I once confided in a friend about problems I was having with my family. They advised: “Think about a worse problem for a while, then return to your problem. You may find you aren’t quite as worried about it, which will help you solve it.” At the time, I was somewhat crestfallen that my friend … Read more

I live with paranoid schizophrenia, as did my mother. My mother’s condition worsened due to her inability to admit she had psychiatric problems and the failure of her doctors to handle her denial. She became labeled as “mad.” The character Jodie in my book “The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia” has a similar fate. My … Read more

When describing schizophrenia, experts usually put “not knowing what is real” near the top of the significant symptoms. Undoubtedly, someone undergoing a relapse of schizophrenia often misinterprets what their senses tell them and can harbor false delusions, like feeling persecuted when they are not and experiencing thought insertion that is not occurring. However, not everything … Read more

I am recording a Podcast entitled “Schizophrenia As I Live It” to accompany my forthcoming book “The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia.” So far, I have posted three chapters on the website for that book: https://overliveschizophrenia.com, and I will continue to post future chapters there. I plan a roughly weekly Podcast of between 15 and … Read more

When living with a mental illness or brain disorder, you can be so relieved when you are doing better that you can forget, or prefer to ignore, that you may struggle with your mental health sometime in the future. I certainly made that mistake many times. Eventually, I learned that relatively good mental health periods … Read more

Today’s blog gives tips on creating a schedule to suit your mental health. Everyone’s mental health needs are unique, so finding a program that prioritizes self-care and promotes positive mental health may require some work. Here are some general tips for creating a schedule that caters to your mental health needs: Creating a schedule that … Read more

In my book “The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia,” I write about the substantial benefits of the correct antipsychotic medication from a competent psychiatrist. We often see phrases like “With the appropriate medication and therapy, a person living with a mental illness can have a fulfilling life.” I mentioned in my book that the character … Read more

Here are some tips on choosing a suitable psychiatrist for paranoid schizophrenia. Most of these tips can apply to other mental illnesses: Here are some additional factors to consider when choosing a psychiatrist for paranoid schizophrenia: It is important to find a psychiatrist who you feel comfortable with and who you can trust. Paranoid schizophrenia … Read more

Here are some tips on how to find a good psychologist for paranoid schizophrenia. They apply equally well as tips for any mental health consumer: When you are interviewing potential psychologists, there are a few things you should keep in mind: Finding a good psychologist can be challenging, but finding someone you feel comfortable with … Read more

Socializing when you are paranoid can be challenging, but it is possible. Here are some tips: Here are some additional tips that may be helpful: Remember, you are not alone. Many people, even if they are not living with paranoid schizophrenia, as I do, experience paranoia at some point in their lives. You can learn … Read more