I have schizophrenia. I was actually going through an episode of psychosis recently, and my sister called off of work to take care of me because she didn't want me to be alone at home and her manager yelled at her because of it. I think that normalizing schizophrenia can obviously benefit those of us living with schizophrenia but also the people who take care of and support us.
@lookingupwithwonder Yes this channel has helped me feel less alone in the sense that I realize that I am not crazy and other people are going through similar issues to what I'm going through. Long live this channel and the positive energy it puts into the world 😊
Before I came across this channel I always thought schizophrenia meant someone was crazy and dangerous. I was honestly just ignorant about it. I'm grateful for learning the truth and not some ridiculous stigma.
The Movie, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle was likely the best depiction of my schizoaffective behavior, I found that film to be very triggering and sort of a way of looking at my own behavior. I can't adequately convey my inside view of my way of seeing the world when I'm in a state of mania. I tend to also stare through people rather than at them, that's unsettling to most. I agree, I have been victimized by others during my altered states and there really isn't anything I could do about that. I am envious of your partner, mine left in the end, and I felt he really didn't deserve to live with my disorder, I would have left "me" also. You are very very fortunate to have family you do, I was left on my own. No one to blame. Thank you over and over.
I hope you are doing better now. Us people with vulnerabilities like these should remain hopeful. There are so many resources today to lead fulfilling lives. That film rocks by the way.
How are you feeling now ? Fellow schizophrenic here who experienced their first psychotic episode back in may .. everything has been fresh, everything has been hard to battle.
Many years ago, I worked in a camera store and one of our regular customers had schizophrenia or a related disorder. Some of the other employees were afraid of her, but I decided to approach her with the same courtesy that I tried to use with everybody else. The result was that even when she came in and her symptoms were very bad, she was always nice to me. I learned how much she loved children and I was privileged to be able to see a glimpse of her struggle. She taught me more than I could have imagined, and I have always been grateful for that.
That's because our philosophy about mental health focuses on normalisation not functionalisation. Which is silly, because physical health definitely cares more about functionalisation.
I was told I should be sterilized. It bothers me that everyone is talking about mental health now, but schizophrenia is still a taboo. Even commercials for antipsychotics are always advertised as an add-on for treatment resistant depression, sometimes bipolar. Nobody ever says "schizophrenia." I saw a drama where a character was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and I thought great, a chance to depict it properly and educate people. But then it turned out the character didn't have it after all. I'm ashamed to make new friends because I can't work right now the way I'm doing, and I'm afraid to tell people I live with my mom and have schizoaffective disorder.
Whoever said you should be sterilized really needs to be yeeted all the back to 1940s Germany, because I thought we were leaving eugenics in the past! I’m sorry that rude person said that to you!
I’m very sorry you suffer from this disorder. My mother and multiple family members of ours suffered from schizophrenia. Although the information is helpful, it is often one sided either way. I’ll give you a real life experience and my take about sterilization. First I do not feel all who suffer should be sterilized, but some obviously should! It’s a spectrum so everyone isn’t as impacted as the next. My uncle killed my grandmother and then shot himself during an episode. My other uncle almost beat a woman blank during an episode. My mother’s episodes traumatized her older children, I still have a brother that can’t get passed the trauma, even though we had Dad at home to help balance things. My mother was homicidal even on medication and attempted to kill my father multiple times. This is our reality and it should matter as well. I don’t think it’s right to downplay how very dangerous schizophrenia can be, it’s a spit in the face to all people who have lost lives of loved ones, or have been traumatized due to this disorder. No child should be left with anyone alone who is going through even the early signs of a psychotic episode. I’m also being harassed currently by a childhood friend that has been recently diagnosed with schizophrenia. She made so many terrible false accusations about her ex that he almost lost his job as a teacher. People often automatically believe women. Narcissism goes along with schizophrenia and some of these individuals will attempt to destroy your credibility and livelihood because they believe the voices so greatly. My friend started having homicidal faith based ideations about her kids, so we had them removed. Now she is on a mission to make us all look like lying idiots. Her kids had suffered in ways we could not even imagine. Because she still has the same rights as any other adult, we can’t force her back into the hospital. And getting guardianship over an adult can sometimes takes years! So what advice would you give me? This is what we are faced with. It is also not rare that individuals become violent during an episode, I really wish people would stop saying that. Many of us with family that suffer just don’t report their violent episodes because we don’t want them getting into trouble. Many people still don’t understand the disorder so when a family member becomes violent and assaults them they simply fight back if they can and usually don’t involve police. We need to keep informing the world about this disorder, but acting like it’s not that many individuals that suffer that cause major trauma in people’s lives is a spit in the face to all of us that have been hurt. It’s very one sided and I’m not for that. I wish you the best and I do hope this disorder does not consume your life dear.
Schizophrenia isn't even very bad in some people, depending on intelligence, personality, and general mental health. The person is probably just trying to force uniformity on everyone.
Unpopular opinion. Already know people are gonna hate me for saying this. But this illness has a genetic component. I personally couldnt bring a kid into this knowing I might pass this on. No judgment, but I wouldnt be okay with that.
Ma'am I've been schizophrenic my entire life. I often avoid bringing up my mental health illnesses because I am afraid of the judgement I can receive. So I chose to mostly be quiet about the issue.
People always tend to take a shot at you in some way, they use your mental state as a weapon against you. I mentioned my mental status at work and I kid you not I had a coworker make a funny remark one day after I made a mistake and say “ something is off inside that head “ I just let it slide it was a female ..
Lauren - after hearing about some of the garbage comments you receive, I have a comment for you. You’re awesome. You have purpose and you are making a difference. Your perceived shortcomings are some of your greatest strengths. Keep going, girl. Keep going.
Hello Lauren. I wanted to thank you for all of your videos. I've been diagnosed with schizophrenia this year, but I have had voices for a few years or so. I hear voices that talk about killing my family and destroying the planet if I don't do x or y, or IF I do x or y. It is very very unpleasant. Thankfully my medication seem to finally have kicked in. I've been "voiceless" for about a week or so, and I hope i continue to be "voiceless". I will donate to you when I feel my economy is stable enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
How are you doing now? Fellow schizophrenic here just wanted to let you know that there is hope, sadly that hope may be medication 💊 and I know how much we really hate being medicated especially for the rest of our lives and dealing with the side effects but it’s like it’s either or .. I rather have my mental intact but I’d also like to not have all these side effects ( sorry this went from me checking on you to venting )
I empathize completely. That's so upsetting and disappointing, and I think it happens constantly to folks with all kinds of mental and physical illnesses.
I wanted to thank you for this channel! I worked with homeless people for a long time so when I thought of schizophrenia I thought of people who could barely function … it’s so great to see that, while you are still effected by it of course, you are able to have a traditional life as well :)
I don't have schizophrenia but I have complex-PTSD. And meany years ago prior to my diagnosis I worked as a Nurse both in general & psych. I have learned more from you than I ever did on a psych ward. As is often the case with c-PTSD, I was misdiagnosed with ADHD, Bipolar 2, GAD & Depression. And in 1999 I volunteered for an organisation doing talks to community groups to raise awareness and reduce stigma around depression. It was some of the most satisfying work (paid or unpaid) I have ever done. Lauren, I absolutely love your videos, & am inspired by them to keep advocating in the lived experiences spaces for complex-PTSD which of course includes depression, anxiety & so much more. Thank you for being you, & normalising talking about chronic mental illness. As the ignorant comments show, it is very much needed. 🙏💖
We have to normalize mental illness in general. We HAVE to give it a name. A face. Schizophrenia is a Sprectrum. Some like Laurn can live a normal life with support (meds, therapy) to out of control like we see in the media. But normalizing Schizophrenia- well mental illness in general...giving it a name, a face- showing people there is a real person with real needs, wants, dreams and a family- it humanizes it and makes people understand it better.
