I have a mental illness called schizo-affective disorder

[Droopy]

People who have schizo-affective disorder experience some symptoms of schizophrenia and some symptoms of bipolar disorder. I was silent about my illness for a while, but now I feel like I need to talk about it now and again especially with people I get to know. It pains me to find that my confession of mental illness still frightens people that I have come to know. I'm a really laid back person. I'm friendly. I get along with most people I meet. But even after knowing someone for a while and getting along with them in a friendly way, people are still frightened sometimes by my admission of mental illness. Comments like, "You aren't going to freak out and kill me are you?" or "You aren't going to beat me do death with a hammer are you?" are a couple of the more recent reactions people have had when I told them of the illness. They weren't joking around. I really scared them. And these are people that I've known for a while. Even when I was suffering from my symptoms, which was about 10 years, I led a mostly "normal" life. I had a job; I lived on my own; I paid my bills on time. I was convicted of a couple of misdemeanors from that time, but neither of them were violent crimes. People back then seemed to just think of me as odd and quiet.

I ended up in the hospital a little over four years ago and that's when my recovery began. Outwardly, my life has not changed much. I still have a job, I still live on my own, and I still pay my bills on time. What changed was my inner world. With the introduction of medication I began to see reality again for the first time in 10 years. It was like becoming enlightened. It was like God had given me a pardon from my personal hell.

If you live in a populous area then you probably meet and talk to people all the time who have a mental illness. It could be the cab driver or the guy working the newspaper stand. It could be your boss or the CEO of the company you work for. It could be a friend of your's or the truck driver you're passing on the highway ;). All people just trying to get along in life just like you. I wish you all peace- in your world and in your mind.

[Gormy Cuss]

1. Nice reminder, Droopy.

One can have a well-managed mental or physical illness and get along in life just fine. We aren't all the same and nobody's perfect. We can tolerate a lot of differences in a healthy society.

[Droopy]

7. Thank you

The mentally ill get a lot of bad press. Almost nothing good is said about us on the national level. You never hear about success stories like mine. Mental illness is something to be feared and hidden away in our society. I'd like to change that.

[hunter]

2. Hi Droopy!

:thumbsup:

[Droopy]

3. Hi, man

Thanks for the thumbs up. :hi:

[BlueIris]

4. It's very sad that people respond with fear when you mention your condition.

Too many bad movies out there about schizophrenia, methinks.

And I think it's great that you are able to tolerate medication and that it's provided you with relief.

[Droopy]

8. Yeah, but I guess it isn't really their fault

Awareness about mental illness is so low in this country. There are people who are trying to change that, but it's definitely an uphill struggle.

[TK421]

5. I agree.....just don't eat the brown acid

Those people screwed me on that one the last time!!!


Don't do it!!!!! I know what you are going through!!!!!!

[Heidi]

6. You don't skeer me!

You're one of the finest human beings in this community. :hug:

[Droopy]

10. That's very kind

I think the same of you. :hug:

[Oeditpus Rex]

9. I'd estimate that all but about four DUers

have some mental or emotional disorder.

In most cases, this simply makes them more interesting.

:D

[Droopy]

12. LOL!

Yeah, I sometimes think that there are probably some undiagnosed folks running around here. But I guess to each his/her own.

[Heidi]

14. I have a bipolar friend

who calls people like those four DUers "neurotypicals." :P

[pitohui]

11. another schizo affective disorder report

i never heard of it before michael crawford put his story on the internet, IRL i knew (a few) bipolars and for some reason a large number of paranoid schizophrenics but simply never heard of schizo affective disorders, learn something new every day

i get the impression it's often misdiagnosed as either bipolar or schizophrenia, leaving the person sort of in the middle imperfectly treated until it's all figured out

http://www.kuro5hin.org/story/2003/4/11/4127/09278

[Droopy]

13. Yes

The symptoms can vary from individual to individual making the illness very difficult to diagnose. Once they have the proper diagnosis, the illness is usually treated with an anti-psychotic and a mood stabilizer like lithium. Sometimes an anti-depressant is prescribed as well. It's sort of like treating both schizophrenia and bipolar disorder at the same time.

[Jamastiene]

15. You seem cool to me.

I've got clinical depression and PMDD. I have a philosophy about this cold, cruel world: If someone can live in this hateful fucked up world and not have any problems with it, that person is the one I worry about hurting me. I have some real problems with "the real world." Mainly, that it sucks for the most part. I cheer you on for your progress and your honesty. So, don't worry about it. :pals:

[Droopy]

17. Thank you

What is PMDD?

[Jamastiene]

19. It's like PMS on steroids.

It's like really really bad PMS to the point that it makes a woman extremely depressed during that time as opposed to slightly grumpy. It's pretty hard to deal with, but I take medicine that makes me less, shall we say, severe. :D

[fizzgig]

16. thank you droopy

:)

[Droopy]

18. You're welcome

:hi:

[wildhorses]

20. no biggie at all --

:hug:

[BarenakedLady]

21. Thank you

For sharing your story.

:hug:

[mzteris]

22. they should be ashamed

of themselves!

You're a great person and they're the ones with the problem.

Besides, if they're going to be afraid, they should "fear" all those people who don't KNOW that they have a mental illness that requires treatment. :banghead: It's all those people who "believe" that they're 'just fine' - and they're not - that usually cause the most problems, ya know?