Lack of Support

I am pleased to say that yes my family does support me. They are there for me whether I am acting nice or seem to be upset over little things. I will say though at times I have also come to this site and others to ask you all for help because usually the people who post at this site are people livng with schizophrenia and are familiar with problems I encounter in my life. I also will say I have a psychiatrist that I too can call when I feel the need to talk to an expert.

At first I was angry with my family, especially siblings, because they seemed oblivious to my pain and to my need to talk about my symptoms.  Later, I learned that they were just in denial.  It upset them and made them sad to think I was suffering, so it was easier for them to act as if nothing was wrong.  I can accept that.  My mother has "come around" over the years and now understands quite a bit of what I have been through/am going through.  She no longer makes a big deal of it when I cut back on meds or stop taking them on my own.  I have explained to her about how I hate the med side effects, and she said she would hate them, too.

 

I have found that when I seek support from close friends, every time I bring up sz (very rarely) there is a totally blank look in their eyes like they have no idea what I am talking about.  And I guess that is true -- they don't know.  But I have a bipolar friend who understands, and once in a while we commiserate with each other.

 

Carolyn

Hi Ashley,

 

Yes, I was lucky I had the support and encouragement of my family.

 

It's sad that a lot of people don't.

 

This is a form of stigma.

 

Regards,

Christina

My family has never fully grasped that I have a SZA. They have never supported me or even talked about my SZA. That bothered me for many years. I have accepted that they will never "speak" of me and my SZA. However I have support through my wife and this site. Christina once wrote that we can have two families, one being biological and the other a chosen family. My chosen family has helped me so much over the last two years. They have made all the difference in how I feel about myself and how I feel about my biological family. Dave