My life with mental illness.

I am a 29 year old transgender male diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. This blog contains my thoughts, my recovery from my most recent mental relapse, and articles/reposts relevant to mental and chemical health. One in 25 Americans live with a serious mental disorder. 1% (2.2 million Americans) will develop schizophrenia.

[lovbun-deactivated20180210]

Ok so this post is extremely long and I put it all together for my blogs Feeling sad page but as I don’t have a huge amount of followers I realize so many people are not seeing this information so I’m posting it here too!

alternatives without harming yourself:

holding/squeezing ice.

splashing your face with water.

getting a rubber band and snapping it against your skin (this could hurt, though it’s better than other ways that people usually choose to self-harm).

take a hot shower or bath.

eat something sour. it will take your mind of the urge. (lemon, sour lollies)

massage where you want to self-harm.

get a red pen or red paint and draw/paint over where you usually self-harm.

remind yourself as to why you shouldn’t do it. (scars, harms organs, leave memories etc…)

describe what you are feeling. (is the urge/pain in your chest, fists, legs, arms, head).

killing yourself will not help. it is not a solution.

you have your whole life ahead of you. you have so many more years that you can accomplish things in. for example;

having a family.

getting married.

to watch the sun rise.

to watch the sun set.

to save someone else’s life.

finish school.

get your dream job.

to laugh.

to smile.

to go camping.

travel to new places.

to wake up every morning to the person you love.

friends.

family.

to keep that promise you made.

to accomplish a goal.

to meet your idol.

to listen to new music.

theme parks.

video games.

chocolate.

to be able to look back and say “i made it”.

what you’re going through is temporary.

in case you need to hear this:

you are loved.

you are wanted.

you are needed.

you are beautiful.

you are handsome.

you are important.

you are not alone.

you are okay.

you are strong.

you are worth it.

you are smart.

you are not a failure.

you are useful.

you are going to be okay.

———————————————————————————————————

abuse

coping

caring for yourself

domestic abuse

chat rooms

survivors chat

fort refuge

pandy’s

add/adhd

coping

coping tips for attention deficit disorder

12 best tips for coping with adhd

50 tips on the management of adult attention deficit

medication

adhd medication chart: compare drugs for add and adhd

drugs used to treat adhd/add

add/adhd medications: are adhd drugs right for you

adhd medication side effects, drug types, precautions

addiction

coping and recovery

tools of recovery: addiction coping skills

5 ways to deal with urges and cravings

after rehab: 5 ways for addicts to cope

addiction recovery

coping with urges

dealing with cravings

anger

coping

strategies to keep anger at bay

anger management: 10 tips to tame your temper

anger management: tips and techniques

feeling angry

controlling anger — before it controls you

dealing with anger

how to cope with anger

anger management: what works and what doesn’t

ten commandments of anger regulation

anxiety

coping

a list of stress relievers

identifying and managing anxiety

11 assorted anxiety tips for anxiety sufferers

how to work through feelings of isolation

tips and tricks for dealing with anxiety

anti-stress breathing tips

how to stay under control with severe social anxiety

coping with social anxiety

managing stress

how to help a friend with anxiety

help guide (therapy)

half of us

job interviews and social anxiety

dealing with anxiety

coping with test anxiety

tips for flying anxiety

grounding techniques

more grounding techniques

even more grounding techniques

mindfulness

belly breathing

living with anxiety

social anxiety disorder self help tips.

coping with flashbacks

what anxious racing thoughts are like for me

using a thought diary

panic attacks

how to handle panic attacks

exploring and coping with panic attacks

10 rules for coping with anxiety and panic

tips to cope with panic attacks

rules for coping with anxiety and panic

understanding and coping with panic attacks

understanding and helping panic attacks and panic disorders

help guide (panic attacks & panic disorder)

coping with panic attacks workbook

rules for coping with panic

panic attack workbook 2

medication

help guide (anxiety medicine)

common medications for anxiety disorders

guidelines for medication use

bipolar disorder

coping

bipolar disorder and self-help

living with bipolar disorder

how to deal with bipolar disorder without medication

10 ways to cope with bipolar disorder

coping skills

help guide (self help)

bipolar support tumblr

medication

help guide (bipolar disorder medication guide)

help guide (treatment)

chat rooms

healthfulchat

bipolar world

healing well

depression

coping

how to cope with depression

how to cope with depression 1

natural depression treatments

ways to deal with depression/stress

tips to help overcome loneliness

10 tips on how to work through feelings of social isolation

8 tips to overcome loneliness

ways to deal with depression/stress

having a bad day?

