Mental health

A strange idea came to me in conversation the other day, namely that my schizophrenia helps me understand what it must be like to be Prince William.

A fairly comprehensive talk I wrote about my experience with schizophrenia for a ‘CMHA Consumer Conference’ in 2005.

In which I bring to mind an old Eurythmics song that goes ‘I could give you a mirror, to show you disappointment’, and leading me to review if I am being mouse or man.

I have love and hope; the rest will follow, with work, luck, and given half a chance.

With the recent spate of local news about mental health and fatalities, and with my concerns that community members might have fears about me (although if that is the case, no one has had the courage to ask me directly, so I may be worrying too much) I’ve decided to do a Q & A post.

I know not all politicians do, but I have already used ‘dodged the bullet’ for not running for council…

Brought on by the overturning of Roe vs. Wade, the ‘Freedom Convoy’, panic attacks, and the general state of politics, I wander through the minefield of the modern culture wars and trip a few.

I have been “up to tech”, volunteering, catching a cold (but not Covid), sleeping a lot, and hopefully recovering.

Barring certain dire circumstances, or a medical condition such as ‘clinical’ depression, one can avoid the dangers of dissatisfaction by recognizing one’s own capabilities, abilities, and means to achieve what matters to oneself, and use this in creating a flexible plan to improve. In short, work and play hard, relax, and enjoy life by setting goals which matter to you and that are achievable; If you don’t succeed, try again, “fail better”.

What we should do, but probably won’t; Give two choices: accept the treatment offered without harassing (or worse) those treating you or acknowledge one’s choice of going home and managing on one’s own against doctor’s advice. If you can’t make a choice, you’re not competent to make a decision, so you are on a Form 1 and evaluated for mental health (or other impairment) issues.