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Stigma surrounding schizophrenia can be devastating, especially when it comes from those closest to us. Today, I'm opening up about my journey living with paranoid schizophrenia and how I've learned to navigate the complex landscape of misconceptions, fear, and rejection that often accompanies this diagnosis.

What does it really take to build bridges of understanding between those who live with serious mental illness and those who don't? I share my "two-way street" approach—a method that acknowledges both the challenges faced by people with schizophrenia and the genuine confusion or discomfort experienced by others. Through personal stories of heartbreak and breakthrough moments, I explore how creating space for mutual understanding has transformed my relationships.

You'll discover powerful advocates fighting stigma through social media, learn about effective communication techniques like the LEAP method (Listen, Empathize, Agree, Partner), and gain insights into when it's worth investing your emotional energy—and when it might be healthier to step away. Whether you live with schizophrenia yourself, love someone who does, or simply want to be a more compassionate person, this episode offers practical wisdom for creating meaningful connections across the divide of misunderstanding. Subscribe to continue exploring mental health topics with honesty, vulnerability, and hope. If you found value in this conversation, please share it with someone who might benefit from hearing that recovery and connection are possible, even amid life's chaos.

#schizophrenia #PTSD #CPTSD #fightthestigma #SameHere

References:

“Schizophrenia As I Live It,” https://dianadirkbywrites.com/schizophrenia-as-i-live-it-audio/

“Fractured Ink: Writing in Life’s Chaos,” https://dianadirkbywrites.com/fractured-ink-living-in-lifes-chaos/

Schizophrenia and Psychosis Action Alliance: https://sczaction.org/

Michelle Hammer: https://www.schizophrenic.nyc and Instagram: @schizophrenic.nyc

Kodi Green: @schizophrenichippie

LEAP Institute: https://leapinstitute.org/

D.I.D. is not schizophrenia: https://dianadirkbywrites.com/schizophrenia-is-not-d-i-d/ and https://www.buzzsprout.com/2186769/episodes/13281028-schizophrenia-is-not-dissociative-identity-disorder-d-i-d

Books: “I Am Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help,” 20th Anniversary Edition by Xavier Amador https://amzn.to/43AAmJl, “The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia,” by Diana Dirkby https://amzn.to/3ZX8TPA and “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies,” by Diana Dirkby https://amzn.to/45fAOxY #ad #commissionsearned These links to these three books on Amazon are Amazon Affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

My website and social media

https://dianadirkbywrites.com (fiction writing)

https://aussiemathematician.io/ (mathematics)

My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)

My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaD

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Navigating life at the intersection of paranoid schizophrenia and Complex PTSD is like walking a tightrope during an earthquake. The delusions and hallucinations of schizophrenia become more intense and personal when filtered through the lens of childhood trauma. When I experience a relapse, my CPTSD doesn't simply coexist with my schizophrenia—it amplifies it, creating a perfect storm of symptoms that can be overwhelming without proper support.

My journey with these dual diagnoses began long ago. Growing up with a mother who had schizophrenia provided me with both insight and fear about the condition I would later develop myself. Meanwhile, childhood experiences, including sibling abuse, laid the groundwork for Complex PTSD that would complicate my mental health landscape for decades. These experiences inspired my novels "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia" and "Three Kidnapped: Three Siblings, Three Furies"—creative expressions of the realities I've lived.

What I find most challenging is how these conditions interact in unexpected ways. During episodes, paranoia convinces me that others wish me harm, while childhood trauma resurfaces, making me feel vulnerable and unsafe again. Twenty years ago, my spouse insisted I break contact with my brother after witnessing his treatment of me and my subsequent CPTSD diagnosis—a difficult decision that proved necessary for my well-being. Yet during relapses, he still appears in my delusions as a figure of judgment and threat, bridging past trauma and present paranoia. With the support of dedicated mental health professionals and a loving spouse, I continue to navigate this complex mental landscape. By sharing my story openly, I hope to reach others who may be suffering without understanding why, demonstrating that honest discussion about mental health struggles can lead to healing and hope. Whether you live with similar conditions or support someone who does, know that recovery is possible, even with multiple diagnoses.

#siblingabuse #childsexualabuse #greekmyths #kidnapping #thriller #horror #fiction #confession #samehere #notmyshame

Here are my website and social media credentials: https://aussiemathematician.io/

https://dianadirkbywrites.com

My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)

My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)

My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)

My YouTube channel @Diana DirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

Amazon affiliate link for “The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia,” by Diana Dirkby: https://amzn.to/44Rhx5z and for “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies,” by Diana Dirkby: https://amzn.to/43CRLzY. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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This Podcast contains a paid promotion with Amazon.com. Breaking the silence about family violence requires courage, understanding, and sometimes, the unexpected intervention of ancient mythological forces. My new book "Three Kidnapped Three Siblings, Three Furies" emerged from my personal journey as a survivor of extensive family abuse, particularly at the hands of my brother while my parents stood by passively.

