Author Archive

Trauma is Trauma

Trigger Warning: graphic description of psychotic episode, violence

Does it change your view to know that I live with schizophrenia, and when the police came, there was no evidence anyone had broken in, no blood, no man? That’s where it gets tough. This experience, and other similarly intense experiences, are discounted because the general population doesn’t see them as ‘real’.

Ooh-Rah

Your pain is in my DNA,
Father,
As real as the shrapnel
Still in your legs
Decades later

Lady MacBeth

May 24th is Schizophrenia Awareness Day. In honour of it, we’ve gone purple for the day! Here’s a song, written and performed by Coda Francis, about his experience with schizophrenia.

I hear sirens in my head,
As I’m wide awake, laying on my bed.
The air is thick with the smell of fear and hate.
Clean the carpet from the hypothetical blood stains.

A Face of Courage

In honor of Schizophrenia Awareness Day, QueerMentalHealth.org is going purple for the day. Thanks, Coda, for reminding us why this day is so important.

“I was schizophrenic, but we’re okay now.”

How many of you have heard that ‘joke’ before? And how many of you know how misinformed that ‘joke’ is? I was on a bus a while back, and overheard some young people making ‘schizophrenia’ jokes, saying things like, “Oh, that was my other personality. I have schizophrenia.” Unfortunately, this misconception is all too common. This is why I will wear purple on May 24th.

Sorry to Bother You

Excuse me, sir, but do you know where I am?
I’m lost and I can’t seem to find me…
I’ve looked all around, but all I have found
Are pieces of someone else…

Pardon ma’am, have you seen me anywhere?
A face too invisible for a milk carton…
Where have I gone?  I’ve been lost for so long
Outside myself.

My Experience with Schizophrenia (Coda)

Trigger warnings for description of psychotic episodes and a suicide attempt, in detail, and violent imagery.

I have Schizophrenia. I find certain words can lose their sting when we just come out and say them. So I’m saying it. I live with Schizophrenia. This is my story.

Sardines on Sundaes

So, is it my choice that I have schizophrenia? Is it my choice that I’m queer? Is it my choice that I come from a lower socio-economic status? Is it my choice that I was kicked out of my house before completing my high school education? Is it my choice that I don’t have rich parents supporting me?