http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm This is the Real Lives Blog from Mental Health America en-us Sun, 19 May 2013 23:49:34 -0400 Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:19:00 -0400 BlogCFC http://blogs.law.harvard.edu/tech/rss webmaster@mentalhealthameica.net webmaster@mentalhealthameica.net webmaster@mentalhealthameica.net http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm no http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/9/4/With-support-and-medication-we-can-lead-meaningful-lives by Charlie in Rhode Island After having struggled with schizophrenia previously, I now live with it but no longer struggle with it, which is not to say that I sometimes don't struggle with problems. I was diagnosed with, at the time, schizoaffective, in my senior year in college. I was given the wrong treatment and diagnosis for six years, getting medications that didn't work, and no chance to feel comfortable expressing myself. [More] Schizophrenia Fri, 04 Sep 2009 15:19:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/9/4/With-support-and-medication-we-can-lead-meaningful-lives http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/It-is-OK-to-get-help-for-what-ails-you by Marsha in Kansas When I started my downward spiral after hospitalization, I was asked to quit my trade school classes and take a break from the stress of it all. It was a nice way of saying we don't want you to come back. I couldn't handle the stress of marriage so I divorced my second husband. He got main custody of my daughter but I got half custody of her during her last year of school. She came to live with me full-time. [More] Depression Bipolar Disorder Schizophrenia Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:18:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2009/1/10/It-is-OK-to-get-help-for-what-ails-you http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/15/Dream-is-to-one-day-to-get-own-place-and-make-a-living-with-by-writing by Greg in California I have suffered from schizophrenia for over 30 years. My first episode was triggered when my mother died a terrifying death of bowel cancer when I was 20. After descending into a mad world of demonic voices where I was hospitalized and medicated, I thought there was no hope left. I suffered for years, smoking cigarettes and drinking coffee and doing little else. Then, I thought I was a Christian and I started hearing aliens tell me the world would end soon and The Rapture was at hand. It got to the point where the slightest sound would make me think it was beginning. [More] Depression Schizophrenia Mon, 15 Dec 2008 01:19:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/15/Dream-is-to-one-day-to-get-own-place-and-make-a-living-with-by-writing http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/15/Prayers-and-keep-a-mothers-hope-strong by Tamoa in Virgnia I am just turning 35 years old and have lived with mental illness all my life. I remember asking my mother when I was little, "was I retarded like my uncle'" who is now 60 and has the mentality of a ten-year-old. I was crying all the time and could not sleep at night because I was afraid of things coming out from the bed or closets that I was actually seeing. My parents didn't think anything of it at the time. As I got older it became progressively worse. [More] Hospitalization Divorce ADHD Abuse Bipolar Disorder PTSD Schizophrenia Family History Suicidal Ideation Mon, 15 Dec 2008 00:30:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/15/Prayers-and-keep-a-mothers-hope-strong http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/14/Outreaching-to-other-mental-health-consumers-a-cry-for-quality-care by Laura in Florida My Name is Laura, and I have had this awful disorder since I was a young child. At the time, my family had no idea what was wrong with me, I was just different. I did not have many friends and wanted to be by myself all the time. As I got older, I was in and out of facilities in Central Florida. They treated me like a dog, and that is the complete truth. I did not realize how they hurt you instead of helping you. I lost almost 20 years of my life and did not really realizing what was going on around me. [More] Schizophrenia PTSD Hospitalization Self-Injury Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder Bipolar Disorder Anxiety Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:24:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/14/Outreaching-to-other-mental-health-consumers-a-cry-for-quality-care http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/14/Writing-has-provided-an-outlet-and-has-been-a-lifesaver by Denise in Minnesota In retrospect, my illness was noticeably present by the time I was eight years old. I would project myself into a different realm and take no consequence for my behavior because that was the other Denise. Then I would "sulk", as it was put to me. As a teen, it became mood swings, which finally manifested themselves into a move to the attic. I became isolated from my family. I had two groups of friends: the popular girls, when I felt 'normal' and the girls who ran with the fast crowd when I did not feel "normal." When I was depressed I had my good close friends. [More] Hospitalization Bipolar Disorder Schizophrenia Sun, 14 Dec 2008 23:00:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/14/Writing-has-provided-an-outlet-and-has-been-a-lifesaver http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/9/Help-hope-and-understanding by Greg in BC I was diagnosed with schizophrenia at age 20. This was after my mother died of