make a comfort box

10 things to do when you feel like crap

how to find a new normal in the middle of depression

you are not alone in the way you think you are

reasons to stay alive

how to stop trying to think yourself into happiness and actually arrive there

cheer me up

help guide (dealing with depression)

help guide (helping someone with depression)

medication

what to expect with antidepressants

finding the right anti-depressant

chat room

healthfulchat

healing well

eating disorders

recovery

281 reasons to recover

eating disorders and emotional eating test

relapse prevention

bloating, indigestion, & feeling too full

why you must eat

learning to love your body

tips to stop restricting

dealing with weight gain

10 steps to bulimia recovery workbook

coping with exercise addiction

tips to help with bulimia recovery

help guide (emotional eating)

help guide (binge eating)

help guide (bulimia)

help guide (helping someone with an eating disorder)

help guide (treatment and recovery)

stop hating your body

body positive zone

self care 101

self esteem

30 day self esteem challenge

developing positive self esteem

learning-to-love-yourself

something fishy

ways of coping with eating disordered behaviors

the addiction help center

friends with illness

how to deal/talk with bipolar and depressed people

what to do when your friend is talking about suicide

what to do if someone you know is overdosing

what to do if your friend is hurting themselves

how to help someone who is suicidal

here’s what you tell someone who wants to commit suicide

tips for looking after someone with depression

friends with metal illness?

what to do when someone is suicidal

help guide (helping someone with depression)

grief and loss

help guide (coping with a breakup or divorce)

help guide (coping with grief & loss)

help guide (coping with pet loss)

help guide (supporting a grieving person)

help guide (the five stages of grief)

ocd

coping and treatment

natural treatment options

treatments for obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd)

additional treatment options for ocd

residential treatment for ocd

medications for obsessive-compulsive disorder (ocd)

a new relationship to your obsessions

how to find help for ocd

ocd: exposure therapy versus medication

cognitive therapy for ocd

chat rooms

healthfulchat

ocd-uk

perfectionism

coping

how to overcome perfectionism

learn to manage perfectionism

how to overcome perfectionism & procrastination

perfectionism - stress management

10 steps to conquer perfectionism

perfectionists coping with failure

ptsd

coping

coping with flashbacks

self help strategies for ptsd

coping with traumatic stress reactions

post-traumatic stress - self-help guide

understanding and coping with ptsd

coping with ptsd

schizophrenia

coping

living with schizophrenia

coping with schizophrenia

schizophrenia coping and recovery

schizophrenia: coping with delusions and hallucinations

paranoid schizophrenia coping and support

treatment

an introduction to the treatment of schizophrenia

treatment of schizophrenia

drugs to treat schizophrenia

common drugs and medications to treat schizophrenia

treating schizophrenia successfully

self-harm

cut something that’s not real skin

half of us

help guide

recover your life

self-injury outreach & support

how to care for cuts

resisting cutting

25 ways to avoid self injury and prevent self harm

tips to help stop cutting

99 coping skills: things to do instead of cutting

what to do when someone sees

how to fade/cover scars

alternatives for cutting 1

alternatives for cutting 2

alternatives for cutting 3

alternatives for cutting 4

alternatives for cutting 5

self-love

how to stop putting yourself down

self confidence

how to improve your self-esteem

how to be ok with yourself

tips on self-love

confidence

learn to love yourself

when told you are not pretty

emergency compliment

lessons for self-love

suicide

coping with suicidal thought

what to do when someone is suicidal

how to help someone who is suicidal

here’s what you tell someone who wants to commit suicide

help guide (suicide prevention)

help guide (dealing with suicidal thoughts & feelings)

therapy

how to get free therapy

getting a therapist - a brief step-by-step

psychiatrist, psychologist, therapist or counsellor?

