I've experienced true psychosis on three occasions, 1975, I was searching to find myself, instead I became permanently lost. Social standards and peer pressure insisted I work and be productive within a matter of weeks I gained and lost employment from a lack of mental stability. My parents viewed me as lech and burden to society. Psychosis erased my mind and simple living skills such as choosing to sit in the chair or on the couch, what kind of eating utensil I should choose, do I drink now or should I eat a vegetable if so which one? Life was a guessing game, in my mind I knew if I made a mistake by choosing something out of order would be catastrophic.
Paranoia added to the regulation and mystery of life, I spent a great amount of energy trying to second guess life and any response I considered necessary. Obviously my response to life were merely guesses and far from accurate.
I do not recall the triggering factor causing the next psychotic breakdown. However, Social Security renounced my eligibility for Medicare and disability benefits because I worked part-time. SSDI was a new concept by the Federal Government to provide subsidize income to people with disabilities. However, in time I needed further hospitalization, now without medicare or parents insurance So my parents admitted me to the State Hospital in Georgia. I was a mess but my stay there gave me time to sort some things out.
The last psychotic event happened in 2005 and I had to learn how to live again by mirroring the conduct and actions of my wife and peers. My daughter attended a mental health day treatment facility. After I was discharged from the hospital there was no where I could go to learn social skills. By law the mental health facility could not prevent me from receiving support, so I was not allowed to be there before 3:00pm after everyone had gone.
I taught myself how to drive again, enrolled in Community College, Dean's List every semester, Founder/President of first successful Active Minds chapter in Community College. graduated with honors and went on to get a Bachelor's degree in Human Services after three years study at a Bible college. It's not that I have not accomplished anything, it is in fact, there are no more horizons to cross because of age and opportunity. I am sad for the years I missed however, this was not an issue until sadly I realized I was far beyond my prime. I need a passion, a project to throw myself into.