cancer. I was working full-time and attending college but couldn't cope. I began hearing demonic voices and I was very paranoid, believing aliens were sent by God to abduct me. I was hospitalized and was put on different meds that didn't help, but eventually, we found the right combination of meds. I lived for years in four different boarding homes, and in the last eight years I have finished a BA in English, took Creative Writing courses and I've had two novels published about schizophrenia, The Temptress Ariel and Selene's Guiding Light (both published by Publish America). [More] Recovery Bipolar Disorder Schizophrenia Tue, 09 Dec 2008 18:43:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/9/Help-hope-and-understanding http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/4/Discrimination-hinders-employments-opportunities by Zach in Nebraska As far as how has mental illness affected my life, it has completely changed my life. Growing up I was almost never sick and never had to go to doctors. Now I go to my nurse practitioner once a month to monitor how I m doing with my mental illness. I don't have many friends and I haven't dated in almost a year, but the friends that I do have are amazing. I also get a lot of support from family members more so than I could have ever imagined. [More] Uninsured Anxiety Schizophrenia Thu, 04 Dec 2008 12:56:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/4/Discrimination-hinders-employments-opportunities http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/3/Family-support-and-medication-helps-former-Marine-to-cope by Billie in North Carolina My name is Billie and I have schizophrenia. I grew up in a small town, and was born in a small tin house. As time went on, I joined the military in 1975. I was in the Marine Corps for four years. I traveled to a lot of nice places such as Japan, Taiwan, Korea, Philippines, Hawaii and Alaska. I was discharged in 1979, and then I moved to California for three years. In 1992, I found out I had schizophrenia. [More] Schizophrenia Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:40:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/3/Family-support-and-medication-helps-former-Marine-to-cope http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/3/Clubhouse-teaches-valuable-vocational-skills-and-creates-friendships by Dean in North Carolina I have been diagnosed with schizophrenia for five years now. For two years, prior to going to my local clubhouse, I spent most of my time at home, isolated from everyone and wasn't very active. Through my attendance in the program, I have been afforded numerous opportunities that I would not have had if I had stayed on the road I was on prior to attending the program. [More] Schizophrenia Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:35:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/3/Clubhouse-teaches-valuable-vocational-skills-and-creates-friendships http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/3/Staying-active-helps-overcome-mental-illness by Mark in North Carolina I have schizophrenia. I was diagnosed more than 15 years ago. It's my own personal illness, but even after all these years, I overcome this illness by staying active. [More] Schizophrenia Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:32:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/3/Staying-active-helps-overcome-mental-illness http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/3/Group-Therapy-Works by Lena in North Carolina I was raised up on a farm in North Carolina. I had to pick cotton. I started to get sick (mental illness). My mother took me to her doctor and he told her that I was sick and that I needed help. [More] Schizophrenia Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:18:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/3/Group-Therapy-Works http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/3/Accepting-mental-illness-and-lifes-responsibilities by Mark in North Carolina I've been suffering from paranoid schizophrenia approximately 11 years. When I first was diagnosed, it scared me. I had never heard of it before. I didn't know the symptoms to look for or anything. I rejected the help of healthcare professionals, family and friends. [More] Alcoholism Substance Abuse Schizophrenia Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:07:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/3/Accepting-mental-illness-and-lifes-responsibilities http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/3/Having-fun-and-learning-helps-with-coping by Jeffrey in North Carolina I'm diagnosed with schizophrenia. I've been diagnosed with mental illness since I was 24 years old when I was in a psychiatric hospital. I have Medicaid. I've had no problems getting care as far as I can remember. I've been hospitalized four times for my mental illness. [More] Hospitalization Schizophrenia Wed, 03 Dec 2008 00:02:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/3/Having-fun-and-learning-helps-with-coping http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/2/Compassion-and-mercy-from-others-are-key by Mark in Hawaii I guess I started hearing voices at the age of 14. The voices were mostly negative and telling me I was not worth anything. I thought everyone had the voices, I thought it was normal. But some times the voices help me create very inspirational papers for college term papers. [More] Abuse Alcoholism Schizophrenia Tue, 02 Dec 2008 18:54:00 -0400 http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reallives/index.cfm/2008/12/2/Compassion-and-mercy-from-others-are-key