The Buzz Feed asked a group of people what they would like their loved ones to understand about living with schizophrenia. Here is how some of them responded:
# 1 - It is NOT a multiple personality disorder. I was diagnosed 4 years ago and my family still asks me "who are you talking to". Please treat us like everyone else and ask us if you have any questions, but also respect our decision not to answer if we do not feel comfortable.
# 2 - I'm human too. Don’t ask me “what are the voices telling me now” - I have a psychiatrist for that.
# 3 - My paranoid delusions about you are not a comment on your character. Please do not take it personally!
# 4 - I did not choose this myself. I am not doing these things on purpose, but it is part of who I am. Saying "enough" to me "stop" only makes my condition worse.
# 5 - I want my relatives and not only to stop me as an alien first just to take medicine and go to the psychiatrist.
# 6 - Please do not constantly ask about what I am seeing or hearing.
# 7 - We are not bad people. We try to understand things and lead normal lives
# 8 - I'm still the same person everyone knows, but sometimes I hear and see things that are not there. Stigma can sometimes be worse than the disease itself.
# 9 - It's so hard to find a good job to get up on my feet.
# 10 - People often assume that schizophrenia is just hearing voices, but it is more complex. Yes, there are hallucinations - but schizophrenia also includes a whole list of symptoms that can affect a person's daily life and the way a person works. People in my life need to know this.
# 11 - I'm not dangerous.
# 12 - I still experience hallucinations and illusions, even with medication - I just have a better understanding of when it happens and how to talk about it. While the illusions are not "real", they feel very real in my head and are horrible.
# 13 - I'm worried that if I tell someone, they will not understand and behave strangely around me or just walk away. I wish I had someone to talk to.
# 14 - I'm always called "demon" or "crazy".
# 15 - I can not focus too much on public places, so I prefer more private places. Having someone with me, even if we do not talk long, keeps me connected to reality. I appreciate this with all my heart.
* Schizophrenia is a chronic brain disorder. When schizophrenia is active, symptoms may include hallucinations, hallucinations, disorganized speech, difficulty thinking, and lack of motivation.
