Stigma Against Schizophrenia, A Two Way Street

Stigma surrounding schizophrenia can be devastating, especially when it comes from those closest to us. Today, I'm opening up about my journey living with paranoid schizophrenia and how I've learned to navigate the complex landscape of misconceptions, fear, and rejection that often accompanies this diagnosis.

What does it really take to build bridges of understanding between those who live with serious mental illness and those who don't? I share my "two-way street" approach—a method that acknowledges both the challenges faced by people with schizophrenia and the genuine confusion or discomfort experienced by others. Through personal stories of heartbreak and breakthrough moments, I explore how creating space for mutual understanding has transformed my relationships.

You'll discover powerful advocates fighting stigma through social media, learn about effective communication techniques like the LEAP method (Listen, Empathize, Agree, Partner), and gain insights into when it's worth investing your emotional energy—and when it might be healthier to step away. Whether you live with schizophrenia yourself, love someone who does, or simply want to be a more compassionate person, this episode offers practical wisdom for creating meaningful connections across the divide of misunderstanding. Subscribe to continue exploring mental health topics with honesty, vulnerability, and hope. If you found value in this conversation, please share it with someone who might benefit from hearing that recovery and connection are possible, even amid life's chaos.

#schizophrenia #PTSD #CPTSD #fightthestigma #SameHere

References:

“Schizophrenia As I Live It,” https://dianadirkbywrites.com/schizophrenia-as-i-live-it-audio/

“Fractured Ink: Writing in Life’s Chaos,” https://dianadirkbywrites.com/fractured-ink-living-in-lifes-chaos/

Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance: https://sczaction.org/

Michelle Hammer:  https://www.schizophrenic.nyc and Instagram: @schizophrenic.nyc

Kodi Green: @schizophrenichippie

LEAP Institute: https://leapinstitute.org/

D.I.D. is not schizophrenia: https://dianadirkbywrites.com/schizophrenia-is-not-d-i-d/ and https://www.buzzsprout.com/2186769/episodes/13281028-schizophrenia-is-not-dissociative-identity-disorder-d-i-d

Books: “I Am Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help,” 20th Anniversary Edition by Xavier Amador https://amzn.to/43AAmJl, “The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia,” by Diana Dirkby https://amzn.to/3ZX8TPA and “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies,” by Diana Dirkby https://amzn.to/45fAOxY #ad #commissionsearned These links to these three books on Amazon are Amazon Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

My website and social media

https://dianadirkbywrites.com (fiction writing)

https://aussiemathematician.io/ (mathematics)

 My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)

My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaD

Chapters

• 0:37 Introduction to Living with Schizophrenia
• 1:14 Responding to Mental Health Stigma
• 2:53 Advocates Fighting Stigma on Social Media
• 5:11 When Family Reinforces Stigma
• 7:39 The Two-Way Street Approach
• 10:27 Using the LEAP Method
• 11:47 Education Through Media and Resources

Transcript

Diana Dirkby: 0:20

Hello, if you're new to this podcast, my name is Diana Dirkby and I live with paranoid schizophrenia, CPTSD and PTSD. I will focus on schizophrenia today. I'm the author of the audio podcast series Schizophrenia as I Live it, which is still live but now finished as I have transitioned to the current podcast, Fractured Ink: Writing in Life's Chaos, which will evolve on a broader canvas. That doesn't mean I have had my last word on schizophrenia. It will be the theme in this current podcast. Today I want to talk about responding to stigma. Many people like me live with schizophrenia and have experienced heartbreak due to the stigma surrounding this mental illness. The most powerful campaign against the unfair treatment of individuals with schizophrenia by law enforcement and government involves organising, educating and lobbying by a group strong enough to affect sweeping changes that improve outcomes for those living with this condition. Mental health advocacy groups serve as prime examples In supporting people with schizophrenia. The Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance stands out. I have provided their web address in the episode description.

Diana Dirkby: 1:46

As I mentioned in another podcast episode, there are individuals on social media who live with schizophrenia and fight stigma against it by posting facts and personal experiences. These brave individuals are succeeding in building followers and fostering debate with people who sincerely want to understand schizophrenia better. That understanding fights stigma. I'll give just a few examples from Instagram. One of the most successful at fighting against stigma on Instagram is Michelle Hammer, who lives with schizophrenia and has designed a line of clothing with logos educating people about mental illness. Her website is in the episode description. Her Instagram handle is @schizophrenic. nyc, where she untiringly educates and shares. She even has cameras in her apartment to show people how safe she is, including at home. Another example of an Instagram account that stands out is @schizophrenich ippie, run by Kody Green, who lives with schizophrenia. It's also in the episode description. How does one find such handles? Type #schizophrenia into the Instagram search bar. You first see a succinct definition of schizophrenia by Meta AI. Then, below that, are examples of posts by people discussing schizophrenia. You can browse those to get you started on an account where schizophrenia is honestly shared. Not every topic is so organised. If you search back hashtag CPTSD, there is just a list of some accounts, but if you search hashtag PTSD, you find a result as well organised as hashtag schizophrenia. In the last episode I spoke about living with schizophrenia and CPTSD. I also have PTSD from a separate incident, but that's for another time, as I want to stick to schizophrenia today.