50 signs of good therapy

50 warning signs of questionable therapy

———————————————————————————————————

the quiet place

things to do when you feel bad

when you’re not having a good day

reminders

self care suggestions

take a break

the thoughts room

90 second relaxation

the dawn room

the comfort spot

control a rainstorm

calm

how to make changes in your life

imalive

crisischat

7 cups of tea

kids help phone

positive love network

trans lifeline: 877-565-8860

depression hotline: [phone]

suicide hotline: [phone]

lifeline: 1-800-273-8255

trevor project: 1-866-488-7386

sexuality support: 1-800-246-7743

eating disorders hotline: [phone]

rape and sexual assault: 1-800-656-4673

grief support: 1-650-321-5272

runaway: 1-800-843-5200, 1-800-843-5678, 1-800-621-4000

exhale: after abortion hotline/pro-voice: 1-866-439-4253

[synodicsean]

Dont forget about Crisis Text Line! 

Text HOME to 741-741

[bristlee1]

for those who might need it

[schizophreniclogan-blog]

There was a man in the hallway. He asked me if the room I was going into was mine. As it turns out, that man wasn’t real. He wasn’t a patient here, and no one is allowed visitors in that hallway. I told the staff about him, but they swore I was the only one that went down that hallway at the time? Bah, fuck. 

[space-elves-deactivated20180813]

Fight the stigma! 👊

[schizophreniclogan-blog]

Sensory overload... I just want everything to shut up. Things are too loud, and too bright. The sunlight hurts. There’s a smell making me want to vomit, and a bad taste in my mouth. My clothes feel itchy all over... FUCKFUCKFUCK

[space-elves-deactivated20180813]

Less stigma and more love 💞

[butterflyinprogress-deactivated]

LISTEN UP PEEPS CAUSE I’VE GOT SOMETHING(s) TO SAY

Psychotic is a scary word, but trust me, it’s scarier for the person with the illness than it is for you. Imagine if you felt you couldn’t trust your own brain and you’ll know what I mean.

Psychotic symptoms do not equal schizophrenia. There are plenty of other reasons why someone could have a psychotic episode (like messed up medications, extreme anxiety and panic attacks, etc)

AND WHILE WE’RE ON THE SUBJECT SCHIZOPHRENIA IS NOT LIKE IT IS IN THE MOVIES OKAY NOT EVERYONE WITH IT HEARS VOICES AND THEY’RE NOT PSYCHOPATHS

Psychotic does not equal psychopathic. The two are very different and if you don’t believe me look up the clinical definitions.

Having psychotic symptoms does not mean the person belongs in a mental hospital. Some people, if they have symptoms that make them a danger to themselves or to others, may need to go to a hospital temporarily. Every case is different.

That being said, having a psychotic episode is not necessarily a trend. And if it is a trend, they’re not necessarily dangerous. The most dangerous kinds in my opinion are those related to paranoid delusions, but even those don’t necessarily mean they’re going to randomly go off the handle and hurt you. For me, I can usually feel them coming on, and with the help of proper training and medication, I can now stop the delusions before they get too strong.

If a person confides in you and tells you that they have had psychotic episodes before or have a psychotic illness, all you have to ask them is if they have gotten help for it. It’s most likely that they have, and you should NOT hold it against them. We couldn’t stop our brains from doing these things anymore than you could, say, stop cancer cells from multiplying.

Even when I believed that the entire world around me was an illusion, a hallucination, a computer program, whatever. Even when I believed my parents were evil duplicates here to keep me prisoner, I never hurt anyone. I only went on the defensive when they tried to hold me down. Even when I was trying to get away I tried not to hurt anyone. Psychotic episodes do not mean the person is dangerous, especially if they have gotten help for it and took the proper precautions.

Please be sympathetic to us. If you hold it against someone for having these issues as if they could stop it on their own, then you’re a jerk.

So yeah that’s all I have to say. That turned out to be a lot. If anyone who sees this has struggled with psychotic episodes or illness in the past, feel free to share your experience and show how much better you’re doing now and how it’s possible to lead normal and healthy lives. Reduce the stigma.

[mypsychology]

For more posts like this, come visit @mypsychology​

[feelnothingbutnumb]

If you’re feeling anxious

Here are some things you can do that might help you feel better! 

