Merely Me has just posted an article about autism at that forum and it is well worth reading.  She told of how the diagnosis of autism often means being relegated to a class of individuals who supposedly have no discernable future...according to the "experts."  Yes, they might aspire to participating in a farm work program or even go to a prom some day but their contribution to society as a whole would doubtless be negligible...according to the "experts."  In the past, I think this generalization has also been true for schizophrenia.  That it would mean a progressive deterioration of function and slow (or quick) descent into madness from which there was to be no recovery.  If that is how you think of schizophrenia, then think again.  If your child has schizophrenia, that is certainly no reason to abandon hope that he or she will have a good prognosis and lead a good and productive life.

At this site, I think that you will find that both experts and consumers alike often agree that there is hope ahead for any young person challenged with schizophrenia.  And yes, it certainly is a challenge.  There are degrees of schizophrenia, perhaps even a spectrum of schizophrenias, as there is in autism. But even those with profound and seemingly devastating schizophrenia have recovered.  It takes courage, wisdom, willingness to self-educate, professional expertise, and often medication to secure a foundation of mental, physical and spiritual wellness for those diagnosed with schizophrenia.

I have had one or another (or many) symptoms of schizophrenia since my pre-teens but was not diagnosed until my late 30's because I had functioned fairly well up until that point.  Yes, my social life was stunted but I was able to work at a demanding job and provide a good income and life for myself.  Then, yes, because of unbearable personal and job stresses, the symptoms increased to the point where I was hospitalized several times and ultimately applied and was approved for disability pay.  I could no longer work.  And yes, after that it took a number of years to find the right medications and therapy to help me along the road to recovery.  But I persisted.  And here I am today! Just about entirely recovered.  I am a caregiver for my elderly mother.  I have my own apartment and an active social life, drive myself everywhere I need to go, and manage my money fairly well (as well as anyone I know.)  I am thriving mentally, physically and spiritually and am into my early 50's now with great hopes and expectations for the future.

Don't let anyone tell you your child who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia has a dim and uncertain future.  There is every reason to believe he or she can, with a lot of work and persistence, become anything and everything desired.  But then, isn't work and persistence what pays off for the rest of the world, too?  Sure there are a few whose lives seem handed to them on a silver platter, but my platter is full of good things, and I have schizophrenia.  So don't give up!