When I was in my early 30s, I had to go to a state facility hospital. After my release, I went to another hospital to stay for a while. At that time, they told me I was schizoaffective – I had no idea what that meant, and I felt like I was the only one.

I have been in and out of hospitals for the last 20 years and finally, I met other people who are schizoaffective. I was blown away by how their story and mine were so similar, but at the same time, so different. About 10 years ago, I came to a point where I started doing research about my disorder found out that I don’t have a mental illness; I have a mental Wellness.

I stay hard and grow my coping skills. I will not be defeated. My name is Phyllis; it’s who I am. Yes, I’m schizoaffective, with PTSD and high anxiety, just to name a few, lol. I will not be a victim, but I am victorious. The more you grow, the more you learn. The more you learn you begin to understand peace. In 2012, I found out that I had tardive dyskinesia, and in 2019 I found out that I have dementia. Again, I might fall, but I’m damn sure I’m going to get up. Because people fear what they do not understand, I believe that the Stigma Fighters are helping us through these troubling times.

Laughter is the best medicine and music uses our entire brain meditation gives us peace August I have learned since I was 32 years old on another note I just found out that because I have tardive dyskinesia that I now have stage 3 dementia God knows he can help me through this!