Hello! If you’re new to this Blog, my name is Diana Dirkby. I live with paranoid schizophrenia, CPTSD (Complex Post Traumatic Syndrome), and PTSD (Post Traumatic Syndrome). Today, I will focus on schizophrenia and talk about fighting the stigma against schizophrenia. Many people, like me, live with schizophrenia and have experienced heartbreak due to the stigma surrounding this mental illness.
Mental Health Advocacy Groups are fighting stigma against schizophrenia
The most powerful campaign fighting the stigma against and the ensuing unfair treatment of individuals with schizophrenia by law enforcement and government involves organizing, educating, and lobbying by a group. That group must be strong enough to effect sweeping changes that improve outcomes for those living with the condition.
Mental health advocacy groups serve as prime examples. In supporting people with schizophrenia, the Schizophrenia and Psychosis Group (https://sczaction.org/) stands out.
Brave individuals also combat the stigma against schizphrenia
As I mentioned in another blog post, there are individuals on social media who live with schizophrenia. They are fighting the stigma against schizophrenia by posting facts and personal experiences. These brave individuals are succeeding in building followers and fostering debate with people who sincerely want to understand schizophrenia better. That understanding fights stigma.
I give just a few examples from Instagram. One of the most successful at fighting against stigma on Instagram is Michelle Hammer, who lives with schizophrenia. She has designed a line of clothing with logos educating people about mental illness. Her business website is https://www.schizophrenic.nyc. Her Instagram handle is @schizophrenic.nyc, where she untiringly educates and shares. She even has cameras in her studio to show people how safe she is, including at home. Another example of an Instagram account that stands out is @schizophrenichippie, run by Kody Green, who lives with schizophrenia.
Navigating Instagram to find the accounts fighting the stigma against schizophrenia
How does one find such handles? If you type #schizophrenia into the Instagram search bar, you first see a succinct definition of schizophrenia by Meta AI. Then, below that are examples of posts by people discussing schizophrenia. You can browse those to get you started on an account where schizophrenia is honestly shared.
Not every topic is so organized. If you search #CPTSD, there is just a list of some accounts, but if you search #PTSD, you find a result as well organized as #schizophrenia. In the previous post, I spoke about living with schizophrenia and CPTSD. I also have PTSD from a separate incident, but that’s for another time, as I want to stick to schizophrenia today.
Protect yourself as you try for a mutual understanding about schizophrenia
Unfortunately, it’s not necessarily true that if you properly educate someone, you have been successfully fighting the stigma against schizophrenia. Even if someone has listened to that this stigma is based on false facts, they may not drop all their stigma against schizophrenia. Some of these individuals may even be in your family.
Some of my family members see no reason to risk anything by including me in their circle. The word “schizophrenia” is enough to keep them away, even if they know nothing about it other than the false stereotypes presented in poorly made TV shows or movies. If you can manage it, I suggest avoiding such people. They don’t want your anti-stigma education; they want to know they don’t have to see or talk to you. Don’t let that attitude win by allowing it to break your heart, as I have foolishly done on several occasions. Not everyone is like this; others will genuinely want to be your friend. Don’t be upset when your fighting the stigma against schizophrenia falls on stony ground
Stick to people who are genuinely interested in a discussion about fighting the stigma against schizophrenia
As I have seen on Social Media, and as I know from my experience, some people are receptive to the idea that they need to know more about schizophrenia, since they like you and want to learn how to cope with your diagnosis once it’s revealed to them, either by your behavior or because you tell them. Whether they be family or friends, if they seek this exchange of question and answer, they will form the most reliable relationship for someone living with schizophrenia. Of course, some people will stick by you because they genuinely love you. However, if you can educate them about the stigma against schizophrenia and how it arises, your bond will be even healthier and stronger, and you will help that person overcome the stigma of schizophrenia.
The Two-Way Street
So, what is the “two-way street” I refer to in the title of this Post? I mean in the context of individuals, not mental health advocacy groups. To effectively combat stigma, we must understand why a person exercises stigma against schizophrenia and what feelings and thoughts drive them to such a prejudicial stance. What we need is mutual understanding about schizophrenia. In other words, we need to know where they stand before we can start informing tham by way of discussions about schizophrenia to them . That is our advance down the two-way street. It’s not just about how I am feeling, it’s about how they are feeling too.
My experience
For example, during many of my relapses, I have behaved in a manner that people don’t recognize because they have never before seen me manifest symptoms. Once I realize I am symptomatic, I need to give anyone trying to deal with me the space to understand me under relapse. With some people, I have found that saying “I live with schizophrenia, and here are some of the symptoms,” is enough, and I have been surprised by the quick turnaround from fear to acceptance by such people.
