Living with Psychosis
Have you experienced psychosis? Have you been labelled with having schizophrenia, schizoaffective... View more
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“No one can make you feel anything without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
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“No one can make you feel anything without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt
I want you to take yourself back to the moment you were given the diagnosis of your psychotic disorder, whether schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder etc. How did you feel and what did you think? Did it affect who you were as a person, and did you think that your future seemed bleak? Write a reply to this post and reflect upon what you’ve written and imagine if at the time you had control over your feelings.
What if you knew that your diagnosis did not and does not define you, how would you have reacted? Perhaps you still feel like it defines you, well let me tell you, it does not at all. You are who you are and the diagnosis is just one small part of you, but it is not you.
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I was initially diagnosed with ‘Brief Psychotic Disorder’ in 2009, however, after three hospitalisations by 2012, I guess it became clear to the Psychiatrists that I may have something more.
My psychotic experiences are always brief, lasting just a few days, and usually being hospitalised for two weeks to one month, if it’s longer, it’s usually because they are sorting things out for my release, e.g. making sure I’m monitored in the community upon my release.
I found out about my diagnosis by accident actually. I saw it written on the Psychiatrists screen and I said, “I’ve been diagnosed with Schizophrenia?” She replied yes. My sense of self was high around that time. I had just been released from the hospital and was still on a ‘high’ so to me, it didn’t bother me at all. I didn’t feel worthless, or less than. I felt no feelings towards the diagnosis whatsoever. Even after a few months, I was fine with it. I told my friends and family with no issues,
“Oh you know I’ve been diagnosed with schizophrenia?” I told them.
I didn’t care what they’d think. You may say this was because they were friends and family, but actually, I even told strangers that I came into contact with, even people I had just met on dating websites. I know that sounds odd. We’d talk and I’d let them know.
I must say I’m happy that I know that my diagnosis doesn’t define me. I’d love to hear stories from others where this is not the case. Let me know.