Grounding - for when you’re feeling detached or unreal

Top 21 Anxiety Grounding Techniques

Grounding Exercises 

Sensory and Cognitive Awareness Techniques

28 Popular and Effective Grounding Techniques

Coping with Flashbacks and Distress

Mindfulness - for helping you relax and control your reactions

16 Simple Mindfulness Exercises

6 Mindfulness Exercises you can try Today 

Mindfulness Exercises 

Being Mindful

4 Quick Mindfulness Techniques

Breathing - for help during panic attacks

3 Deep Breathing Exercises to Reduce Anxiety

Practice your Breathing Skills

A Breathing Exercise That Calms Panic Attacks

3 Effective Anxiety Breathing Exercises

Slow Breathing to Decrease Anxiety and Panic

Anxiety can be scary and difficult to deal with, especially if you don’t have resources, but you’re not alone. 

[michellepsychologist]

Myths & Facts about Mental Illness 

source: Global Medical Education

For more follow us @ Awake Society

[recoveryplace-blog]

Surviving Panic Attacks

How to handle your panic attacks and anxiety attacks, step by step.

Retreat. If you feel phobic, exit the situation until anxiety subsides. Retreat is a temporary leave until you feel better. Escape can reinforce your phobia.

Talk to another person. This helps get your mind off of symptoms and anxious thoughts.

Move around. Dissipates extra energy/adrenaline created by fight-or-flight reaction. Instead of resisting, you move with it.

Stay in the present. Focus on concrete objects around you in your immediate environment. Try actually touching objects.

Engage in a simple repetitive activity.

unwrap and chew gum

count

snap rubber band

sing

wet towel on face

     6. Do something that requires focused concentration.

read a book or magazine

puzzles

knit/sew

write

     7. Express anger. If you can physically express anger rather than just talking, you may be able to stop the panic attack before it blows up.

pound on a pillow or your bed

beat a pillow or cushion with a bat

scream into pillow

     8. Experience something immediately pleasurable.

be held

pleasurable snack/meal

hot shower or bath

     9. Visualize a comforting person/scene.

    10. Practice thought stopping.

take a deep breath then internally or externally say, “Stop”!

replace anxious thoughts with calming and supportive statements (“I am calm. I am strong”).

snap a rubber band or splash cold water to disrupt thoughts

    11. Practice abdominal breathing. Breathe slowly and deeply from your abdomen.

    12. Practice muscle relaxation.

clench fists. Hold for 10 seconds, release and repeat.

tighten/raise shoulders up, hold 10 seconds, release.

    13. Repeat positive coping statements.

    14. Use breathing or relaxation in combination with coping statements.

Source: The Anxiety & Phobia Workbook by Bourne

[sexioto]

[crilbyte-deactivated20240607]

Oh shit. No. Shit. Thank you

[novacaineandabelle]

Fffffffff let me get right on that. 

and then reblog for the next forgetful son of a bitch

Just gonna reblog this out of gratitude because I actually did forget…

[thefingerfuckingfemalefury]

<3 Reblogging this in case any of my friends on here needed a reminder <3

[risingfanartist]

i dont have mine with me

[disabilityuserboxes]

this user has paranoid schizophrenia

[enigm0]

Everything Is Awful and I'm Not Okay: questions to ask before giving up

Are you hydrated?

If not, have a glass of water. Have you eaten in the past three hours? If not, get some food — something with protein, not just simple carbs. Perhaps some nuts or hummus? 

Have you showered in the past day?

If not, take a shower right now. Have you stretched your legs in the past day? If not, do so right now. If you don’t have the energy for a run or trip to the gym, just walk around the block, then keep walking as long as you please. If the weather’s crap, drive to a big box store (e.g. Target) and go on a brisk walk through the aisles you normally skip.

Have you said something nice to someone in the past day?

Do so, whether online or in person. Make it genuine; wait until you see something really wonderful about someone, and tell them about it.

Have you moved your body to music in the past day?

If not, jog for the length of an EDM song at your favorite tempo, or just dance around the room for the length of an upbeat song.

Have you cuddled a living being in the past two days?

If not, do so. Don’t be afraid to ask for hugs from friends or friends’ pets. Most of them will enjoy the cuddles too; you’re not imposing on them.

Have you seen a therapist in the past few days?

If not, hang on until your next therapy visit and talk through things then. Have you changed any of your medications in the past couple of weeks, including skipped doses or a change in generic prescription brand? That may be screwing with your head. Give things a few days, then talk to your doctor if it doesn’t settle down.

If daytime: are you dressed?

If not, put on clean clothes that aren’t pajamas. Give yourself permission to wear something special, whether it’s a funny t-shirt or a pretty dress.

