Hi @Earthsucks
Everyone's personal life experiences, circumstances and personalities; levels of will, strength, values, beliefs, determination and outlook can be very unique and differ; as can be the traumas, abuses, perception and/or genetic make-up that may trigger mental illness - but there are "commonalities of symptoms" with a mental illness that others who have "suffered similarly can relate to that makes peer to peer support invaluable and comforting". That which makes us feel not alone - you are not. A lot of what you described are "very common" occurrences for others who have experienced mental health episodes.
I am a survivor of childhood abuse that was covered up - I suffered psychosis, multiple personality disorder now relabelled DIDS), for a short period when a child that was a result of this trauma - resulting from the psychological and physical damage inflicted. I have never had a repeating episode of psychosis since and resolved on its own - but struggled with anxiety and depression to varying degrees, but have managed to have a very happy long marriage and successful career, and now volunteer work which I love..
My brother diagnosed at 18 and is still being treated at age 43 for paranoid schizophrenia - which was triggered for the same reasons innthe same household . His condition could not be covered up to those around him when he had a mental breakdown at 18 without medication - medication is a necessity for my brother to function in any manner. His systems are positive. Negative symptoms are even more disabling. There are various degrees of schizophrenia that a person can suffer from that effects their varying ability to work, their perception of reality and their ability to cope/function in there every day to day life. But it is treatable and can be controlled where a better quality of life can be obtained.
Seeking a professional diagnosis from an experienced psychiatrist and then adhering to a treatment programme is essential for stability with this disorder. They label disorders in the bid to categorise a host of symptoms in the aid to give the best treatments that will help relieve the symptoms for the sufferer. So a correct diagnosis is essential in leading to the right fit of treatments. And it can be trial and error for a bit until that fit is found.
Also when symptoms settle form medication, it is really important to seek counselling to aid in healing from any trauma that may have triggered the illness - to be able to let it go and not live in the past. That way we are dealing with it and then by letting it go the mind no longer dwells on - it then loses its power over our lives where we can come back to living in the present moment. That's the best way to forget. Therapy also aids in learning ways to cope with the emotional pain in order to not become stuck in it.
My brother did not want to be on medication and his illness disgenerated when he was off it. He improved with treatment and was able to work for many years. He now works part time at age 43 - that is his personal functioning ability and is making the most of it and it is happy to be working. But he never pursued or received therapy or counselling in any form - which I believe would of further improved his quality of life and mental health. He never addressed, spoke about or dealt with the cause.
Like with any illness it depends on our strength of will and positive outlook to how well we overcome the odds, to how fast we heal and to how well we cope and function day to day - together with getting the "right support" and "sound professional help" along the way. All round healing. For me personally and what I have witnessed with others - talking about how we are feeling is paramount towards taking the first steps towards recovery to a point where we have a better quality of life. Well done for reaching out. Suppression of what we are going through and isolating ourselves will leading to "overthinking" which feeds the depression, anxiety and any associating mental health symptoms and can place us at risk. I am so glad you are talking about it and encourage you to keep reaching out here and in real life to people who will listen.