Diana Dirkby: 4:14

Unfortunately, it's not necessarily true that if you properly educate someone, they will drop all stigma against schizophrenia. Some of these individuals may even be in your family. Some of my family members see no reason to risk anything by including me in their circle. The word schizophrenia is enough to keep them away, even if they know nothing about it other than the false stereotypes presented in poorly made TV shows or movies. If you can manage it, I suggest avoiding such people. They don't want your anti-stigma education. They don't want to know. They don't want to see you or talk to you. Don't let that attitude win by allowing it to break your heart, as I have foolishly done on several occasions. Not everyone is like this. Others will genuinely want to be your friend. As I have seen on social media and as I know from my experience, some people are receptive to the idea that they need to know more about schizophrenia, since they like you and want to learn how to cope with your diagnosis once it's revealed to them, either by your behaviour or because you tell them. Whether they be family or friends, if they seek this exchange of question and answer, they will form the most reliable relationship for someone living with schizophrenia. Of course, some people will stick by you because they genuinely love you. However, if you can educate them about the stigma against schizophrenia and how it arises, your bond will be even healthier and stronger.

Diana Dirkby: 5:57

So what is the two-way street I refer to in the title of this episode? I mean individuals, not mental health advocacy groups. To effectively combat stigma, we must understand why a person exercises stigma against schizophrenia and what feelings and thoughts drive them to such a prejudicial stance. Before educating them, we need to know where they stand. That is our advance down the two-way street. It's not just about how I am feeling, it's about how they are feeling too. For example, during many of my relapses I have behaved in a manner that people don't recognize because they have never seen me manifest symptoms. Once I realize I'm symptomatic, I need to give anyone trying to deal with me the space to understand me.

Diana Dirkby: 6:52

Under relapse, with some people I have found that saying I live with schizophrenia and here are some of the symptoms is enough, and I have been surprised by the quick turnaround from fear to acceptance by such people. Some even say thanks for sharing that you live with schizophrenia. Now we understand that you are behaving weirdly because of that diagnosis. Tell us more. By meeting stigma head-on with such people, the two-way street is me allowing for ignorance and knowing the stigmatizers well enough to trust a head-on explanation as the best avenue to meeting and talking on our two-way street. However, we can't expect things to go so well with everyone. I already suggested that if you live with schizophrenia, then you don't waste stress and effort on those who don't want to meet you even a little bit of the way down a two-way street. In some cases, some learn you live with schizophrenia or witness some of your symptoms and want to do the right thing. However, they don't know what the right thing is.

Diana Dirkby: 8:03

I have already written in my blog and discussed in my podcast Schizophrenia as I Live it, the LEAP method, l-e-a-p, which can be highly effective if you actively want to help someone with schizophrenia. It's a way of forging a two-way street that will provide a positive result for both parties. To refresh your memory, the LEAP method, developed by psychologist Dr Xavier Amador, is a communication approach designed to help families and mental health professionals connect with and support individuals with mental illness, even when those individuals are resistant to treatment or deny that they have a problem. It involves four core principles, listen, empathize, agree and partner. The LEAP method is best understood through the books of Amador and the resources available at the LEAP Institute. His book I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help is a comprehensive guide. The LEAP Institute website offers further information, including videos and training materials. I'll give the website in the episode description.

Diana Dirkby: 9:22

For the LEAP method to be effective, there has to be a two-way street where the stigmatized and the person wanting to help them without stigma walk towards each other and meet in the middle with a powerful result. Sometimes, individuals living with schizophrenia encounter people who accept them but are uncomfortable with their diagnosis. These individuals may believe they do not hold stigma and they might even mistakenly feel knowledgeable about schizophrenia. If this person is someone you value, it's essential to create space for their discomfort, since it is a genuine feeling, and to keep working toward helping them feel comfortable with you. The best way to achieve this is through education. However, they might not be inclined to read numerous books or follow relevant social media accounts. Instead, they may be more open to watching a film like A Beautiful Mind, which tells the story of the mathematical genius John Nash, who lived with schizophrenia and ultimately won the Nobel Prize. There are other media about different types of mental illness, like the Apple TV series the Crowded Room about DID, which is dissociative identity disorder. The movie All About Eve from 1950 also features dissociative identity disorder.

Diana Dirkby: 10:50

This disorder is often confused with schizophrenia. I blogged about this confusion on July 22nd 2024, and did a podcast episode about it on July 24th 2024. Web references for these episodes are provided in the episode description. That is my two-way street. Try to put yourself in the shoes of someone exercising stigma against schizophrenia to see if there is a way to forge a path where they can put themselves in your shoes. Thanks for listening or watching, if you're on YouTube. Don't forget to check out my novel, The Overlife A Tale of Schizophrenia, which is about a mother and daughter living with schizophrenia. Thank you, bye, bye.