I'm Finding Purpose In Life - Surviving Schizophrenia
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- Опубліковано 27 тра 2024
- Hi everyone! I'm Stephen, and welcome back to Surviving Schizophrenia with Stephen! I've found purpose and hope through my struggles to survive schizophrenia.
Welcome to a heartfelt exploration of my life with schizophrenia through the lens of Stephen, a brave individual who has battled the condition for over 12 years. In his own words, Stephen offers an insightful glimpse into the challenges and triumphs of living with this complex mental health disorder.
The Early Struggle and Finding Purpose
At the tender age of 12, Stephen's life took an unexpected turn when he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. This marked the beginning of a journey filled with trials and tribulations. Initially, Stephen grappled with depression and a sense of hopelessness, feeling as though his life had ended before it had truly begun.
However, as he progressed through his recovery, Stephen discovered a new sense of purpose: creating videos to share his experiences with schizophrenia. This endeavor became a source of personal fulfillment and a means to help others understand and empathize with those living with the condition.
The Daily Challenges of Schizophrenia
Stephen candidly discusses the daily obstacles he faces due to schizophrenia. Cognitive challenges, such as difficulty organizing thoughts and communicating effectively, are constant hurdles. Physical exhaustion is another significant aspect, often leading to prolonged periods of sleep.
Social withdrawal presented yet another challenge. In the early years following his diagnosis, interacting with others seemed impossible. Over time, however, Stephen found solace in solitude and gradually began to engage more with the world around him, recognizing the importance of social connections for mental health.
Positive Symptoms vs. Negative Symptoms
In his discussion, Stephen differentiates between the 'positive' and 'negative' symptoms of schizophrenia. Positive symptoms, like hallucinations, are often more responsive to antipsychotic medications. In contrast, negative symptoms, such as social withdrawal and lack of motivation, are less amenable to medical treatment. These negative symptoms have been the more prominent aspect of Stephen's recent struggles.
Finding a New Identity and Recovery
A critical aspect of Stephen's journey has been rediscovering and redefining his self-identity. Schizophrenia blurred the lines of who he was, leading to a loss of self. Through his recovery, Stephen has reconnected with his old self while embracing a new identity shaped by his experiences and purpose.
The Role of Purpose in Recovery
Stephen emphasizes the transformative power of having a purpose. His dedication to creating videos and sharing his story has improved his symptoms and brought joy and fulfillment into his life. This sense of purpose has been a driving force in his recovery, aiding him in developing a more positive mindset and moving forward in life.
Embracing Social Interactions and Openness
Stephen highlights the impact of his newfound purpose on his social life. Engaging with his online community and meeting a friend through his channel have been enriching experiences. This engagement has encouraged him to be more open about his condition, even in personal interactions, like with his barber.
Conclusion
Stephen's story is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit in the face of mental illness. His journey from despair to finding purpose and happiness offers hope and inspiration to others living with schizophrenia. While recognizing that each individual's experience with schizophrenia is unique, Stephen's message is one of possibility and empowerment.
In closing, Stephen invites his audience to continue following his journey and to share in the joy and challenges of living a fulfilling life, even with schizophrenia. His parting words are a wish for happiness and health for all, a sentiment that resonates deeply with anyone striving to overcome personal challenges.
Stephen's story is a powerful reminder that while schizophrenia can present significant challenges, it does not define a person's ability to live a meaningful and fulfilling life. His journey underscores the importance of finding purpose, embracing one's identity, and the transformative power of sharing one's experiences with others.
I don’t have schizophrenia, but watching this has helped me understand it better. Thank you!
You're probably the biggest UA-camr that has schizophrenia now! I just took a look at your subscribers and you've grown so much ever since I started watching your channel
Thank you so much!
Ki 36😅3@@SurvivingSchizophrenia
Your honesty about your struggles is so helpful. Your life experience, as painful as it has been, has given you insight that a professional who treats patients could never fully understand. For that reason, I think you are the most reliable resource on the subject on the internet. Thank you so much for sharing your life. You are making such an impact for people who have loved ones who suffer this condition or even people with social anxiety issues.
