point of view Archives – Not Like The Others

Recovery, Schizoaffective Disorder, Schizophrenia

Through A Different Lens – How A Person’s Diagnosis Can Distort Our View

June 30, 2022 / 0 Comments

I remember sitting in the car thinking, “things are never going to be the same. I will never be capable of the things I was capable of before.” Twenty minutes earlier, I had been sitting on the couch in my psychiatric nurse practitioner’s office hearing the word “schizophrenia.” After that moment, I never saw myself the same. And the longer I live with what is now diagnosed as schizoaffective disorder, the more I see how this shift in view is not unique to me or even only those living with mental illnesses. Parents, doctors – anyone really, can easily slip into viewing someone through a different lens once they receive…

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Katie
Advocacy, Schizoaffective Disorder, Schizophrenia

A Young Adult gets a Schizophrenia Diagnosis- My Experience and How to Change It

January 30, 2022 / 0 Comments

Imagine, for a moment, a young adult, sitting on the couch in a psychiatrist’s office, shifting anxiously as they wait to hear the answer to their question. The doctor sits in her chair, red nails pressed tip to tip as she puts her hands together. Hesitantly, she gives the young adult the answer they dreaded – “It’s looking to be schizophrenia.” In your mind, who is this young adult? Yourself? Your child or sibling? Or perhaps a stranger? How did you picture them reacting to this news? My guess is, not well. And that would not be surprising. When I received my initial schizophrenia diagnosis, I thought my life was…

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Katie

Hi, my name is Katie, and over the course of my life, I’ve struggled with mental illnesses like depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, post traumatic stress disorder, and schizoaffective disorder. My illnesses brought me fear, shame, and a profound feeling of isolation. Recovery wasn’t always easy, but, despite the obstacles, I’ve accomplished a great deal. I graduated from a highly ranked college, hold down jobs, have meaningful relationships, and now speak publicly about living with mental illness, primarily schizoaffective disorder. I created this blog to break down preconceived notions about mental illness, and to show you that, not only can you go on to have a fulfilling life after being diagnosed with a mental illness or brain disease, but also that everyone’s story is unique, and, even when you’re not like the others, you’re not alone. Whether you have a mental illness yourself or are looking to help or better support someone else, know that no matter what you’re going through, there is hope.