The mind, with its many facets

Undoubtedly, the mind is a tricky thing. Hardly anything is known about the innermost workings of the human mind. We all have times when we feel sad, a bit lazy or maybe even sometimes manic. The difference between feeling sad or blue and major depressive disorder, for instance, is that the sadness and depression is unshakable, it does not go away by cheering yourself up.

That is why, my friends, you should never tell someone suffering from depression, bipolar or schizophrenia to "snap out of it!" No. This will only exacerbate the situation and should be avoided. Instead, you should treat their thoughts and emotions with a caring demeanor--not validating their delusions or hallucinations by any means, but acknowledge them in kind. These thoughts and emotions are very REAL to those that go through them on a daily basis.

My Biggest Challenge

Hmmm....my biggest challenge being a professional and having schizophrenia is not the work that I do. No. The biggest challenge is being a family man and a responsible father to my son. He is not even two years old yet and needs a well balanced, healthy family life....and more than anything, he needs a father.

That is why when I feel like there is no hope left for me, when I'm so entrenched in my psychosis and delusions, I take stock in my life and look down at my beautiful, handsome son. My rational mind plays a part here, and this may not be possible for all people with mental illness. However, my medication, paired with a strong rational mind and a wonderful support system, allows me to feel better fast, and get on with life. This does not mean that I do not suffer, I suffer immensly as anyone with a chronic mental illness does. But what I am trying to say is that no matter how hopeless you may feel, "this too shall pass!" Seek out help for yourself, it is not always possible to do it alone.

Sometimes I have the delusion that I am being watched by unseen cameras and people are following me. Well, as frightening as that might sound to you, I tell myself--"Wait a minute, when I'm at work, there are cameras everywhere watching me and those are REAL cameras and I do not feel paranoid at work!" Then, again with the help of some medication, I feel better.

For the schizophrenics reading; there is help available

I have found the best thing to do for episodes of psychosis is to keep talking them out into a group setting. If you can find a schizophrenics anonymous, that's good. If not, however, there is a very helpful website where you can share your innermost delusions, hallucinations or just chat with someone so afflicted like yourself. It is called, simply, www.schizophrenia.com and is free to join and to post ideas, symptoms, and just to chat with others on the site.

For those that just wish to learn about the disease, I suggest that you read a few articles on schizophrenia.com on the left hand side of the page to familiarize yourself with the debilitating disorder.

There are others who might want to use this valuable resource to their advantage--those that have sons, daughters, moms, dads or anyone else that they care about that has schizophrenia. I have not explored sites that pertain to manic depressive disorder (bipolar) or major depression. For those of you with these disorders, I suggest that you read information on www.nami.org. This, too is a valuable resource for those that are, or care for, the mentally ill.

Stigma and how it relates to you and me

There has always been a stigma when it relates to the mentally ill. Just as there is a stigma associated with African Americans (and stereotypes too), there are many ways that people try to grossly categorize people with mental illnesses as "crazy" or "psycho."

Although, sensitivity has grown in the public's eye regarding those afflicted with mental illnesses, there is much that remains to be done. Consider this, twin brothers, one without the use of their legs, and one with schizophrenia. The one without the use of his legs is apparently and obviously handicapped. People will pour out their offers to help the one who is paraplegic whereas the one with schizophrenia, who is just as disabled in a different way, will just be viewed by others as a sad, crazy mental case and no help will be offered. People are afraid of what they cannot see, by nature. Therefore, people with schizophrenia are labeled as someone that we fear--those that are "crazy."

Let's take it from the top

Have you ever wondered just how many mentally ill people there are around you at all times? Just as there are those with cancer, emphysema and chronic headaches, there are people with schizophrenia, bipolar and major depressive disorders all around you. And although many think that if you are "crazy," you are either locked away in an institution or out on the streets living as a homeless person, this is just not true of a majority of those afflicted.

Well, here's the beginning part of my story. I'll take you through a journey of madness while living a "normal life" with a wife, young child, mortgage, full time job and the like. Juggling all these things can be tricky while afflicted with schizophrenia. However, with the right support system in place, a strong and insightful mind and a bit of luck, you can perservere....and even make it look seamless to the observer that you would not want to know your secret.

As I sit at my desk this morning, I have already survived some hallucinations. As I looked out the window about an hour ago, the birds seemed to be screaming, car horns blasting as they passed by on the highway adjacent and people speaking to me yelling at the top of their lungs. None of this was really that dramatic to the observer, it is just that my senses were on overload.

It's a good thing that my career is at the point that it is (an Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager of a bank) or else I would not have a place to have some solace while I am at work--my office.