What Is It Actually Like To Have Schizophrenia?

There is so much misinformation about this disorder.

Many mental health disorders are unfortunately plagued with misinformation, stereotypes, and stigma.

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In recent years, the world has gotten slightly better with speaking out about mental health conditions, but one illness that is often shrouded in secrecy and inaccuracy is schizophrenia.

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So, in an effort to help educate people, if you or a loved one has schizophrenia, we would love to hear about your experience.

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For example, what were the first symptoms like? Many might assume that full-on hallucinations start right away, but there are actually many ways schizophrenia can present. How did it look for you?

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Maybe you became afraid that you were being harassed or stalked, or maybe you dealt with depressive symptoms first.

What was the journey like leading to diagnosis and treatment, and how are you doing now?

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Maybe you had to seek the advice of multiple psychiatrists and medications before finding the right fit.

Or maybe you want to clear up some of the assumptions and depictions of schizophrenia in real life and in TV/movies that bother you.

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Maybe you rightfully hate the "unhinged villain" portrayal of people with schizophrenia in movies, because it's so inaccurate and harmful.

We'd love to hear whatever you're comfortable sharing. Let us know what your experience has been in the comments below and you could be featured in an upcoming BuzzFeed Community article.