I have a character with paranoid schizophrenia who starts the story not being medicated and doesn't really want to be so far.
She has frequent auditory hallucinations since childhood, but she likes them and has friendly bond with them.
I've done a lot of research on how different people lead with their auditory hallucinations, and chose to take this approach because they're usually always portrayed negatively in media when that is not the case for everyone who experiences psychosis.
What I'm wondering is if it would be alright for her to want to seek treatment later on. In the world she's currently in (fantasy setting), there's no way she can consult with a health care professional nor get actual medication, but she can seek healing magic which would have a similar effect to antipsychotics.
I wanted to know if it is alright for me, as someone who is not on the schizospectrum, to portray her symptoms getting worse and more overwhelming over time and have her make the decision to seek help.
Being neurodivergent, I know how wrong people can get the relationships we have with our conditions, and I also know not everyone would like to see certain struggles be shown in media. However, I would like to show both the good parts of her condition (how important the voices are to her) as well as the less good parts, always as carefully and respectfully as possible, of course.
Thank you already for your time and for this amazing blog! It has been very useful to me.
Hello there, friend!
There are obviously a lot of ways to experience relationships with auditory hallucinations or any symptom of psychosis and schizophrenia specifically. I have friends with psychosis and with schizophrenia or schizoaffective specifically who have decided against taking medication - there are also people with these disorders who have decided against medication but been given medication anyways.
It is also possible for someone to have symptoms for a while that get worse - for schizophrenia and schizoaffective specifically there is usually a period called prodrome or the prodromal phase where certain negative symptoms (symptoms that take away such as lack of affect or lack of energy, difficulty with hygeine, and so forth) become more pronounced and light psychotic symptoms develop until they become more severe in the "active" phase of the disorder.
as for having symptoms as a child that get severe in late teenage years or young adulthood...it is possible. There are multiple people I know, including myself, who had psychotic experiences as a younger child that later turned from magical thinking and odd experiences to active psychosis later. But I do want to stress that childhood schizophrenia is much more rare than it is often represented in media, and often more severe than how it shows up as an adult. Your character would likely have psychotic experiences but not full-blown active psychosis or schizophrenia until later. I also want to add that sometimes children have experiences that may seem odd and that is not always disordered, even in a character with a thought disorder!
However, with that in mind - having symptoms get from comforting to disturbing enough to seek help is absolutely a narrative that happens, and I think it's a great one to include in the character.
One last small thing - paranoid schizophrenia may or may not be used depending on where in the world the story takes place or when the story takes place. The DSM-5 no longer puts schizophrenia into subtypes but the ICD still does! Something to think about.
-Mod Bert
Sun...? Earth...? Lunar...? You should probably check on your brother.... He's...not okay...
(Seriously, though, someone needs to talk to him aside from Monty; I'm worried he'll do something he'll regret...)
This is great. I love the peanut.
It reminds me a bit of Winnie the Pooh art style ❤️
My guess on what Dazzle or Evelyn will probably look like. A tiny little deer.
"I am Worm Horse, and I... I am sad."
"Why are you sad, Worm Horse?" "Because! I have no legs!"
"Oh... Well that's okay!"
"I lost my legs in the war!" "(gasp) The war?!"
"Yes! The great pirate war!" "No. No pirates."
"The great pirate war!" "If you keep talking about pirates, I will punch you."
...
"I fought bravely, but I could not run fast enough-"
"They took my legs! There was blood everywhere!"
"Oh no, ew, no blood! Blood is disgusting!" "No? It's cool! (laughing)"
"Well, Banana Pudding is here to save the day!"
"With his magical feet he dances around with, he will dance all over Worm Horse and make him feel better!"
"And then... There will be more blood!"
Please leave Worm Horse alone, he doesn't need more blood. :((
I know the Worm Horse comparison/foreshadowing has been pointed out a million times before, but I love it (and hate it) so much that I had to do this. Here's to hoping there will not actually be more blood for Worm Horse.
