Got a diagnosis of Paranoid Schizophrenia?
I just came out of hospital with this diagnosis. My old diagnosis of Schizoaffective Disorder is not relevant anymore apparently. I feel weird over it, like I am some sort of criminal. The stigma attached to my diagnosis is making me feel sad. I wouldn't hurt anyone. I'm afraid to tell anyone my diagnosis. Any advice on how to get used to this?
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Ok, it is not the end of the world. You can get treatment and learn to manage things better. Please remember always that whatever imbalance you may have, or whatever disease you may have been diagnosed with, this is not your true identity. It may be temporarily part of your life, but it does not make you into some sort of failure. You are a good and beautiful person in your own right regardless of what is troubling you. Hold onto that thought. Please don't blame yourself, because it is not your fault, and it certainly doesn't make you a criminal. I hope you will get the best of support and a good treatment program, you deserve that. Best of luck.
I got diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia not too long ago as well.Sadly you can't change what society thinks but as long as you know who you are that shouldn't be a problem.Lots of people don't understand mental illness because they've never dealt with it or never been diagnosed and knows what it feels like to be "sick".Try to be positive and not over think it.Just a tip don't tell anyone about your diagnoses because most people will use it against you at some point in your life or simply don't care.That's from experience I say this.Good luck i hope you're feeling better at least you'll be getting the help you need now.
you know, your former diagnosis and the one you got now are basically saying that YOU DONT HARM PEOPLE, so why would you feel like a criminal? someone else, whoever has done something to you in your past, those people are the criminals. there is nothing to feel bad or shy about. anyone who doesnt understand that, explain it to them because the "normal" people have absolutely no education on those things. you can just tell people, but give them a chance to not understand first, so you got to give them the explanation including, as they are the ones who are ignorant enough to understand that people like you are just people like all others. someone has hurt you in the past, not you have hurt anyone, the world should get that finally!
Your question reminds me of a wonderful quote from Krishnamurti: 'It is no measure of health to be well-adjusted to a sick society'. People who are worth having in your life will not recoil from you because of your diagnosis. I know there is still some stigma about mental health but people are becoming more enlightened. Remember that a diagnosis is just a convenient label for medical personnel to categorise your 'symptoms', it isn't who you are.