I'm Breaking the Chains of Loneliness with Schizophrenia
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- Опубликовано: 25 авг 2024
- Hello everyone! Welcome back to "Surviving Schizophrenia with Stephen." I have an incredible story to share with you about an encounter that profoundly impacted me. This experience not only underlined the importance of human connections in our journey toward mental health recovery but also revealed the unexpected ways this beautiful community has enriched my own life we're building here on RUclips.
It all began on a day that was as ordinary as any other. I've been quite open about my struggles with isolation and how my mental health challenges have, more often than not, anchored me within the confines of my home. Convincing myself to step outside to embrace the vibrancy and unpredictability of the world beyond my four walls is a constant struggle.
A Chance Encounter that Renewed My Confidence
Only ten minutes into my walk, something extraordinary affirmed my belief in the incredible community we'd fostered here on this channel. I crossed paths with a stranger-a fellow traveler in this journey of life-who recognized me. "Are you Stephen?" He asked a simple question that set the stage for a significant interaction.
This individual was part of our RUclips family. He'd seen my videos, connected with my experiences, and found solace in the stories I'd shared. What were the odds? Out of all the possible scenarios I'd envisioned for my rare outings, this was one I'd never considered.
A Conversation that Bridged Two Worlds
As we walked together, our conversation meandered through various topics, from our struggles due to mental health to the simple, often overlooked aspects of daily living. It was enlightening to discover how my virtual openness had paved the way for this comfortable, real-world interaction. I was talking to someone who understood the labyrinth of schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression because he, too, was navigating it.
This wasn't just a subscriber of my channel; this was a kindred spirit. He appreciated my honesty and felt a resonance with my words, a testament to the authenticity we strive for in this community. For me, this interaction was a tangible representation of the impact my channel-our channel-was having on real life.
Reflections on Isolation and Connections
The experience was transformative, emphasizing a poignant reality: many of us grappling with mental health issues endure profound isolation. We're often imprisoned within the solitary confines of our minds, even though human connection is integral to our healing.
Before this encounter, discussing my schizophrenia, anxiety, or depression with a stranger would have been unfathomable. Yet, here I was, finding solace in shared experiences and mutual understanding. It felt like this subscriber already "knew" me, eliminating layers of pretense that usually complicate new introductions.
I realized I'd inadvertently built a bridge to the outside world by sharing my online journey. I wasn't as alone as I thought. We aren't as alone as we sometimes feel.
Breaking Free from the Chains of Loneliness
This remarkable meeting served as a stark reminder of the limitations I'd imposed on myself. My daily existence had shrunk to these recurring activities: playing games, watching TV, and working on this channel. While I treasure the community we've built online, an entire world teeming with potential friendships and enriching experiences is waiting outside my door.
As someone who fell ill early in life, I've missed out on typical developmental experiences. My educational journey, social interactions, and personal growth were all thwarted by my mental health struggles. But now, I realize it's never too late to forge connections and build a support network beyond the digital sphere.
Embracing the World with Renewed Hope
This chance encounter was a clarion call to change my reclusive habits. While the thought of venturing out more frequently is daunting, I now understand the necessity of it. Every step outside is an opportunity to meet someone new, to connect with another soul who can relate to my journey or offer fresh perspectives.
The lesson I learned is universal: we must challenge our comfort zone boundaries. Whether battling schizophrenia, anxiety, depression, or any other hurdle, embracing the world outside can be transformative. It's about more than just physical health; it's about nourishing our mental and emotional well-being.
A Heartfelt Thank You
To the individual who approached me that day: thank you. You've gifted me something extraordinary. Our interaction was a beacon of hope, illuminating a path toward a more connected, fulfilling life. Your courage in speaking to me has sparked a resolve to broaden my horizons and anticipate life's unscripted joys.
Thank you for being a part of this journey. Until the next time, I wish you all happiness, health, and the courage to step beyond the familiar. Remember, you are not alone. See you in the next video.
Hi Stephen. My 12 years old son was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia. Your channel helps me to understand the illness. Thanks for the great work you are doing!
Thank you! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day
@@SurvivingSchizophreniaI’m sorry Stephen I feel I am hijacking your platform as I also want to help other people heal of schizophrenia like me and you.
@Anton - I’m sorry I forgot, one video in the play list includes a former spy who talks about the CIA hiring people who are paranoid and teach them breathing, and relaxation techniques.
Anton - I’m sorry I seem to have trouble attaching a link from the Beck Institute where Dr.Aaron Beck developed CBT often used in treating Schizophrenia.