Thank you so much for watching and your support! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
That`s good to hear you`re doing ok. Odd hobbies helped me. Learning acoustic guitar got me through a very bad time when I was unable to function or do my normal activities. I also love indoor and outdoor gardening growing food or flowers. There are little all-in-one tabletop hydro gardens that are great for things like leaf lettuce and other greens. I got a telescope and binoculars too and a metal detector. Feeding birds gave me a purpose and a schedule and made me feel needed. Each morning I feed the birds and watch them with my binoculars and telescope. I`ve also taken some wonderful pictures to share with a cheap trail camera. Good luck to you and remember each day when you wake up to always begin the search for another smile or a laugh. I use that too because I used to wake up feeling negative and allowed that to take control. The best cure is a smile so search for joy at all times. Thank you for these videos. They help people.
Great advice. Your name fits with your thumbnail and gave me a hearty chuckle. Thanks for that. I hope you have a great day.
Good comment.
Thank you so much!
It is good to see you are feeling a lot better and brighter and that you can do more now. The symptoms you have now, as opposed to 12 years ago, are most likely to be a result of the medication. Your schizophrenic symptoms have gone, and medication can't stop social withdrawal or fatigue. These things can improve once you stop taking it.
I have a dear old friend with this condition he struggles intensely, I just came onto UA-cam and you popped up! That's a sign if ever there was one) I'm sending him your video in the hope of inspiring him.. it certainly inspired me. Very proud of you mate keep up the great work and carry on smiling ❤
Thank you very much for your kind words and support.
I stumbled across your video and your channel today, and it’s just so awesome to see you truly embracing your situation and embracing yourself for who you are! Your authenticity shines through when you speak, and I hope life only continues to get better and better for you! I hope you are very proud of yourself ❤
Thank you so very much!
I've been following your journey since you started the channel and it's crazy to see your channels growth! I also am a content creator on tiktok where I talk about my schizophrenia journey so it's cool to see other people on social media with schizophrenia!! I too am finding my purpose and it's still a struggle but it's good to see you making that change! Goodluck!
Right on point, Stephen.
You have integrated the old Stephen with the present
Stephen. You have cultivated so much these past years! Sharing your knowledge, insights, and experiences is a wonderful gift! Proud of you! 🙌🏻🙏🏻👏🏻
Thank you so much! That is very cool that you are a content creator too!
Thank you for your chanel. I have a young family memeber who is in similar situation. Your chanel is a source of needed support for families like ours. Thank you and we wish you much success in all your endeavors.
Thank you very much! I really appreciate your encouragement and support!
I also got schizophrenia when I was 19 years old and have been taking clozapine for over 7 years now. I fully understand what you feel. Seeing you courageously light up a bottle like this, I feel like you are a really strong person. I wish you all the best in the future :)
Thank you very much! I really appreciate your support and for sharing!
Hi @Stephen I have been subscribed and watching your videos from the beginning and just noticed you have 424K that is success people are listening and learning. Thank you!
This channel is exploding. And Stephen, deserves all the success.
Thank you Pauline for all the support you have given me and my channel since the beginning!
Stephen- you are proving such a valuable service by having this channel. There is so much stigma about schizophrenia and so many misconceptions. Thank you for sharing your experience and for demystifying schizophrenia.
Thank you Jenny for your support and for watching!
Great video! Finding Purpose In life can be an important part of your mental well-being. You will have a more positive outlook, fewer physical responses during a stressful day, improve your mood and your ability to manage intense emotions. These tips may help you like, Self-compassion and patience, Identify your sense of purpose, Seek professional advice. Thanks for the uplifting and very helpful video Stephen!🙌❤👍
Thank you Jim for all your support!
@@SurvivingSchizophrenia You're welcome Stephen, keep up the good work and have a great day!👋❤
I'm glad you found your purpose. The stigma surrounding mental health needs to vanish. Blessings.❤❤
Thank you Carol!
Finding meaning and purpose was also my approach to combat my anxiety and depression which stole my life and crippled me for years. Living life with meaning and purpose seems like an antidote to any mental health problems.
Thank you for sharing and your support!
Hi Stephen! This is such a great video, thank you. Sharing your business card with your barber is an example of how you are breaking barriers and educating the public about people who live with schizophrenia. Your videos are of great quality and are so meaningful to us all. Thank you, Stephen!❤
Thank you so much Jean! I appreciate your incredible support and your kind words! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
I really really needed this video today!!! My son is still struggling with finding a medication that will help all of his symptoms. You are definitely a light in dark times!! You give me hope for a better day!! Keep shining bright!!! And thank you for your personal stories!! You really are an amazing young man!! And I sure hope you know that ❤
A way to help your son is with Reiki or spiritual healing. It can remove the reason for it and get him back to full health. Unfortunately, Christianity has demonized such treatment, but it worked for me and other people I know.