If nighttime: are you sleepy and fatigued but resisting going to sleep?

Put on pajamas, make yourself cozy in bed with a teddy bear and the sound of falling rain, and close your eyes for fifteen minutes — no electronic screens allowed. If you’re still awake after that, you can get up again; no pressure.

Do you feel ineffective?

Pause right now and get something small completed, whether it’s responding to an e-mail, loading up the dishwasher, or packing your gym bag for your next trip. Good job!

Do you feel unattractive?

Take a goddamn selfie. Your friends will remind you how great you look, and you’ll help fight society’s restrictions on what beauty can look like.

Do you feel paralyzed by indecision?

Give yourself ten minutes to sit back and figure out a game plan for the day. If a particular decision or problem is still being a roadblock, simply set it aside for now, and pick something else that seems doable. Right now, the important part is to break through that stasis, even if it means doing something trivial.

Have you over-exerted yourself lately — physically, emotionally, socially, or intellectually?

That can take a toll that lingers for days. Give yourself a break in that area, whether it’s physical rest, taking time alone, or relaxing with some silly entertainment.

Have you waited a week?

Sometimes our perception of life is skewed, and we can’t even tell that we’re not thinking clearly, and there’s no obvious external cause. It happens. Keep yourself going for a full week, whatever it takes, and see if you still feel the same way then.

You’ve made it this far, and you will make it through. You are stronger than you think.

[this-is-psychosis]

I often talk about reality checking and going along with it when helping someone deal with delusions, but I felt as if I didn’t really make it clear to what I meant when I said it.

Recently I saw a post similar to “how to sneakily give your delusional friend a reality check when they told you not to” and honestly, that’ll just make us lose trust for you. Because we can tell when you do that.

[chronic-illness-resources]

[bpdvillain]

chronic-illness-support:

stretches you can do from a seated position (here + here)

guide to yoga postions 

how to do self massage (x, x, x)

some simple ways to relieve stress

tips for vitality and serenity 

how to relax 

visit an online support group

how to do belly breathing  

grounding exercises (mental, physical)

make a comfort box

make a pleasant activities list to refer to 

work through feelings of social isolation

cognitive behavioral therapy worksheets

visit one of these calming websites

coping skills for the disabled or chronically ill

self-care mega list

more self-care tips

even more self-care tips

do some surveys or personality tests

watch TV shows or movies here, here, or here

read some free books 

find DIY stuff to do on pinterest 

go shop on etsy, amazon, wantist, or uncommongoods - even if you can’t buy anything, sometimes it’s just fun to look!

go find some other spoonies to follow (check here and here )

I know this is a pretty small list, and it’s mostly links to posts from other blogs, so if you have thing you would like to add feel free to add or submit and I will add them! 

[szspectrumlife]

University when you’re psychotic

I recently graduated from university after reading theatre and Jewish studies and I graduated with highest distinction (gpa 4.0). Being at university can be extremely difficult and extremely trying when you’re on the schizophrenia or psychosis spectra. Below is the advice that I have based on my experiences. Everyone’s university experience is different and everyone’s experiences with sz spectrum are different so not all of this may apply to you. I only started receiving treatment in the last year of university and only received diagnosis shortly after I graduated so a lot of my coping mechanisms are applicable if you are receiving treatment and if you are not receiving treatment. This might also be applicable if you’re at risk for developing schizophrenia or prone to psychosis.

- SLEEP. I know this is easier said than done. A lot of universities allow an obscene amount of homework to be assigned. Some classes let out very late at night. Some people have to work through their entire time at university and so have very little off time. However, I can tell you that one of the most important things you can get at university is sleep. Lack of sleep definitely exacerbated my symptoms, making my hallucinations, delusions, and dissociative episodes much worse. If you’ve a difficult schedule that doesn’t allow for a lot of sleep, practise self care to soothe your body and mind. If you can’t get a lot of sleep, try yoga and meditation. These are things you can also do with your friends and that will keep you motivated to keep going and keep caring for yourself. Do “spa days” at the weekend with your friends where you do face masques or simply chill and drink some tea together and play video games.

