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living with schizophrenia
Janet
Wednesday, June 20, 2007 at 08:15 AMre: living with schizophrenia
cherie
Friday, June 22, 2007 at 07:40 PMthank you for your post but sometimes this illness is frustating and so many people that read books think they are doctors and try to tell u how to live, family and friends dont understand, and often dont want to be bothered. i have been on and off disability since 1999. i try to work but others make it hard for me so i finally went back to disability.
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Welcome!
Christina Bruni
Friday, June 22, 2007 at 12:38 PMHello Cherie,
Welcome to our online community!
I hear you about the medications. My drugs I'd been taking successfully for 20 years suddenly stopped working, and I had to go on a new one.
It can be frustrating to deal with people who don't have a clue what it's like to live with SZ. I second Janet's comment in that it would be good for you to find a peer support group, that is, a support group for people living with mental illnesses directly.
Such meetings are stigma-free zones and really do help. The members often go out for coffee or lunch after the group, and you will make some new friends by doing this.
I also agree with Janet that the meds are the way to go. If I wasn't on medication, I'd be a shell of myself. Stay with it until you find the best drug at the most effective dose. Though the drugs may not seem to alleviate the symptoms, the meds will indeed prevent the erosion of a person's functionality.
For more on that, you can read Robin's earlier posts, or read some of mine from the archives.
Cherie, we are all rooting for you!
Take care and have a good day.
Best wishes,
Christina
replyre: Welcome!
cherie
Friday, June 22, 2007 at 07:52 PMthank you for your response, i will have to check out different groups maybe i can find an online group also. i take the meds just not happy with the way they make me feel.
for the first time i dont have the day to day pressure on me since i have been back on disability. i have someone in my life that takes care of me and is not a relative but an understanding man. he has never passed judgement on me, unfortunately the majority of the population think people with mental defects, are freaks, i have been told this before that i am a freak of nature, my own daughter said this recently to me and that she doesnt want to see me any more. at first i was deeply hurt by this but i prayed over it, and found out its better to walk away then have the burden of an uncaring person in your life. i have to think about my self for a change and not what others think of me, or i will never be well and stable. i have walked away from my familu and their uncaring attitude towards me and moved on with my life i am currently pursing the hobbies that bring me much passion and joy. my art i am a wood burner and painter i am also considering finishing my degree in this and possibly teaching others with handicapps away to express themselves thru art, which has always been a distant dream for me....cherie
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First of all I want to welcome you to this site and to say I have learned that we all can learn from each other. Feel free to post whenever you want to and take it from me you will find nothing but understanding and compassion from us.
I can understand how you feel but I have to disagree with you on some points. The first point we differ on is on the medications effectiveness. Like you I have been on a wide array of different medications since I first became ill in 1983. as you can see I have been living with scizophrenia for over 24 years. I am now 47 years old. Yes I too have found it frustrating having to try so many drugs to find out what works but I feel Seroquel is working well for me at least for now.
I want to congratulate you on the fact you are able to work.I last worked in the year 2000 but stay busy now by doing volunteer work which it least leaves me feeling like I am making a contribution to society.
I to want to apoligize for the lenth of my comment but I want to close by saying please be open and frank with your doctor and why don't you look into finding some sort of support group you could find in your area. Have you ever lookied intro NAMI?
Take Care and hang in there. I Hope you find this site as helpful to you as I have.
Good Luck.
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