I am diaganized with obsessive compulsive disorder with psychotic features. My late mother was also affected with schizophrenia. Your channel inspires me to be resilient always.
I’m glad that you have this channel. You give a perspective that many can or cannot understand. I live with my sibling who has Schizoaffective Disorder. I’m trying understand or get a clue as to what is going on. So channels like this are a blessing to those that want to understand. So thank you and keep going. You’re doing great 😀
Lauren, I have learned so much about your disorder through your videos. I struggle with OCD which I’ve finally gotten a handle on only in the last year or so - and I’m in my 40s! You’ve helped me reflect on my own issues as well as broadened my knowledge on other disorders. So, thank you so very much. As for the discrimination you’ve experience in the workplace - it’s narrow minded and disgusting. (Not to mention illegal.) I’m so sorry. Love and look forward to your videos. Keep them coming. ❤
As someone with depression and anxiety who has a personality disorder - avoidant-evasive, I feel your pain and the sentiment. I know you don't make these videos for acknowledgement but you are a very inspiring person to me and an example I strive to mimic. Being open and maybe at times radically honest to my surroundings have really helped me find compassion and understanding.
I would also love to see you critique a police crisis training program and give your POV on what is missing. I’m extremely appalled hearing stories about allegedly crisis trained cops being abusive or rude to people in crisis. And I want to understand what is going wrong.
In my city the trained cops are usually much better than the untrained cops. If you ever have to have the police involved ask them if they can send CIT or cops trained to deal with mental illness. It could save a mentally ill person's life. The cops took me to the psychiatric unit many times in the past. Before
Thank you Lauren for all your hard work in educating people about your diagnosis of schizophrenia. I am learning so much which helps me care for a family member with that diagnosis. With more knowledge I am better able to advocate for my loved one and speak to others on her behalf, especially when she has a hard time articulating her needs and has a hard time being able to follow through. As her legal guardian I am allowed to participate in her care and help bring her needs into focus to the people who are in charge of her medical, housing, and community needs. The workers in the mental health field so often do not have an understanding of how the brain of someone with schizophrenia works. They often have unrealistic expectations on what the needs are of someone struggling with schizophrenia and what that person is able to and not able to accomplish. Thats where I come in to educate the staff on what are realistic expectations. Please keep doing what you are doing. Thank you so much.
I can't tell you how important this video was for me. Many of the psychological problems you experience, are the same problems I experience. Yet, supposedly I lived a "normal" life. Of course, that's BS. I don't believe anyone is "normal." We are all located on a spectrum of psychological fitness. Each persons mental health changes from minute to minute or year to year because of our changing external or internal physical environment. As you say and I believe, we need to better understand each other as individuals. Don't buy in to what Hollywood Society or Politics defines a psychological health.
a small change ive made to my vocabulary, aside from just not calling individuals "crazy," is replacing it with the word "wild" when talking about situations/ideas. ex: instead of responding to your friend telling an exciting story with "thats crazy!" i say "thats wild!" its a tiny thing, but its also a super easy to change to make, so like. why not?
I don’t mind saying the word “crazy!” Vernacular isn’t going to change. What matters is the thought behind the word. I don’t call people with schizophrenia “crazy.” It’s a health condition and not to be demeaned or minimized like that.
I also have schizoaffective disorder, sending you so much love and support. I feel such deep gratitude to you for sharing your experiences and wisdom. Your channel has helped me in numerous ways, especially in my process of finally acknowledging my diagnosis and moving towards a better life with an integration of my mental diagnosis. Blessing to you and Rob and the kids
I wish Bipolar Disorder was normalized. 😢 My life is so up nd down , people just don’t understand at all in my life. So thankful for you and your channel.
This is great! I work in a locked mh ward and my brothers had/have schizophrenia (one died 😢). I'm surrounded by ppl with schizophrenia and have noticed how incredibly creative and bright they are. I am neurodiverse myself and early on in my life, i had some hard times and weird beliefs and I wonder if I was on the borderline of having schizophrenia myself. It doesn't matter though, I am what I am and I take good care of my brain these days. I embrace neurodiversity with all my heart. ❤
First of all, I want to echo what so many people have written to you, Lauren: I don't have schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, but I've still been getting a HUGE amount of help, information, education, support and affirmation from your videos, which I've been consuming like actual food. :) I live with multiple chronic illnesses, the most severe of which are ME/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome -- I've had it for 34 years) and peripheral neuropathy, and the resulting depression and anxiety that I suspect almost everyone with profoundly life-changing, limiting, soul-crushing, isolating illnesses experiences. Even though your videos specifically address schizophrenia, almost everything you discuss has relevance to my life: how to balance your energy when your capacity is different from most people's; how to understand and deal with complex symptomology, especially when you're not always sure what health issues or life circumstances are causing what; the frustration of medication side effects; the pain and sadness of losing friends who can't cope with or understand your health issues; I could go on and on. Your content is SO RELEVANT to SO many mental and physical health experiences, and you present it with such compassion, clarity and accessibility. This video, too, encapsulates topics that are at the very forefront of my life, in that there's still such a risk in our culture of being discriminated against for "coming out" as chronically ill or disabled. I hid my chronic illnesses for decades, terrified that if people knew I had ME/CFS, I'd never get hired for a job again, and would never be seen as capable, competent, reliable or responsible...I'd be reduced to someone with a weird, possibly hypochondriacal(!) illness. In 2010, it was clear that I couldn't disguise my CFS anymore, and in fact, all the things I was afraid of DID happen. I got fired from all my jobs, I was mocked and gossiped about, I lost friends, I experienced a ton of marginalization...but all of that turned me into the disability justice activist I am today, because NONE of those responses are okay! As you state so well in this video, the only way our society will change its attitudes towards disability, and create radical inclusion, acceptance, accessibility and a serious shift in basic human rights is if more and more of us stand up for normalizing the range of human biology. This degree of disability justice is LONG overdue (I'd recommend that anyone interested n the history of disability rights watch "Crip Camp" on Netflix, and read/watch/listen to everything and anything that Judy Heumann has created!!!), and creating a more inclusive and accessible culture benefits literally EVERYone, not just those with physical, mental and emotional variations from what we've decided is the norm. The truth is that there IS no norm -- there is no such thing as "normal" -- and a world with greater compassion, understanding and inclusivity, and less fear and stigmatism, would improve the well being of everyone. Anyway. You are a gift, and I'm so grateful for the work you and Rob are doing. Sending love and admiration.
I love your channel and some of your content the thing is the more serious mental illness can be terrifying for outside viewers. That’s why disorders like schizophrenia, BPD, bipolar disorder, and antisocial personalities have such a huge stigma. Some people might be able to empathize with us if they are close to us, the thing is, the behaviors associated with these disorders are terrifying in-person and in movies, whether we pose any real threat is irrelevant, individually we know we aren’t dangerous but people outside don’t know that because our behavior is best described as unpredictable when we’re having an episode
My family (parents and siblings) wanted nothing to do with my diagnosis. They must of wondered why I was going in and out of the hospital. When I tried to talk about it, they rejected the idea of discussing it. It was very isolating. My late husband and my son were the only ones I could talk to. So glad you are helping to open up this issue and making me feel less alone. (with my schizoaffective disorder).
