Bad Days, Good Days, and Practicing Resilience

I have symptoms of schizophrenia every day, but that doesn't mean I don't have what I would consider good days. I have many good days along with hard days. To make the most out of those days when I'm feeling my best, I try to fill myself with things and activities I can draw from when I'm feeling my worst.

As the cliché goes, I try to fill my cup so I have something to drink from when things are significantly more challenging. I consider this my resilience practice. I believe this practice is necessary in helping me with the building blocks to move forward in my life and not get stuck feeling sorry for myself or consistently down because life can be hard to manage at times.

Being productive on good days with schizophrenia

One of the ways I build up a supply of things that will help me through rough patches is by being productive. A productive day for me may not look like a fruitful day for someone else, but I'm not in a competition, and I don't need to beat myself up for not getting as much done as someone else.

As a tip, I try to stay off accounts on social media where I feel like I'm comparing myself to others. If those feelings come up, I hit the unfollow button because I know it is not fair or healthy to constantly compare my performance or well-being to those whose lives look nothing like mine.

Being creative and finding a support group

For me, a productive day is spending some time writing. I find the act of creating healing, and it gives me joy. It also gives me something to point to later (on more challenging days) and say, "I did that. I made that. I wrote that."

Another way I feel productive is to spend an hour or more in a class or group or doing one of my public speaking engagements for the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). One group for those with schizophrenia that people can attend online and, in some places, in person is the Schizophrenia Alliance. A quick Google search will also lead you to Students with Psychosis, which offers many support options.

Staying connected to loved ones

I can also reach out to friends and family and try to keep connections with people so that when I feel like isolating socially, I don't let too much time pass and make connecting again awkward or challenging. I don't let weeks and months go by without contact with those who support me and make me feel like a part of a community.

Being phsyical on the good days, too

Also, being physical on good days makes me feel like I care for my health and well-being. I like to do a 20-minute stretching routine and pedal my stationary bike for a while. Taking care of my physical health is essential to combat the side effects of antipsychotic medication and helps with my overall mental health.

Completing a stretching routine or riding my stationary bike are things I can look back on when I’m struggling and tell myself, "You are doing great!" Positive affirmations on those hard days help me not listen as much to all the negative self-talk that can invade my mind on days when the most I can do is try to manage symptoms.

Both good days and bad days with schizophrenia

Finally, the important thing I tell myself when I'm not doing well is, "Yes, this is hard, but good days will come again. They always do."