This horror thriller follows three families whose eldest teenage children vanish simultaneously after school. What unfolds is a harrowing quest to recover them, guided by ransom notes from the three Furies of Greek mythology—divine beings who punish wrongdoing within families. Through this narrative framework, I explore how our culture and even religious institutions often fail victims of sibling abuse, forcing us to "think outside the box" to address these hidden crimes.

My decision to write this as fiction rather than memoir stems from compassion—not for my abuser, but for his innocent children and grandchildren who shouldn't bear the weight of his actions. The novel features an inspiring heroine named Isabel who lives with well-managed schizophrenia and specializes in Greek mythology, demonstrating that people are not defined by their diagnoses. Through gore, supernatural elements, and mythological intervention, the book delivers a powerful message: sibling abuse is a terrible crime that too often goes unaddressed, and we must speak up when we suspect a child is suffering. If you enjoyed "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia," this new work continues my exploration of difficult truths through the protective distance of fiction. Available now in paperback, hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook formats through the Amazon affiliate link in the episode description.

#siblingabuse #childsexualabuse #greekmyths #kidnapping #thriller #horror #fiction #confession #samehere #notmyshame

Here are my website and social media credentials: https://aussiemathematician.io/

https://dianadirkbywrites.com

My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)

My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)

My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)

My YouTube channel @Diana DirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

Amazon affiliate link for “The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia,” by Diana Dirkby: https://amzn.to/44Rhx5z and for “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies,” by Diana Dirkby: https://amzn.to/43CRLzY. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Mental health discrimination takes many forms, but one of the most insidious is how we systematically devalue older adults struggling with psychological conditions. Drawing from my lived experience with paranoid schizophrenia and as the daughter of a mother with the same condition, I've witnessed the painful intersection of ageism and mental health stigma up close.

When I turned 50 and attended my first mental health advocacy support group, I immediately felt the chill of age discrimination. Despite the wonderful work these organizations do, their focus skewed dramatically toward younger people. The unspoken message was clear: mental health resources are prioritized for those with more life ahead of them. This utilitarian approach ignores the profound truth that an older person's remaining years are arguably more precious precisely because they are fewer.

My mother's journey with schizophrenia in her later years revealed how quickly society abandons aging individuals with mental illness. As her condition worsened, complicated by anosognosia (lack of insight into her own illness), friends and family gradually disappeared. The healthcare system offered minimal support, repeatedly telling me she couldn't receive intervention unless she posed an immediate danger. Despite these challenges, her brilliant mind continued to shine. Our intellectual connection remained vibrant, providing meaningful interactions that others missed by dismissing her as merely "old and mentally ill."

Older adults navigating mental health challenges bring wisdom accumulated through decades of experience—insights into what treatments work, what coping strategies help, and how to maintain dignity through difficult times. By marginalizing these voices, we lose invaluable knowledge that could benefit mental health care for everyone. We must recognize that growth, recovery, and meaningful connection remain possible at any age.

Subscribe to my channel on YouTube (see below) and visit my website to learn more about my novel "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia" and join me in advocating for mental health care that values every person, regardless of age.

#ageism #seniorhealth #mentalillness #bekind

My websites and social media:

https://dianadirkbywrites.com

https://aussiemathematician.io/

My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)

My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)

My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)

My YouTube channel @Diana DirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

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This description contains a paid promotion in that I use Amazon Affiliate Links. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. What happens when wild, chaotic living meets disciplined, daily creativity? This episode examines two contrasting yet complementary paths to meaningful artistic expression.

We begin with Roland Robinson, the Australian poet who lived from 1912 to 1992—a chaotic, wild-haired figure who hiked with my parents and whose intellectual fire never dimmed in my mother's memory. Robinson's life was a beautiful chaos of divorces, affairs, and cross-country journeys, yet this apparent disorder fueled his mission to document Aboriginal stories and myths. His poem "The Sermon of the Birds" exemplifies his dedication to preserving First Nations voices, showing how he channeled personal turmoil into cultural preservation and activism.

The second half shifts focus to Walter Mosley's structured approach to writing. The acclaimed crime fiction author behind the Easy Rawlins mysteries offers transformative advice: make writing your first daily activity. Even changing a single word counts. This simple practice creates an anchor amid life's storms, helping writers overcome the "not creative today" or "too busy" excuses that leave projects forever unfinished. My own journey with schizophrenia illustrates this perfectly—detailed notes initially kept for doctors gradually expanded into material for multiple books, including "The Overlife, a Tale of Schizophrenia."