Wish you all the best with that
Stephen you give me such hope!!! My 35 year old son was just diagnosed with schizophrenia. And is currently suffering greatly! I'm sooo thankful for you sending out these messages of your experience! You're amazing❤
Thank you very much! I wish the very best for you and your son. Thanks for watching! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
Wish your son and you the very best with that
Isolation and loneliness is the worst feeling a human can experience! Nobody really knows what one goes through. That counts for everybody with or without mental illness. Meeting other people with mental problems or without helps you feeling less alone. Having your family and friends understand better helps a lot too. Also this Stephen's channel with the lifesaving videos, gives us the chance to connect with others. Hugs to all those feeling isolated and lonely! Thanks for the uplifting video Stephen!👋❤👍
Well said.
I really enjoy listening and watching you. Such a kind soul.
Thank you!
You are not alone, Stephen. 😊 It's such a small world when you think about it. I'm so glad your paths met because it proves you can just be yourself ❤
I'm so happy for you, Stephen! We all have a purpose, and I think you found yours. God bless.
Keep going. Find that zone of proximal development. There will be ups and downs. Harder situations, and times that feel like you are failing. Or that you didn’t connect. But even those teach you how to be better next time. And it makes the next one better. You aren’t merely coping that way. You are developing strategies for long term wellness and growth. And building. I mean. I’d suggest developing a vision for your life. And keep updating it. As you go. So you can tell if you are aiming right. Not to say you aren’t.
Great work. I hope for your continued growth. I’m rooting for you.
That’s such a nice perspective, thanks for sharing 😊
Im so happy to hear this😊❤❤ youre an awesome person, and you help alot of people. I appreciate you 🙏
Thank you very much!
I am glad you are doing well Stephen. Thanks for being open about your illness to encourage other young people suffering with mental illness to reach out. I am also glad that by sharing your story it will educate people, help to break barriers, and reduce the stigma in our society about mental illness. Stay well and keep going.
Thank you!
Hi Stephen so happy to see this post. You are smiling and you have a glow of happiness I haven't really seen before. I have someone close to me with schizophrenia and I watch your channel. It must not be easy for you to make some of these videos but you are helping so many people. I'm really happy about the positive experience you had today.
So happy for you Stephen! As your channel grows you’ll probably become more recognized. I’m happy you got to have a real in person connection due to your channel. In my opinion, if I randomly met someone and we got to talking on a personal level and they mentioned they have a RUclips channel about de-stigmatizing schizophrenia, I’d be so interested to learn more about them. I wonder if coming from that angle when meeting strangers and introducing yourself might help make it less awkward (only for when you want them to know of course).
I really hope your channel grows cause your videos trully help people!!! ❤❤❤
Thank you so much! I appreciate it
Thanks for being a real person, Stephan.
Such people are in short supply these days
Well done Stephen
You SHOULD feel accomplished, because you are! What a great connection. Thank you for sharing that with us as listener and viewer.
Wow so happy for you. You help more people than you realize. But this meeting was something you needed. A nice face to face conversation with someone you met. Hope this helps you to feel more comfortable out there. Just remember, although your experience in life may not be the same as some. There are a lot of us out there that feel we just don't fit in so easily. So you're really not different in any way that's really important. So don't be afraid to make first step when you meet someone.
Stephen that is why in person peer support groups are so important! There must be one in your area!
Stephen, I'm so glad that was such a positive experience for you. Just take it one day at a time. This is a great video. Thank you for sharing.❤
Well that's great you are breaking free from the chains of loneliness, but be careful there are a lot of people out there that don't have your best interests at heart. But there are also what I call the beautiful people out there, hope you find a few. Good Luck
Hi Stephen, so great to see you happy. All the best. Greetings from Germany
Thank you very much Susanne! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
Neary 4 million views Stephen. Thats more than some programmes on the telly. Well done, keep it going. I look forwards to the next video
Thank you Steven for being open and sharing your feelings. I have great appreciation for what you are doing to help many with mental health issues.
Well done Stephen glad you met someone nice to talk with. Taking a bus or train journey locally for an hour or two is a great way of getting out, building up your confidence, speaking with new people etc you have nothing to fear or lose go for it👍
You are looking amazing. I hear so much positivity in your voice. Always thanks for sharing!
