Stop. Take a deep breath. I know your mind is filled with thoughts, fears, and maybe even symptoms. But take a deep breath anyway. You’ll be fine.
First things first: Make an appointment with a psychiatrist.
One of the most important things you can do is make an appointment with a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse. Schizophrenia is complex and nuanced, so it’s important to find someone who specializes in psychiatry, not your primary care doctor.
It’s also important not to jump to conclusions. In fact, there are many illnesses that can have symptoms similar to schizophrenia. Anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are among those that can have psychotic features. This doesn’t mean that mental illnesses with psychotic features are any less serious than schizophrenia, but they can present in different ways.
Write down what you’re feeling and experiencing. It can be easy to forget details or even entire events when you feel like everything is spinning out of control. There have been many times when I’ve experienced symptoms, thought about telling my doctor, and completely forgotten about them at my appointment. But the more details your mental health professional has, the better they can understand what you’re going through. Whenever possible, take notes about what you’re experiencing, not just what you think are symptoms. Adding more detail can help you and your doctor identify symptoms you may not have noticed and possible triggers for your symptoms.
Don’t underestimate the power of therapy when seeking treatment.
If your chosen psychiatrist doesn’t offer talk therapy, consider finding a therapist. Schizophrenia medications can be very hit-or-miss, so you can’t always rely on them to resolve all your symptoms on their own. Talking about what you’re experiencing and exploring what’s behind it can help you identify and address triggers, as well as plan what to do when those triggers arise. In my own experience with talk therapy for psychosis, it’s helped me cope with feelings of shame, better understand my illness, and also find ways to manage my symptoms in ways my medications couldn’t, such as how to organize myself when my cognitive symptoms come on strong.
Don’t believe the stereotypes about schizophrenia.
There is life after this diagnosis, and you will not automatically be the person the media describes you as. No matter how scary the media makes schizophrenia seem, this diagnosis does not change who you are as a person. Having schizophrenia does not mean you will be violent or dangerous. It does not mean you have anything to be ashamed of. And it does not mean you are less than human. You are important, you matter, and you are still you – you just have a few extra obstacles.
Find people you can trust and confide in.
Disclosure can be a huge hurdle in life with any mental illness, and the stigma surrounding schizophrenia can make it even more daunting. However, having a support system can be vital to navigating life with a serious mental illness. Having someone you can talk to or trust can help ease the burden that this diagnosis places on your shoulders. They may not know what to do or fully understand what you are going through, but they can still offer support. In addition to your local support system, finding others with schizophrenia and related disorders in person or on social media can help you feel less alone and give you an opportunity to connect with people who are going through similar experiences.
Don’t forget to take care of yourself.
Having symptoms and going through the diagnosis and treatment process is a lot to handle! Even if it seems trivial or strange, take time to take care of yourself. Take a bath, curl up under a blanket with a hot cup of tea, go for a walk, get away from the world for a bit – whatever makes you feel calm and centered. Even taking a few minutes to yourself every day can help your recovery go a little easier.
But above all, remember that treatment looks different for everyone.
The truth about schizophrenia is that it’s unpredictable and affects people in all sorts of ways, depending on many different factors. So it’s important to remember that what works for others may not work for you. Medication works great for some people. Not so much for others. And that’s okay. Remember that there are other options in addition to medication. Talk therapy can be very helpful for people with schizophrenia. Focus on what works for you, take care of yourself, and surround yourself with supportive people. The stereotypes, stigmas, and shame may be ringing in your ears, but stop. Take a deep breath. You are still you. And you can do this.