You know how Dazzle said Jack taught her how to kill someone, right? Imagine if she were prompted to do so in her new body.
Like, hypothetically (realistically, I'm 78% sure they wouldn't actually do this), Moon gives Dazzle a knife and forgets to tell Sun. Dazzle doesn't tell him because she doesn't think much of it, obviously.
But one day, when Dark Sun or Nexus, or whatever threat comes into the Daycare, Sun watches in horror as his little deer daughter just starts stabbing at their ankles.
Moon gives a quiet thumbs up. Lunar is cheering her on. Earth is too stunned to speak.
And after the threat is over, Sun tears Moon a new one- physically and/or verbally.
Okay, that is all. *Tries to squeeze back through the crack but fails*
I'll...just use the door.
GUYSSSS IM SO SCARED
FOUND THIS IN THE TLAES THUMBNAIL
(CW for meds, I guess. If that's not right, lmk)
"You know what's great about living where I live!? There's just...free cats. Cats everywhere."
"Uh-huh. Those meds are really workin', aren't they bud?"
"I can feel them."
"That is a rug. You are lying on the floor."
"Why do... these cats taste salty?"
"And it's time to get you to bed."
Here are some ways to introduce characters in a story
The Action Introduction, Show the character in the midst of an exciting or significant action. This immediately captures the reader's attention and gives them an impression of the character's personality. For example, "With a swift swing of her sword, Maya cleaved through the enemy ranks, her determined gaze never wavering."
The Dialogue Introduction, Introduce the character through a captivating conversation or monologue that reveals their thoughts, beliefs, or conflicts. This allows readers to get a glimpse into the character's personality and motivations. For example, "As the rain poured down, James leaned against the lamppost and muttered, 'Life's just a series of missed opportunities, isn't it?'"
The Physical Description Introduction, Describe the character's appearance in a vivid and memorable way. Focus on unique features or attributes that make them stand out. For example, "Her emerald-green eyes shimmered like pools of liquid wisdom, and her silver-streaked hair cascaded down her back like a flowing river."
The Entrance Introduction, Have the character make a grand entrance that immediately grabs attention. This could involve a dramatic arrival or an unexpected appearance that disrupts the scene. For example, "The doors swung open, and in walked a tall figure cloaked in darkness, their presence filling the room with an air of mystery and intrigue."
The Symbolic Introduction, Use symbolic elements or objects to introduce the character. This can be a powerful way to convey their personality or role in the story. For example, "As the sun set behind the mountains, a solitary figure emerged from the shadows, their footsteps leaving behind a trail of delicate rose petals."
The Flashback Introduction, Begin with a flashback or memory that provides insight into the character's past and sets the stage for their introduction in the present. This can create intrigue and a sense of anticipation. For example, "Sarah closed her eyes and let her mind drift back to that fateful day in her childhood, the day that shaped her into the strong, resilient woman she had become."
The Contrast Introduction, Introduce the character by highlighting a sharp contrast between their external appearance or behavior and their inner thoughts or emotions. This can create intrigue and pique the reader's curiosity. For example, "Despite his rugged exterior and tattooed arms, Jake possessed a gentle touch and a heart that yearned for love and acceptance."
Look, we all love you, but if you continue to lie like this, the truth will eventually come out in a VERY bad way...
At LEAST be honest with Sun...
(I am way too invested in this show. Am I gonna stop watching? Absolutely not.)
These two are precious beans and no one can tell me otherwise! I loved the scene where Dazzle and Sun hugged each other after she got her new body. It was very sweet and I had to draw it.
I love the bond these two have with each other so much. And I can't wait to see what else they’ll get into.
"I like my boys how I like my girls..."
*Holding up a sketchbook* "With huge muscles?"
*Blushing furiously* "Where did you get that-"
A fandom nerd who dabbles in a bit of every art form. Writing and drawing especially.
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