I am considered a nice young man at my church. I am a deacon, usher, and first responder. I socialize a lot after service in the Friendship Room, where we gather for cookies and coffee and fellowship. It was here, today, that I told my assistant minister and a man who has his own radio show that I am schizophrenic and bipolar. They knew already that I was an alcoholic. They thought nothing of it. They treated me the same after the revelation as before it. This is a common response to my illness. The stigma seems to be the product of the mental health profession and not the public at large. I work at Walgreens and everyone in my workplace knows I am schizophrenic. Now they know at my church. I live in a hi-rise. The requirement for living here is a mental l health problem. However, no one talks about it. It is all hush-hush. Yet that’s how we got here, a diagnosis of being off our rocker. I outgrew my diagnosis. The other residents have not.
Coming out at church
Published by Christopher G. Bremicker
Special Forces medic stationed at Ft. Bragg NC from 1968 to 1970. BA English and MBA, both from University of Minnesota. Fisherman, grouse hunter, downhill skier.. Plays handball and reviews theater. Present job at Walgreens in St. Paul MN is forty-sixth job since high school. Hometown is Cable WI. View more posts
Sounds like you’re doing just fine!
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