[ickydog2006]

Mental health awareness has become increasingly important to me, especially since I'm stable and medicated now. My friends know I am schizophrenic and I occasionally post things on Facebook about it. I think my mom is angry about it and worried because of how people can overreact (I've had child services called on me before, was investigated, and everything was dropped because, 'You're doing everything right, you're a good mother, stable, taking the medications, seeing therapist weekly and doctor and psychiatrist regularly'). I guess I just feel like I shouldn't hide my past struggles. It doesn't help me and it doesn't give me a chance to help others if I am silent. Am I being unreasonable? Should I hide these things from people because they may be ignorant and overreact? I feel like silence and secrecy perpetuate ignorance and is part of the problem, not the solution. I'm not worried child services would take my child (because I am stable and reasons listed above) but it is an inconvenience and frustrating. But I don't see how keeping silent because other people can be idiots is the right answer.

Originally Posted by ickydog2006

Mental health awareness has become increasingly important to me, especially since I'm stable and medicated now. My friends know I am schizophrenic and I occasionally post things on Facebook about it. I think my mom is angry about it and worried because of how people can overreact (I've had child services called on me before, was investigated, and everything was dropped because, 'You're doing everything right, you're a good mother, stable, taking the medications, seeing therapist weekly and doctor and psychiatrist regularly'). I guess I just feel like I shouldn't hide my past struggles. It doesn't help me and it doesn't give me a chance to help others if I am silent. Am I being unreasonable? Should I hide these things from people because they may be ignorant and overreact? I feel like silence and secrecy perpetuate ignorance and is part of the problem, not the solution. I'm not worried child services would take my child (because I am stable and reasons listed above) but it is an inconvenience and frustrating. But I don't see how keeping silent because other people can be idiots is the right answer.

Its tricky, I dont , I show no outward sign im SZ. The main reason I do that, is that I dont want Sz to define me, tbh. For me I went to college, got a degree, I want to fully emerge myself in that work, thats where its at for me. I need to return fully to that standard. Thats me being totally honest.

[SadMermaid]

I'm the same when it comes to my psychosis. I like to be open because it is a part of me and if people are going to be small minded and judge me for having a mental illness then they aren't the kind of people I want in my life anyway.

Also I think the best way to break down the stigma surrounding mental illness is for the sufferers to be open about it, it's a really hard thing to do but it means that the people in their lives will be educated on what mental illness is really like.

Being open about my mental health issues has really helped me except it better, and it means that when I'm struggling or acting odd the people in my life know why and can help me through it

[Kuras]

While I'm certainly not shouting it from the rooftops, I don't really have a problem talking about it if the subject is brought up. If someone I know doesn't want to accept my condition, I really don't care to share their company in the first place.

[CognitoSchiz1989]

I am somewhat open about my schizophrenia. I talk openly to my parents, my sister, my grandmother, and I sometimes even bring it up on Facebook. I don't share everything though and I am not sure why. I do enjoy talking about my illness because it helps with stigma.

[21stCenturySM]

Sometimes

thorazine abilify alprazolam gabapentin temazepam sarcosine l-theanine

[junkDNA]

i think people are scared /dont like what they dont understand. if you are comfortable being open about it then be open about it!! screw the people who feel uncomfortable. maybe it will open up avenues to explore why it makes them that way.

as far as me i am not open about it. my process group knows but it took a long time for me to tell them. my roommate knows. my T knows. my mom knows. and most of my friends know. i guess when i say im not open about it, im talking about my job. i work with teenagers so i am afraid of being talked about and made fun of. i do not think they would understand my situation. so i keep it to myself. they do know i am weird as ive been called that a lot. i just tell them yep! i am!

[littlegreyrock]

Originally Posted by ickydog2006

Mental health awareness has become increasingly important to me, especially since I'm stable and medicated now. My friends know I am schizophrenic and I occasionally post things on Facebook about it. I think my mom is angry about it and worried because of how people can overreact (I've had child services called on me before, was investigated, and everything was dropped because, 'You're doing everything right, you're a good mother, stable, taking the medications, seeing therapist weekly and doctor and psychiatrist regularly'). I guess I just feel like I shouldn't hide my past struggles. It doesn't help me and it doesn't give me a chance to help others if I am silent. Am I being unreasonable? Should I hide these things from people because they may be ignorant and overreact? I feel like silence and secrecy perpetuate ignorance and is part of the problem, not the solution. I'm not worried child services would take my child (because I am stable and reasons listed above) but it is an inconvenience and frustrating. But I don't see how keeping silent because other people can be idiots is the right answer.

