discouraging my art...

[Obsidian Glynn]

Every since my therapist told me that I was schizophrenic, He has been telling me that I would never make it as an artist. He tells me this becaus eI refuse to take medicine. He says I'm going to fail and this doesn't seem very therapist like to me.

But on the other hand, it really discourages me that maybe my alternate personalities would hurt my career choice...

Any suggestions to help me? Cheer me up? Whatever?

[Vhan Juju]

[deleted by user]

[LifeWontWait]

Every since my therapist told me that I was schizophrenic, He has been telling me that I would never make it as an artist. He tells me this becaus eI refuse to take medicine. He says I'm going to fail and this doesn't seem very therapist like to me.

But on the other hand, it really discourages me that maybe my alternate personalities would hurt my career choice...

Any suggestions to help me? Cheer me up? Whatever?

Hm, I think you should go to a different therapist (actually psychologist) if you aren't lying here. First off, if this is true then your therapist is a wanker and needs to explain to you what schizophrenia is.... you seems to believe you have dissociative identity disorder while at the same time saying your therapist says you have schizophrenia. Also, if this is true and you don't want to take medicine, why are you going to a therapist... that is exactly what they do, administer medication. Go to a psychologist if you don't want medicine but still want help.

And lastly... just do a search for schizophrenic artists (on google) and you will find tons of artwork done by schizophrenics.... hell schizophrenia was a huge contributer to the Art Brut style of artwork.

Anyways... good luck! And I hope that if you are in fact being truthful about your condition that you see a psychologist rather than a therapist... and if nothing else a different therapist because this one you have hasn't even told you what schizophrenia is.

-Life

[Craig D]

1- If you are not already, you need to be seeing a qualified psychiatrist ( a medical doctor specializing in mental diseases), not a psychologist.
Psychologists may or may not be helpfull in many cases but not if what you indicated about your diagnosis is true.

2- Don't take the advice from people in internet chat rooms about something that can be very serious. (except for point 1 above :) )

[LifeWontWait]

1- If you are not already, you need to be seeing a qualified psychiatrist ( a medical doctor specializing in mental diseases), not a psychologist.
Psychologists may or may not be helpfull in many cases but not if what you indicated about your diagnosis is true.

2- Don't take the advice from people in internet chat rooms about something that can be very serious. (except for point 1 above :) )

Uh... from webmd on psychology vs psychiatry:
"Both kinds of professionals treat people with problems that vary widely by degree and type, from mild anxiety to schizophrenia. Both can practice psychotherapy, and both can do research.

The short answer is, psychiatrists are medical doctors and psychologists are not. The suffix "-iatry" means "medical treatment," and "-logy" means "science" or "theory." So psychiatry is the medical treatment of the psyche, and psychology is the science of the psyche."

Now I know that everyone thinks because a psychiatrist is a medical doctor this is better and who he should go to but the original poster said that he doesn't want to take medication. I think a psychiatrist or a psychologist would be fine to go to.

I agree with your #2.

[Obsidian Glynn]

Ok well I'm a girl not a he. I'm not lying about my disorder. There is a disorder called schizo-affective disorder that is a branch of schizophrenia. It means I hear voices ( audio delusions) and experiance syptoms of having multiple personalities. They class my voices as multiple personalities because the voices are both male and female.

I didn't nessacarilly want advice so much as the other things I got, the referances to the schizophrenic artists and such. You can call a psychologist a "Therapist", at least I've always heard the terms inter changable.

[LifeWontWait]

I didn't mean to call you a liar! Sorry if it sounded that way.

Yeah, you should just do a search on google if you haven't already. It seems like there is quite a few schizophrenic artisits out there.

[phoenicorn]

i don't know what the therapist is talking about. your stuff is great. i reckon u are a brilliant artist already. don't let any1 tell you any different.

[arttorney]

Most likely the statements about "never make it as an artist" were directed not so much at the ability to produce quality art as at your ability to do business in an orderly manner. I've seen brilliant art produced by schizophrenics. Unfortunately, you have to meet deadlines, keep appointments, and maintain a consistent relationship with whatever businesses or individuals would be the source of your money if you would like financial success. Examine for yourself whether financial success is a part of your dream. I greatly enjoy the more abstract side of Louis Wain's cat drawings, especially the jagged outline period, but he is a good example of the business issues I am discussing. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_Wain

If you forget your appointments because another part of you made the appointment, or you are a different person in this meeting than the patron had thought they knew, you will have challenges in getting access to money. People outside of you won't necessarily understand the challenges being presented on the inside of you. (This statement is not coming from the standpoint of a psychologist or psychiatrist, but from the standpoint of someone who has a lot of experience personally interacting with a paranoid schizophrenic. It can be difficult, I assure you, to cooperate in a businesslike manner with someone who is receiving unusual instructions from the government through the secret transceiver installed in their refrigerator.)

