Testimonies

Peoples' experiences and views on ‘schizophrenia’ or similar labels such as ‘psychosis’.

 

Tell us your story If you have been diagnosed with ‘schizophrenia’ tell us your story

 

A question of power

MH

I was admitted to hospital aged 17 and quickly diagnosed with this diagnosis, too quickly in my opinion. I consistently told the consultants that what I had suffered from was a drug induced psychosis, and my illness was more likely to be bi-polar as my mum, grandmother and other members of my family have bi-polar. I have never heard voices, which is one of the criterias used to determine a patient with schizophrenia, and so I used this fact to try and get my diagnosis quashed. However, consistently the psychiatrists would say 'you don't have to hear voices to have this illness'.

Cultural ignorance and psychiatric labeling

Naphtali Titus Chondol

I was admitted to hospital in 1988 against my will and coerced into receiving medication that I did not need.  At the time of admission, I was a student of Northumbria Bible College (formerly Lebanon Missionary Bible College) and also undertaking a moral crusade against vices in British society. But my views and beliefs were wrongly interpreted as an illness. If the professionals concerned had taken the trouble to consult with people from my own cultural background the facts would have been perfectly clear to them.

Denying 'schizophrenia' makes improving services difficult

Susan Inman

My younger daughter, who lives with us, has a schizoaffective disorder. Our family found a diagnosis to be very helpful in understanding the horrific experiences our daughter was having when she became psychotic. We continue to find it very useful because it helps us identify relevant research; allows our daughter to receive important supports and accommodations in academic settings; provides a way for her to understand her experiences and explain them to others; and identify other people who have shared experiences.

Still waiting to be heard

Anonymous

I was first admitted to an adult mental health ward for assessment when I was 14 years old. I had a history of running away and self-harm over the previous 2-3 years and my parents felt they could no longer manage.

A different understanding

Kathy

I experienced a situation which my doctor labelled schizophrenia in 1998/9, whereby I was conversing with some kind of consciousness beyond this dimension which I still cannot identify as we do not have the scientific knowledge. However, these conversations gave me information and instructed me to seek more knowledge as a result of which I am now conducting courses (very effective courses, I might add, with exceptionally high feedback scores) to empower employees in the workplace with the added bonus of helping them to make more of life at home as well.

What we need is hope, not labels

Mike Watts

I am providing this testimony as the carer of someone who has been diagnosed as suffering from schizophrenia in the past, and as a person who has had the diagnosis also. There are three points that I wish to make; the first relates to my own story, the second to that of my wife, and the third concerns the way that I see the lives of many young people today to whom the label is attached.

Choice and control in wellbeing

Liz J Maitland

I was labelled from the age of 19 when i was attacked and sexually abused by a van-driver and no-one would believe me. They said I was schizophrenic and psychotic but I was the one who was in touch with reality.

I never had any symtoms at all, yet I was drugged up and forced into hospital against my will many times. It would have been much better for me if I had been believed and offered counselling. The professionals and my family's reactions made my state of mind and wellbeing far worse. I was in and out of hospital for the next 23 years.

Our lives, our selves: beyond categories

A survivor

I had my first emotional and mental crisis (my preferred term) in the late 1960s. According to an insider, it took the psychiatrist two or three days to decide whether to give me a diagnosis of ‘schizophrenia’ or ‘manic depression’, settling on manic depression as I appeared to be ‘more responsive’ than I might otherwise be. The psychiatrist told me later he thought he had a ‘case of catatonic schizophrenia’ as I remained completely rigid (like a plank) when asked to bend my knees. (I recall quite clearly deciding not to co-operate!).

The label does not help

Carer of a young man

I am a carer of a young man diagnosed with psychosis who then went on to being diagnosed with schizophrenia. It has been an 'interesting' experience to say the least. One day you have a normal child with a whole future ahead of him the next you have a child that has been labeled as schizophrenic and being written off by many people including the medical profession.

A mother and son’s journey

Rossa Forbes

This is my submission on the devastating impact of the schizophrenia label. My son was first given his label at CAMH.

I am a mother of a son who was given a diagnosis of schizophrenia in December 2003, a son who is doing well today perhaps due to my refusing to buy into the medical model of the so-called ‘illness.’ I wasted a couple of precious years at first because I bought, albeit without much enthusiasm, the costly medical model. I spent the years until now struggling against this model.

Pages