I have the same problem with my mom. I love her so very dearly but we don't see eye to eye. She does not want me to share my SZA with ANYBODY where I do share with some people. I feel it is beneficial when the time is right. It's the real me, and on top of that, it can help others going through things AND it can help break stigma&sterotype. Best wishes to you my friend <3

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[chasms]

no ive only told a few people , not including family. but if i know someone would be understanding or someone who also experiences it, id be more open to talk about it

[justmeandmyhead]

I wish I could be more open about it, but I'm scared to be. Hardly any of my friends know, only my family and my bf. I don't like the label 'schizophrenia' and I rarely use that word. I guess I have my own stigma that I need to work through before I can be open with others.

[ofthevalley]

I am not. There are very few people that know. Really just my husband and my BFF. I did tell my online friends but that's it. My family doesn't know. My mom and dad would have been supportive if they were here. My extended family. Not so much.

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[CognitoSchiz1989]

I consider myself lucky. Most of the people I have encountered in my life have supported my mental illness. The only one who thinks I am faking and "nothing is really wrong with her" is my brother, unfortunately. It pains me a lot that my only brother doesn't care to understand. I can only imagine how people who have next to no support could feel.

[Atypical_Disaster]

I used to be more open about it, I never advertised it but I didn't lie if directly asked if I'd ever had mental health problems.

Now? I don't say a word to anyone. Ever.

[CognitoSchiz1989]

Originally Posted by Atypical_Disaster

Now? I don't say a word to anyone. Ever.

Why not?

[Tsunamisurfer]

Originally Posted by ickydog2006

... I don't see how keeping silent because other people can be idiots is the right answer.

I have a tough enough time being open with my pdoc and T, let alone with others who have no interest in understanding my struggles with something they may have stigmatising views of.

I have persistent difficulties with paranoia and cognitive deficits, which make thinking on my toes and explaining what is going on very challenging. I remain confused after several years of trying to figure things out.
So while I would like to be open about what I live with, I find myself avoiding people instead.

[mat4sanity]

I always let people get an idea of who I am and what I'm like before I pop the question "what do you know about mental illness" and then I use my judgement based on their response. Sometimes I don't have to explain anything other times I have to explain everything or I'll won't say anything about sz and only talk about my bipolar. I don't recommend this method without a good knowledge of this condition and obviously how it effects you personally. I also explain that there are more of us than you think and most of the time it rolls over well.

Originally Posted by CognitoSchiz1989

Why not?

Probably because she wants to get a job, work, live openly without prejudice, judged based on her skills instead of a label, because maybe she wants to move on , and forget about it as best she can,

I don't talk to anyone about my diagnosis
IF aanything I just say I've had mental health problems but nothing more than that

[joshuas-mommy]

I don't tell anyone. There is too much stigma surrounding the diagnosis of schizophrenia.

[flutterfree]

i am open about it to friends and family but at work or on a dating profile its a different story. i don t like telling people that hardly know me, i am ill.. i let them get to know me before i share my secret.

[John Primo78]

I don't talk about it, I am pretty much 100 percent controlled on medication so i figure no one needs to know

[sduck]

For the most part it seems like most people don't care as long as you're a decent human being. But I told a group of people who obviously couldn't handle it, they tried to make it seem like I wasn't allowed to be outspoken and proud of myself. They tried to blame my behavior or belief system, but it became very clear there was a bias, when I saw "this person" being allowed to do and say something, but I wasn't.

It was a traumatic experience to be honest, because for the first time I felt like I wasn't a "normal" person, and was treated differently because of it.

[cogladaid]

Two closest people in my family knew that I had some issues with my mental health, but even then I never told them everything and I for sure haven't told them anything in the last few years.

I guess I feel that if I told people they would look at me differently. They would pity me and be over concerned when they don't need to be. I don't like the thought of people thinking and worrying about me.

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I'm not open about it at all. It has a stigma attached to it so I am careful who I disclose it to. I wait until someone knows me until I let them know I have schizophrenia. I don't prefer to explain to strangers what schizophrenia is and how I am effected by it until I feel they are worth my time. It really takes awhile for me to articulate how schizophrenia works, and I can't, nor want to, do it over a handshake. However, if I'm in the right setting I will take time to educate others exactly how schizophrenia works to the best of my knowledge. I prefer to let people know what I stand for and not what gets in my way. Schizophrenia doesn't define me. It's interesting but not important to me.

[hartbroken]

Even though the illness doesn't define us, we can't deny its symptoms are a part of us. So I am very open with my illness. Sometimes I'll post on FB too. Here's the thing.. on one hand, I don't like to be treated like a schizophrenic when I'm doing well. But if I'm struggling with symptoms, I don't like to be treated like I don't have an illness at all. So I just am very open with how I feel. People can choose to treat me however they want to, but I understand they have trouble relating to me. So I come to expect that.