How A Determined Schizophrenic Woman From NYC Is Breaking Stigma About Mental Illness

I would have to say that I have accomplished a lot in the past year, but what I have accomplished the most is changing the way people view mental health and how they respond to it.  I’ve talked to many people at my pop-up shops about the mental health issues in NYC as well as across the country.  People always seem surprised when I tell them the statistic in NYC is that 1 in 5 New Yorkers have a mental health issue.  When people hear that they now understand that mental illness is so much more common than what they originally thought.  Also, many people that I know are now much more comfortable about talking about their own mental health struggles.  I have had people tell me that, because of me and my openness, they now feel more open to discuss their issues with their family and friends.  If everyone would be more open, then more people can see how common mental health issues really are in society.

I am so grateful to have been featured in such awesome publications as Buzzfeed, The Daily Mail, and Mashable.  I think people are drawn to Schizophrenic.NYC because it was started by me, a girl with schizophrenia, who wants to change the way society sees mental health.  It’s often thought that people with schizophrenia cannot build their own business, or work any type of “regular” job.  By breaking down that stereotype and barrier I am doing something the general public thought could not be done.

It’s hard to say what people should do when they encounter homeless people on the streets. When I walk by a homeless person who is yelling at nobody, and exhibiting obvious symptoms of schizophrenia then I start to feel sympathetic.  I know that if these people had the support of friends, family and a doctor they would be able to get the treatment they need, and they would be able to function in society.  I would say the biggest misconception about the homeless population is that they are a lost cause, and none of them can be helped, which is completely not true.  If someone is homeless and mentally ill, they need to get the right help.  Here in NYC we need more outreach to help these homeless people who are suffering.

When I first was diagnosed with schizophrenia I got very depressed.  I thought nobody would ever love me or want to associate with me because of my diagnosis.  I think that something I should have been told was that with the right medication and monitoring that I can live a perfectly normal life. I am not my diagnosis.  I am me.  Just because you get diagnosed with schizophrenia doesn’t mean your life is over.  It’s just the beginning of getting the best help you can, and living the best life you can.