Schizophrenia - General Discussion

Larry Lewis said:Sure, but let’s be real—people with schizophrenia tend to push away anyone remotely "normal" because, frankly, they find us bizarre. And from their perspective, we aren't exactly saints either; we're out here cheating on our partners with random strangers, hitting up the local dive bar for cheap beers every single night, and dealing with all sorts of questionable substances.

They think we're freaks just because they already know the diagnosis is coming down the pipe.
If they actually hung out with you without knowing anything about it, they'd probably just think you're a regular, sane person.

The whole suggestion thing is total BS. 👎

Larry Lewis said:Sure, but let’s be real—people with schizophrenia tend to push away anyone remotely "normal" because, frankly, they find us bizarre. And from their perspective, we aren't exactly saints either; we're out here cheating on our partners with random strangers, hitting up the local dive bar for cheap beers every single night, and dealing with all sorts of questionable substances.

Honestly, did you just drop in from Mars? Claiming that schizophrenia is the absolute peak of insanity on this planet is a massive stretch—I mean, surely there are people out there far more unhinged than that, like a cold-blooded killer.
And let's be real, compared to them, drug addicts look like toddlers playing in a sandbox.
Go ahead, tell me I'm wrong.

Noah Garcia4 said:Well, I do know that people with schizophrenia can be good in bed; I speak from personal experience.
However, I don't know much about schizophrenic men specifically and their sexual prowess.
What I do know about neurotics. 🤣

Honestly, whatever you say, I always found the attractive girls walking by way more interesting than my own group of friends.
Every time I see a woman who is more attractive than myself, I fall right into an aggressive mood. I really need to figure out how to handle that, because it’s clearly not productive. Then again, I suppose depression isn't particularly productive either. Perhaps the best move is to just head home and try to mimic those looks—why not? 🥳 It might help pass the time.

But have you ever considered simply redirecting that internal aggression outward? You know, taking that energy and channeling it into something actually useful?

Turning aggression into something "useful" is easier said than done—it's a monumental task. Sure, you can suppress it with twenty pushups or... well, a few other private distractions, but that isn't "useful," and it certainly doesn't break any stigmas. You've actually given me something to chew on here... hmm.

Don't go copying anyone. You're at your best just being exactly who you are—good in bed, a little bit "off" in the head, and infinitely more interesting than 80% of those superficial types who only come out of hiding when the weather gets warm.

David Vaughn75: People who don't realize I'm schizo tend to smile at me; they find me interesting, both guys and girls. But the ones who actually *know* me... most of them keep me at arm's length.

I remember this one guy who killed a taxi driver, and the moment he got out of the psych ward, my crowd flocked to him—while I was treated like I didn't even exist.

Personally, I think the answer lies in love, but even that isn't a total cure—heaven knows it can bury you alive if you aren't careful—so I just watch beautiful women from a distance and deal with my mental baggage. God, what a mess.

Noah Garcia4 said:Honestly, did you just drop in from Mars? Claiming that schizophrenia is the absolute peak of insanity on this planet is a massive stretch—I mean, surely there are people out there far more unhinged than that, like a cold-blooded killer.
And let's be real, compared to them, drug addicts look like toddlers playing in a sandbox.
Go ahead, tell me I'm wrong.

You hit the nail right on the head, young lady... ALAS, THE HUMAN CONDITION!!!!!!

Look, if you want to look at the bright side, I was already a bit of a mess before the schizophrenia kicked in. I’ve never been that poised, calm type of person; I’ve always had this restless, quirky energy about me. If someone can't handle my slightly chaotic edge, they can just move on. 🙂

Honestly, that whole idea of emotional distance doesn't even phase me anymore. I’d much rather deal with a harsh, brutal truth than some sugar-coated version of "we love you no matter what."

So, sure, love exists—but if it’s actually genuine, you have to prioritize loving yourself first. That’s pretty much Psychology 101, isn't it? And if those principles apply to people who are functioning perfectly fine, why wouldn't they apply to us? 😬 😉

Honestly, if I could just find a group of people like you all to hang out with—people who actually have something interesting to say instead of just complaining about life—I’d be set. At least then I wouldn't have to endure those endless Sunday afternoon lectures from my relatives about who's been hitting the bourbon too hard every single week. It's exhausting, really.

Does anyone know where I can pick up one of those t-shirts that says PSYCHO across the front?

Larry Lewis said:You hit the nail right on the head, young lady... ALAS, THE HUMAN CONDITION!!!!!!