@@heatherwilson9714 I appreciate your comment! And sooo happy that it has worked for you and others! I'm a very spiritual person, so I pray often and believe that God is my savior. However, I do rely on psychiatrists, hospitals, and medications to treat my sons schizophrenia. And treat it like the brain disease it is. I hope you have a very blessed day!
Thank you very much for sharing. I wish the very best for your son. And I really appreciate your support.
このチャンネルは、今あって良かったです。多くの希望をなくした若い命を救えますね。
Thank you so much! That means a lot to me!
Stephen, Great video...and phenomenal purpose you have found.
I met a young gentleman living on the streets about a week ago. I asked if he would mind sharing some of how he dealt with living life, as it had been raining out. In the course of his generously sharing he told me that he has schizophrenia. And he shared that he tries to stay on medication but is not always able to get a supply of it. Since then I've been thinking...
Do you or any of your subscribers know of organizations that might want to help him to have medicine consistently? (We are in California.)
I'm so glad to have found your channel. You will absolutely change peoples lives with this purpose. All the best, Merle
Thank you very much for sharing and for your support.
I'm glad that you feel happy, that is a big step towards positive future! Have a great day too =)
Thank you so very much!
You are such an inspirational young man. I enjoyed hearing what you were saying. It gives many people who suffer with this illness hope and support. ❤🌟🙏
Thank you so much! I really appreciate it. Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
I hope your channel does great. Gives me hope in this dreary world.
Thanks! For all youre doing for this community.We appreciate it!
Thank you so much Greg! I appreciate your continued support! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
I was blown here by the algorithm winds.
Good for you dude. 👍👍
Thank you very much for watching and commenting! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
@@SurvivingSchizophrenia You do too. :)
Keep Being Positive and Happy in Your Life, and Helping Others by letting them know they are not Alone
Hi. I wish you a happy future. I find art and creative writing give me a sense of purpose in my life as well as family and friends. Good luck to you and everyone
Thank you!
I'm lost at this point.. I'm trucking so hard... Your a very brave soul! I know first hand 🙏
Thank you very much!
Hey, way to go Stephen, you have moved/developed so fast. ❤ If I can have a little of your time I would like to share my thoughts, (should be well worth the read and I urge you not to skip, despite the lengthy post/read). 🙂
At 12 years old you were really debilitated and overwhelmed with everything you were enduring, from the unexplained headaches to the psychosis. That coupled with no rational explanation and living your psychosis made you unable to function in life as you did before. Living a very active and fulfilling life just prior to sort of being put off-line in itself must have been very confusing and disorientating and possibly something you had to process in the sub-conscious as your immediate consciousness was focussed on what you were currently enduring... Then there was the process of finding the right medication before natural healing etc. could take place. Your parents and loved ones would also have been overwhelmed and their primary focus would have been to keep constant checks on your state of mind and your well-being. As good as this is, there is possibly the off-set of feeling constantly scrutinised and as such kept in a time bubble even though perhaps ready to start moving on. No doubt it was all very traumatic for both you and your parents and as such it can be difficult for parents to recognise when to switch from caring back to nurturing (if this is true there is no blame etc. everything is a learning curve, and your situation was very unique).
