What I Thought I Knew About Schizophrenia

I was asked to write about my ideas on schizophrenia before and after I met people with the disorder.

Growing up in the 70s, the only times I heard about schizophrenia were through music, which was my passion then and still is now. King Crimson, an English progressive band, released a song in 1969 called “21st Century Schizoid Man.” The song is a scathing critique of the Vietnam War, political corruption, and the destruction of innocence. It suggests that humanity’s increasing detachment and technological horrors would render future generations schizoid. There was also Syd Barrett of Pink Floyd, another English band. He was believed to have schizophrenia and withdrew from the band after a psychedelic breakdown, though some say it was schizophrenia. He never returned and died in 2006 at the age of 60. He was a brilliant songwriter. Pink Floyd later wrote “Shine On You Crazy Diamond” about him.

I was never a big fan of psychedelics because they disrupt a person’s mental state and temporarily change perceptions, sensory experiences, mood, and thought processes. I tried them a couple of times, and they really scared me. One night I had a bad trip, and someone had to talk me down. That was the last time for me, because I had no control over my thoughts or mind. I knew a few people who took psychedelics and were never the same afterward.

I recently met a few people with schizophrenia at Fountain House, but I couldn’t tell. I was speaking to someone and didn’t realize they had to take medication every day to prevent psychotic episodes that could cause hallucinations or extremely disorganized speech or behavior. Seeing people in certain environments, I have to say I wouldn’t know who had schizophrenia because their demeanor always seemed fine.

To this day, I still have not seen someone in an active schizophrenic episode, and I wouldn’t know what to do if I did. In this world, there is a growing concern about mental illness because it can cause significant distress or interfere with a person’s ability to manage daily life, work, or relationships. Everyone should try to pay more attention to this, because it is not the fault of the person. There are many variables that may contribute to this disorder.