- GIVE. It’s been proven that community is extremely important for mentally ill and neurodivergent people. Sometimes we have a lot of self loathing but would never direct those feelings at another person. For me, advocating for other people makes it easier for me to take care of myself. At university I was involved in a social justice theatre troupe. With this troupe I was able to advocate for mentally ill people and other oppressed groups. It also gave me a community in which I could freely express myself and complain about micro aggressions with a group that would listen. Getting yourself involved in social justice, charity, or volunteer work is a great use of your time and passion and will help you understand yourself better.

- LIST MAKING. In my third year at university I suffered a minor concussion that gave me some temporary memory and focus problems. Additionally, because of my schizoaffective disorder, sometimes my memory can be scattered or I can lack the motivation to do what I need to do. List making (and more importantly, list crossing off) really helped me to remember what I needed to do each day and stay motivated. This is my advice for list making: 

Make lists of things you do by default every day as well as things you need to do. For example, on my lists I would almost always have “walk to campus”, “take lunch”, “shower”, “remove nail varnish”, etc. When you have both things you normally do and things you need to do on the list it helps you create a better image of what the day will look like. 

Cross off or tick boxes off of the items you do. Only do this when you have completed that item, not before. This is extremely rewarding for me. Some things you need to have multiple boxes for if there are multiple steps. For example, you might have a general item of “write English essay” but under that you would have “write outline”, “first draft”, “edit”, and “print”. You check off each item as you go and then when you get to the end you get to check off “write English essay”. 

Include self care. This helps you prioritise your own health and normalise self care. If you include items like: “take tea” or “play skyrim for an hour” then you are more likely to do them and realise that in doing them you’ve actually accomplished something. 

No guilt. When you’re unable to complete an activity, scratch it off your list and move it to tomorrow’s list. I wanted to make a fan mix one month and it probably took me several months to actually get to it. I included it on my list every day so that I’d remember it as something I want to do. When I finally had a spare moment, I made the fan mix and was finally able to cross it off the list. Not getting to something doesn’t mean failure, it just means not today. 

Limit it. Don’t make your list overwhelm you. I use an index card that I turn on its side so it’s portrait and fill up that card. If it doesn’t fit on the card then it cannot fit in the day.

- GROUP STUDY AND GROUP CARE. In my last two years at uni I started doing something with a friend called “cubby time” where we would go to the library, take a desk in the stacks, and watch an episode of television whilst wrapped in a blanket and drinking tea. Sometimes we would bake things and eat them together. Cubby time was super rewarding and I cherish those memories. Additionally, studying with other people from a class as a group can be really helpful–choose you’re group with care, though. I usually work with whatever friend I have in a class and we make each other work. Sometimes if we’re working on a project, we’d choose related topics so we could research together (if something didn’t suit mine, it usually worked for hers, and vice versa). Working together helped me get work done and build my friendships.

- FIGHT BURNOUT. Trust me, burnout is real. By the time I finished university I was a total mess and completely burnt out. It took me months to recover. As someone who’s gone through it, I suggest doing everything you can whilst you’re at university to fight burnout. You need to exercise. You need to practise self care. You need to sleep. These things seem optional in the face of failing a class or missing an assignment but you won’t be able to do those things for long if you don’t take care of yourself. I really let myself go at university and it really bit me in the arse.

- TAKE CARE OF YOUR BODY. This is very hard at university, so don’t feel like you have to be perfect or become a gym rat or anything. However, being in good physical health helps your mind work better. Exercising at least weekly if not daily can really have a positive impact on your mental health. I know that everyone says this, but it is very true. Exercise is really hard to do at university, especially when you’re studying and partying all the time. Make yourself exercise by signing up for a class at the gym with a friend. Having a friend do something new alongside you, like Yoga or lifting or Tai Chi, will encourage you to keep going. If you miss a class, don’t sweat it. You’re not at university to exercise, but exercising at university can definitely improve your experience there. And it doesn’t have to be high impact. Take your laptop to the gym or your iphone and watch Netflix whilst you walk on the treadmill for an hour. Facetime with your siblings whilst you sweat on the elliptical. Walk around the track for 20 minutes chatting with your best friend. Exercise doesn’t have to be intense and you don’t have to be good at it. You really don’t. You don’t owe anyone a perfect workout routine or a perfect gym fit body. 

