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Our Mental Health Blogs

Elizabeth Caudy

Schizophrenia Treatment Benefit: Took Myself Less Seriously

Creative Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia Treatment Benefit: Took Myself Less Seriously

Schizophrenia treatment has a silver lining. I took myself too seriously before schizophrenia treatment. I missed out on many things. I don't lose out anymore.

When you’re receiving the benefit of schizophrenia treatment due to having a psychotic episode (because of schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder), and find yourself on psychiatric medication, it is hard to think that any good may have come out of it. No matter if you racked up two college degrees in spite of it. No matter if you found a loving partner in spite of it. It seems that all the good came in spite of it. But recently I thought of one benefit that came because of getting diagnosed and receiving schizophrenia treatment.

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Thank You to My Parents Who Support Me Through Schizophrenia

Creative Schizophrenia

Thank You to My Parents Who Support Me Through Schizophrenia

My parents support means so much to me. Thank you, Mom and Dad. I couldn't have recovered this much from schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder without you.

A parent’s support is amazing. It’s important for everyone to have a support system – but, for people living with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, a support system is critical.  I’ve written a lot about my husband, Tom, but I haven’t written that much about my parents. My parents’ support has been there for me from day one when doctors first diagnosed me with schizophrenia, and again later when I was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder, up until today.

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The NAMI Walk For Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder

Creative Schizophrenia

The NAMI Walk For Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective Disorder

The NAMI Walk helps me advocate for schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. It's a healing experience. Read about the 2017 NAMI Walk in Chicago.

Ever since I was diagnosed with schizophrenia and then schizoaffective disorder, mental health advocacy has become a very important cause for me. One of the ways I advocate for people with mental illnesses like schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder is by participating in the annual National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) walk in Chicago, a beautiful lakefront trek in the company of thousands of people.

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When I Hear Schizophrenic, Schizoaffective Voices Most

Creative Schizophrenia

When I Hear Schizophrenic, Schizoaffective Voices Most

Schizophrenic or schizoaffective voices are a common breakthrough symptom for me. I hear voices more than I'd like, and they're bothering me now. Here's why.

Many people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder experience the troubling symptom of hearing voices. I hear voices. I hear them often. It’s a breakthrough symptom even for those of us on medication. But there is one time when I experience schizophrenic/schizoaffective voices the most.

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My Husband’s Biggest Difficulty with My Mental Illness

Creative Schizophrenia

My Husband’s Biggest Difficulty with My Mental Illness

My husband's biggest difficulty with my mental illness surprised me. Schizoaffective disorder isn't easy to deal with, but those symptoms don't bother him.

There are many difficulties with my mental illness. If you’ve been reading Creative Schizophrenia regularly, then you most likely know I have a wonderful husband named Tom who is very supportive in my journey with schizoaffective disorder. He is so supportive that he makes me feel it is our journey with my schizoaffective disorder. So when one of my readers asked me what the biggest difficulty with my mental illness was for him to deal with, his answer surprised me.

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Watching My Weight On a Schizophrenia Medication

Creative Schizophrenia

Watching My Weight On a Schizophrenia Medication

I'm watching my weight while on a schizophrenia medication that causes severe weight gain. Here's how my weight loss is going, despite being on this medication.I’ve written recently about how I’m trying to lose weight while on a schizophrenia medication that causes weight gain. Now here’s an update. As I’ve mentioned before, I’m on an atypical antipsychotic medication for my schizoaffective disorder that causes severe weight gain: yes, severe. At times my natural weight has almost doubled on this schizophrenia medication.

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Hearing Voices on Vacation Was Tolerable with an Escape Plan

Creative Schizophrenia

Hearing Voices on Vacation Was Tolerable with an Escape Plan

Hearing voices on vacation is becoming routine for me. So this year, I planned ahead. See what I did when hearing voices on vacation threatened our fun.

I wish I didn’t hear voices on vacation, but I know I do. Every year, my schizophrenic and schizoaffective symptoms come with me on vacation. They pack themselves up–even my schizoaffective voices. But I didn’t let hearing voices on vacation ruin my fun. Here’s what I did.

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Taking an Active Role in My Psychiatric Medication Changes

Creative Schizophrenia

Taking an Active Role in My Psychiatric Medication Changes

Psychiatric medication changes are familiar to people with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder. I'm going through one right now. Here's what it's like.

Since I was diagnosed with schizophrenia almost 20 years ago and then with schizoaffective disorder 15 years ago, I’ve gone through scores of psychiatric medication changes. They’re never fun but remain necessary as I work with my doctor to keep the dosage as low as possible and schizophrenia symptoms under control. I’m going through a psychiatric medication change right now after a peak of anxiety. You can probably relate to the way it’s affecting my schizophrenic and schizoaffective symptoms.

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Diagnosed With Schizophrenia in School Away from Home

Creative Schizophrenia

Diagnosed With Schizophrenia in School Away from Home

I was diagnosed with schizophrenia at school away from home. It was a terrifying time in the 1990s that I don't care to relive. Here's why.

I was diagnosed with schizophrenia in school during 1998. I’ve spent the time since then rebuilding my life while getting re-diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder along the way. I remember that period as a terrible time for me and it doesn’t get any happier as American culture launches a nostalgia kick for the 1990s. I’ll always love Tori Amos’ records, but it’s not a time I want to revisit. Falling into a psychotic episode changed me forever and, although I love my life now, I don’t want to reminisce about the terrified person I became when I was first diagnosed with schizophrenia at school.

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My Anxiety Is More Debilitating Than Schizoaffective Disorder

Creative Schizophrenia

My Anxiety Is More Debilitating Than Schizoaffective Disorder

Anxiety causes me more problems than schizoaffective disorder. You may think schizophrenia symptoms would be tougher. But no. Anxiety is more debilitating.Anxiety affects me much more than schizoaffective disorder. You see, schizoaffective disorder is a combination of bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. I have schizoaffective disorder, so I have symptoms of schizophrenia and symptoms of bipolar disorder. Then there’s a bonus–generalized anxiety disorder. Bipolar disorder is often accompanied by anxiety disorders. And it’s my anxiety symptoms that affect me the most, even more than schizoaffective disorder.

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