My Arsenal of Facts for Fighting StigmaLiving with schizophrenia can often feel like navigating through a world filled with misconceptions and stigma. If your experience is anything like mine, you frequently find yourself at odds with...Reactions0reactions
Health Insurance Pitfalls: Treatment Access and Affording MedicationNowadays, employers with small staff are not required to provide health insurance, and independent contractors are just that – independent of the employer. State agencies are great at finding ways...Reactions0reactions
The Amazing Power of "Acting As If"I recently ran into someone who, frankly, is not my favorite person. Everything they say and do gets under my skin, and in the past I've responded with passive aggression...Reactions0reactions
Compassion Fatigue as a Peer SupporterSome of us may actually work in the field of mental health as either peer supporters or in another another capacity using our lived experience of a diagnosis of schizophrenia...Reactions0reactions
Signs of Relapse in SchizophreniaMore than half of people with schizophrenia will have a relapse within 4 years of their first episode. During a relapse, symptoms that were in remission come back or get...Reactions0reactions
Transitioning Back Into the WorkforceAfter taking a break from work to regroup and improve health I decided to go back to work. I've taken a step back from work to enhance my recovery efforts...Reactions0reactions
My Schizo-versary: How I Reclaimed a Day That Changed My LifeFive years ago this week, I was smoking a cigarette outside a Panera Bread when I finally summoned the courage to Google 4 words that would change my life forever...Reactions0reactions
Schizophrenia vs. Schizoaffective DisorderSchizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder are both mental health conditions. They can cause similar symptoms and may have similar treatments. They also can both be challenging to diagnose. However, schizophrenia and...Reactions0reactions
Why Privacy Laws MatterAs a caregiver, I've been frustrated by HIPAA and other privacy policies that kept me in the dark when my loved ones were in crisis. It seemed ridiculous for physicians...Reactions0reactions
I'm Solid In My Recovery... Why Am I Feeling Guilty?What is "survivor's guilt"? This can apply to anyone who comes in contact with someone who may be struggling, especially when we are in a better place – whether it's...Reactions0reactions
The Emotional Toll of Being on Disability BenefitsThe first time I ever thought of my worth in terms of a dollar amount was the first time I set foot in my county's early psychosis center. As my...Reactions0reactions
Communicating With Your Loved One During PsychosisI've always thought of myself as a good listener. It's my nature to be curious about others and to practice techniques that make them feel heard, like asking clarifying questions...Reactions0reactions
After the Hospital StayGoing through the mind wars of a wide range of symptoms are intense, uncomfortable, and chaotic. I've endured a lot. My last hospital stay was in 2023. Hospital stays are...Reactions0reactions
Links Between Trauma and PsychosisPsychosis is the medical term for losing touch with reality. There are several health conditions linked to psychosis and many possible causes of psychosis. One risk factor for developing psychosis...Reactions0reactions
Where Did My Motivation Go? Avolition and SchizophreniaI think I consider myself to be a motivated person. I've always been a go-getter – a generator of ideas and action. I have pulled myself into a place of...Reactions0reactions
Blood Testing for Schizophrenia Detection and TreatmentResearchers at Indiana University have created a new blood test for schizophrenia. This test detects blood biomarkers that can increase the risk or severity of schizophrenia. Biomarkers are biological signs...Reactions0reactions
Schizophrenia Stigma from Medical Providers is REALIn the world of healthcare, medical doctors – doctors who specialize in fields other than psychiatry or mental health – are often seen as reliable figures who provide aid and...Reactions0reactions
Schizophrenia and OCDSchizophrenia disrupts daily life due to episodes of psychosis, delusions, and extremely disordered thinking. Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) involves unwanted thoughts and fears that lead to repetitive behaviors and compulsive acts...Reactions0reactions
A Parent's Journey to AcceptanceAs the daughter of someone who experienced untreated psychosis and addiction during my childhood, my first experiences of serious mental illness were chaotic and often frightening. I found it difficult...Reactions0reactions
When Is Hospitalization Needed for Schizophrenia?Schizophrenia can cause delusions and behaviors that disrupt daily life. But once these symptoms are stabilized with treatment, most people with schizophrenia do well managing the condition. Those who are...Reactions0reactions
