People Reveal the Reality of Living with Someone with Schizophrenia

Let’s get something out of the way right up top here – before we talk about the experiences of Schizophrenia, we should define what it is. Because it’s not, as many people use it, a generic stand-in for any type of “insanity,” nor is it untreatable or necessarily the defining characteristic of a person’s life.

Here’s a dictionary definition:

“a long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behavior, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation.”

And now that we’ve got some idea of what we’re dealing with in theory, let’s see what these anonymous contributors have to say about the reality.

10. “Too focused on protecting him”

Sometimes the most protective thing you can possibly do for someone is to help them admit there’s a problem.

9. “Undiagnosed schizophrenic”

What a scary situation.

8. “I’m terrified”

“She has shown no sign of change.”

7. “She can tell what’s real”

Wow, I never would have thought of that.

6. “My father is always there for her”

“It’s so unfair.”

5. “She is living life well”

You really can treat this stuff.

4. “I wish I could’ve gotten her help”

A reminder to act before it’s too late.

3. “Scarily aggressive”

How could you know?

2. “No role models”

Like looking in a terrifying mirror.

1. “I haven’t seen her”

“All I got was a thumbs up text…WTF?”

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health, don’t wait. Seek help. It can get better.

Do you have experience with this sort of thing?

Tell us in the comments.