A Personal Account of a Schizophrenia Patient
“On the way to the store, I had a flat tire. I thought this was planned also. At the petrol pump, the man smiled at me with twinkle’s in their eyes and I knew they were closing in. I was done for. They would kill me. Suddenly I saw their faces in the skies…”

I developed a feeling that I smelled bad and that somewhere I had left a tap open and consequently would be responsible for destroying a building, and that if I accidentally struck a match, I would cause mass destruction and kill many people. I was suspicious about everyone…

At first, I strained to hear the voices. They were soft and working in the form of a code. I broke the code after a long struggle. Then I could distinctly hear four voices. “The rotten prostitute…” said one. “The Gods will not leave her…” said the second. “I think you should kill yourself and spare God the trouble…” said the third one addressing directly to me…

We at Shraddha believe that by bringing together this information into a form of publication, we are dispelling various doubts, misconceptions and ill-conceived notion that often exist in the minds of people, and thus are contributing in our own small way to reducing the stigma that surrounds mental illness. We sincerely hope that our endeavors will be appreciated.

A personal account of a patient
Haresh’s story
Haresh, a BCom. graduate, is afflicted with schizophrenia and made redundant because of the same. Four years of illness pass by. He is brought to the nursing home for treatment. Two months of in hospital treatment, comprising of high dose injectable anti–psychotics and a course of 6 ECTs sees him stable to a great extent.

The patient’s father is explained the nature of rehabilitation, and the patient is given a job as a helper in one of his father’s associate’s office. The patient is paid Rs.40 at the end of every day, though his work is poor in quality, erratic and only part–time.

The entire payment, without Haresh’s knowledge, is in actual reality reimbursed by the father to the employer, so that Haresh is at no point of time a financial strain to the employer. Three months of this process sees Haresh a definitely more positive and changed person. However, severe tremulousness and restlessness caused by the medicines at this stage necessitate a change of medication.

A change in employer, another known associate of the father, is opted for and accounting work with more responsibility is given to Haresh. A salary of INR 1500 per month, is appropriated to Haresh. Of this, without the patients’ knowledge his father reimbursed INR 1000 per month to the employer. Within 6 months, Haresh becomes his original self, brimming with confidence and raring to go into the outer world and take a job of his choice. After a few applications, he gets a job as a supervisor in a chemical factory with a salary of INR 2200 per month. This job is without his father’s recommendations, and the payment is totally genuine, dependent upon his qualifications and work potential. It is 6 months since Haresh started working there and according to this employer, he is honest, upright, straight forward and very hard working.