Breaking out

As you all may know I was a speaker for the Mental Health Association. I had the opportunity to speak to people that have no "illness."

The first time I spoke at the place where my brother lived was the one of the hardest. I spoke in front of the employees. It was an effort to educate them. I was very nervous. When it was my turn to speak, I started out slow, but the overall experience was awesome. They staff were amazed that I was hearing voices right then and there and was still able to get up in front of them and talk.

I also talked to a psychology class, three different times. That was the best talk. They were curious to say the least.

When I left my last job, not many knew I had SZA. I've run into a few and told them I had SZA and they say "I never knew."

I told my dentist that I wasn't normal, because of my SZA. She's said "I always thought you were normal."

When I was waiting at the hospital for my ECT, a woman who was there to give a ride to someone, asked Margaret why I was there and said "he acts so normal."

And lastly, I decided about a year ago to blog on my local newspaper website. I call it The Voices Within. I started that blog to reach out to people who are clueless about the Mentally Ill. I've gotten some good comments. One time I posed the question would you knowingly date a person with a mental disgnosis. One response was " yes..if there was the right chemistry."

I ran across a woman that worked at the state hospital, at the grocery store. We stood there and talked about 20 minutes about the hospital as people walked around us.

Disclosing your illness is personal. You may get some crank people that will look down on you. Then there's others that respond in a postitive light.

I've been fortunate that my small effort to educate, and give SZ a different face has been good.

I am not scared anymore.

If you decide to disclose, be warned that some will not take the news lightly.

I was surprised at the number of people that are not judgemental. The need to educate will always be there. I will be there to offer any insight.

Dave