Sometime later you created this channel and started producing the awesome content you have put out. ❤ This was not only a opportunity for you to start telling your story, but also a beginning to return to being aware, alert and actively contributing in the moment (rather than being trapped inside your thoughts etc). This also regained your sense of self-worth and self-pride and put you back on course to naturally developing and achieving in life. You transitioned from a place of somewhat being stagnant to developing and participating in life once again. ❤❤
As you said in this video Stephen you sound like you are back on form with a healed "sense of self". ❤ So you may be thinking where does one go from here. Well perhaps the time is now right to move attention away from oneself and start to understand other people's lives and needs and in turn bring them to a "healthy sense of self" (you already have all the answers inside of you, you just need to open the door to them and become consciously aware of just how much of a valid difference you can make to others and how to achieve it)... In essence it is really difficult to bring to the table in other people's lives when we are ourselves struggling. Your parents might understand where I am coming from with this. 🙂In short perhaps the time is now right for you to open your eyes further to your true potential and to start firing on all cylinders as you make good use of your natural talents and the foresight you have gained from all of your experiences gone before. From overcoming the greatest of afflictions Stephen comes wisdom and knowledge others can only hope to gain from text books and lectures. You however know the depths of suffering and thresholds first hand from lived experience that you can reference at will. Perhaps the time is now right to transition from "victim mind-set" to "active contributor" and the positive difference in other people's lives. This too will open new doors to you as you forever build on your understanding of life and open your eyes and mind to new possibilities that you never envisaged before. ❤❤
One more thing Stephen you mentioned difficulty concentrating in this video. At its core, my understanding of schizophrenia is a impairment in concentration and thought processing. Everyone focusses on all the off-sets to that, to the jumping of conclusions that lead to rabbit holes of psychosis, to the visual hallucinations through impairment of visual processing to the paranoia which can be due to the stigma of a label of schizophrenia alone. Schizophrenia is a biological affliction with impacts on the psychological. This Stephen in itself is the removing of stigma to the affliction and needs to be educated and relayed to the many. Stephen you have a healed "sense of self", perhaps from this place of being Spiritually healed you can see the affliction for what it is, "the impairment of concentration and thought/visual processing" and the psychological is from tangents off that. Stephen I can't help but think you are destined to awesome things and new breakthroughs in understanding and treating schizophrenia and you have a loyal subscriber base behind you too. ❤❤ You have already accomplished so much, perhaps it's time to transition into the next milestone chapter in your life and Spiritual path. ❤❤ Much love and respect to you, you have already come so far. ❤❤
PS: Perhaps you could consider posting to the "community" section of your UA-cam channel. Letting your community know of upcoming video releases could be a awesome start. 🙂Perhaps there are other platforms you can get your content out on too, coupled with new ways for your community and subscriber base to interact and contribute on too. Perhaps food for thought moving forward. 🙂🙂Stephen I hope to play a active part in opening your eyes to your full potential, but I can only move as fast as you are ready. I look forward to more of your uploads and as you are ready I will contribute more. Posting to community posts can make for easy finding of my messages if your message in-box is or becomes overloaded. 🙂 As I stated before much love and respect to you. 🙂
Thank you John! I read your comment carefully, and it means so much to me. I think you are right about me trying to move forward with my life in new ways! I also like your suggestion on using the community section to connect with our community. I very much so appreciate your long time support of me and my channel! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
@@SurvivingSchizophrenia Hey you're welcome Stephen, it's great seeing you go from strength to strength. 🙂
Stephen, God bless you!
Thank you!
I can hear the maturity and fluency in your voice even since the last video. You perhaps have to hit rock bottom to rise to the highest heights .
You have proven that..
from the ashes of disaster can come the roses of success.
Go Stephen!
Thank you so much Noreen!
You have more subscribers than "living well with schizophrenia" I'm sure you know that channel that's quite an achievement... Keep up the good work Stephen! I had a channel called "my voice on schizophrenia" and I have 20 or so subscribers... I'm jealous 🙂
Thank you. I am subscribed to Living Well With Schizophrenia and she does great work! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
How do you finance yourself?
I became Schizophrenia at the age of 23.
I worked already 5 years.
I get invalid retirement of Switzerland now.
I think the US is not as good as Switzerland for ill persons, considering the financial situation.
I live with my parents and don’t have finance issues. Thank you for watching and commenting from Switzerland!
It was not an easy process, but now my son, here in the USA, receives disability.
Hey, Stephen, I enjoy your videos very much.
Thankyou for making this video ❤
You are rockin', Stephen! Keep on, keep on!
Thank you!
Are you going to talk about the hallucination you had recently? Glad you’re doing well ❤️
Yes I am. The next video I post should be and that. Thank you! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
What is your clozapine blood level? Mine is 384
The last time I checked it was under 300, which may not be optimal for me. Thank you for sharing and for your support .
Good to hear you are learning how live again. To be yourself.
One thing you might do is establish multiple axis of meaning. You already have some. Your family. This channel. Yourself. I’d suggest one other one for yourself. I don’t know what it might be. But you should probably have something less… Fickle than UA-cam.
You might consider literature. The wonderful thing about literature is you can read, write, and listen to it. So you can do something in that domain anywhere you go. And as you do you can use that to adapt better ways of communicating.