I wish someone would dispell these ideas of reality melting all around you and dozens of 'voices' speaking to you. Schizophrenia isn't some magical experience of impossible things happening it's more like an uneasiness combined with a sense of loss of reality, loss of self, feeling grandeur/hopeless (sometimes both), perceiving voices calling your name out in the distance (ROBERT!) but no one is there. A sense of impending doom as if death itself is lurking in the shadows during an exercise. It even manifests as a slowing/speeding of time or even sudden skips of time where you feel like you were only driving 10 minutes but it's been hours. I have schizo-effective disorder combined with dissociative identity disorder (strangely also borderline personality disorder) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder. I used to be a lot worse during my post break up period with my ex-fiance where I had a complete mental breakdown. Not a year later I had my best friend commit suicide a couple of days before we were supposed to meet to start hanging out and get involved in each other's lives again. After that I found myself emotionally and psychologically numb to everything except for feeling rage when people were behaving unjustly and cruel to me. I, more than most, understand what she is talking about and that's why I know she's not faking or fabricating excessive symptoms. That glazed look and inability to focus on the subject at hand are telling signs of a dissociative episode induced by the illness.
I think for one part .. Companies should have in house therapists to help with coping mechanisms if one is unable to concentrate or feels out of place or judged that he or she got the job because there's a quota for disability and people think he or she is not qualified.. though in reality he or she definitely is. Part two would be a dedicated work buddy able to help if things get tough. It may not be affordable sometimes but to assist someone in need is a gift some schizophrenics are denied. Hope this helps ❤
Imo, just the same accommodations most nontypical people would benefit from! In general, employees need more lenience for sick days and on duty support. Just the ability to step off duty when a worker is overworked, or call in sick if they arent capable that day. These are obviously more systematic than what an employer could do affordably, but im hoping to send the message that our needs dont actually differ much from other people who are quicker to overwhelm or stress
There are so many retired therapists, nurses, social workers, drug/ alcohol counselors etc. that if the need were known would probably volunteer to help. Sometimes we forget to think outside the box to solve problems.@@elladay5720
Keep your head up, chicka you are one of many. You are doing great in bringing awareness for those of us to afraid to talk about what we are going through. You are right about the word crazy but, I feel that we as a whole need to work on proper labels and understanding what they mean, I had to correct someone the other day when they said being bipolar means that a person has more than one person living in their head, which is just wrong on every level. I am pretty sure they were talking about DID but even that is wrong.
2:25 - It honestly breaks my heart that people are actually clicking on your videos to tell you that you should be institutionalized and shouldn't have a family. I think that this is one of the most hurtful things that you can say because they're basically saying that you arent capable of handling even your basic human rights and your freedom. Something I have noticed ever since my diagnosis of bipolar 1 with psychotic features earlier this year, people who live with disorders that involve psychosis tend to be dehumanized because its such a foreign concept. That is the only possible way that I can see someone being able to tell an innocent mother who is literally helping people on the internet that she shouldn't allowed to be with her kids and husband. It's such a shame because if they had just taken a second to skim through your channel with an open mind instead of locking on judgement before even clicking, they would be able to easily see that you're a hero.
You are so brave and strong to sit there and talk about your struggles and educate people even in the face of hatefulness. I'm autistic but on the journey to my diagnosis they considered I might be schizotypal and when a therapist later heard this they freaked out and told me how harmful that could have been to future job prospects (as if autism isn't) and I think the stigma really needs to be addressed. I think it would be so much better if we could all be more understanding and more educated so that society can be more accessible to more people.
Thank you for all of your videos. they really help trying to explain things to friends and family. I've always been really quiet about it. for reasons you've explained in this video actually. it's really wonderful to hear someone talk about it and be able to explain things as well as you do. some things are different for all of us but the stigma and misunderstanding about it is the same. again, thank you. you are wonderful and i hope all the best.
This is such a complicated topic. I really love your videos and I agree with everything you said in this one. Having said that, as someone whose life has at times been (and is at present) very painful due to PTSD from an actual mass shooting by a paranoid schizophrenic, I must point out that schizophrenia if not properly treated can be absolutely devastating to both the individual that suffers from it and everyone around him. Unfortunately not everyone lives in a first world country and, if we are being honest, not everyone affected is as smart, collected and kindhearted as you seem to be. In my experience your case is close to a best case scenario even with all the struggles and difficulties you are facing. I'm sorry, I don't want to bring anyone down. There is light and life and love for all of us, we just have to keep fighting and supporting each other and never lose hope. Also, for what it's worth, I would hire you in a heartbeat.
When I started my channel I found that a lot of people with other mental health issues was able relate. So much so that i went ro tiktok and started up there. I'm finding so many lost people out there. You're such an inspiration. I would never have been open about my schizophrenia if you hadn't been so open. And other people are starting channels because they saw my content. You're amazing
You are able to imagine entirely new worlds and realities. You know how when you're daydreaming you can just sit there maybe in class, you're bored when you used to be in you know literature class or something in high school you were so bored you would just sit there and stare out the window and just daydream as a teacher was yakking on about Shakespeare or something and you were sitting there. You're just daydreaming about some videogame world that you wanted to inhabit and you just got lost in this sort of reverie of this sort of fantasy world you went into this world. You were running around as an elf doing something. Fighting somebody whatever. That is a little taste. A little microcosm of what can really happen. What God is doing on the macro level. So when you crank up the consciousness and you crank up all these other dials. Your imagination goes through the roof. your creativity goes through the roof. You literally tap into the source of creativity. Pure infinite creativity which is responsible for the creation and the imagination of all of material reality. This pure creativity is responsible for creating atoms, molecules, planets, galaxies, science, mankind, languages, animals, you name it and you're tapping into that and it feels so surreal and unbelievable because it's too good to be true. Here you were living this ordinary life. Thinking that reality is just material and physical and now one day you find yourself in the nexus of creation where God's mind is creating the entire fucking universe.
Ive had a psychotherapist I worked with for three munts straight up state I dont have schizophrenia and I should get reassessed. Its funny though that all the nurses in my small town hospital think Im delusional everytime I come in with a health issues because I had alot of health anxiety and panic attacks when I first moved here. Its a rough situation. Not to be believed either way.
Recently I was hospitalized for a bone infection and it reminded me of previous psych ward visits. So, my schizoaffective disorder was triggered being in this Rehab center for a month. Thankfully I have a couple of counseling sessions while I'm in here. They are face time sessions through the phone. I have been writing in a journal during this time so I'll be able to organize my usually disorganized thinking. This channel has really helped me over the years, thank you Lauren.
Agreed that schizophrenia is depicted as fear but could not be further from truth. After 16 year since diagnosis I am now diagnosed schzoaffective. I feel calm but misunderstood with what my 'illness' is dipicted as. Disagreement is easy for family to blame the diagnosis on me.on challanging this I wonder if there is a diagnosis for ignorance.
I was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder 25 years ago there were people just as understanding then as now but as a rule of thumb I never shared that with people unless I trusted them and when I revealed to them that I was schizoaffective they were always in shock proclaiming I was the most sane person they know I guess sometimes we just work harder at sanity than others over the years I ran multiple businesses was always self-employed and at times was on the couch watching my toenails grow and as far as being called crazy I never found that offensive I've been on both sides of the looking Glass so I understand where that comes from doesn't make it right but it's understandable
As a mentally ill person I call people who do dangerous things crazy. Like drive twice the speed limit or skydive. But I don't say it about mentally ill people.
While I’ve never been scared of schizophrenic people (partly bc I didn’t grow up watching TV or having much media in that way, partly bc I’m not sure it just wasn’t something I thought to fear), I also obviously didn’t know much about it. I still don’t know enough it feels like but I’ve learned a lot in the past few months, after meeting someone with schizophrenia made me interested in researching the heck out of it. Honestly schizophrenia is a horrible mental illness that people have to live with and it’s not fair and I wish there was a cure. But everyone with schizophrenia is just as deserving of love, respect, kindness and acceptance as everyone without schizophrenia. I wish this channel and many others I’ve found with ppl that speak about having schizophrenia had much more views.
