In my job, I work with people living with severe mental illness, diagnoses like schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and borderline personality disorder, among others. I like to joke that my career in politics prepared me for this work (there’s some truth to that 😅). In reality, I think it’s my intuition and genuine care for people that led me here. I’ve always been able to read people well, which served me in politics, but over time the constant noise of that world wore me down. These days, I put that same energy into helping others heal.
I love hard, but I also suffer no fools even harder. My husband says that part of me scares him, and he’s probably not wrong. But I digress. 😬😅
Last night one of my clients living with schizophrenia stopped by the office. He just needed someone to talk to, to be heard, and I was grateful to be there for him. Moments like that always put my own worries in perspective.
Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition that affects how a person thinks, feels, and experiences reality. People may experience hallucinations, seeing or hearing things that aren’t real, delusions, strong false beliefs such as feeling watched or targeted, and disorganized thoughts that make communication difficult. They can also struggle with low motivation, emotional flatness, and social withdrawal. It’s a condition that can bring confusion, fear, and deep isolation, but with treatment, therapy, and strong support, many people with schizophrenia can and do live meaningful, fulfilling lives.
Being present for someone in their darkest moments is a powerful reminder that connection heals. No matter how heavy life feels, showing up with empathy and presence matters. As Carl Jung once said, “Know all the theories, master all the techniques, but as you touch a human soul be just another human soul.”✨