Look, I’m well aware that isn't actually the case; I was simply echoing the prevailing consensus. 🙂😁😍☕

Larry Lewis said:Honestly, if I could just find a group of people like you all to hang out with—people who actually have something interesting to say instead of just complaining about life—I’d be set. At least then I wouldn't have to endure those endless Sunday afternoon lectures from my relatives about who's been hitting the bourbon too hard every single week. It's exhausting, really.

Does anyone know where I can pick up one of those t-shirts that says PSYCHO across the front?

Just hit up a local print shop; you can find them in just about every major US city these days. They'll slap whatever text you want onto any blank tee you pick out. 👍

Noah Garcia4 said:Look, I’m well aware that isn't actually the case; I was simply echoing the prevailing consensus. 🙂😁😍☕

Listen, both you and I know exactly who we are—and frankly, it’s a shame people don't have any ear for us. I could probably go on for a minute and a half straight about which craft beer is the absolute best, but because of certain things I've been through—personal stuff, let's just say—I find it incredibly difficult to truly engage in those kinds of trivial conversations. It's this constant, nagging feeling where I know I have something profound or genuinely intelligent to contribute, yet I end up staying silent... instead, I just blurt out some mindless nonsense just to blend in and keep the peace.

David Vaughn75 said:They think we're freaks just because they already know the diagnosis is coming down the pipe.
If they actually hung out with you without knowing anything about it, they'd probably just think you're a regular, sane person.

The whole suggestion thing is total BS. 👎

And don't forget there are those who barely know your name or what you look like, yet somehow they've already pegged you as having schizophrenia. 👎🙄

Larry Lewis, where on earth have you been hiding!!!???

Hey there, Teddy Roosevelt and Altec 👋
I figured I’d take a moment to extend a quick hello to all the regular readers out there as well. 😛 👋

dr. diego said:I’m running into the same wall here. Most people who know about my diagnosis find it unsettling, or maybe they're just plain terrified. They see some headline in the New York Post about a schizophrenic individual committing a violent crime, and suddenly everyone assumes we all belong to the same dangerous category. It’s textbook stigma.
I actually opened up to a few coworkers about having schizophrenia, and their reactions were basically:
"So, you aren't going to walk in here with two grenades and take us all out?" One guy actually asked if I was carrying a knife, and a third one wondered if I was planning on murdering him. WTF? They framed it as half-joke, half-serious, which is exactly the problem. Even when I was at my absolute worst, I never hurt anyone, let alone now that I'm strictly following my medication regimen.

Yeah, they are genuinely spooked. 🤔
They shake like a leaf at the mere mention of it. It’s almost funny in a dark way—like, "Oh, you're going to kill us all? How hilarious! Hahaha."

In my case, when I was working, my colleagues decided to be incredibly helpful by inviting my new wife out for coffee just to explain how I have schizophrenia and how I once tried to kill my grandmother.
To be fair, I did have a massive breakdown where I tore a religious calendar to shreds with my bare hands—which, looking back, was a brief flash of lucidity amidst the chaos—and my grandmother told everyone I was trying to murder her, nearly resulting in her being sent off to a nursing home.

Despite being part of a huge family, I'm the one who looks after her, helps her bathe, and handles her daily needs.
But she survived the whole ordeal.

Larry Lewis said:Turning aggression into something "useful" is easier said than done—it's a monumental task. Sure, you can suppress it with twenty pushups or... well, a few other private distractions, but that isn't "useful," and it certainly doesn't break any stigmas. You've actually given me something to chew on here... hmm.

Don't go copying anyone. You're at your best just being exactly who you are—good in bed, a little bit "off" in the head, and infinitely more interesting than 80% of those superficial types who only come out of hiding when the weather gets warm.

David Vaughn75: People who don't realize I'm schizo tend to smile at me; they find me interesting, both guys and girls. But the ones who actually *know* me... most of them keep me at arm's length.

I remember this one guy who killed a taxi driver, and the moment he got out of the psych ward, my crowd flocked to him—while I was treated like I didn't even exist.

Personally, I think the answer lies in love, but even that isn't a total cure—heaven knows it can bury you alive if you aren't careful—so I just watch beautiful women from a distance and deal with my mental baggage. God, what a mess.

