Hello all! It was wonderful to meet Taylor earlier to discuss life with schizoaffective disorder. I’m grateful to him for sharing such honest insights into what schizoaffective disorder (SZA) is like, how substance use may influence the development of psychosis in people who have a predisposition to psychosis, a glimpse into his internal world with SZA (e.g. what hallucinations and delusions feel like and how they can change depending on the situation), experiences with the healthcare system and medication, positives that have come from having SZA, and the value that people with SZA bring to the world/appreciating the way that people with SZA think outside the box. Taylor also discusses how music, hiking, and fishing have been therapeutic experiences for him.

Timestamps:

00:00 - 1:29: What do you most wish people understood about SZA?

1:30 - 6:22: How did SZA develop for you? What traits/symptoms do you currently have?

6:23 - 7:55: Experience with misdiagnosis

7:56 - 10:44: Most challenging part of having SZA

10:45 - 11:54: Positives/personal growth from having SZA

11:55 - 13:44: Experiences with the mental healthcare system

13:45 - 16:07: How music and hiking have been therapeutic

16:08 - 18:14: Advice to friends/family of people with SZA

18:15 - 20:44: Closing thoughts

Disclaimer: This video is for educational and informational purposes only. It aims to reduce stigma and promote understanding about mental health conditions and substance use. The views expressed in this video are those of the interviewee.

#schizoaffective #mentalhealth #neurodiversity #neurodivergence #interview #schizophrenia #hallucinations #delusions #bipolar