Schizoaffective – We Love Puppies Too

Sticks and Stones

Do you remember the old saying heard on the playground, “Sticks and stones might break my bones, but words can never hurt me?” People often throw around words like “crazy” or “psychotic” to describe those with a mental health diagnosis. The word “psychotic” is not necessarily a stigmatizing word, but people sometimes use it as an insult.

How I use my words has become very important to me now. I use words to help educate people about my mental illness, about my schizophrenia. Honestly, I can be hesitant about sharing my story with other people, but I have had help from various sources.

I have found purpose in sharing my mental health journey with the online organization called Students with Psychosis. I googled publications that publish mental health first person accounts. ADAA’s website popped up and I thought it would be perfect for my story. By putting my story out there along with other ADAA authors we are helping to bust the stigma of mental illness. I also think when people with mental health challenges read other people first person accounts they feel less alone.

The Dark Cloud Overhead

When I was in my middle teenage years, my dad once remarked that I seemed to have a dark cloud hanging over my head. He did not say those words to be hurtful. They were just an observation that he made on a particular day. Although that comment was made over twenty-five years ago, I still remember his words because they describe my adolescence very well.

I learn more every day about managing my symptoms, and I use my experience to advocate for others who might be experiencing mental illness. It is still hard for some people to ask for help and to get the help they need. For those who are able to get help, therapy is even available on the phone. I write first person accounts of living with mental illness so that others will not feel alone.

Volunteering and Recovery — Andrew’s Story

When Andrew Woods started volunteering with CMHA BC a year and a half ago, he didn’t know where the opportunity might lead.

At the time, he was in recovery from mental illness, having spent much time in the hospital for OCD, schizoaffective disorder and substance use. He didn’t have any particular goals in mind; he was just looking for an opportunity to get involved with the community.

During his first few months, he worked mainly in the information and referral office, providing guidance to people who’d written in with questions about their own mental health and available resources.

Gradually, Andrew broadened his portfolio, dipping his toes into projects with the fundraising and public policy offices.

Over time, Andrew began to focus on communications-oriented projects – an area of interest for him that draws on his background in writing and business administration. Today, his efforts have resulted in a portfolio that includes an impressive number of blog entries, writing projects, and even a piece in the popular magazine Psychology Today.

I scaled the heights for my mental health

After a schizoaffective episode that could have cost him his life, Patrick jumped at the opportunity of a physical challenge.

I’ve spoken at conferences/events, about my mental health and joined groups like The Mandem which exists digitally and physically to foster a community of men that support and celebrate each other.

Openly speaking to men, Black men in particular, about topics like ‘finding a therapist’ has been a blessing.

When the Chartered Institute of Housing president Aileen Evans asked for support in raising money for Mind and Harry’s Pals (a new initiative set up to provide emotional support to parents who have severely ill or disabled children) I jumped at the opportunity.

The fact that I had to take part in the 24 Peaks challenge (climbing 24 of the English Lake District Peaks over two days – including Scafell Pike), and had never climbed a peak in my life let alone 24 over two days did not scare me.

I was humbled by the immense requirements of this challenge. So far collectively we have raised over £46,000.

Schizophrenia: ‘I felt like I’d been given a life sentence’

A diagnosis of schizophrenia has turned film-maker Jonny Benjamin into a poster boy for young people’s mental health.

Benjamin first began hearing voices at 10 and subsequently went on to suffer frequent deep bouts of depression from 16. He was diagnosed in his early 20s with schizoaffective disorder – a combination of schizophrenia and depression.

Three years ago, Benjamin set up a YouTube channel to reach out to others with mental health difficulties, and has since created a catalogue of videos online – usually of him talking to camera but also short films – as well as offering support and a forum for discussion about the issues most affecting young people.

This year, Benjamin presented a full-length documentary, Failed by the NHS, for BBC3 as part of the channel’s much-praised mental health season.

Esmé Weijun Wang: ‘I don’t want to glamorise mental illness… it inhibits creativity’

Wang was named a best young American novelist by Granta and is the recipient of a Whiting award. She was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder in 2013 and late-stage Lyme disease in 2015.

Her New York Times-bestselling essay collection, The Collected Schizophrenias, which steps both inside and outside of her condition to bring it to light, has just been published. It won the Graywolf nonfiction prize.

I was waiting around to see if my first novel would ever sell and I was experiencing a severe episode of psychosis. As a way of coping, I was writing about it, which became the essay Perdition Days. After that episode was over, I polished the essay and ended up finding a home for it on the Toast website [in 2014.]

How I befriended my schizoaffective disorder through writing – James’ story

In this blog, James shares two coping mechanisms that have been important for his recovery: befriending his mental illness and writing for joy and relaxation. James reflects on his long journey, from being sectioned to becoming an author.

Working for a mental health charity does wonders for my wellbeing and has given me an enormous sense of fulfilment.

My book comes out in March 2023 and we decided to call it ‘Befriending My Brain’ because that title perfectly sums up my journey.

Mental health activism gave me hope

Jessica says that talking, writing and campaigning about her psychosis has helped her – and others – understand the condition.

At its worst I thought that people were out to get me. Extinction Rebellion. A cult. The Masons. My co-workers. My friends. The conspiracy kept changing and evolving based on things I saw in the world around me…

I wrote a script about the experience of psychosis, which Rethink Mental Illness brought alive as a short animated film…

As well as writing about my own experiences, I run various creative community projects talking about psychosis and serious mental illness including co-founding a podcast called Reality Tourists about people’s psychotic experiences…

After a productive year of activism I was very grateful to come runner-up in the Rethink Janey Antoniou award for campaigning in 2022.