Something I think people get confused is positive being good and negative being bad. But we’re using positive/negative in the mathematical sense. 2+2 isn’t better or worse that 2-1. They’re just equations. Same here.
Hi Lauren! Great video. I have SZ-Affective Disorder. A young (23) friend of ours has SZ and is homeless again. He was in re-hab but got kicked out today for 30 days because he used the "n" word joking around. If I have said it once I have told my kids 1,000 times that they should not say this or type it in their social media. Was he wrong? Yes! Did he deserved to be kicked out? No! He should have received a punishment like extra chores. And it should have been brought up in group. How many ppl in that group, esp the young ones, use that all the time? Most probably. So he is back at our house for a few days, but we have small limit on the number of days he can stay with us. Hopefully his uncle will take him in or he will be on the streets. Blessings!
@@arlenefisher1164 Of course. It's because we rent and our landlord is an asshole. His new rule is that you cannot have a person stay more than 14 days per year with you.
Fighting back against ableism and ableists is always going to come with pushback & vitriol because fear and hate drive it. We just have to keep pushing back.
I am truly so sorry to hear that you got such negative comments and were stigmatized so many times in your life because of your illness. That's why education and information like you are offering here is so incredibly valuable. Thank you so much and lots of success to you🧡💙
I lived with someone with this illness their behavior is challenging most of the time despise increase of their meds the shouting and temper is the worse
Many many years ago I had a friend I went all through school with who developed schizophrenia. They didn't have medications like they do today. She would call me often and state she was god, then go on with word salad things. After I'd moved away she'd write long, long rambling letters. She eventually ended up in a psych hospital and died there at a young age. I wish they had had the tx. options then. God rest her brilliant soul.
Thank you. I have never struggled with anything more than generalized anxiety (which is much more relatable) and seeing you open up and teach not preach is so amazing. Giving people a voice and helping others understand seems so simple, but means so much. As far as the negative comments you receive, I'm sorry you have to deal with that. Hopefully those people will figure there stuff out sooner rather than later.❤
i am not schizophrenic. i just want to be normal and have a normal life, i dont like talking about mental illness. i talk about it when i see my doctor and other professionals. i want to be able to work like everyone else
i seen genetic research, the "schizophrenic" gene is actually the one responsible for auto-immune problems, remember reading about some auto immune response where the body's system attacks the brain itself, also seen studies linking some of this to pollution, which makes since, if foreign objects are detected, and you can see how high i.q. people have the same hypersensitivity, and how all of it is kind of connected with many of the same traits and whatnot
It would be nice if my 32 year old daughter who has schizoaffective were allowed to live with her schizophrenia but because she is in the system, if she has what would just be a bad day for anyone else she just ends up getting hauled away to the psych ward and then things in her life fall apart from there. It's been wash, rinse, and repeat for a decade now & she has lost her young adulthood to this illness. I have hope only to bolster her hope.
But the criteria I hear from so many is if a person is a "danger to self or others"- that is the *only* way for involuntary commitment ??? So how is she being commited?
@@arlenefisher1164 Because when they (the police) find out that she has a mental health involuntary commitment record, they just take her to the psych ward, not calling family or anyone else who could simply take her home. It's just easier for them. The sad thing is that in our city, the sheriff's department is excellent when it comes to mental health issues, but yield to the city police in the city. And that's a crap shoot as to who you might get. Years ago when she lived in a Chicago suburb, she stole a car (the keys were left in it) and was slowly driving with the lights off. Of course the police stopped her, put her in their squad car, and the older officer who was driving just wanted to take her to Cook County Jail but his partner argued that he thought she needed to go to the hospital. Amazingly, he prevailed and she went to the hospital. Later that summer she saw this officer at a 7/11 and thanked him for what he did. I bet that made him feel good.
@@Catlily5 You would think so, but you would be wrong. When someone has a court appointed guardian, even when you're an adult, there's a lot they can do with you. Once you're in the system it makes it hard to escape. There is a lot done here in the U.S. that is not legal, but it happens all the time.
@@stevec3872 So she has a treatment guardian? That would change things. It may be legal then. Thankfully I never had a treatment guardian. In my city the families of mentally ill people get angry because it is so hard to hospitalize their sick loved ones. So I am used to hearing that side of things. Most people don't have treatment guardians though. I hope your daughter improves and gets off of the guardianship.
I go out in the local community, like today, and transfix people with the sad songs I sing in the street and make homeless alcoholic bums cry, struck dumb at my poetry. Write poetry, create art, share magic. Be the force that changes the world.
Don't be afraid, share your experience with a journal, and laugh at the ridiculous thoughts. My Ally pushes me around, to prove things that are not real love me. My demons are real, and I know them.
Much of behavior is due brain functions we can't control. Like when I turned 12 I didn't care much about girls except that they annoyed me. By my 13th birthday I could hardly think about anything other than girls and romance. My hormones had changed to drastically changed my thoughts and behavior. People want to believe that they have good control of their own thoughts. They are frightened when they see someone who is delusional or hallucinating and acting on uncontrollable thoughts. They are reminded of the truth that they aren't completely in control either.
Your channel and you telling your story has truly helped me get the courage to seek out help with my own struggle. Thank you a million times over for doing this amazing thing.
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Schizophrenia Artist 👋
I have schizophrenia. I was actually going through an episode of psychosis recently, and my sister called off of work to take care of me because she didn't want me to be alone at home and her manager yelled at her because of it. I think that normalizing schizophrenia can obviously benefit those of us living with schizophrenia but also the people who take care of and support us.
Society is warped. We are not sick, society is.
People still think that mental health isn't a thing sometimes. We need to educate the masses hey. Thank God for this channel
@lookingupwithwonder Yes this channel has helped me feel less alone in the sense that I realize that I am not crazy and other people are going through similar issues to what I'm going through. Long live this channel and the positive energy it puts into the world 😊
Im really sorry that happened to you and your sister. I hope her boss someday finds the ability to be as compassionate as she seems to be.
@RYT_ Thank you, I hope so, too
Before I came across this channel I always thought schizophrenia meant someone was crazy and dangerous. I was honestly just ignorant about it. I'm grateful for learning the truth and not some ridiculous stigma.
I don’t have schizophrenia and you’ve taught me so much. I’m incredibly grateful. Mental health professionals should be required to watch your videos.
😂
Thank you for going out of your way to learn!!
Yes I agree. Social Work student here
agree!!
I agree 👍
The Movie, The Hand That Rocks The Cradle was likely the best depiction of my schizoaffective behavior, I found that film to be very triggering and sort of a way of looking at my own behavior. I can't adequately convey my inside view of my way of seeing the world when I'm in a state of mania. I tend to also stare through people rather than at them, that's unsettling to most. I agree, I have been victimized by others during my altered states and there really isn't anything I could do about that. I am envious of your partner, mine left in the end, and I felt he really didn't deserve to live with my disorder, I would have left "me" also. You are very very fortunate to have family you do, I was left on my own. No one to blame. Thank you over and over.
I hope you are doing better now. Us people with vulnerabilities like these should remain hopeful. There are so many resources today to lead fulfilling lives. That film rocks by the way.
I am, thank you. I learned that I'm much better on my own, and I don't feel so guilty anymore. @@ImpulseGenerator
How are you feeling now ? Fellow schizophrenic here who experienced their first psychotic episode back in may .. everything has been fresh, everything has been hard to battle.
