The most healing aspect of recovery from schizophrenia that I have experienced is friendship. At GROW we say, “Friendship is the special key to mental health.” Learning how to socially interact again, showing active concern for others, and caring for loved ones and pets is helping to heal me.

I am a 16 year old teen and my mom is suffering from schizophrenia she's currently in the hospital, it's very hard to know that your mom is in the hospital while your home I don't see her most of the time but I always visit her at the hospital. The weird thing is that she doesn't hear voices like most of the people suffering from this disease. She just doesn't want to take the medication she refuses it. She stared to take it yesterday but most of the time she ignores me when I tell her to take it.

My daughter and son is suffering from this illness, both are left handed, and both have the same symptoms. My elder son started to have these symptoms at the age of 17 just like my daughter who just turned 17 last March 2011. I have four siblings, the two were normal, but the two eldest and youngest suffered from this. I worry too much with my youngest daughter now, early signs she can't sleep, she took olanzapine but her second psychiatrist change it to a lower dosage of medicine. My daughter keeps on talking by herself. And keeps of saying that she is possess by evil spirits. My eldest son is more hysterical. Moody and sometimes he is more wild. My youngest is calmer but keeps on talking alone as if she is discussing with so many people. Laughing alone and sometimes continues crying with no reason alone.

I am 40 years old and was first diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia at the age of 26. It was a bit tricky situation because I had and still have olfactory hallucinations (I perceive smells too strongly, but real smell), and they at first thought it was epilepsy aura, so they started me on carbamazepine. Later I was put on Haldol without improvement. I only managed to get back to medical school after putting me on fluphenazine two years later. I have tried aripiprazole (Abilify) but could not tolerate it for causing hypotension-like symptoms and worsening my condition mentally. I am still on fluphenazine despite the extrapyramidal effects; the last episode I had was a month ago after six years free from the disease, probably triggered by excessive stress after losing my job and separating with my wife. I am still interested in getting a better drug that causes less sedation and no Parkinson-like effects.

I was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 18. After roughly one year I began to be given chlorpromazine. This classic medication enabled me to recover. My mind "calmed down" and ceased to be overactive. I have lived a normal life ever since I was released from the mental hospital in 1974. In early 2007 I was obliged to find a new medication to replace chlorpromazine, for the manufacturer had discontinued the production of chlorpromazine.

I have been on clozapine for my schizophrenia since January and have had some success, even though the weight gain has been a bad thing for me. I put on 25 kilos. I had already had excess weight from Zyprexa, which did not help me at all. I suffer from lethargy and find it hard to exercise, but I walk the dog every day, which is in itself an effort.