Hi Stephan fellow human being who has schizophrenia here, great to hear that your channel finally pays of, meeting other people. For the last few months haven't been that paranoid leaving the house. So grateful I can cope with an injection every three months. Wish you all the best and greetings from Denmark
Thank you very much! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
Hi Stephen! I often go outside when I'm not fatigue, especially after small episodes and that helps.
Talking to the waiters, cashiers, or having some restaurant managers/ owners knowing us is helpful.
Whenever I go outside to interact with others, it can renew my whole day. With careful control of anxiety and shopping, I will be fine⭐
You are very articulate and your speaking style puts me into a positive frame of mind. Maybe we all don't have schizophrenia, but most of us have some issues that hold us back. I think you've got "it." That "it" that makes you connect with fellow humans and be a great communicator. Follow your joy. Who knows what greatness your future holds!
Thank you very much!
You deserve all the happiness and friendship in the world. This video made me smile, thank you!
Awesome!!! So happy you are coming out of your loneliness. It’s going to get better as you continue sharing on your channel. Don’t give up. You’re super encouraging 🥰🥰. Just be careful and be wise on your selection of friends. We all do. God Bless you 🙏🥰
Thank you so much!
Thanks Stephen. This was a great video and encouraging!
Stephen youre a legend! It takes immense courage to stand in front of a camera and do what you do, which i understand you are doing to help others as well as yourself. Thankyou.
Thank you! I really appreciate it!
Saludos from Scottsdale! I've been away from your channel for a bit, the reason being that I have been helping my son on his journey with clozapine. What a miracle drug! I credit your channel with teaching me so much about schizophrenia and in particular clozapine. Yes, befriending another is an important aspect of living. I love random chance interaction, they can be so inspiring and instructive! Get out there, Stephen! You can do it!
Thank you very much Lisa! I am so very glad your son is doing better! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
Hi. I am 74 yes old and was diagnosed with schizophrenia when is was thirty. I take medication and I am fine on it. It is brave of you to have a u tube Chanel. Best wishes from me.
Thank you very much! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
This Chanel is going to bring people into your everyday world. 🎉
Such a wonderful video Stephen! Keep up the good work!
You are doing great
Congratulations, Stephen! So happy for you! Have fun making friends!
It makes me genuinely happy to see you happy cause you deserve that and it makes the world seem like an honestly much better place. Your gratitude and dedication to your healing journey is inspiring and you should know your gentle kind way will surely carry you through your journey with a lot of love, people do see you, do understand you, you are appreciated .
Thank you very much for your incredibly kind words!
There you go, Stephen!
If you put yourself out there, there are all sorts of chance encounters as well as sunshine and fresh air.
It's only dark and dull in a bedroom.
Thank you very much Noreen!
Wonderful Steven, thanks for sharing your perspective.it v helpful, and means a lot. Keep those videos coming,we need them. Hope to run into you one day.
Yay! Stephen you’re famous 🎉 this chance encounter seems super cool
Your delivery has really improved. Keep talking 😊
Thank you very much!
Great to hear Stephen🎉🥳
Thanks!
Thank you so very much Laurel! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
Thanks you Steven.
Great stuff man, happy for you
Sorry to hear about your condition man, being unable to get out of the house. Must suck, well? At least you’ve got this channel to keep you occupied and help kept your mind calm. Try listening to white noise or synth wave music (helps me)
I'm super happy for you, Stephen, that is very validating!
Yes who knows what will happen could be positive 😊
Super happy for you Stephen, that's such a nice news, you've even made my day Sir. I was outside in nature day, very beautiful day here, came inside and saw your very positive video, and it's like - keep it coming please. Don't know what else to write, again, I'm super happy for you Stephen, and may you meet many wonderful people like today :)
I am AUTISTIC ADHD and I’ve never had friends. People will laugh with me if I do something ridiculously clumsy and I know how to socialize (mask) but they never truly meet or understand who I am. I find that cashiers actually can make my day. Like today a kid asked me what are you going to do with all of this? lol. Then he was like - wow - that probably sounded rude. lol. So, we all have insecurities… but I like to think that you’re going to make a lot more friends with your channel. I know a person who could probably help you out there. 😂. In watching your videos I often think that the two of you might be related. So glad a person took a genuine interest in your work. You have a lot to be proud of. You make what was once (queue psycho screeching x 3) dangerous and alarming and to be avoided etc. and have made it less so … and much more relatable. I think there’s a lot of overlap between other mental health disorders. So, some of us can relate so much more because you were brave enough to step out and say “it is what it is… and I work through it!” ❤. I’m also bipolar so… people really tend to stay away on the bad days. 😂. I give them fair warning. -- what is my face saying? It’s not a good face? Well, now - let’s not make it worse!!! Okay!?!! Move along now!!! Giddy up! Showtime is over!!