- DON’T OVERDO IT PARTYING. Somehow neurotypical people can go out every night, get trashed, and get through university. I honestly have no idea how they do it. For me, I have a lot of social awkwardness and discomfort at parties. I don’t drink a lot, because it can aggravate my psychotic symptoms. I would definitely recommend you moderate your alcohol consumption whilst at university. Drinking makes my symptoms so much worse and can leave me struggling for days afterwards to piece my life back together. Take it easy. Don’t go to every party. Keep track of yourself (or have a friend you trust keep track of you). Avoid drugs. Avoid large quantities of alcohol. [Note: if you are medicated, some antipsychotics make you more susceptible to the effects of alcohol and some antipsychotics can take all the fun out of alcohol {ABILIFY, in my experience}–if you don’t feel comfortable drinking, don’t do it. If your psychiatrist or doctor advises you not to drink, don’t do it. You don’t owe anyone an explanation or an excuse. Drinking is a choice and plenty of people choose not to drink who have no particular reason. I know that social pressure can make this hard. Know that you don’t owe anyone anything. You make your own decisions and your decisions are cool by default.]

- LET YOURSELF HAVE A BREAK. when you have gone out partying, allow yourself to heal the next day. One day after a friend’s party that involved lots of clubs I couldn’t speak for the next day because I was so keyed up. Allow yourself care after extreme situations or stressful situations. After a party, make yourself a pot of tea. Play video games alone for a couple of hours. Eat a salad. Watch television. Drink half a litre of water. After a stressful exam, eat a chocolate bar. Drink a froufrou coffee. Buy yourself some new undies. Meditate. Watch half a season of Parks and Rec with your flatmate/roommate. Spend an hour on the stationary cycles at the gym, or the elliptical machine pretending you’re in Pacific Rim. Do low impact cardio. Stress can seriously negatively impact you and taking care of stress is essential for taking care of yourself.

- DON’T PUSH YOURSELF FOR EVERYTHING. choose your battles. If you struggle with social skills, choose specific times to work on them. Remember, you don’t owe everyone yourself 100% of the time. You can choose where and how you’re comfortable socialising. You don’t owe anyone your time. I didn’t date in university. I really struggle with romantic interactions, in part because of my mental illness and in part because of traumatic experiences. You are not a freak and there is nothing wrong with you if this is the case. There are many people in their twenties who are single. There are many people who are still virgins in their twenties. They come from all sorts of backgrounds (not just conservative Christians) and have all sorts of reasons. There are many people who have lots of sex in their twenties. Neither of these options is inherently right or wrong. Your sexual choices for yourself are valid. Any of your reasons for social/sexual activity or lack of that activity are valid. You don’t have to challenge yourself constantly. If you know you struggle with that, you can say, I’ll work on that in therapy. Or I’ll work on that when I can. Don’t think because many of the people around you have successful social lives that everyone does. This also applies to classes. Take an easy class if you know you need a break. Do the bare minimum if you can’t bring yourself to do more. University is hard. Being away from home is hard. You can cut yourself some slack. You are already a success by being you.

- RECOVER. Having a psychotic episode at university can be terrifying and many of your peers might not understand what you’re going through. If you experience a psychotic episode or psychotic symptoms, allow yourself to recover. You don’t have to snap back to work. It took me a couple of semesters to realise that I could actually call in sick when I was so shaken I couldn’t move or convinced I would slip on the ice and get another concussion. If you only have sick absences, feign a cold at the clinic or say whatever allergies you have are acting up and get a piece of paper proving you were there–you don’t actually owe them the truth. You don’t have to go to that party when you’re feeling like you’re slipping out of your body and floating overhead at the grocery shop. You don’t owe anyone anything. During a migraine I had a drawn out episode where I believed and saw my hands to be covered in bruises (and I later fainted, it was an awful day) and kept trying to hide them from people. I couldn’t read and I struggled to converse. My notes were a disaster. It took me a while to realise what was going on. I needed to take care of myself afterwards and instead the next day I woke up very early and went into work for several hours. I needed a break and I didn’t give it to myself when I needed it and it caused my symptoms to be more drawn out and me to feel physically exhausted. Take care of yourself when you need it. You may not believe it, but you deserve it and it will actually positively effect your work. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health and just as valid an excuse.

- FIND A MENTOR. Talk to your professors. Try to talk to all of your professors. This will help you succeed in your coursework but also in your post-grad life. Additionally, if your professor knows you and you are having a particular bad day and can’t come to class, them knowing you will help them to give you the benefit of the doubt. There are many, MANY neurodivergent people in academia and you will find that you kind of end up gravitating to them unintentionally. My main mentor at university was autistic. You will find an adult who understands you and who you can trust.

