Schizophrenia

NAMI Blog Post Draft

Living with Schizophrenia

(Photo of Elliot Neyme – Retrieved from NAMI)

<QUOTE:

Many people throughout the world live with schizophrenia, and Elliott Neyme is one of those people.

Childhood depression helped mask Elliot’s early stages ofsschizophrenia. led him to have his first psychotic break and diagnosis when he was about 20 years old during hospitalization at the request of his parents. . As a result of his mental illness, Elliot went through many difficulties, especially trying to graduate college. Elliott describes took him 10 years to complete during a tumultuous period in life, and he eventually graduated with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Utah State University. He moved to Seattle shortly after graduating and this was when he began his career in cybersecurity.

Elliott describes how it is to live with Schizophrenia.

<QUOTE: “It can be pretty scary sometimes because I hear voices and I never know when people are talking to me or about me. I think that people are constantly berating me. People just walking on the street, neighbors, loved ones, etc..” – EN>

According to Elliott, cognitive distortions, delusions of grandeur, and thinking you can do something you shouldn’t do are all examples of what it is like for him to live with schizophrenia. Voices in his head telling him to do certain things are the most prevalent for him. At one low point in his life, Elliott remembers when he began to steal from his work and throw away his boss’s schedule board just because voices in his mind told him to do it.

Because of his disability, Elliott found some hobbies throughout the years, which assist him in managing his mental health, such as creating artwork, electronics, and amateur radio. These hobbies bring him harmony and when combined with nature, they equal excellent sources of catharsis. These forms of relief, alongside his support from NAMI, were likened to being evangelical and helped Elliott manage his condition.

(Self-portrait 2, 2018(left), and Mood,2015(right). Artwork retrieved from www.elliottneyme.com )

Early signs of an episode come in many forms and according to Elliott, some which he has experienced are withdrawal, keeping to oneself, and being antisocial. It is hard to tell if Elliott is having an episode, and it sometimes has led him to stop taking his medications, stop talking to his wife, and stop going outside. He stated that it can lead to very dark places and explains ‘how easy it is to buy into those thoughts in your head.’ His wife Susan has been a very influential force in his life and when asked, he stated, “I have an incredibly supportive and dedicated wife. She is the one who introduced me to NAMI when no one else was interested in admitting that I had a long-standing problem.” Support from family and friends is crucial for any person with a mental illness, and for Elliott, his wife has been there to support him through a lot of difficulties and challenges he has faced. Some ways that friends and family can help a person who has Schizophrenia include responding calmly, paying attention to triggers, helping ensure medications are taken as prescribed, and understanding lack of awareness.

Elliott has found much success with the help of his healthcare provider, being able to reach out to them and have them assist with any symptoms he may be having.. His medical care team provided Elliott with a crisis intervention worksheet, which he can utilize when he feels he needs help. He keeps it close to him to reference it and use it to remind himself that he has been through these same feelings/thoughts, and it helps him manage his feelings better.

Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) pays monthly benefits to workers who are no longer able to work due to a significant illness or impairment. Because of his mental illness, Elliott is qualified as disabled, and Social Security Disability Insurance benefits alongside Medicare supplied by the US government assist Elliott “see that [Elliot] can be a valuable contributing member of society even without making a lot of money.”

(Tomato, 2018. Artwork retrieved from www.elliottneyme.com )

Experience with NAMI

<QUOTE: “NAMI has given me a lot of support over the years. I have attended some of NAMI’s signature classes, like Peer-to-Peer and Smarts for Advocacy. I’ve been to the east side clubhouse and draw support from their peer groups. NAMI has always given me a venue to talk to others about my illness.” – EN>

The . Elliott became involved with NAMI after his partner researched his condition and came upon support groups and help available through NAMI, which helped Elliot affirm that he wasn’t alone. There were people like him with whom he could relate and socialize.

