My uncle has schizophrenia, and is one who struggles with taking his medication regularly. For him, the choice to live each day in a medicated state (and thus, be able to function relatively normally within society) lost out to him choosing to tough it out on his own, drug-free, in his altered state of reality, unable to discern what is real and what is not.

When he is on his medication consistently, he is (was) a whole different person ~ incredibly articulate, socially adept, and very charismatic. My uncle is a brilliant man (former card-carrying MENSA member) but this is too often lost when he is off his medication. To see him now (if we could find him), it would be difficult to distinguish him from a homeless person. He has a tendency to take off and disappear for months at a time, appearing randomly at our doorstep a few times a year.

I love my uncle no matter what, and absolutely hate to see the struggles that he faces from within. It is agonizing.

His schizophrenia became evident in his late 20s and hit full-force in his early 30s.

Not funny.

On the subject of mental disorders, I took an honors class in psychopathology this year, and the goal of the class was to learn to empathize with those who have mental disorders (rather than to just learn statistics). We were each assigned a disorder at random (mine was Antisocial Personality Disorder [an Axis-II diagnosis]) and were given a comprehensive project to find information as if we had the disorder (ie, does my insurance cover treatment for this? If so, how much? Are there any facilities in my county that treat my disorder?). It really makes you think.

Lightbulb: Good for you! I wish more people could learn about mental illness the way you have. I deal with the stigma every single day. It's not easy, and it really does make you think.

I wish more people would stop and think as you have. You've taken steps to help remove that stigma, and for that I commend you.