Some even say, “Thanks for sharing that you live with schizophrenia. Now we understand that you were behaving weirdly because of that diagnosis. Tell us more.” Such a reaction can be the start of worthwile series of discussions about schizophrenia. By meeting stigma head-on with such people, the two-way street is me allowing for ignorance, and knowing the stigmatizers well enough to trust a head-on explanation is the best avenue to meeting and talking on our two-way street.
However, we can’t expect things to go so well with everyone. I already suggested that if you live with schizophrenia, then you don’t waste stress and effort on those who don’t want to meet you, even a little bit of the way, down a two-way street.
The LEAP method for a mutual understanding about schizophrenia
In some cases, some learn you live with schizophrenia, or witness some of your symptoms, and want to do the right thing. However, they don’t know what the right thing is. I have already written in my Blog and discussed in my podcast “Schizophrenia As I Live It,” the L.E.A.P. method, which can be highly effective if you actively want to help someone with schizophrenia. It’s a way of forging a two-way street that will produce a positive result for both parties. It’s a proven method to achieve a mutual understaning about schizophrenia.
To refresh your memory, the L.E.A.P. method, developed by psychologist Dr. Xavier Amador, is a communication approach designed to help families and mental health professionals connect with and support individuals with mental illness, even when those individuals are resistant to treatment or deny they have a problem. It involves four core principles: Listen, Empathize, Agree, and Partner. The LEAP method is best referenced through the books of Amador and the resources available at the LEAP Institute. His book, “I Am Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help!”, is a comprehensive guide. The LEAP Institute website https://leapinstitute.org/ offers further information, including videos and training materials. For the LEAP method to be effective, there has to be a two-way street where the stigmatized and the person wanting to help them without stigma walk towards each other and meet in the middle with a powerful result.
Discomfort
Sometimes, individuals living with schizophrenia encounter people who accept them but are uncomfortable with their diagnosis. These individuals may believe they do not hold stigma, and they might even mistakenly feel knowledgeable about schizophrenia. If this person is someone you value, it’s essential to create space for their discomfort since it is a genuine feeling and to keep working toward helping them feel comfortable with you. The best way to achieve this is through education.
You need to have plenty of discussions about schizophrenia with them. However, they might not be inclined to read numerous books or follow relevant social media accounts. Instead, they may be more open to watching a film like “A Beautiful Mind,” which tells the story of the mathematical genius John Nash, who lived with schizophrenia and ultimately won the Nobel Prize. There are other media about different types of mental illness, like the Apple TV series “The Crowded Room,” about D.I.D., which is Dissociative Identity Disorder. The movie “All About Eve,” from 1950, features D.I.D.
This disorder is often confused with schizophrenia. I blogged about this confusion on July 22nd, 2024 (https://dianadirkbywrites.com/schizophrenia-is-not-d-i-d/) and did a Podcast episode about it on July 24th, 2024 (https://www.buzzsprout.com/2186769/episodes/13281028-schizophrenia-is-not-dissociative-identity-disorder-d-i-d). You can also access these from my website https://dianadirkbywrites.com.
Conclusion
That is my two-way street. Try to put yourself in the shoes of someone exercising stigma against schizophrenia to see if there is a way to forge a path where they can put themselves in your shoes.
Thanks for reading. Don’t forget to check out my novel, The Overlife, A Tale of Schizophrenia, which is about a mother and daughter living with schizophrenia.
#schizophrenia #PTSD #CPTSD #fightthestigma #SameHere
References:
“Schizophrenia As I Live It,” https://dianadirkbywrites.com/schizophrenia-as-i-live-it-audio/
“Fractured Ink: Writing in Life’s Chaos,” https://dianadirkbywrites.com/fractured-ink-living-in-lifes-chaos/
Schizophrenia and Psychosis Group: https://sczaction.org/
Michelle Hammer: https://www.schizophrenic.nyc and Instagram: @schizophrenic.nyc
Kodi Green on Instagram: @schizophrenichippie
LEAP Institute: https://leapinstitute.org/
D.I.D. is not schizophrenia: https://dianadirkbywrites.com/schizophrenia-is-not-d-i-d/ and https://www.buzzsprout.com/2186769/episodes/13281028-schizophrenia-is-not-dissociative-identity-disorder-d-i-d
Books: “I Am Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help,” 20th Anniversary Edition by Xavier Amador https://amzn.to/43AAmJl, “The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia,” by Diana Dirkby https://amzn.to/3ZX8TPA and “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies,” by Diana Dirkby https://amzn.to/45fAOxY #ad #commissionsearned These links to these three books on Amazon are Amazon Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.