youth around the world, medically and financially through scholarships. This opportunity portrays commitment to my studies. My duties will include but are not limited to maintaining the organization's website, and writing newsletters and press releases. Although the internship sounds like it can be overwhelming, I will work three days a week and no more than 25 hours, so I will not feel overwhelmed. In addition to my internship I maintain a personal blog called, Overcoming Schizophrenia(http://overcomingschizophrenia.blogspot.com). On this blog I provide various information about my experience with the disease and interesting facts that other people should know, such as gender differences, schizophrenia in children, and what you should do if you are diagnosed with schizophrenia; things that are discussed here more frequently. Through the blog I try to reach people who are not as familiar with the disease so that they can be well educated on the illness and to not believe the misconceptions associated with schizophrenia. I start the internship next week. To me this is an accomplishment because I am doing the things I used to do prior to my diagnosis and psychotic break. Again, I had a psychotic break a couple of years ago while I was 20. My psychosis led me to steal a military truck, get involved in a high speed chase with the police, and crash the truck into a building. This crime would have cost me four years in prison, however,  because it was my first offense and I was sick at the time, the judge turned my felony into a misdemeanor. Thank God! However, I spent four months in jail and in the hospital before I was released. Since this incident, I attend NAMI meetings,  groups at my local clinic, and do continuous research on the illness to educate myself and others. If you have the time, please check out my personal blog at the internet address above. Thank you for reading a part of my life.