According to the

In order to be supportive of others living with schizophrenia, Elliott began working as a board member of NAMI Seattle and has found that they had helped and been there for him when he needed them. NAMI includes many professional people who suffer from all kinds of mental illness and are there to assist and be there for people no matter the background or mental illness. For Elliott, NAMI Seattle has provided many answers for him. He takes comfort and gives him the motivation to continue volunteering to help others through his role in the organization.

Inclusivity for people with mental disabilities is not the best in today’s society, and NAMI Seattle works to help solve this problem.

According to Elliott, he wants to address stigma as a barrier to inclusivity. “Stigma [being] probably the worst. I think that there could be more inclusive of people with schizophrenia in high profile places, occupations, and the media.” Through NAMI’s You Are Not Alone program, people who suffer from mental illness or want to show support can use social media to connect and show support”, “Together, we can realize our shared vision of a nation where anyone affected by mental illness can get the appropriate support and quality of care to live healthy, fulfilling lives — a nation where no one feels alone in their struggle.”

Elliot encourages readers to be persistent, get involved with NAMI’s mission and volunteer.

<QUOTE: “It can’t hurt to try” – EN>

*Authors of this blog post are students at the University of Washington: Bothell, this post was created for a project in Business Writing 307

(Night Stand, 2016. Artwork retrieved from www.elliottneyme.com )

To support and learn more about Elliott’s artwork please visit: https://www.elliottneyme.com/

NAMI Sources:

Elliott Neyme’s BIO:

My name is Elliott Neyme and I am a schizophrenic. I am 45 years old and was originally hospitalized with a psychotic break when I was in my early 20’s. Though it took me 10 years to complete during a tumultuous period in my life, I eventually graduated with a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies from Utah State University.

I moved to Seattle where I began a career programming software for the security industry in 2003. In 2004, I met the person who would later become my wife. In 2005, I was again hospitalized and upon my partner’s suggestion, started attending groups at NAMI Seattle. There I made friends and for the first time in my life, realized that I was not alone in my illness. I went on to attend the NAMI Seattle Peer to Peer class while my partner attended the NAMI Seattle Family to Family class which has helped us grow immensely as a couple.

I went back to work in the IT field for approximately 6 years and finally, due to ongoing bouts with mental illness, started to draw Social Security Disability Insurance. I have been prescribed numerous anti-psychotic medications since my initial diagnosis and have also been diagnosed with bipolar and schizoaffective disorder.

In 2017, I was married to my long- time partner. In 2018, I attended the NAMI Smarts for Advocacy class and earlier this year in 2020 attended my first NAMI Lobby Day where I was able to share my story with interested legislative staff from my district.

I enjoy volunteering for various organizations including the Washington Mask Challenge where I sewed 111 masks for charity. I have written an article for NAMI Seattle which was published on their website and I am a current member of the Northgate Advisory Council. I would like to be on the NAMI Seattle Board of Directors because of the outstanding work that they do in connecting family and peers to mental health services in the Seattle area. Thank you for your time.

Questions for Elliott:

What brought you to Seattle?

– I had been here before in 1992 for the National Convention of the International Plastic Modelers Society. I had come by myself to compete in the Junior Category. While here, I visited a great-uncle and also took the bus from the Red Lion which was across the street from the Sea-Tac airport to visit Pike Place Market and the Seattle Art Museum. I felt very cosmopolitan. I visited again in the 90’s when a friend of mine was stationed at the Joint Base Lewis/McChord. My brother had moved here in about the year 2000, where he worked in the aerospace industry. I roomed with him here when I graduated from Utah State University in 2003.

What is your definition of “happiness”?

Having freedom and feeling loved, also having the mental state to appreciate it.

What is your most memorable travel experience?

– I traveled Europe for 11 months after graduating from high school. Also, my wife and I have traveled to some exciting places like Mexico, the Caribbean, England, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.

What is the funniest thing that has ever happened to you?

– I can’t think of anything funny ever happening to me right now.

What is your happiest memory?

– Lots of happy memories. Getting married and my time in Europe especially.

What accomplishment are you most proud of?