Many years ago, I worked in a camera store and one of our regular customers had schizophrenia or a related disorder. Some of the other employees were afraid of her, but I decided to approach her with the same courtesy that I tried to use with everybody else. The result was that even when she came in and her symptoms were very bad, she was always nice to me. I learned how much she loved children and I was privileged to be able to see a glimpse of her struggle. She taught me more than I could have imagined, and I have always been grateful for that.
It’s frustrating when people are ignorant and say that you should have no life if you’re schizophrenic or that you should be institutionalized.
That's because our philosophy about mental health focuses on normalisation not functionalisation. Which is silly, because physical health definitely cares more about functionalisation.
I was told I should be sterilized. It bothers me that everyone is talking about mental health now, but schizophrenia is still a taboo. Even commercials for antipsychotics are always advertised as an add-on for treatment resistant depression, sometimes bipolar. Nobody ever says "schizophrenia." I saw a drama where a character was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and I thought great, a chance to depict it properly and educate people. But then it turned out the character didn't have it after all. I'm ashamed to make new friends because I can't work right now the way I'm doing, and I'm afraid to tell people I live with my mom and have schizoaffective disorder.
Whoever said you should be sterilized really needs to be yeeted all the back to 1940s Germany, because I thought we were leaving eugenics in the past! I’m sorry that rude person said that to you!
I’m very sorry you suffer from this disorder. My mother and multiple family members of ours suffered from schizophrenia. Although the information is helpful, it is often one sided either way. I’ll give you a real life experience and my take about sterilization. First I do not feel all who suffer should be sterilized, but some obviously should! It’s a spectrum so everyone isn’t as impacted as the next. My uncle killed my grandmother and then shot himself during an episode. My other uncle almost beat a woman blank during an episode. My mother’s episodes traumatized her older children, I still have a brother that can’t get passed the trauma, even though we had Dad at home to help balance things. My mother was homicidal even on medication and attempted to kill my father multiple times. This is our reality and it should matter as well. I don’t think it’s right to downplay how very dangerous schizophrenia can be, it’s a spit in the face to all people who have lost lives of loved ones, or have been traumatized due to this disorder. No child should be left with anyone alone who is going through even the early signs of a psychotic episode. I’m also being harassed currently by a childhood friend that has been recently diagnosed with schizophrenia. She made so many terrible false accusations about her ex that he almost lost his job as a teacher. People often automatically believe women. Narcissism goes along with schizophrenia and some of these individuals will attempt to destroy your credibility and livelihood because they believe the voices so greatly. My friend started having homicidal faith based ideations about her kids, so we had them removed. Now she is on a mission to make us all look like lying idiots. Her kids had suffered in ways we could not even imagine. Because she still has the same rights as any other adult, we can’t force her back into the hospital. And getting guardianship over an adult can sometimes takes years! So what advice would you give me? This is what we are faced with. It is also not rare that individuals become violent during an episode, I really wish people would stop saying that. Many of us with family that suffer just don’t report their violent episodes because we don’t want them getting into trouble. Many people still don’t understand the disorder so when a family member becomes violent and assaults them they simply fight back if they can and usually don’t involve police. We need to keep informing the world about this disorder, but acting like it’s not that many individuals that suffer that cause major trauma in people’s lives is a spit in the face to all of us that have been hurt. It’s very one sided and I’m not for that. I wish you the best and I do hope this disorder does not consume your life dear.
Schizophrenia isn't even very bad in some people, depending on intelligence, personality, and general mental health.
The person is probably just trying to force uniformity on everyone.
Unpopular opinion. Already know people are gonna hate me for saying this. But this illness has a genetic component. I personally couldnt bring a kid into this knowing I might pass this on. No judgment, but I wouldnt be okay with that.
Bro, do you have low iq now? 💀
Ma'am I've been schizophrenic my entire life. I often avoid bringing up my mental health illnesses because I am afraid of the judgement I can receive. So I chose to mostly be quiet about the issue.
People always tend to take a shot at you in some way, they use your mental state as a weapon against you. I mentioned my mental status at work and I kid you not I had a coworker make a funny remark one day after I made a mistake and say “ something is off inside that head “ I just let it slide it was a female ..
Lauren - after hearing about some of the garbage comments you receive, I have a comment for you.
You’re awesome. You have purpose and you are making a difference. Your perceived shortcomings are some of your greatest strengths.
Keep going, girl. Keep going.
you know she pathological liar. this is a scam.
she will get exposed for the fraud she is.
Hello Lauren. I wanted to thank you for all of your videos. I've been diagnosed with schizophrenia this year, but I have had voices for a few years or so.
I hear voices that talk about killing my family and destroying the planet if I don't do x or y, or IF I do x or y. It is very very unpleasant. Thankfully my medication seem to finally have kicked in. I've been "voiceless" for about a week or so, and I hope i continue to be "voiceless". I will donate to you when I feel my economy is stable enough. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
How are you doing now? Fellow schizophrenic here just wanted to let you know that there is hope, sadly that hope may be medication 💊 and I know how much we really hate being medicated especially for the rest of our lives and dealing with the side effects but it’s like it’s either or .. I rather have my mental intact but I’d also like to not have all these side effects ( sorry this went from
me checking on you to venting )
I admire you for being so public about your mental health issues. I've told friends and family about my problems. All it did was get me ghosted.
I empathize completely. That's so upsetting and disappointing, and I think it happens constantly to folks with all kinds of mental and physical illnesses.
@maureensmith9923same here 😢
I wanted to thank you for this channel! I worked with homeless people for a long time so when I thought of schizophrenia I thought of people who could barely function … it’s so great to see that, while you are still effected by it of course, you are able to have a traditional life as well :)
I don't have schizophrenia but I have complex-PTSD. And meany years ago prior to my diagnosis I worked as a Nurse both in general & psych. I have learned more from you than I ever did on a psych ward.
As is often the case with c-PTSD, I was misdiagnosed with ADHD, Bipolar 2, GAD & Depression. And in 1999 I volunteered for an organisation doing talks to community groups to raise awareness and reduce stigma around depression. It was some of the most satisfying work (paid or unpaid) I have ever done.
Lauren, I absolutely love your videos, & am inspired by them to keep advocating in the lived experiences spaces for complex-PTSD which of course includes depression, anxiety & so much more.
Thank you for being you, & normalising talking about chronic mental illness. As the ignorant comments show, it is very much needed. 🙏💖
Thank you very much for your videos!! I appreciate them very much! My son has schizophrenia and your words shed a lot of light what it is!! ❤❤❤❤
We have to normalize mental illness in general. We HAVE to give it a name. A face. Schizophrenia is a Sprectrum. Some like Laurn can live a normal life with support (meds, therapy) to out of control like we see in the media. But normalizing Schizophrenia- well mental illness in general...giving it a name, a face- showing people there is a real person with real needs, wants, dreams and a family- it humanizes it and makes people understand it better.
I would really like to see a video from you on how to "challenge" others when they spread misconceptions (or similar) about a mental illness.
I am diaganized with obsessive compulsive disorder with psychotic features. My late mother was also affected with schizophrenia. Your channel inspires me to be resilient always.
I’m glad that you have this channel. You give a perspective that many can or cannot understand. I live with my sibling who has Schizoaffective Disorder. I’m trying understand or get a clue as to what is going on. So channels like this are a blessing to those that want to understand. So thank you and keep going. You’re doing great 😀
I have schizophrenia and alot of videos that I happen to comment about it people just seem to not care
Lauren, I have learned so much about your disorder through your videos. I struggle with OCD which I’ve finally gotten a handle on only in the last year or so - and I’m in my 40s! You’ve helped me reflect on my own issues as well as broadened my knowledge on other disorders. So, thank you so very much.
As for the discrimination you’ve experience in the workplace - it’s narrow minded and disgusting. (Not to mention illegal.) I’m so sorry.
