"I was diagnosed with schizophrenia in 1989 after a break down caused by some difficulties I faced. The psychiatrists and nurses could not accept my explanation for what I thought and felt so they stamped me with the schizo label and doped me up. I still had all of the difficulties that precipitated my breakdown but now I was in a mental and emotional fog. My thoughts were lethargic and my emotional energy was muted by the drugs they told me were helping me. I tried to accept their explanation for my condition because I did not want to face what was really happening within myself.
After a while I acknowledged that my breakdown was painful and scary but I had survived it and as time went by I was able to face the Truth about my condition. By doing that I gained an incredible amount of inner strength.
I believe I had to suffer temporarily to gain this higher state of mental and emotional health. It may be true that I might have to face more difficulties within myself in the future. I am not going to shy away from it or deny why it is happening. It is a fact that we all suffer. It is also a fact that the suffering we face is only temporary and we learn and grow stronger because of it.
If any one is going through a seemingly bizarre, impossible to understand situation talk to people who have survived it, work on it within yourself, above all, BE POSITIVE! This too shall pass.
Please let people know they can contact me about their struggles with this thing known as schizophrenia and the battles they have with psychiatrists and the mental health field in general.
Leonard Shockey
ljshockey@hotmail.com