12 Oakville Beaver Weekend Sunday August 27, 2000 H a l ton P L A N N IN G A N D P U B L IC W O R K S D E P A R T M E N T To Your Health Putting a face to schizophrenia By Angie Atanosoff SPECIAL TO THE BEAVER The following is a personal interview with a person suffering from schizophrenia. Dr. Jane Gilbert Psychiatrist M en tal H ealth M a tte rs disorder. And once I was admitted to hospital that autumn, I didn't want to believe the diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. What does schizophrenia mean to you? To me, schizophrenia is a chronic genetic brain disease that requires medication to keep its symp toms under control. It's a disease that at one time offered very little hope, but now, thanks to the med ication, Clozapine, my own insight, and the support of people in the community, it's controlled. I feel schizophrenia is an unfortunate malady, but not an illness which makes me dangerous or psychotic. Schizophrenia, in my mind, is no one's fault and should not label anyone in a negative way. When did you accept your schizophrenia and how long did it take? It took a few years to be stable enough to live in supportive housing successfully, as I started to see things differently. I was finally listening to mom and dad, when they told me that I might never return to my former level of functioning. But just knowing that they loved and cared for me was enough. The wisdom and kindness of others also helped. In supportive housing I met people who also suffered from mental illness and it was like our own community within the community. As I matured and saw things in a different light, I though maybe I do have a disease, but it's not the end of the world. I was no longer fighting against the dis ease but rather was dealing with it in the most pos itive, life-affirming way I could. But to sum up, I think it took me about four or five years, to accept it. (See `People' page 13) When did you realize you had the illness? I first realized I had schizophrenia when I was in the OAC level. I remember strange behaviour in contrast to being a really good student. I would do things like shoplift, and steal from a lot of people, even good friends. I remember being suspicious. I'd act up more seriously than ordinary rebellion, things that just were not me. I recall being very angry with mom for absolutely no reason when we had always gotten along and were real close. I remember sitting outside her townhouse felling really depressed and thinking `what is wrong with me?' I remember that vividly. I couldn't figure out for the life of me, how to get to class on time, my schedule, and the thought CAST IRON WATERMAIN REPLACEMENT ON LEES LANE/SUMMERLEA STREETAVYNCHGATE STREET IN THE TOWN OF OAKVILLE CONTRACT NUMBER W-1874-00 SCHEDULE START DATE: August 29, 2000 SCHEDULE COMPLETION DATE: October 27. 2000 CONSTRUCTION SUPERVISOR: PAUL MUNGAR ext 7611 TELEPHONE: Oakville, Burlington, Milton (905) 825-6030 Acton (519) 853-0501 Georgetown (905) 878-8113 Aldershot (905) 639-4540 Streetsville (905) 823-6720 www.rcfionJuillon.on.ca YOUR MISSION * c i t r r e c c o 1 1 i U fio c q n h c J U L L L JJI UL L J Ul\Ulll HLL A RARE OPPO R TUN ITY TO MEET a r tis t - tc c n o o o r t s t o c r u n n i IJ I U IS u D L U / U J L f IUUL ^ io L lu x n C jjt re e ru m Monday August 28, 2000 · 12 noon ·4 pm You are invited to meet Siobhan Greenan and have her sign your Belleek purchase. In addition to an extensive collection o f Belleek, the event w ill feature the following: · >hd\un; · basket >v\u*ms # l Vsk l amp> * book · Watch tor out back to School biochure l aw O ur designers will help create the perfect closet tor you! O ur versatile components and mom accessories ottei flexibility in design and price. Challenge us to be creative with your space residential · com m ercial · industrial FREE IN-HOME CONSULTATION D u rro w V a se S u g g . R etail $ 4 9 .9 5 _ 0. S p e c ia lly * R eserve y o u r Belleek in a dva nce , or jo in us fo r this e ve n t. i [m s te lm a s s ic s 338 7160 i / R . 8 8 D u n n S tre e t 466 Speers Road, Oakville · O