Thank you very much for sharing. I appreciate your kind words and encouragement greatly. I wish you the very best. Thank you for watching and commenting.
Stephen, you're a good and kind, and friendly person. You have lots of stories to tell 👍😸 Whatever you put out to the world, comes right back to you. So keep putting out your friendly vibe and smile, and that's what you'll attract. 👍🌟🌞
Thank you!
Im so happy this happened to you wow. Please keep this up 💚🐊 youre absolutely never alone this is proooooof
Thank you very much! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
@@SurvivingSchizophrenia thank you 💚 you as well man
Have a good weekend Stephen
Thank you Dardan! I really appreciate it! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
Of course you can meet and make friends with other people. Just one at a time. Trust that you really are a person worth knowing and capable of sharing time and space with others.
So very happy you connected to someone and made a friend.
I'm happy for you Stephen, I think you'll continue to meet new people.
One day you have to have a video chat with others who have other disorders where there is overlap. I think the discussion of overlap in symptoms of other disorders facilitates learning, understanding, and communication! One of these days everyone will learn to communicate properly. I don’t think it’s that far fetched a concept. 🤷🏻♀️
Thank you for your great suggestion! I will look into it!
Thats great to hear that you met someone from this community. That must've been an interesting experience. Look forward to hearing more on your experince around what experience you had with psychosis as you make more videos. I used to think my phone is hacked, people everywhere knew my personal things, the radio and tv is about me, and same with news paper articles. Lately i have auditory hallucinations they say 'we are out of bodies. We are here to harrass you'. I wonder if others here had similar experinces.
Although we all have our issues which cause us to feel shame, labelling/defining people and ourselves that way only leads to a very tony view of the bigger picture. You seem cool and i think any decent intelligent person would be hapoy to have a cinversation with you.
That’s awesome, I’m glad you were able to experience that 🙂. I’ve been in the process of trying to put myself in situations to potentially meet new people and not be isolated but I struggle as well with the stress of being around most people and I really struggle with the thought of having a conversation with someone new because I don’t have much to talk about because I don’t get out much to do things I just kind have been isolating for years. I’ve been thinking about getting back into volunteer work and maybe I will end up meeting someone that can relate a lot and I will feel much more comfortable talking. I hope you are able to experience more interactions like this as your channel grows.
You look like you're doing so well.
Thank you!
🎉🎉🎉
Hiiiii Stephennnn love youuuuuuu!!!! Brave Brother of God!!!!!!❤
Love listening to you!!
You inspire me so much!!
You really do!!
You deserve the best!!
I hope you meet a wonderful woman!! Soon…from The Holy Spirit!!
Thank you for being born!!;)))
Much love namaste ❤💛💗💚💙🩵💜🤍🕯️🌟✨👍✨✨✨
Thank you!
❤
If you stay in the house you have no chance whatsoever of meeting someone new. But if you go out it’s like playing the lottery. You go from no chance to meeting people to some chance. It may be 5 percent or 10 percent or even 3 percent. But it’s worth it. And by the way I do the same thing. Some chance is better than no chance. Eventually you will meet a new friend.
❤❤❤❤
PS. Nice shirt.
I have schizophrenia 😢.
💟
I am in love
❤️🩹❤️🔥
Seems you are and where not paranoid. Q - Sounds like you where scared during your schizophrenic stage ???
I had paranoia and was not comfortable being around people
I’m sure it didn’t help that he was a kid when it started. Think about how all “normal” kids struggle with growing up regardless, even without schizophrenia or whatever. I mean especially in terms of social life, pressures, dramas, “teen angst” etc. Those are major stressors that the average person experiences regardless- now imagine you don’t get to face those struggles at all, because instead of actually going through that stuff during middle & high school you simply weren’t able to even try to face those hurdles at all.
If you never got to have the “normal” middle/high school experience to begin with…that’s gotta put you at a real disadvantage in this societal structure. Or at least make you feel like you’re less capable than others who “passed” these phases of life. But it sounds like he’s realized that he got sort of stuck at this phase. The good news is, he’s aware of it & also knows how he’s fully capable of taking on the stuff he missed out on before, and can basically socialize all on his own now- on his own terms (not even under the school system or parents, for example)!!
Good job Stephen
Great job, Stephen! I love your videos, keep making moves and impacting the world ❤❤❤
Thank you!