Both Robinson and Mosley reveal essential truths about creativity: it thrives in both freedom and structure. Whether your path resembles Robinson's chaotic energy or Mosley's disciplined consistency, the key lies in commitment to your unique voice and story. What daily practice might anchor your creative life? What chaos might you transform through your words? Subscribe now and join our exploration of writing's power to capture life's complexity.

References:

(i) Roland Robinson (1912-1992) by Peter Kirkpatrick, Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 19, 2021.

(ii) https://allpoetry.com/The-Sermon-of-the-Birds

(iii) “The Overlife: A Tale Of Schizophrenia,” by Diana Dirkby (visit https://amzn.to/454WgW6. #ad #commissionsearned The link is an Amazon Affiliate Link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases)

(iv) “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies,” by Diana Dirkby (visit https://amzn.to/42Z81KY. #ad #commissionsearned The link is an Amazon Affiliate Link. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

My Website and Social Media:

https://dianadirkbywrites.com (fiction writing)

https://aussiemathematician.io/ (mathematics)

My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)

My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)

My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)

My YouTube channel @Diana DirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

#australianpoetry #aboriginalmyths #waltermosley #fictionwriting #keepingadiary #rolandrobinson #firstnationspeople

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What does it mean to pursue a career in advanced mathematics while experiencing the profound challenges of paranoid schizophrenia? Drawing from her extraordinary personal journey, Diana Dirkby takes us behind the curtain of her dual life as an internationally recognized mathematician and a person navigating the complex reality of serious mental illness.

This raw, enlightening conversation explores the fascinating parallels between Diana's experience and that of mathematical genius John Nash, immortalized in "A Beautiful Mind." Diana describes her unique cognitive challenges—particularly the "word soup" that floods her mind during episodes—and reveals the ingenious strategies she developed to sustain her academic career despite these obstacles. From writing lectures verbatim in blue ink (never black) to maximizing productive work during periods of mental clarity, her practical approaches offer valuable insights for anyone facing similar challenges.

Beyond her personal story, Diana tackles misconceptions about both mathematics and schizophrenia. She eloquently explains how mathematics continues to evolve through human inquiry and research, using Fermat's Last Theorem as a compelling example. With compassion born from experience, she offers guidance to parents whose bright children receive schizophrenia diagnoses, emphasizing that while compromise is necessary, fulfilling lives and meaningful achievements remain possible with proper support and treatment.

Diana's message resonates with hope and pragmatism: success with schizophrenia requires acceptance, management, and support—but it is absolutely possible. Whether you're personally affected by mental illness, love someone who is, or simply seek to understand the remarkable resilience of the human spirit, this episode offers profound wisdom about finding clarity amidst chaos and pursuing intellectual passion despite seemingly insurmountable odds. Subscribe now to join this important conversation about triumph over adversity and the power of compromise in achieving meaningful success.

You can check out a basic, minimal website I made about my mathematics at https://aussiemathematician.io/.

Here are my other website and social media credentials:

https://dianadirkbywrites.com

My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)

My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)

My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)

My YouTube channel @Diana DirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

#schizophrenia #college #university #mathematics #mentalhealth #family #relationships #SameHere #girlsdomath

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In this episode, I will describe several incidents where I got into trouble with law enforcement for totally harmless behavior because I have always been open about living with schizophrenia. This fact is a reason to be open about living with schizophrenia, not to hide it. I passed with flying colors, and that helps reduce the stigma.

The best book I have read on schizophrenia is the famous book by E. Fuller Torrey. Chapter One already gives an excellent account of what schizophrenia can be as an illness. You will find the book at the link https://amzn.to/4jBaty2 #ad #commissionsearned. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

#schizophrenia #police #lawenforcement #mentalillness #family #relationships #challenges #fiction #novel

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In this episode, I will introduce you to my two novels: "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/191685219X), whose title I abbreviate to "The Overlife," and "Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies" (https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DR9K6YMG), whose title I abbreviate to "Three Siblings." The first novel is about a mother and daughter both living with paranoid schizophrenia. The second novel is about sibling abuse. I will also talk about myself and the goals of this Podcast. This Podcast has a serious tone, but, don't worry, we will also have fun and humor in many of the episodes.

A video version of this episode is on my YouTube channel (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

My website: https://dianadirkbywrites.com/
My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)
My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)
My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)
My YouTube channel @DianaDirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)