[Micaiah Nelson]

I would agree with Craig. The forums isnt the best place for inputs on issue like these. But I will say if you feel that your therapist is full of it. Get a second input from another professional.

I have ADHD and I'm dislexic so I have a hard time focusing in school plus I was failing classes. So I started bring my art to school as a tool to keep me calm and focus and it helped greatly. Heres somthing similar that might help you.

http://www.schizophrenia.com/sznews/archives/001163.html

[aesir]

you are who you are, live your life however you want.

(I never listened to therapists)

[Vhan Juju]

(I never listened to therapists)

I'll second that...

[Southwick]

you are who you are, live your life however you want.

(I never listened to therapists)

Listening to trained doctors is generally important when you have an illness.
Seeking the advice of several different doctor's can be very important.

Ignoring issues are generally not a viable means to finding a solution.

[bklyndude326]

my cousin is schizophrenic and bipolar and one of my uncles is schizophrenic and hears voices...i suggest you take medication an see a doctor that best suits your disorder. I dont know how bad it is for you but i know from experience hearing voices makes them do things that are very regrettable, like hitting people, family members, threatening, Maybe its not the same for you but hearing voices is very dangerous, my uncle says he hears people saying they are going to kill him, i am very careful around him because i have know idea what going through is head.

I also think your therapist is just trying to get you to take the medicine by saying you wont make it as an artist if you dont take it. It doesnt necessarily mean you cant be an artist your therapist just wants you to get well the best way he can think of. By the way my cousin is on medication (forced by court order), although he is still annoying lol, he is definitley much calmer and not in a big rage or saying things that dont make any sense.

[enrigo]

you are who you are, live your life however you want.

(I never listened to therapists)

I agree with that, although the OP's issue sounds pretty serious and seeing another psychiatrist seems like the best idea.

A bit out of the topic but a few years ago in Thailand there was an outbreak of books and TV programs talking about autism, ADD in kids and those kind of stuff. Seems like they are shoving the idea into people's head, but then parents don't really go crazy with it so now nobody hears about children's ADD anymore except from when going to see a psychiatrist. Kind of makes you think if this is the real big issue or just a trick to sell drugs.

[Micaiah Nelson]

(I never listened to therapists)
Then why do you bother to see one.

There is nothing wrong seeking professional. They are trained in that feild to only help. None is perfect so seek another one for more input. But never neglect the issue.

Louis Wain got worse. Though he was treated late. Today people get a better diagnosed unlike Wain who was daignosed in 1917. There are those who get better with treatment like William Kurelek (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Kurelek). Nigel Bart helps artist with this illness. http://www.winnipegsun.com/Video/2008/01/23/4789977.html

[aesir]

Then why do you bother to see one.

There is nothing wrong seeking professional. They are trained in that feild to only help. None is perfect so seek another one for more input. But never neglect the issue.

Louis Wain got worse. Though he was treated late. Today people get a better diagnosed unlike Wain who was daignosed in 1917. There are those who get better with treatment like William Kurelek (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Kurelek). Nigel Bart helps artist with this illness. http://www.winnipegsun.com/Video/2008/01/23/4789977.html

I went to see one because I was sent to her. For me, I'm happiest when I stuggle with my own failings and grow because of it. I like to solve my own issues. This is how I work. Other people are different. Many people (my mother) absolutely NEEDS to talk out her problems with people. I can't do that.

The basic point of my original post was that you should never let someone else tell you that you can't do something. Simply the act of going along with someone who thinks they know what is best for you destroys your self confidence and independent thoughts. Its one of those "always believe in yourself" type things that everyone should has been told as a kid.

[Micaiah Nelson]

I went to see one because I was sent to her. For me, I'm happiest when I stuggle with my own failings and grow because of it. I like to solve my own issues. This is how I work. Other people are different. Many people (my mother) absolutely NEEDS to talk out her problems with people. I can't do that.

The basic point of my original post was that you should never let someone else tell you that you can't do something. Simply the act of going along with someone who thinks they know what is best for you destroys your self confidence and independent thoughts. Its one of those "always believe in yourself" type things that everyone should has been told as a kid.

I like this post better than your first one. And Agreed.:)