My 20 year old son diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. He had to drop out of college and came back home beginning of the year.The diagnostic process and journey took 7 months due to complicated factors and he was hospitalized more than once. This has been an emotional roller coaster ride for the whole family. I felt that my heart was broken into pieces and had many sleepless nights and not knowing what would happen the next day and we were very socially isolated.

Thank God that he finally got the right diagnoses and prescription of mixed medications and gone through different therapists as we learn more about mental health along the way. My son is stable now and started taking a class in community college and a part time job. We have tried support groups for peer and family, which made us feel less isolated.

It is hard for him to accept the diagnose and we still constantly remind him of taking medication and remind him little things each day. I know he is trying his best given all the conditions, we are hopeful for his recovery and being able to go back to college and future career and happy fulfilled life.

Hi I’m April White and I suffer from Schizoaffective disorder. I was diagnosed with Major Depression in 2006 and then in 2008 I was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. It has been a struggle dealing with this disorder actually its been very unstable until now. In the past ten years, since I graduated college in 2004, I have lived in like 20 different places from living with family to renting rooms. I always think someone is after me. I just got out of an assisted living center, I was there for 11 months and it was through  the local mental hospital.I’ve been raped, taken advantage of when trying to buy a car and used for my brain like everyday. So I finally at a low point I felt like I couldn’t even take care of myself. I am now employed and I just signed a year lease at a condo in Brevard County.  I am much happier with my life something I didn’t think I would ever be able to say. My advice is keep taking your meds and talk to people with similar diagnosis. I met a lot of interesting people at the assisted living center and I’m glad I stayed there. Thank you and Merry Christmas!!!!  

This is the story of my life, I was born to a Schizohrenic couple in the 1990’s I was adopted to a good family. I saved my own life one day on November 2, 2017.

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I have a son with Schizoaffective disorder. He was diagnosed at the age of 18. In the beginning he was in and out of the hospital trying to get stable. I read “Surviving Schizophrenia ” and took the NAMI Family to Family class they were both very helpful. I went as far as teaching the class to others. My frustration has been with the system of care that is given to patients and the help from police and 911 help. I have had doctors tell me my sons issues are because of me, that I need to learn how to talk to my son, and that I need help myself and should be in a family group. Then police who have come when I needed to get help taking my son to the ER have told my son he didn’t need to go. I had one police officer put a felony charge against him, through him in jail without meds for 3 days before I could bail him out. When I did it was difficult getting him to the ER myself. He was quickly held on a 5150, spending 24 hours in ER before a bed was found in a psyc. Ward where they then put him on a 5250 hold for 7-10 days releasing him into a residential housing. When I finally got him home we made an apt. With his therapist and doctor. The doctor told me to reduce his meds, this didn’t work out well so I continued with what the hospital did. Now we are dealing with the Legal issues I ended up hiring a lawyer because the public defender didn’t do much to help, giving me wrong court dates etc. Now between bail and lawyer fees I’m in for over 10,000.00 All because officers are not trained to work with patients and doctors do what the patients want but don’t listen to loved ones living with the patient. Our system of care is so messed up and I don’t see it getting any better😢 My 💔 For those suffering with brain illnesses! Let’s stand together to try to improve the system, get more hospitals for care, understanding doctors who listen to all sides, and officers who make getting care easier not more difficult!

My name is Amanda and I have Schizoaffective Disorder. The relief that I got when I was finally diagnosed for the third time with the same diagnoses was overwhelming. Because at that moment it finally made sense to me. I grew up with all of the symptoms, genetics, family history of addiction, in poverty, and it took me hitting rock bottom to admit what I thought was defeat. The truth is, I’ve had it this whole time and I have found a therapist willing to take my hand and lift me up and I have a psychiatrist willing to listen and change my medicine and not judge me and I finally after 35 years am looking forward to not lying in bed wishing I had the bravery to cut myself.

I am the mother of a 28 year old son who lives with schizoaffective disorder. What looked like an addiction 9 years ago, turned out to be what we now know as a serious mental illness. I often wonder if it is harder for me to witness his mania/agitation/OCD than it actually is for him to live with.  

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My name is Robert Hagee and I have a mental illness, I have had the illness since childhood, it was believed to be schizophrenia when I was young but came to schizoaffective disorder. If I was to write anything about my illness it would be this: that without my mother who was very strong from her life struggles as a child and as an adult, I would not have survived; I look back and realize if I was to know of all my issues and struggles to come when was a young and not to know of the good I do not believe I would have continued. There are other issues with my health and the hardest thing I face is that my mother will be at my funeral and my only regret I would ever change is the fact that my mother has had to experience my life with me.

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My name is Vicki and I suffer from schizoaffective disorder for 15 years.  I am now 38 and living on my own, a college graduate, looking for a job, and living day by day. 

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Hi, my name is debby. I am diagnosed with chronic depressions, severe anxiety , hallucinations and schizoaffective disorder. Wow!! For over 40 years of psychiatrists, psychologists, social workers, and 17 psych hospitals, and different medications, I have worked on myself. Today, I take certain meds, see the same psychiatrist, and same family doctor. ask me how I am, I will usually answer “well”.  I am very educated on medications. I also have a doctor who listens to me. My illnesses are pretty much under control. depression is tne hard one for me. I haven’t tried suicide in many years. If I feel out of control, I get in touch with my psych doctor, immediately. My tip for all who suffer from any mental issues, is ignore those who tell you to Snap out of it. Know and believe you have a right to be heard as a person with a mental illness. Never be ashamed. You are a good person with a tough disorder. Use the internet. I look up every diagnosis and every medication. be sure you like and/or trust your drs. and clinicians. Peace be with all of you. Trust yourself. Find who you are.

I’m Amado from the Philippines. I was diagnosed with Schizoaffective disorder 13 years ago. I have lived with both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. I have lost a lot: family, education, work. I suffer nightmarish delusions and bodily hallucinations. But after I wake up early morning I am filled with joy. I tell myself “I’ve survived another day.” To survive these daily toils and burdens, to sacrifice a lot for peace of mind is an accomplishment not even a champion athlete or a famous celebrity can accomplish. I look not on what I’ve failed and lost, but what I’ve survived against.