Accepting I have the disease schizophrenia???

By Darren J. Sunday, May 15, 2011

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I am 30. I am not afraid of indenifying myself on this website. I live in Dublin in Ireland. I know I have schizophrenia for over the last year. My chief doctor thinks I have it around three or four years. It is not a big bone of contention anyway. I have also the disease of alcholism and think I had schizophenia in the popular sense for a few years- a lot of my 20's- but think the gene was only active in me since March of last year. Anyway I have a radio programme in Irish on a community radio station and I do church gate collections for a charity often on Sunday's. I am not stressed.

However the symptons of schizophrenia are wide- everyone is different. I am afraid that people will know I have the disease and treat me as if I am a bit "touched" and I suppose laugh at me. I have not always felt like this. I think it is a combination of having too much time on my hands and not having accepted I have the disease. As I said I also have the disease of alcholism which I believe is very simalar to schizophrenia. Most recovering alcholics (in AA anyway) have schizophrenia albeit not clinically. Again schizophrenia in the popular sense of the word.

My problem is when I hear people laugh whereever, even on the television, I don't think they are laughing at me but I just think "Well I'm schizophrenic and people with the disease think everyone is laughing at them or at least that is how it is with me". I DON'T think people are talking or laughing at me but I make it reflect on me that I do. That is the disease I suppose??

Comments (7) | Add comment

Veronica

5/16/11 2:44am

Thank you for sharing. I do not have the disease my brother does, and I belong to this site to get a better insight into him. It is because of people like yourself that are willing to share that makes it easier to help other's with the disease. He had an "episode" not so long ago and we were able to "handle it swiftly becuase of knowing the signs to look for, so thank you once again.

Darren J.

5/16/11 9:31am

Thanks! My reply below to Donna was meant to be to you both!

Donna-1

5/16/11 4:53am

Thank you so much for joining in the conversation/community. You sound like someone I would like to hear from more often. I do not have alcoholism, but I do have schizophrenia, diagnosed in the mid-1990's. Are you taking an antipsychotic (if that question is too personal, just disregard.) It is difficult to "share" the diagnosis whether in the communty in which you live, or online. There is a lot of stigma here in the US, but maybe not so much as there used to be.

Darren J.

5/16/11 9:23am

Thank you!

I take 20mg of Olanzapine every day and for the last few months 40mg of Prozamile. I am on the latter because they just think I need a lift and the two work well together. They don't think I am depressed- at least they don't talk about that anyway. I was meeting a therapist with Shine. I told her once that I don't think schizophrenia is a serious illness. I meant that my congitive abilities were good and that I didn't think it was a serious illness like a lot of people seem to think. My thinking is really clear. I interview politicians reguraly for my radio programme and occassionely go into the Irish Dáil or Parliament. My biggest fear is that I am schizophenic and that I have it in the most acutest sense. I don't think I am accepting I have the illness. I am going to ask today to see a doctor again soon and tell them how I am.

Darren J.

5/16/11 9:24am

Sorry my reply was to you both!

Christina Bruni, Health Guide

5/17/11 10:11am

Hi Darren,

I reviewed about two or three years ago on this web site the book Stalking Irish Madness. The guy who wrote it had a history in his family of schizophrenia dating way back in Irish history.

While SZ is thought to occur in one percent of the population, for some reason it occurs in 2 percent of the population in Ireland. The author's sisters had SZ. He traces the history of madness in his family and in Ireland, as related to faeries and other phenomenon like a spring or lake with healing properties because the water contained lithium if I recall.

A great book to read. Irish researchers also made progress with schizophrenia research and the author details this too.

Again, welcome to the Connection. This web site is where everyone can connect and support each other in what we go through living with SZ.

I'm the community leader and expert blogger here.

I recommend you read my profile and SharePosts, and the profiles and SharePosts of other community members.

You will see that recovery is not only possible it is probable for upwards of 85 percent of the people diagnosed with SZ. And for those who do less well, good improvement is also possible.

Here's the link to my Stalking Irish Madness book review.

Have a good day.

Regards,

Christina

freedom_writerr

8/10/11 2:21pm

One person's life time journey could be others' inspriation and yours could be hers. A friend of mine suffered the same illness since her young adult life about 20. She has learned to live with her disease for over 16 years. She has no friends and gladly her family are the one supporting her for so long. She is like my own sister. I wish someday I could be much helpful to her via research I may. Please share me more about your story and one day you can be her friend too.

freedom_writerr

Accepting I have the disease schizophrenia???

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