IMAGINING WHAT IT’S LIKE TO HAVE A MENTAL ILLNESS
It’s difficult to understand
what someone with a mental illness
experiences, but this exercise may give you a better idea.
SCHIZOPHRENIA -- Have you ever...
Gone for 24 hours without sleep? 48 hours? Longer? How did you feel about being awake this
long? How did you look?
Dozed off for a second, awakened with a start, and
didn’t know where you were? How did you
feel? What would it be like to feel that
way for a day, a week, several weeks?
Lost your sunglasses or car keys and no matter what
you did, you couldn’t find them? How did
it make you feel? Did you feel like
screaming?
Been driving down the road when suddenly your
directions got mixed up? North and South
reversed or confused? How did you feel?
Had a funny little tune going through your mind for
a couple of hours or a whole day, and no matter what you did, it still bothered
you? How would you feel if that same
tune went through your mind for three days, a week, a
month?
Now
put three or more of these items together.
Say you hadn’t slept for three days, you heard the same music going on
and on in your head, and you couldn’t find your car keys. How would you feel? How would you look? What would you do? How would you communicate with others? How would others behave toward you? Here is a reason why some people with mental
illnesses turn to street drugs to help them through the day.
THE IMPORTANCE OF TREATMENT
Now
imagine how it would feel if you had some medication that helped you handle
this. Imagine if you
were on the right medications and these feelings and thoughts were much
better. Wouldn’t it be worthwhile to get
to a doctor and give the medication a chance?
Hope
exists for people who have schizophrenia, because effective treatments are
available from medical doctors and qualified mental health professionals. The important thing is to seek treatment from
a qualified professional.
FOR MORE INFORMATION
CALL: 312-563-0445
NAMI OF GREATER
Fax: 312-563-0467