I’ve been wrestling with this myself lately. It seems like most people who don't really know me well enough—even if they happen to know I live with schizophrenia—tend to get uneasy, and honestly, it might even be out of fear. They see those sensationalized headlines in the news about some individual with a psychotic disorder committing a violent crime against a family member or attacking a stranger, and because of that, they just lump everyone with the diagnosis into one big, scary category. To me, it feels like nothing more than pure, unadulterated stigma.
I mentioned to a few coworkers that I deal with SCH, and their reactions were honestly just... wow.
I mean, honestly, I can’t quite wrap my head around the whole situation—it’s like, you wouldn't exactly show up to a gathering carrying two grenades with the intention of blowing everyone to pieces, right? It’s just surreal. One person actually had the nerve to ask if I was carrying a knife, and then a third person went as far as asking if I was planning on killing them. I suppose they were mostly joking, though there was definitely a heavy layer of seriousness beneath it all that made things feel incredibly awkward. To be fair, I’ve never been the type to lash out at anyone, even during my darkest moments, and certainly not now that I’m staying consistent with my medication.

Noah Garcia4 said:Yeah, they are genuinely spooked. 🤔
They shake like a leaf at the mere mention of it. It’s almost funny in a dark way—like, "Oh, you're going to kill us all? How hilarious! Hahaha."

In my case, when I was working, my colleagues decided to be incredibly helpful by inviting my new wife out for coffee just to explain how I have schizophrenia and how I once tried to kill my grandmother.
To be fair, I did have a massive breakdown where I tore a religious calendar to shreds with my bare hands—which, looking back, was a brief flash of lucidity amidst the chaos—and my grandmother told everyone I was trying to murder her, nearly resulting in her being sent off to a nursing home.

Despite being part of a huge family, I'm the one who looks after her, helps her bathe, and handles her daily needs.
But she survived the whole ordeal.

This really deserves some recognition. 🤣🤣🤣

I’d say I’m being healthy here. But let’s be real—it’s all just sour grapes. 😢

Larry Lewis said:Turning aggression into something "useful" is easier said than done—it's a monumental task. Sure, you can suppress it with twenty pushups or... well, a few other private distractions, but that isn't "useful," and it certainly doesn't break any stigmas. You've actually given me something to chew on here... hmm.

Don't go copying anyone. You're at your best just being exactly who you are—good in bed, a little bit "off" in the head, and infinitely more interesting than 80% of those superficial types who only come out of hiding when the weather gets warm.

David Vaughn75: People who don't realize I'm schizo tend to smile at me; they find me interesting, both guys and girls. But the ones who actually *know* me... most of them keep me at arm's length.

I remember this one guy who killed a taxi driver, and the moment he got out of the psych ward, my crowd flocked to him—while I was treated like I didn't even exist.

Personally, I think the answer lies in love, but even that isn't a total cure—heaven knows it can bury you alive if you aren't careful—so I just watch beautiful women from a distance and deal with my mental baggage. God, what a mess.

That’s why I haven’t told most people about my diagnosis.

But man, there’s a dark side to keeping that under wraps.
I constantly have to spin these elaborate lies just to explain why I'm unemployed or why I'm not settling down and getting married...

David Vaughn75 said:That’s why I haven’t told most people about my diagnosis.

But man, there’s a dark side to keeping that under wraps.
I constantly have to spin these elaborate lies just to explain why I'm unemployed or why I'm not settling down and getting married...

Just get married and find a job eventually, maybe once you're feeling a bit more stable.
If things aren't hitting a breaking point right this second, just move forward. Personally, I’ve been through two marriages, which isn't exactly a certificate of sanity; if anything, it was pure madness.
Now, I'm just looking for "friends."🤣

And I am working, sort of. I could certainly be doing more, but time is plenty; as long as I'm okay with myself, that's what matters.😉

The way I see it, it’s better to just be upfront about your health before someone else starts gossiping about it behind your back. ☕
Everyone gives that well-meaning advice to keep everything under wraps, but that's total bullshit. People always find out.

Noah Garcia4 said:Just get married and find a job eventually, maybe once you're feeling a bit more stable.
If things aren't hitting a breaking point right this second, just move forward. Personally, I’ve been through two marriages, which isn't exactly a certificate of sanity; if anything, it was pure madness.
Now, I'm just looking for "friends."🤣

And I am working, sort of. I could certainly be doing more, but time is plenty; as long as I'm okay with myself, that's what matters.😉

The way I see it, it’s better to just be upfront about your health before someone else starts gossiping about it behind your back. ☕
Everyone gives that well-meaning advice to keep everything under wraps, but that's total bullshit. People always find out.

I was recently stuck in the hospital, so everything is still pretty raw and fresh in my mind.

But once I get back from my trip to the coast, I'll be hunting for work. 👍

David Vaughn75 said:I was recently stuck in the hospital, so everything is still pretty raw and fresh in my mind.

But once I get back from my trip to the coast, I'll be hunting for work. 👍

Look, don't sweat it too much. Just take some time to decompress and let the meds do their thing. Honestly, you’ve walked this path before; life doesn't stop spinning just because things got messy for a moment. 👍