June 10, 2005

A birthday

I haven’t posted here for a long time and I didn’t even realise it till two days ago – when it was my daughter’s birthday. She woke up earlier than usual and was so happy to be woken up by a telephone call from an old childhood friend who stayed in a distant town in the foothills of the Himalayas. The friend’s mother who was also my daughter’s teacher wished her too. The day began on a happy note for her and I was moved as birthday wishes came in. Most came from people she had met on the net in the past three years - people with courage, struggling with an illness that had changed their lives. And some wishes were from people she had met last year and shared with them that she had this illness. I am grateful to God when I see people who don’t shy away from mental illness. For there are so many in India, who just cannot understand that mental disorders are just a part of a person and there is more to an individual than the illness. This understanding, I feel is only possible if one has the ability to love without conditions, able to feel compassion and be tolerant. I feel so happy whenever I see these in people. People who respond to my daughter when they see what a kind, loving and generous person she is.

Posted by survivor at June 10, 2005 05:21 AM

Comments

So glad to see your new posting. I am a mother in England with a son who has a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. Your contributions to the site echo my own love for my son, and my struggle to get the best possible life for him.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY.

Posted by: Ann Freeman at June 11, 2005 02:01 AM

It is nice presentation of ur daughter's case.
It is true that many are not aware of the sciz.-
symptoms/treatment. It is essential to form a Forum to exchange views/experiences

My son is also diagnised with schiz.

Posted by: mvkulkarni at July 21, 2005 09:01 PM

my wife suffering from acute schizophrenia for last 25 years. have hold on those years but i losing the battle. hope your contribution give me new strength to carry on my life as usual

Posted by: saifuddin at August 18, 2005 05:12 PM

Dear Indian Mother,

I've been unable to comment on any of your blogs. There was a glitch in the system. Well today I think I'm finally able to comment.

I hope you had a lovely birthday.

Your advocacy is so strong and inspiring. I think it is mothers who feel such passion about their children. The thought of my child not surviving is unaceptable and it is what keep me fighting and striving for wholeness in her life.

I suspect you and most of the mothers on this board share those same feelings.

Moeder

Posted by: moeder at September 11, 2005 08:47 AM

Dear Mother,
I am practising psychiatrist in kerala.The biggest challenge a schizophrenic faces in life is to live with the diagnosis.Majority of my patients do live a reasonably normal life aand are even married after the illness.Is diagnosis that important?Least effective dose with a bright attitude can make even schizophrenia a disease one can live with.It is a shame to change our lives for the sake of a diagnosis

Posted by: Dinesh at October 25, 2005 12:36 AM

I am , 70, my son, 37,is a Schopherinic, well educated but he cannot cope with the people and thus cant keep his job.He does private tution in mathematics . I am fully share agony of a family having mentally retarded persons. We are out casted out of the society. Some time doubt is there God whome we pray for cure. But God seems to mercy less.

Posted by: Subimal Palit at November 1, 2005 04:56 PM

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