Our Stories

J.P’s Journey to Independence: Fighting Schizophrenia , Age: 24

What have you struggled with? When did it become too much?

I struggled with schizophrenia. I deal with this almost every night. At night I feel something trying to disturbingly grab me. I let the hours go by then I try to go to sleep or my mother lays with me. I am a strong woman for waking up every morning and doing my everyday tasks.

What kind of support did you get at first? Did it work?

I try to be strong and let the few hours go by then try to fall asleep. But I wake up in the morning and make my day like nothing weird happened. I will be alright. Someday all pain is going to stop, I strongly believe.

Were there any turning points where things really started to change for the better?

Yes, when I won a lawsuit against principal of my old high school because after I was in a different school, so I was doing anything to get my high school diploma, even tutoring after school. I definitely had to turn my life around like 0 to 100.

What’s your life like now? What have you been able to accomplish, and what are you working towards?

My life is the same, I still have my problem I have to deal with. I am just trying to stay busy now to keep distracted.

What would you say to people who are having a tough time? What’s helped you that you wish you had known earlier

I want everybody going through any struggle to know that they are not alone. There is someone watching over you to make sure you are okay, so don’t be frightened.