- SEEK DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT. this can be difficult at university. Also, this is not a jab at self dx. I believe self dx to be valid. I encourage you to get an official diagnosis because then you have more recourse if you need to miss a day or a week. This gives you paperwork and legal recourse at the university if you are discriminated against or if your professor does not give you adequate accommodation. I know it can be really hard to ask for help for yourself. Think of this as paving the way for other psychotic students that will come to the university. You will be making someone’s life a lot easier in the future. Note that many universities have psych clinics on campus where you can pay a significantly reduced rate if you’re a student there or below a certain income. This is where I sought treatment and received diagnosis. Some people feel more comfortable with an extremely qualified professional but I personally found it less intimidating to be working with someone who was approximately my peer. Note that also when you go to one of these clinics they can refer you to a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse for medication and you can also indicate whether you’d feel more comfortable with a psychology student of your own race, sex, or ethnicity (for example, if you’re a black woman and you don’t want to be working with a white man or woman, you can say you would prefer to be paired with a black woman and the university will do its best to pair you with someone of your preference).

- YOU DON’T HAVE TO SUFFER. If a professor or fellow student is ridiculing you or making your life hellish you do not have to endure this. Report them. Nothing may come of it, but more will come from it than if you did nothing. If you’re Jewish and someone makes an antisemitic jibe at you, report them. If you’re trans and a professor makes cissexist and transphobic statements to the class, report them. If a professor or GTA behaves in a way that is inappropriate to you, report them. You are making your campus a safer environment in so doing. I know it can be scary. I know it can feel like because you’re mentally ill that people won’t believe you or that everyone is against you. Bring a friend with you if you are nervous making a report or have your mentor help you. You don’t have to suffer and you don’t have to be in this alone.

- TREAT YOURSELF. This can be hard to learn when you’re at university but treating yourself doesn’t have to be something elaborate. For me, if I’ve had a really exhausting exam or something, I’ll treat myself to a froufrou coffee or an hour on tumblr at the library or a cheap film on campus. You work very hard. If you make a list, you’ll see just how much stuff is happening every day. Even if you don’t get everything done that you need, you are still working hard and deserve care. 

Note: these are all things that worked for me, but everyone’s experience is different. I had a lot of problems in school and most of the lists I found on tumblr of advice were mostly for people with depression or anxiety. University can be really daunting when you’re psychotic, but it is doable. Feel free to add to this with your own pieces of advice and message me at any time if you need any specific advice. I believe in you.

[dirtyfruit]

schizo tips for non-schizo people:

auditory hallucinations are not the only kind that exist

schizophrenia does not inherently make you violent

professional diagnosis of schizophrenia and schizotypical disorders often suffer from stigma against non-drug related symptoms in spite of evidence to genetics causing the illness too, and schizos are often stereotyped by their doctors as obligate drug addicts (to the point mine insisted i could not be diagnosed with it if i wasn’t one)

schizophrenia is not DID and does not come with multiple personalities

even schizos who do experience auditory hallucinations do not always have consistent voices or ‘characters’ in their head

paranoid schizophrenia is not the only type of schizophrenia

paranoia in those who are paranoid schizophrenics can manifest as more than just a fear of the government or some secret institution. it’s more a general sense of persecution affected by that individual’s fears.

hallucinations are not living metaphors that always connect to some deeper personal meaning which are solved by figuring out their root (something my doctor tried to say), but are rather manifestations of many different stimuli. some people hallucinate birds and butterflies, just because. some people hallucinate monsters. each person is different, and there isnt always a reason why.

schizophrenics can be functional. schizophrenics can be mentally okay. schizophrenia is not a tragic backstory.

[chinon]

lmao tfw u get an $800 bill from the psych ward thats threatening to get an “outside source” to collect the money since u “have not responded to previous requests for payments” bc u dont have any fucking money and u know ur mom is gonna try and guilt u (and act like ur severely mentally ill and need to be hospitalized on purpose) for god knows how many months this time :-)

[chinon]

if anyone uh wants to help or whatever heres my stuff i guess:

paypal

cash.me: $mb926

venmo: @marcusjb 

of course don’t feel obligated or anything but id really appreciate anyone who could