- In the beginning, I tried to rationalize the symptoms of having schizophrenia, like hearing the voices. I would think that they were coming from my cell phone or the people around me. And sometimes I heard one voice, other times I heard multiple voices. They told me I was a dishonor to my family. 

[MUSIC PLAYING] 

The symptoms got progressively worse during my years in college. Eventually, I just couldn't handle it anymore. I lost interest in school. I couldn't focus on my classwork or my assignments. And I dropped out of school. 

I learned of my diagnosis through an unfortunate crime I committed while experiencing psychosis. I was very confused and afraid at the time. I'd actually stole a military truck from the airport and was arrested for that crime. While in jail, I stopped eating, drinking, speaking, living. 

The symptoms got progressively worse. And they didn't know what was wrong with me at first. Initially, I did not know that I had schizophrenia. So I refused to take the medication. I was in denial. I didn't have any insight. 

While I was in jail, and I wasn't cooperating with my attorney, they had me take a competency test, which I failed. So later on I got committed to a state hospital, where they diagnosed me. 

I able to talk about it now because it's in the past. And I know that I've survived it. And I'm coping with it and continuously working on my recovery. 

And I talk about it a lot just to share my story with other people. So that they know that they can recover as well. 

Society views schizophrenia as a person having a split personality or a person who is extremely violent or dangerous. Those stereotypes really bother me because I don't look at myself as a violent person. I don't have a split personality. 

[MUSIC PLAYING]