Introduction

Hello and welcome! I appreciate your curiosity and the time you're taking to read my introductory post. I am Bagel, the physicist.

Why a bagel, you might ask? Well, a bagel is shaped like a torus, much like the universe could possibly be. Those of us living with mental illness often carry within us a universe of unique experiences and perspectives. So, in a sense, a bagel could be seen as an ideal metaphor for individuals grappling with mental health issues. That's a poetic explanation I would love to offer. But the simple truth? I wanted to represent myself as a cute object while preserving some tiny degree of anonymity on this blog.

A torus (bagel) is one possible shape for the universe.

About Bagel

For the past six years, I've been challenged by living with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Additionally, I am mildly autistic. These experiences have shaped me, but they don't define me. Over time, I've come to understand myself better, recognizing my strengths and weaknesses, which has boosted my confidence in traversing life's complexities.

I've recently been fortunate to make a great friend, @s-anon, who has become an essential part of my journey. We're learning, growing, and navigating this path together, constantly uncovering new truths about ourselves and the world around us. Our decision to begin blogging is a shared commitment to contributing our unique truths to the world. After a some requirements analysis we have chosen Steemit as our platform to accomplish this.

If you're following my journey, I'd highly recommend that you also follow @s-anon. Together, we aim to foster an open, supportive community where understanding, empathy, and insight are emphasized.

Schizophrenia is a surreal mental illness that often stops the subject from living a normal life.

What to Expect from the Blog

I will be sharing my unique journey living with both autism and schizophrenia, including the lessons I've learned and the hope I've discovered along the way. There is a common misconception that these conditions are synonymous with a life of perpetual suffering or failure. I’d like to use my case as an example to the contrary. Yes, these conditions pose challenges, but they are not insurmountable, and they do not rob us of hope.

At the beginning of my journey, when I was first diagnosed with schizophrenia, I despaired. There were times when self-sufficiency felt impossible. There were periods where sleep would not come for as long as ten days at a time. It felt like I was sinking into an abyss, and the thought of escaping the suffering was overwhelming. I was tortured, had no hope for escape, and was adamant of killing myself.

However, life has a way of surprising us. Over the past two years, my diagnosis has been revised to schizoaffective disorder. I've playfully renamed it as 'schizo-effective' disorder, as I now find myself far more 'effective' at living than before.

This blog is my space to share how I arrived at this point in my journey: how I got in, how I got out, and the lessons learned. By sharing my ongoing learning process, I hope to foster understanding, inspire courage, and above all, ignite hope. Because no matter how challenging the circumstances, there is always room for hope.

Schizophrenia is like being inside a torus. As you move around you think you are making progress, but really there is no way to get out

Conclusion

Thank you for embarking on this journey with me. Your presence here signifies a willingness to understand, learn, and even share your own unique truths. There is no justifiable reason for any stigma to exist. Here on Steemit we will create a community of support and acceptance, where each unique 'bagel' - each individual universe of truths - is valued and understood.

Nice to meet you. Lets have a good time.

Photo Credits

Illustration 198703522 © Attaphong | Dreamstime.com

Photo 146764775 / Schizophrenia © Paulus Rusyanto | Dreamstime.com

Illustration 19351698 / Inside Torus © Fixer00 | Dreamstime.com

Photo 137658259 / Health © Tero Vesalainen | Dreamstime.com