You Are Not Alone – Schizophrenia

There are so many uplifting and inspiring stories of hope from people who have used Recovery International's self-help tools and support groups to change their lives. These stories inspire and show that there are answers to and ways of changing your quality of life for the better.

Overcoming Schizophrenia
It’s been many years since I experienced the dreadful nervous fatigue that debilitated me in my mid-20s. The depression I remember from my early childhood is now a stranger.

At age 28, I was diagnosed with schizophrenia and committed to Camarilla State Hospital in California. This followed several hospitalizations, each after a suicide attempt. I had numerous shock treatments and medications. While in the state hospital, I was introduced to Recovery International. At last, I had found a program to help me while I had symptoms. I gradually changed my beliefs, from “There is no hope for me” to “Who knows? I could be among those who get well.” I took steps forward and backward, but after leaving the hospital, I never returned.

Strong symptoms of despair and gloomy thoughts still arose frequently, but Recovery International taught me to recognize them. They usually reflected my feelings of inadequacy. As years have passed, these symptoms have diminished, partly because I no longer fear them.

Recovery International has given me my life and it has given me a philosophy to help me cope with everyday living. Today I continue to attend Recovery International meetings because it’s good insurance against setbacks. – Celinda Jungheim

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From Hospitalizations to Becoming Group Leader
When I was 40, I was committed to the Oregon State Hospital because I was schizophrenic. Upon release from the hospital, I feared my life was over and that all I could look forward to would be frequent hospitalizations. While seeking help for a friend, I found Recovery International and eventually became a group leader.

My practice of Recovery International’s techniques showed me I could function among people even though my mind felt blank and I was shaking. Feelings of inferiority left me and my belief about myself became secure. The fear of relapse into hospitalization disappeared too.

Although I was a pilot in World War II, I was later denied a pilot’s license because of my nervous disorder. I refused to believe that once mentally ill, always mentally ill, so I pursed my goal through neurological, psychological and psychiatric testing. I received an exemption from the Federal Aviation Administration and have since flown in the United States and Canada.

Thanks to Recovery International, my wife and I have become very active in our church and I feel proud of my work in our community. – Bill Heimann

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