My name is JOHN, I have had Paranoid Schizophrenia for the last 14 years. The illness began while I was a Christian Missionary in South Africa, from 1989 to 1991.There were a number of symptoms that I had, these included, hearing voices- usually telling me to do things which were anti-God, a belief that I was being followed by a variety of people and that I was being persecuted by Satan and that witchcraft was being used against me.I was diagnosed with Paranoid Schizophrenia at Bootham Park Hospital,York,U.K in 1991.
God has been at work in my life during the 14 years since then and has taken away a lot of the symptoms of my illness. I still hear the voices telling me to do things which are anti-God and anti-Jesus, abusing him. The grace of God has been evident in my life and he continues to be at work in my life, changing my heart from the inside, giving me a new mind and spirit .
There have been times when I have questioned God as to why he allowed me to have this illness? But the only answer I have gotten back, is that, it is for his glory and outworking of his greater purposes. I find this somehow hard to accept but it is an answer. It helps me to keep taking my medication, even when I don't feel like taking it because of the side-effects of it. He has taken me from a place without hope to a place where there is a hope and a future. All through medication and the help of a christian psychiatrist. It is amazing what he has done in the last 14 years.
So, I want to offer you hope in your battle with mental illness, particularly schizophrenia. God can be trusted to work in our lives, just as he has worked in my life. The purpose of this page is to help those suffering from schizophrenia and other mental illnesses to get a christian perspective on their illness and above all to offer hope in Jesus. This hope may take the form of being made new in Jesus, released from the symptoms of the particular illness you suffer from. Or it may just be a hope for a better tommorrow free from illness, looking towards heaven and all that it entails. Maybe, it is just for a better day, whatever, there is hope in Jesus, for today and all our tommorrows.
I would appreciate hearing from you, about your stories, about how God has worked in your life, how he helps you cope with your illness. You can email me at the address below. If I can be of any assistance or help with Government Departments or with things with regard to your illness, paricularly to do with those suffering from Schizophrenia.
Email address : - photojohn62@yahoo.com.au