Love and look forward to your videos. Keep them coming. ❤
I find these videos so helpful and informative and recommend to people to watch for an insight into the world of schizophrenia. Thanks Lauren x
My child has schizoaffective disorder and I appreciate your voice here because it helps me understand him and his needs better ❤
My adult son has it, very new to our family and we’re not sure how to navigate it. Very sad he has negative emotions and doesn’t speak a lot
Thank you for this brilliant presentation. You are appreciated so much!!!
Thanks for your support!
Greetings from Venezuela, South America.
As someone with depression and anxiety who has a personality disorder - avoidant-evasive, I feel your pain and the sentiment. I know you don't make these videos for acknowledgement but you are a very inspiring person to me and an example I strive to mimic. Being open and maybe at times radically honest to my surroundings have really helped me find compassion and understanding.
I would also love to see you critique a police crisis training program and give your POV on what is missing. I’m extremely appalled hearing stories about allegedly crisis trained cops being abusive or rude to people in crisis. And I want to understand what is going wrong.
In my city the trained cops are usually much better than the untrained cops. If you ever have to have the police involved ask them if they can send CIT or cops trained to deal with mental illness. It could save a mentally ill person's life.
The cops took me to the psychiatric unit many times in the past. Before
Thank you Lauren for all your hard work in educating people about your diagnosis of schizophrenia. I am learning so much which helps me care for a family member with that diagnosis. With more knowledge I am better able to advocate for my loved one and speak to others on her behalf, especially when she has a hard time articulating her needs and has a hard time being able to follow through. As her legal guardian I am allowed to participate in her care and help bring her needs into focus to the people who are in charge of her medical, housing, and community needs. The workers in the mental health field so often do not have an understanding of how the brain of someone with schizophrenia works. They often have unrealistic expectations on what the needs are of someone struggling with schizophrenia and what that person is able to and not able to accomplish. Thats where I come in to educate the staff on what are realistic expectations. Please keep doing what you are doing. Thank you so much.
Thanks for sharing this. Very helpful.
You are so compassionate, thank you for all the good you and your husband do.
I can't tell you how important this video was for me. Many of the psychological problems you experience, are the same problems I experience. Yet, supposedly I lived a "normal" life. Of course, that's BS. I don't believe anyone is "normal." We are all located on a spectrum of psychological fitness. Each persons mental health changes from minute to minute or year to year because of our changing external or internal physical environment. As you say and I believe, we need to better understand each other as individuals. Don't buy in to what Hollywood Society or Politics defines a psychological health.
a small change ive made to my vocabulary, aside from just not calling individuals "crazy," is replacing it with the word "wild" when talking about situations/ideas. ex: instead of responding to your friend telling an exciting story with "thats crazy!" i say "thats wild!"
its a tiny thing, but its also a super easy to change to make, so like. why not?
Sanitizing language and using euphemisms never helped anybody, except makes a person doing it feel better.
@@BeingBetterthat is ableist language to people with mental illness!
I don’t mind saying the word “crazy!” Vernacular isn’t going to change. What matters is the thought behind the word. I don’t call people with schizophrenia “crazy.” It’s a health condition and not to be demeaned or minimized like that.
I also have schizoaffective disorder, sending you so much love and support. I feel such deep gratitude to you for sharing your experiences and wisdom. Your channel has helped me in numerous ways, especially in my process of finally acknowledging my diagnosis and moving towards a better life with an integration of my mental diagnosis. Blessing to you and Rob and the kids
I wish Bipolar Disorder was normalized. 😢 My life is so up nd down , people just don’t understand at all in my life. So thankful for you and your channel.
You're doing important work. Thank you!
brilliant points and couldn't agree more with message Lauren you've conveyed
This is great! I work in a locked mh ward and my brothers had/have schizophrenia (one died 😢).
I'm surrounded by ppl with schizophrenia and have noticed how incredibly creative and bright they are.
I am neurodiverse myself and early on in my life, i had some hard times and weird beliefs and I wonder if I was on the borderline of having schizophrenia myself.
It doesn't matter though, I am what I am and I take good care of my brain these days.
I embrace neurodiversity with all my heart. ❤
First of all, I want to echo what so many people have written to you, Lauren: I don't have schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, but I've still been getting a HUGE amount of help, information, education, support and affirmation from your videos, which I've been consuming like actual food. :) I live with multiple chronic illnesses, the most severe of which are ME/CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome -- I've had it for 34 years) and peripheral neuropathy, and the resulting depression and anxiety that I suspect almost everyone with profoundly life-changing, limiting, soul-crushing, isolating illnesses experiences. Even though your videos specifically address schizophrenia, almost everything you discuss has relevance to my life: how to balance your energy when your capacity is different from most people's; how to understand and deal with complex symptomology, especially when you're not always sure what health issues or life circumstances are causing what; the frustration of medication side effects; the pain and sadness of losing friends who can't cope with or understand your health issues; I could go on and on. Your content is SO RELEVANT to SO many mental and physical health experiences, and you present it with such compassion, clarity and accessibility.
This video, too, encapsulates topics that are at the very forefront of my life, in that there's still such a risk in our culture of being discriminated against for "coming out" as chronically ill or disabled. I hid my chronic illnesses for decades, terrified that if people knew I had ME/CFS, I'd never get hired for a job again, and would never be seen as capable, competent, reliable or responsible...I'd be reduced to someone with a weird, possibly hypochondriacal(!) illness. In 2010, it was clear that I couldn't disguise my CFS anymore, and in fact, all the things I was afraid of DID happen. I got fired from all my jobs, I was mocked and gossiped about, I lost friends, I experienced a ton of marginalization...but all of that turned me into the disability justice activist I am today, because NONE of those responses are okay! As you state so well in this video, the only way our society will change its attitudes towards disability, and create radical inclusion, acceptance, accessibility and a serious shift in basic human rights is if more and more of us stand up for normalizing the range of human biology. This degree of disability justice is LONG overdue (I'd recommend that anyone interested n the history of disability rights watch "Crip Camp" on Netflix, and read/watch/listen to everything and anything that Judy Heumann has created!!!), and creating a more inclusive and accessible culture benefits literally EVERYone, not just those with physical, mental and emotional variations from what we've decided is the norm. The truth is that there IS no norm -- there is no such thing as "normal" -- and a world with greater compassion, understanding and inclusivity, and less fear and stigmatism, would improve the well being of everyone.
Anyway. You are a gift, and I'm so grateful for the work you and Rob are doing. Sending love and admiration.
"Mental illness can be a life sentence, but it doesn't have to be a death sentence." Mauro Ranallo said that years ago and it still rings true today.
This is powerful 😊
I love your channel and some of your content the thing is the more serious mental illness can be terrifying for outside viewers. That’s why disorders like schizophrenia, BPD, bipolar disorder, and antisocial personalities have such a huge stigma. Some people might be able to empathize with us if they are close to us, the thing is, the behaviors associated with these disorders are terrifying in-person and in movies, whether we pose any real threat is irrelevant, individually we know we aren’t dangerous but people outside don’t know that because our behavior is best described as unpredictable when we’re having an episode
Thanks again for your work. You are helping a lot of people.
My family (parents and siblings) wanted nothing to do with my diagnosis. They must of wondered why I was going in and out of the hospital. When I tried to talk about it, they rejected the idea of discussing it. It was very isolating. My late husband and my son were the only ones I could talk to.
So glad you are helping to open up this issue and making me feel less alone. (with my schizoaffective disorder).
I wish someone would dispell these ideas of reality melting all around you and dozens of 'voices' speaking to you. Schizophrenia isn't some magical experience of impossible things happening it's more like an uneasiness combined with a sense of loss of reality, loss of self, feeling grandeur/hopeless (sometimes both), perceiving voices calling your name out in the distance (ROBERT!) but no one is there.
