Honestly, I don't think it's worse than schizophrenia; not at all.
Often what makes a schizophrenic's life an utter hell is precisely the fact that they do not know what they experience to be unreal.
I recall a story recently regarding a schizophrenic who murdered a policeman. The guy didn't know he was insane; he simply thought that the government were out to get him, that he'd be assassinated any moment, that people were all out to get him and so on.
He didn't know that these thoughts were unreal, no, but the fact that they were real to him - that, in his experience, they may as well have been real - must have made things unbearable.
Not to mention that they can rarely work, are in permanent care, face enormous prejudice from others, struggle to do daily tasks and so on - and on top of that they have precious little chance of ever recovering.
I think we have it considerable better.
As for this,
Very often schizophrenics realize something's wrong with them as soon as they get on medication.
Often what makes a schizophrenic's life an utter hell is precisely the fact that they do not know what they experience to be unreal.
I recall a story recently regarding a schizophrenic who murdered a policeman. The guy didn't know he was insane; he simply thought that the government were out to get him, that he'd be assassinated any moment, that people were all out to get him and so on.
He didn't know that these thoughts were unreal, no, but the fact that they were real to him - that, in his experience, they may as well have been real - must have made things unbearable.
Not to mention that they can rarely work, are in permanent care, face enormous prejudice from others, struggle to do daily tasks and so on - and on top of that they have precious little chance of ever recovering.
I think we have it considerable better.
As for this,
I've seen quite a few - at least 2 or 3 - and I haven't been here that long.
Very often schizophrenics realize something's wrong with them as soon as they get on medication.
I can definitely relate to all this, and I know how bad it can get and how much it can affect how you think and feel. But don't lose sight of the fact that many of us, unlike someone with schizophrenia, have an excellent chance of recovering. We have potential to change and be "normal", in good time. Few of them do.