– Either graduating from college (it took me ten years from high school graduation) or marrying my wife (it took me 14 years to realize what a good idea it was).

What makes NAMI different from other groups and why did you join?

– It turns out that NAMI is the nations largest grassroots organization for mental health. My wife referred me to NAMI early on in our relationship. But what I really like best about NAMI is that the group facilitators are extremely knowledgeable about mental illness. Everyone there has lived experience. For themselves or for loved ones.

What was the lowest and highest point of your journey?

– My lowest point in my mental health journey was probably losing a girlfriend to someone I thought was my friend. I did a lot of crying over that. My highest point of my mental health journey is probably admitting to a business writing class (you) that it happened.

When did you realize something might be wrong and you got help?

– I became extremely reclusive and paranoid at home and at work I began to steal things. I also began imagining myself killing my boss. One day I threw all of his important project information he had listed for me in the garbage because of voices.

For someone unfamiliar on the topic, what is schizophrenia and what does it mean to you?

– Hearing and seeing things which aren’t really there. Cognitive distortions. Delusions of grandeur. Lots of paranoia.

What does it feel like to live with schizophrenia?

– It can be pretty scary sometimes. Because I hear voices, I never know when people are talking to me or about me. I think that people are constantly berating me. People just walking on the street, neighbors, loved ones, etc.. I have delusions of grandeur too which makes me think I can do things which I can’t or shouldn’t. As you can imagine, these symptoms can exacerbate already volatile situations. It often takes me a lot of time to learn new things or to keep from forgetting things that I have already learned.

What makes you feel better? What makes it worse?

-Taking my medication, travelling, and listening to my wife’s voice help make it better.

-Watching television and reading the news generally make it worse.

What made you want to volunteer at NAMI?

– NAMI has given me a lots of support over the years. I have attended some of NAMI’s signature classes, like Peer-to-Peer and Smarts for Advocacy. I’ve been to the east side clubhouse and really draw support from their peer groups. NAMI has always given me a venue to talk to others about my illness.

What do you want other people to know that live with schizophrenia?

– That there are other people like you. That it is okay. That thoughts and reality aren’t always the same thing.

What, in your experience, has been the largest challenge you and people with schizophrenia have faced and how do you think that society could help fix/mitigate this issue?

-Stigma is probably the worst. I think that there could be more inclusion of schizophrenics in high profile places, occupations, media.

Have you witnessed any challenges people with mental illnesses have faced that you think there are solutions for which have not been adopted/implemented?

– I can’t think of any at this time.

How can someone contribute or support NAMI in a meaningful way?

– There are a lot of meaningful ways that someone could contribute or support NAMI. I think firstly, they could come to a peer support group. If they like it, they might want to start evangelizing for mental health in their own lives. They could take one of the NAMI signature classes, like Peer-to-Peer, Family-to-Family or Smarts for Advocacy. They could become a member of a NAMI affiliate. NAMI has a membership options for individuals, for households and even an open door option. They might want to contribute an article to an affiliate newsletter. They might want to advocate with their elected officials for mental health. They could volunteer with a NAMI affiliate. They are also welcome to and encouraged to donate monetarily to NAMI.

What support mechanisms have helped you the most over the years and how would you improve them/ how could they be implemented differently?

-Frankly, I have an incredibly supportive and dedicated wife. She is the one who introduced me to NAMI when no one else was really interested in admitting that I had a long standing problem. I am also supported by Social Security Disability Insurance which helps me see that I can be a valuable contributing member of society even without making a lot of money. Medicare, which pays for the majority of my medication is also a huge factor in my success.

What has been a positive experience from your time on the NAMI Seattle board so far?

-I really like the energy and professionalism of the other board members. I like learning about non-profit organizations.

Do you have any advice for aspiring or future NAMI board members?

Do you have any favorite quotes or sayings you enjoy or try to live by?

– It can’t hurt to try.

Do you have any questions for us or our class?

–Has this assignment made you more aware of the need for mental health advocacy in the community?

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