Basically all that I can ask is to be treated like i am still a human with feelings and that just because i have a illness dosnt mean that i should be treated like some kind of outcast or that i should be feared because of it. I belive i am a fairly nice person i dont judge people because of their problems or if they have a medical condition. The fact is that I find people tend to assume when they find out I have psychosis that i have episodes where i cant control myself and attack or bash up other people. This cant be further from the truth with me. I have never attacked anyone even when i was in my acute phase before treatment I never ever attacked anyone I was more afraid of other people attacting me. So basically I would say when you find out someone has psychosis dont automatically assume things. Talk to them and treat them how you would like to be treated dont just assume the worst of people just because of their illness. I know if people didnt assume things and actually asked me about my illness and what i experience i would explain it to them and then they would know the truth but most of the time i dont get a chance to explain which is what happened with my friends. The minute they found out i have a mental illness they basically took off fearing that i was turning into some kind of nutcase.

And what i would say to the person at social security who basically thought as soon as i spoke to him normally that i was not ill is we are capable of talking in a non delusional way. Just because we have a illness dosnt mean we are all delusional. I have difficulty working because of my illness making my thoughts really hard to process and it really hard to concentrate on things. Just because i am not delusional dosnt mean i am not sick and entitled to a fair hearing of my case. Once again this was a case of assume something straight away and making a decision on that automatic asumption instead of actually starting off with a clean slate and listening to what my problems are then making a decision.

Put simply, dont just assume things without knowing the truth. Treat us how you would want to be treated yourself and remember just because we have a illness dosnt mean that we are automatically delusional or dangerous people. Treat us with abit of respect and if we do tell you we suffer from Psychosis take the time to talk to us about it then you will know what we are really like. I guess thats about all i have to say.

Roy

PS. It would be great if other people could follow up on this and say how you think you should be treated by other people when they find out or know that you have a mental illness.