What is your diagnosis?
I am officially diagnosed as schizoaffective; having symptoms of both bipolar and schizophrenia. I get an every two week injection of Risperdal Consta to control my symptoms. I also take Luvox, Lithium, and Klonopin to help.
When did you realize you had a problem?
In the early nineties when I was in college, I started to think my neighbors were spying on me. I thought they had bugged my phone and put cameras in my ceilings. I went so far as to tear out the ceilings of my apartment costing my father thousands of dollars in repairs. I would also only make phone calls on payphones.
You were married once, right?
I was married to a very beautiful, rotund woman named Rachel. We were only married for two years; both of us having problems with mental illnesses. She was a very wealthy woman and I lived a life of opulence for those two short years before she divorced me. I was very mentally ill and signed over everything to her in the divorce. All I got was a computer, camping supplies, my clothes, and a new motorcycle.
Tell me about your homelessness…
I was homeless for six months after my divorce. I was ostracized by my family for being a mentally ill drunkard. I had nowhere to go having lost my home. I lived in a tent on some land by a pond my family owns. I have a lot of fond memories and a lot of terribly, miserably cold memories of that time. I was literally drunk for six months straight without ever sobering up. It’s all a blur of memories now.
Since you don’t work, how do you support yourself?
I receive a monthly disability allotment from Social Security. It’s around a thousand dollars. I have very few bills other than the bare necessities thus can live pretty comfortably on such a small amount of money.
What about your addictions?
I’ve been sober for about 3 years now. I had a long time love affair with beer and alcohol. I also struggle with other addictions such as food, cigarettes, caffeine, Benadryl, etc. I have a very addictive personality. It is a constant and tiresome struggle.
What about Maggie?
Maggie was a rescue puppy. Dad found her thrown in a trash dumpster. She was anemic, eaten up with fleas, starving, and suffering from the early stages of heatstroke. She’s about four years old now so still has a lot of puppy left in her. Dad calls her my wife. She is right where ever I am. She has to keep up with me.
