SAFE SPACE: What is it like to live with Schizophrenia?

In this SAFE SPACE episode we're going to find out what it's like to live with a diagnosis of Schizophrenia so we can understand it better and help reduce some of the stigma surrounding this mental wellbeing issue.

Jess sits down with 45-year-old Phoebe Kingston who has a lived experience of mental distress including a diagnosis of Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, and more recently, Dissociative Identity Disorder. 

Phoebe openly shares the stigma and discrimination they've faced, which can often be more distressing than the symptoms of the illness itself. You’ll hear first hand what it's like to experience an acute, psychotic and delusional paranoid episode.

There is so much we can learn from Phoebe including the importance of compassionate listening and human connection, while debunking some common myths and misconceptions surrounding Schizophrenia.

Phoebe works in several roles across the mental health sector, and is a lived experience peer ambassador for SANE Australia. Phoebe has a special interest area in advocacy for alternative understandings of mental & emotional distress. So in this conversation you'll hear Phoebe use non clinical language from a carefully chosen framework of understanding and self-identity. Everyone's personal lived experience story is unique, and Phoebe is termed a ‘critical democratic peer worker’ for their overarching perspectives on mental well being.

Content Warning: This episode touches on suicide and you’ll hear some detailed descriptions of what it’s like to experience psychosis. If anything in this story has caused you distress you might like to contact lifeline 13 11 14 or Blue Knot Foundation that deals with childhood trauma

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LINKS:

If you need support or want to learn more about Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective disorder or or you’re looking to connect to other people in this situation Sane Australia 

Visit The Warren Academy for more of Phoebe’s recommended resources

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CREDITS:
Host: Jessica Rowe
Guest: Phoebe Kingston 
Executive Producer: Nic McClure
Audio Producer: Nat Marshall 
Digital Content Producer: Zoe Panaretos

The Jess Rowe Big Talk Show acknowledges the Gadigal people, Traditional Custodians of the land on which we recorded this podcast, and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders peoples here today.

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