Schizoaffective Disorder
Schizoaffective disorder can be viewed as sort of a one-two punch; it combines symptoms of a thought disorder (hallucinations, delusions, etc) with symptoms of a mood disorder, adding depressive or manic symptoms into the mix. But our contributors who live with schizoaffective disorder are here to remind you that people with schizoaffective disorder can lead full, healthy, creative, and exciting lives. One of our contributors collaborated with Glenn Holsten, our filmmaker, to create a gripping piece of documentary film that takes the viewer into the world of her visual and auditory hallucinations to give a raw, unfiltered look at how she experiences the world. Another of our contributors is a peer specialist in Canada, helping others with diagnoses like his see a chance at recovery in his eyes.
Schizoaffective disorder can be effectively managed through a variety of treatment modalities and other interventions, but, in the mix also needs to be stories of hope, change, and recovery. Our authors and documentary film subjects are not content to sit on the sidelines; they are actively in the game (one of them actually plays semi-professional rugby!) letting the world know that they are here and that they have hope. Please read and share some of their stories, watch their films, listen to them write and speak and let you know who they are.
Until There’s a Cure for Mental Illness, There’s NAMI-Man: Nick Emeigh | RDID; 214
Nick Emeigh, Executive Director of NAMI-Bucks, survived multiple suicide attempts and lives in recovery.
Refusing to Disappear: Life with Schizoaffective Disorder with Sarah An Myers | RDID; 209
Sarah An Myers lives with schizoaffective disorder but she refuses to be silent or disappear.
Dreams Come True: How Escaping Isolation Relieves Depression Symptoms
Leif Gregersen found his response to his depression was to isolate himself away from the world, which in turn only made his depression grow. The fix he needed, it turned out, was not turning inward, but sharing his life with others.
Sarah An Myers – Thriving with Schizoaffective Disorder
Writer Sarah An Myers uses this filmmaking portrait that recreates and explains her lived experience with Schizoaffective Disorder.
Bipolar Schizoaffective Disorder: from National Rugby to Inpatient Hospitalization
Amelia Gordon was going to be a professional athlete until bipolar schizophrenia tried to take away her achievements and her agency.
Hearing Voices Out Loud: A Schizoaffective Disorder Short Film
Sarah Myers directs actors to recreate voices she hears as part of her lived experience with schizoaffective disorder.
Film Preview: Sarah Myers Shares Schizoaffective Disorder Recovery
Film preview shows a scene on the NYC subway platform where Sarah Myers directs the camera to recreate her lived experience with schizoaffective disorder.
Help a Friend with Active Listening
College students from “CogWell” program at U of P promote active listening to help friends that may be struggling with mental health issues.
What Five Weeks in a Psychiatric Ward Had to Teach Me
This mental health recovery story focuses on Leif and an experience of psychosis due to a medication change. His mental health shifted and a hospitalization occurred. Read more to learn about his journey with mental health and healing.
Living and Recovering with Schizoaffective and Autism Disorders
Schizoaffective and autism can be challenging diagnoses to manage; for MJ Van Dyk, therapy has been an essential component to his recovery.
Vivid Memories of My Recovery Journey with Anxiety and Schizoaffective Disorder (Part 2)
Living with schizoaffective disorder and anxiety, Leif Gregersen was hospitalized numerous times. Now he is a compassionate and vocal advocate for those in need of a voice.
Vivid Memories of My Recovery Journey with Anxiety and Schizoaffective Disorder (Part 1)
Living with schizoaffective disorder and anxiety, Leif Gregersen was hospitalized numerous times. Now he is a compassionate and vocal advocate for those in need of a voice.
How Modern Schizophrenia Treatment Steals Our Autonomy
Sarah Myers understands her schizophrenia. That is, she challenges it with logic, and develops healthy coping mechanisms to respond to her symptoms. In Sarah’s opinion, this is more than the medical industry can claim.
Life Has Become Wonderful: My Life with Schizoaffective Disorder (PART 2 OF 2)
This mental health recovery story focuses on Leif’s journey through hospitals, homelessness, and diagnosis. Leif learned to advocate for himself and now finds ways to do so for others. Read more in this two-part essay!
Life Has Become Wonderful: My Life with Schizoaffective Disorder (PART 1 OF 2)
This mental health recovery story focuses on Leif’s journey through hospitals, homelessness, and diagnosis. Leif learned to advocate for himself and now finds ways to do so for others. Read more in this two-part essay!
When Running From The Voices In Your Head Takes You Someplace New
Avis Yarbrough considers herself “shy” and “timid,” someone who stays at home. But when she first started hearing voices in her late twenties, she was catapulted on a trip she would have never taken otherwise.
Deciding to Get Better: The Choice to Fight Schizoaffective Disorder
Cheyenne Ruiz spent much of her adolescence fighting panic attacks, working through depression, and pretending hallucinations weren’t happening. One hallucination pushed her to take recovery into her own hands.
Medication Adherence and my Schizoaffective Journey
Life with psychotic symptoms, hallucinations, delusions and paranoia is hard enough, but when coupled with suspicions of medication; it can be intolerable.
Falsehoods, Delusions, and Lies: My Life with Schizoaffective Disorder and Anxiety
Living with schizoaffective disorder and anxiety, Leif Gregersen was hospitalized numerous times. Now he is a compassionate and vocal advocate for those in need of a voice.
Learning to Live in the Moment with Schizoaffective Disorder
Around age fifteen or sixteen, I began experimenting with drugs. I can tell you that this was, and always will be, the beginning of an ultimately fascinating journey that I call life with a diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder.
A Vain & Misguided Decision: Abandoning Schizoaffective Disorder Medication
I am trying hard to make good decisions. I see my psychiatrist regularly. I take my medication. I try to live a healthy lifestyle with schizoaffective disorder.
Transcending the Pain of Schizoaffective Disorder
Schizoaffective bipolar type is a disease characterized by mood swings and depression, in addition to psychosis, delusions, and paranoia.
Q&A with Alison Malmon, Founder of Active Minds
Active Minds was founded by Alison Malmon when she was a junior at the University of Pennsylvania, following the suicide of her older brother, Brian.
Living With Schizophrenia
Living with schizophrenia has made me aware of this fact: I have a mental illness that causes me to question the reality of things.
A Molecular Biologist With Bipolar 1 Disorder
I have a wonderful life. But I would be lying if I didn’t say it has been a hard fought one. I suffer from bipolar 1 disorder. Here is my story.