A sense of impending doom as if death itself is lurking in the shadows during an exercise. It even manifests as a slowing/speeding of time or even sudden skips of time where you feel like you were only driving 10 minutes but it's been hours.
I have schizo-effective disorder combined with dissociative identity disorder (strangely also borderline personality disorder) and complex post-traumatic stress disorder.
I used to be a lot worse during my post break up period with my ex-fiance where I had a complete mental breakdown. Not a year later I had my best friend commit suicide a couple of days before we were supposed to meet to start hanging out and get involved in each other's lives again.
After that I found myself emotionally and psychologically numb to everything except for feeling rage when people were behaving unjustly and cruel to me.
I, more than most, understand what she is talking about and that's why I know she's not faking or fabricating excessive symptoms. That glazed look and inability to focus on the subject at hand are telling signs of a dissociative episode induced by the illness.
Great messaging.
Q: What are strategies employers should use to assist persons with schizophrenia? Thanks! 🌻
I think for one part .. Companies should have in house therapists to help with coping mechanisms if one is unable to concentrate or feels out of place or judged that he or she got the job because there's a quota for disability and people think he or she is not qualified.. though in reality he or she definitely is.
Part two would be a dedicated work buddy able to help if things get tough. It may not be affordable sometimes but to assist someone in need is a gift some schizophrenics are denied. Hope this helps ❤
Imo, just the same accommodations most nontypical people would benefit from! In general, employees need more lenience for sick days and on duty support. Just the ability to step off duty when a worker is overworked, or call in sick if they arent capable that day. These are obviously more systematic than what an employer could do affordably, but im hoping to send the message that our needs dont actually differ much from other people who are quicker to overwhelm or stress
@@BaddeGrasse I absolutely agree.
There are so many retired therapists, nurses, social workers, drug/ alcohol counselors etc. that if the need were known would probably volunteer to help. Sometimes we forget to think outside the box to solve problems.@@elladay5720
Keep your head up, chicka you are one of many. You are doing great in bringing awareness for those of us to afraid to talk about what we are going through. You are right about the word crazy but, I feel that we as a whole need to work on proper labels and understanding what they mean, I had to correct someone the other day when they said being bipolar means that a person has more than one person living in their head, which is just wrong on every level. I am pretty sure they were talking about DID but even that is wrong.
Omg Lauren you normalising schizophrenia has given me courage mate.
2:25 - It honestly breaks my heart that people are actually clicking on your videos to tell you that you should be institutionalized and shouldn't have a family. I think that this is one of the most hurtful things that you can say because they're basically saying that you arent capable of handling even your basic human rights and your freedom. Something I have noticed ever since my diagnosis of bipolar 1 with psychotic features earlier this year, people who live with disorders that involve psychosis tend to be dehumanized because its such a foreign concept. That is the only possible way that I can see someone being able to tell an innocent mother who is literally helping people on the internet that she shouldn't allowed to be with her kids and husband.
It's such a shame because if they had just taken a second to skim through your channel with an open mind instead of locking on judgement before even clicking, they would be able to easily see that you're a hero.
You are so brave and strong to sit there and talk about your struggles and educate people even in the face of hatefulness. I'm autistic but on the journey to my diagnosis they considered I might be schizotypal and when a therapist later heard this they freaked out and told me how harmful that could have been to future job prospects (as if autism isn't) and I think the stigma really needs to be addressed. I think it would be so much better if we could all be more understanding and more educated so that society can be more accessible to more people.
Oh I actually have both schizotypal personality disorder and I’m autistic, so yeah . You can have both.
Love love love this video and the messaging- thank you for posting ❤
Thank you helping me understanding want Schizophrenia.
Very interesting video...:)
Thank you for all of your videos. they really help trying to explain things to friends and family. I've always been really quiet about it. for reasons you've explained in this video actually. it's really wonderful to hear someone talk about it and be able to explain things as well as you do. some things are different for all of us but the stigma and misunderstanding about it is the same. again, thank you. you are wonderful and i hope all the best.
As always, thank you Lauren!❤❤
You are such a beautiful lady. I enjoy your videos that help with understanding.
I think people with disabilities no matter how strong or mild that disability is should have someone who understands them😊❤
Exactly right
This is such a complicated topic. I really love your videos and I agree with everything you said in this one. Having said that, as someone whose life has at times been (and is at present) very painful due to PTSD from an actual mass shooting by a paranoid schizophrenic, I must point out that schizophrenia if not properly treated can be absolutely devastating to both the individual that suffers from it and everyone around him. Unfortunately not everyone lives in a first world country and, if we are being honest, not everyone affected is as smart, collected and kindhearted as you seem to be. In my experience your case is close to a best case scenario even with all the struggles and difficulties you are facing. I'm sorry, I don't want to bring anyone down. There is light and life and love for all of us, we just have to keep fighting and supporting each other and never lose hope. Also, for what it's worth, I would hire you in a heartbeat.
Thank you for addressing this.
good video lauren!
When I started my channel I found that a lot of people with other mental health issues was able relate. So much so that i went ro tiktok and started up there. I'm finding so many lost people out there. You're such an inspiration. I would never have been open about my schizophrenia if you hadn't been so open. And other people are starting channels because they saw my content. You're amazing
6:14 I think another word to use is ableism or sanism?
yeah those might be better words to describe the discrimination
sanism in particular
You are able to imagine entirely new
worlds and realities. You know how when you're daydreaming you can just sit there maybe in class, you're bored when you used to be in you know literature class or something in high school you were so bored you would just sit there and stare out the window and just daydream as a teacher was yakking on about Shakespeare or something and you were sitting there. You're just daydreaming about some videogame world that you wanted to inhabit and you just got lost in this sort of reverie of this sort of fantasy world you went into this world. You were running around as an elf doing something. Fighting somebody whatever. That is a little taste. A little microcosm of what can really happen. What God is doing on the macro level. So when you crank up the consciousness and you crank up all these other dials. Your imagination goes through the roof. your creativity goes through the roof. You literally tap into the source of creativity. Pure infinite creativity which is responsible for the creation and the imagination of all of material reality. This pure creativity is responsible for creating atoms, molecules, planets, galaxies, science, mankind, languages, animals, you name it and you're tapping into that and it feels so surreal and unbelievable because it's too good to be true.
Here you were living this ordinary life. Thinking that reality is just material and physical and now one day you find yourself in the nexus of creation where God's mind is creating the entire fucking universe.
Ive had a psychotherapist I worked with for three munts straight up state I dont have schizophrenia and I should get reassessed. Its funny though that all the nurses in my small town hospital think Im delusional everytime I come in with a health issues because I had alot of health anxiety and panic attacks when I first moved here. Its a rough situation. Not to be believed either way.
Recently I was hospitalized for a bone infection and it reminded me of previous psych ward visits. So, my schizoaffective disorder was triggered being in this Rehab center for a month. Thankfully I have a couple of counseling sessions while I'm in here. They are face time sessions through the phone. I have been writing in a journal during this time so I'll be able to organize my usually disorganized thinking. This channel has really helped me over the years, thank you Lauren.
Agreed that schizophrenia is depicted as fear but could not be further from truth. After 16 year since diagnosis I am now diagnosed schzoaffective. I feel calm but misunderstood with what my 'illness' is dipicted as. Disagreement is easy for family to blame the diagnosis on me.on challanging this I wonder if there is a diagnosis for ignorance.
You are such a wonderful brave human being!
I needed to hear this today, Thank you.
