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Navigating life at the intersection of paranoid schizophrenia and Complex PTSD is like walking a tightrope during an earthquake. The delusions and hallucinations of schizophrenia become more intense and personal when filtered through the lens of childhood trauma. When I experience a relapse, my CPTSD doesn't simply coexist with my schizophrenia—it amplifies it, creating a perfect storm of symptoms that can be overwhelming without proper support.

My journey with these dual diagnoses began long ago. Growing up with a mother who had schizophrenia provided me with both insight and fear about the condition I would later develop myself. Meanwhile, childhood experiences, including sibling abuse, laid the groundwork for Complex PTSD that would complicate my mental health landscape for decades. These experiences inspired my novels "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia" and "Three Kidnapped: Three Siblings, Three Furies"—creative expressions of the realities I've lived.

What I find most challenging is how these conditions interact in unexpected ways. During episodes, paranoia convinces me that others wish me harm, while childhood trauma resurfaces, making me feel vulnerable and unsafe again. Twenty years ago, my spouse insisted I break contact with my brother after witnessing his treatment of me and my subsequent CPTSD diagnosis—a difficult decision that proved necessary for my well-being. Yet during relapses, he still appears in my delusions as a figure of judgment and threat, bridging past trauma and present paranoia. With the support of dedicated mental health professionals and a loving spouse, I continue to navigate this complex mental landscape. By sharing my story openly, I hope to reach others who may be suffering without understanding why, demonstrating that honest discussion about mental health struggles can lead to healing and hope. Whether you live with similar conditions or support someone who does, know that recovery is possible, even with multiple diagnoses.

#siblingabuse #childsexualabuse #greekmyths #kidnapping #thriller #horror #fiction #confession #samehere #notmyshame

Here are my website and social media credentials: https://aussiemathematician.io/

https://dianadirkbywrites.com

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Amazon affiliate link for “The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia,” by Diana Dirkby: https://amzn.to/44Rhx5z and for “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies,” by Diana Dirkby: https://amzn.to/43CRLzY. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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This Podcast contains a paid promotion with Amazon.com. Breaking the silence about family violence requires courage, understanding, and sometimes, the unexpected intervention of ancient mythological forces. My new book "Three Kidnapped Three Siblings, Three Furies" emerged from my personal journey as a survivor of extensive family abuse, particularly at the hands of my brother while my parents stood by passively.

This horror thriller follows three families whose eldest teenage children vanish simultaneously after school. What unfolds is a harrowing quest to recover them, guided by ransom notes from the three Furies of Greek mythology—divine beings who punish wrongdoing within families. Through this narrative framework, I explore how our culture and even religious institutions often fail victims of sibling abuse, forcing us to "think outside the box" to address these hidden crimes.

My decision to write this as fiction rather than memoir stems from compassion—not for my abuser, but for his innocent children and grandchildren who shouldn't bear the weight of his actions. The novel features an inspiring heroine named Isabel who lives with well-managed schizophrenia and specializes in Greek mythology, demonstrating that people are not defined by their diagnoses. Through gore, supernatural elements, and mythological intervention, the book delivers a powerful message: sibling abuse is a terrible crime that too often goes unaddressed, and we must speak up when we suspect a child is suffering. If you enjoyed "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia," this new work continues my exploration of difficult truths through the protective distance of fiction. Available now in paperback, hardcover, Kindle, and audiobook formats through the Amazon affiliate link in the episode description.

#siblingabuse #childsexualabuse #greekmyths #kidnapping #thriller #horror #fiction #confession #samehere #notmyshame

Here are my website and social media credentials: https://aussiemathematician.io/

https://dianadirkbywrites.com

My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)

My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)

My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)

My YouTube channel @Diana DirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)

Amazon affiliate link for “The Overlife, A Tale Of Schizophrenia,” by Diana Dirkby: https://amzn.to/44Rhx5z and for “Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies,” by Diana Dirkby: https://amzn.to/43CRLzY. As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

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Mental health discrimination takes many forms, but one of the most insidious is how we systematically devalue older adults struggling with psychological conditions. Drawing from my lived experience with paranoid schizophrenia and as the daughter of a mother with the same condition, I've witnessed the painful intersection of ageism and mental health stigma up close.

When I turned 50 and attended my first mental health advocacy support group, I immediately felt the chill of age discrimination. Despite the wonderful work these organizations do, their focus skewed dramatically toward younger people. The unspoken message was clear: mental health resources are prioritized for those with more life ahead of them. This utilitarian approach ignores the profound truth that an older person's remaining years are arguably more precious precisely because they are fewer.

My mother's journey with schizophrenia in her later years revealed how quickly society abandons aging individuals with mental illness. As her condition worsened, complicated by anosognosia (lack of insight into her own illness), friends and family gradually disappeared. The healthcare system offered minimal support, repeatedly telling me she couldn't receive intervention unless she posed an immediate danger. Despite these challenges, her brilliant mind continued to shine. Our intellectual connection remained vibrant, providing meaningful interactions that others missed by dismissing her as merely "old and mentally ill."

Older adults navigating mental health challenges bring wisdom accumulated through decades of experience—insights into what treatments work, what coping strategies help, and how to maintain dignity through difficult times. By marginalizing these voices, we lose invaluable knowledge that could benefit mental health care for everyone. We must recognize that growth, recovery, and meaningful connection remain possible at any age.

Subscribe to my channel on YouTube (see below) and visit my website to learn more about my novel "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia" and join me in advocating for mental health care that values every person, regardless of age.

#ageism #seniorhealth #mentalillness #bekind

My websites and social media:

https://dianadirkbywrites.com

https://aussiemathematician.io/

My Instagram: @dianadirkby_writings (https://www.instagram.com/dianadirkby_writings/)

My Facebook Page: Diana Dirkby Writings (https://www.facebook.com/DianaDirkbyAuthor)

My X-account: @dianadirkby (https://x.com/DianaDirkby)

My YouTube channel @Diana DirkbyWrites (https://www.youtube.com/@DianaDirkbyWrites)