[sduck]

Can people here describe what it means to be "Schizophrenic"? Warning: Incoming rant, and need some validation.

I'm just so sick of this...it just plagues my mind...

Okay, when I was first diagnosed back in 2008, I denied it, because I felt like they were trying to call me someone who is crazy with no future. I didn't let it bother me not once, and I was still able to live life normally, got to experience and have good times, just given the right circumstances. But whenever my diagnosis is in question, I just feel trapped. When a doctor knows or in some cases (I've told a group of people on the internet about my diagnosis), they can't treat me like a normal person. They put up this "wall", and start talking to me like I'm special, like I'm just so dumb and crazy and can't process my surroundings correctly. Some people had absolutely no problem talking to me, but now they know of my diagnosis, they say things like, "I don't know how to talk to a schizophrenic".
Because most people think someone who is Schizophrenic, Bi-Polar, or mentally ill in general, is someone who is just unpredictable and manic, or just crazy.
Whenever I tried to show my "personality" to these people, they think I'm just being manic and creepy.

What am I supposed to do? These people consistently tried to use my so called condition against me. They would often say I'm suffering from delusions or something, even when I told them I wasn't, and could even describe how they would think so, they would still use it against me. To the point where they would try to ridicule me and pretty much say I was worthless and other demeaning things. Now it's always plagued in the back of my mind, and I feel so trapped, lonely, with no positive future.

No disrespect to people who don't tolerate this lifestyle, but I want to get girls, and money, and accomplish things. That's the main kind of crowd I always hung out with. I had no problem fitting in, and now I feel like I can't live it, because now I think people are always going to judge me.

I can't live a life in solitude, being "special". I just can't do it.

[Sometimes psychotic]

You're just like everyone else except you may hear voices at some rate and\or have times where you aren't connected to the consensus reality(ie have delusions). First can I say you don't have to tell anyone your diagnosis if it's making it harder for you.

Yeah I know how you feel. To be honest, what helped me was actually saying to myself I really don't give a **** what people think of me. I don't know whether the meds made me think like that or I just decided to stop caring. It might be because my psychotic episodes are so intense and it kind of puts life in perspective. I mean when you think people are out to kill you and can read your mind, going back to "normal" and having to deal with people's ignorance seems easy. But i understand its frustrating when people just assume you're delusional when you try and tell them something. The diagnosis itself has a lot of stigma attached to it but it's not the end of the world. It's down to people like us to change their views of mental illness in general.

[sduck]

Originally Posted by Sometimes psychotic

You're just like everyone else except you may hear voices at some rate and\or have times where you aren't connected to the consensus reality(ie have delusions). First can I say you don't have to tell anyone your diagnosis if it's making it harder for you.

That's what I would figure after doing years of research, but some research could really make people think the worse of you.

As far as symptoms, I've NEVER literally had conversative voices, internally or externally, people who would speak to me, react to me, and tell me things. Most I've ever heard was radio chatter in white noise/streaming noise, which people argue is a natural phenomenon or related to mental illness.

As far as delusions. I feel like I can have an inaccurate opinion, interpretation, or the like, but if I'm told it's wrong and proven it's wrong, then I could usually force myself to acknowledge it. I've mostly read that schizophrenics can never acknowledge a delusion without medication, which is not true for me, plus people who are not mentally ill can suffer from delusions all the time.

Yeah, now I figure I shouldn't tell people at all. But now that I did tell some people, and they think the worst of me, I feel like it's just something I can't get back.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by sduck

That's what I would figure after doing years of research, but some research could really make people think the worse of you.

As far as symptoms, I've NEVER literally had conversative voices, internally or externally, people who would speak to me, react to me, and tell me things. Most I've ever heard was radio chatter in white noise/streaming noise, which people argue is a natural phenomenon or related to mental illness.

As far as delusions. I feel like I can have an inaccurate opinion, interpretation, or the like, but if I'm told it's wrong and proven it's wrong, then I could usually force myself to acknowledge it. I've mostly read that schizophrenics can never acknowledge a delusion without medication, which is not true for me, plus people who are not mentally ill can suffer from delusions all the time.

Yeah, now I figure I shouldn't tell people at all. But now that I did tell some people, and they think the worst of me, I feel like it's just something I can't get back.

If you don't really have voices or firm delusions I would get a second opinion on your diagnosis....I mean technically you can have sz without either but they are the major symptoms that differentiate it from other illnesses.

I had told a person I knew that I had schizophrenia and she asked "Is it because you study philosophy?" A wave of stupidity brushed over me. Another person was said, "is that like, ugh, multiple persoinalities?" FACE PALM! POW! I couldn't believe it.

My boss was equally as stupid. He said, talking about medicine, "It's called a PRACTICE for a REASON." Belittling doctors. He said he doesn't believe in medicine. As regards to my bipolar, he is even dumber. I never once had a bipolar symptom around him. If I were it would have to be at night because that's the only time they come when my body is shutting down my symptoms show up.

[joacobanfield]

The only difference between you and them is the way you think, and odd perceptions.
I take it as something personal to tear that stigma to shreds...

[12AM]

Originally Posted by sduck

Yeah, now I figure I shouldn't tell people at all. But now that I did tell some people, and they think the worst of me, I feel like it's just something I can't get back.

We will never please society. We will never be enough for everyone. Whether we are mentally ill or not, people will always find our flaws. We can't control what happens to us, what we can control is our action towards them. Don't let the voice of the crowd erase the voice inside your soul. Do what you wanna do, don't let anyone hold you back. Increase your self confidence, I believe you have so much things that you can be proud of.