First person account: "freedom" means knowing you have a choice

The following essay is my contribution to the First Person Accounts section of the Schizophrenia Bulletin. After a description of the development of my schizophrenic illness, I briefly address the issues of treatment noncompliance, institutionalization, and how they have affected my life. The main focus of my article is on personal control over the illness and on recognizing when medication is necessary. I give a personal example of how I have controlled some minor symptoms without medication, with the understanding that when symptoms become too disruptive, medication is helpful and certainly indicated.