You're doing a fantastic job helping us understand. Thank You
Thank you for this beautiful content
I was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder 25 years ago there were people just as understanding then as now but as a rule of thumb I never shared that with people unless I trusted them and when I revealed to them that I was schizoaffective they were always in shock proclaiming I was the most sane person they know I guess sometimes we just work harder at sanity than others over the years I ran multiple businesses was always self-employed and at times was on the couch watching my toenails grow and as far as being called crazy I never found that offensive I've been on both sides of the looking Glass so I understand where that comes from doesn't make it right but it's understandable
Thank you! ❤
Thank you for a great video, I hope you are well
❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤Thank you Maam,
As a mentally ill person I call people who do dangerous things crazy. Like drive twice the speed limit or skydive. But I don't say it about mentally ill people.
While I’ve never been scared of schizophrenic people (partly bc I didn’t grow up watching TV or having much media in that way, partly bc I’m not sure it just wasn’t something I thought to fear), I also obviously didn’t know much about it. I still don’t know enough it feels like but I’ve learned a lot in the past few months, after meeting someone with schizophrenia made me interested in researching the heck out of it.
Honestly schizophrenia is a horrible mental illness that people have to live with and it’s not fair and I wish there was a cure. But everyone with schizophrenia is just as deserving of love, respect, kindness and acceptance as everyone without schizophrenia.
I wish this channel and many others I’ve found with ppl that speak about having schizophrenia had much more views.
Thanks!
Thank you for your support Colin!
Something I think people get confused is positive being good and negative being bad. But we’re using positive/negative in the mathematical sense. 2+2 isn’t better or worse that 2-1. They’re just equations. Same here.
Hi Lauren!
Great video.
I have SZ-Affective Disorder. A young (23) friend of ours has SZ and is homeless again. He was in re-hab but got kicked out today for 30 days because he used the "n" word joking around.
If I have said it once I have told my kids 1,000 times that they should not say this or type it in their social media. Was he wrong? Yes! Did he deserved to be kicked out? No! He should have received a punishment like extra chores. And it should have been brought up in group. How many ppl in that group, esp the young ones, use that all the time? Most probably. So he is back at our house for a few days, but we have small limit on the number of days he can stay with us. Hopefully his uncle will take him in or he will be on the streets.
Blessings!
May I ask why he can't live with you?
@@arlenefisher1164 Of course. It's because we rent and our landlord is an asshole. His new rule is that you cannot have a person stay more than 14 days per year with you.
Fighting back against ableism and ableists is always going to come with pushback & vitriol because fear and hate drive it. We just have to keep pushing back.
I appreciate these insights.
I wish I could share this video w the whole world
Thanks
Thank you for your support!
There's many many things I would like to say in this comment but I'm going to make it short by simply saying I love you ❤️ and God bless
You're doing God's work ♥️hugs
I am truly so sorry to hear that you got such negative comments and were stigmatized so many times in your life because of your illness. That's why education and information like you are offering here is so incredibly valuable. Thank you so much and lots of success to you🧡💙
Your voice is so nice and soothing I wish you could tuck me into bed and read me a story lol
I respect you so much for your courage to do these videos. You're amazing.
I lived with someone with this illness their behavior is challenging most of the time despise increase of their meds the shouting and temper is the worse
Many many years ago I had a friend I went all through school with who developed schizophrenia. They didn't have medications like they do today. She would call me often and state she was god, then go on with word salad things. After I'd moved away she'd write long, long rambling letters. She eventually ended up in a psych hospital and died there at a young age. I wish they had had the tx. options then. God rest her brilliant soul.
Thanks sorry for your loss relate to this the constant demand attention word salad all of the time difficult situation
Thank you. I have never struggled with anything more than generalized anxiety (which is much more relatable) and seeing you open up and teach not preach is so amazing. Giving people a voice and helping others understand seems so simple, but means so much. As far as the negative comments you receive, I'm sorry you have to deal with that. Hopefully those people will figure there stuff out sooner rather than later.❤
i am not schizophrenic. i just want to be normal and have a normal life, i dont like talking about mental illness. i talk about it when i see my doctor and other professionals. i want to be able to work like everyone else
I have schizoaffective. I've told people I have it and they've started avoiding me. I've had people say I'm crazy or psycho.
i seen genetic research, the "schizophrenic" gene is actually the one responsible for auto-immune problems, remember reading about some auto immune response where the body's system attacks the brain itself, also seen studies linking some of this to pollution, which makes since, if foreign objects are detected, and you can see how high i.q. people have the same hypersensitivity, and how all of it is kind of connected with many of the same traits and whatnot
I have schizophrenia and idk what to do most of the time I just want it to go away😢
It would be nice if my 32 year old daughter who has schizoaffective were allowed to live with her schizophrenia but because she is in the system, if she has what would just be a bad day for anyone else she just ends up getting hauled away to the psych ward and then things in her life fall apart from there. It's been wash, rinse, and repeat for a decade now & she has lost her young adulthood to this illness. I have hope only to bolster her hope.
But the criteria I hear from so many is if a person is a "danger to self or others"- that is the *only* way for involuntary commitment ??? So how is she being commited?
@@arlenefisher1164 Because when they (the police) find out that she has a mental health involuntary commitment record, they just take her to the psych ward, not calling family or anyone else who could simply take her home. It's just easier for them. The sad thing is that in our city, the sheriff's department is excellent when it comes to mental health issues, but yield to the city police in the city. And that's a crap shoot as to who you might get.
Years ago when she lived in a Chicago suburb, she stole a car (the keys were left in it) and was slowly driving with the lights off. Of course the police stopped her, put her in their squad car, and the older officer who was driving just wanted to take her to Cook County Jail but his partner argued that he thought she needed to go to the hospital. Amazingly, he prevailed and she went to the hospital. Later that summer she saw this officer at a 7/11 and thanked him for what he did. I bet that made him feel good.
If you live in the USA it is illegal to hospitalize someone who isn't a danger to themselves or others.
@@Catlily5 You would think so, but you would be wrong. When someone has a court appointed guardian, even when you're an adult, there's a lot they can do with you. Once you're in the system it makes it hard to escape. There is a lot done here in the U.S. that is not legal, but it happens all the time.
@@stevec3872 So she has a treatment guardian? That would change things. It may be legal then.
Thankfully I never had a treatment guardian.
In my city the families of mentally ill people get angry because it is so hard to hospitalize their sick loved ones. So I am used to hearing that side of things.
Most people don't have treatment guardians though. I hope your daughter improves and gets off of the guardianship.
I go out in the local community, like today, and transfix people with the sad songs I sing in the street and make homeless alcoholic bums cry, struck dumb at my poetry. Write poetry, create art, share magic. Be the force that changes the world.
Don't be afraid, share your experience with a journal, and laugh at the ridiculous thoughts. My Ally pushes me around, to prove things that are not real love me. My demons are real, and I know them.
Much of behavior is due brain functions we can't control. Like when I turned 12 I didn't care much about girls except that they annoyed me. By my 13th birthday I could hardly think about anything other than girls and romance. My hormones had changed to drastically changed my thoughts and behavior. People want to believe that they have good control of their own thoughts. They are frightened when they see someone who is delusional or hallucinating and acting on uncontrollable thoughts. They are reminded of the truth that they aren't completely in control either.
LOL! Those annoying girls 😂
And boys!
Your channel and you telling your story has truly helped me get the courage to seek out help with my own struggle. Thank you a million times over for doing this amazing thing.
I told one person I had psychosis and voices and they asked me if I'd ever considered living in an institution. ):
I don‘t feel like beeing open about it will work out well.
They allready think I‘m odd and not nornal. Telling them why would not realy help.
Only tell if you feel safe.
Effects on our body from different kinds of psychiatric drugs