If you want to get better at writing, I’ve heard good things about essay app. I haven’t used it yet. But I did intend to try it. It’s in Beta. It’s supposed to help you get better at writing. Perhaps you would find it useful.
This is all pure suggestion. It can be anything. The more meaningful things you can do though, the more stability you can have to fall back on when things get tough. Because things are tough. As you’ve seen. But those things aren’t what define us. How we respond is though.
Thank you very much for your great suggestions!
Thankyou Stehen, So happy for you that everything is going well. My son has Schizophrenia hes age 21. He doesnt seem to know that he has it. You mention that you do. ow does one recognise this? Maybe its individual. Keep going with your posts
Thank you for sharing. Wishing you and your son the very best.
This was really inspirational.
Thank you! I really appreciate your support!
Hi, I'm on invega sustenna for my sciziophrenia and am still hearing voices. Have the voices completely gone away on your clozapine? I don't know if I can live with hearing voices for the rest of my life.
Yes the voices have completely gone away. Clozapine saved my life. It was the only one that worked for me, though I never took Invega. Thank you for commenting, and stay well.
@@SurvivingSchizophrenia you're video on "my diet with sciziophrenia" changed my life. I use to not like taking my meds because I thought they made you gain weight. But then I saw you were able to control your weight on clozapine. I want to say you motivated me to go back to college. I wouldn't be In classes if it weren't for you. Thanks for turning my life around.
You are very welcome! I’m so glad it helped! Your comment motivates me to continue my journey with schizophrenia. Thank you so much! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
Stephen, I made friends with a wild bunny during the drought last year. She needed help with food so I let her eat from my garden and her favorite was green bean plants. She visited me every morning and would come out when she heard me calling the birds when I put seeds out. I don`t know where she went but after the drought ended she left. It`s weird living in the boondocks! LOL!
Nice to see ya back Stephen
Thank you!
Stephen, do you have therapy for your depression and anxiety? I have schizoaffective with depression type and thought about this for myself. If you do, does it help? Its good you are becoming more social. You are right. We are very different but have schizophrenia
I don’t have a therapist currently, but had one in the past and it helped.
I am in two minds about this
Do you have trouble reading and learning new things? Im really curious because i have psychosis f29. P.s. you are really strong!
Thank you for your comment! I do have some trouble reading and learning new things. Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
Proud of you man
Thank you!
Do you have an in person support group that you can attend in person?
No I don’t, but I will look into it! Thank you!
Do you like basketball? Playing a pick up game at the park is a good way to cooperate with people and get some exercise. Some volunteer work when you aren't too tired or making videos will give you a sense of purpose. Also do you like pets?
Thank you for the suggestions! I do like pets and have a pet turtle!
Thank you for making this amazing video
You are very welcome! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
Great video,your really helping people
Thank you very much!
Age 12, hmm... I didn't know it started that early for you.
Research tells that the earlier the more severe and treatment resistant (so I suppose you are on clozapine?).
So props on being well.
As for what may cause such early problems, a defect in T cells, so far known in mouse models of 22q11 deletion syndrome, may cause bacterial overgrowth in the small intestine, releasing D lactic acid where the small intestine is much more permeable.
And by inhibiting glutamate-glutamine-glutamate turnover in astrocytes, it essentially becomes like a dissociative anesthetic (which is why D lactic acidosis can cause coma), similar to ketamine which can mimick schizophrenia.
Gist: Get on more antimicrobial food, such as honey, aged cheese, garlic, and - the champion - coconut milk (of course if tolerable).
God bless us all ....we all r serviaval or blessee of anything in this world....u soonsered this video ,have u started earning from yourube still
My first time on here what is schizophrenia?
Thank you for asking. Schizophrenia is a psychotic illness.
So what is schizophrenia to you? What are the different voices and/or personalities?
Thank you for asking. For me schizophrenia is the cognitive issues as well as anxiety and depression. No voices or other personalities.
whose the dude in the back?
Good morning hi how are you❤❤
I am well! Thank you very much!
In moments of episodes, try calling put to Jesus.
- It. Always. Works.
god bless you
Thank you very much! Have a happy and healthy rest of your day!
Sir you aren't sasxxaci Full pahisan thakesyou sir 💐
Can’t get harmed by something made up.
Ste
too many ads for a 10 min video
Sorry about that.