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What if you could find hope and resilience in the midst of living with paranoid schizophrenia? Join Diana Dirkby as she explores her personal journey in navigating life with this challenging brain disorder. As the host of "Schizophrenia as I Live it," Diana shares how she has built a fulfilling life by setting realistic daily goals and finding support through mental health advocacy groups like NAMI and SANE Australia. Her story is one of overcoming stigma and setbacks, and she emphasizes that life can be rewarding despite mental health challenges. Diana's mission is clear: to inspire others to see beyond diagnoses and find hope in unexpected places.

Diana also dives into her literary world, inviting listeners to explore her book "The Overlife: A Tale of Schizophrenia" and eagerly anticipating her upcoming novel "Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings, Three Furies." Through compelling characters like Isabel Morse, Diana challenges stereotypes and uncovers the often-taboo issues faced by families. With elements of horror and thriller, these stories not only entertain but also shed light on the complexities of mental health. Connect with Diana on Instagram (@dianadirkby_writings) and her new website for updates on her writing, as she continues her fight to support mental health awareness and challenge societal norms.

#DianaDirkby #TheOverlife #ATaleofSchizophrenia #Schizophrenia #MentalIllness #FamilyDynamics #CaregiverBurden #Resilience #Hope #MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthStigma #Strength #Love #Compassion #SecondChance #Transformation #Fiction #MentalHealthPortrayal #FamilyStruggles #EmotionalTurmoil #PoignantStory #GrippingNarrative #UnforgettableCharacters #MustReadBook #Amazon

Pastime With Good Company by King Henry VIII, played by The Chestnut Brass Company 

Pastime With Good Company, composed by King Henry VIII, played by The Chestnut Brass Company

Episode Transcript

I (00:00):
Hello, my name is Diana Dirkby and I live with paranoid
schizophrenia.
Welcome to my podcast,schizophrenia as I Live it.
I want to underline that my newwebsite and email are now live.
My website's address is in thispodcast title dianaderkbywrites

(00:24):
.
com.
My new email address is also inthis podcast title diana a
dianadirkbywrites.
com.
My brand new, enhancedInstagram account can be found

(00:45):
at a dianaderkby.
Under slash writings,everything on my older website
has been transferred to the newone.
In particular, you will stillfind my blog and podcast
featured on the new site.
I went with professional help tomake my website more

(01:06):
informative and inviting.
Where do I see the future ofthis podcast going?
The title "Schizophrenia as Ilive it will always be relevant,
as indeed I live with thisbrain disorder.
However, I am much more thanjust my mental illness and I
also want to highlight how Ihave managed to achieve a happy

(01:30):
and fulfilled life despite mydiagnosis.
My life is not without problems, and some of these problems are
weighty and originate in mymental illness.
However, I have found the hopeto believe I can always get past
such setbacks with the help ofmy caregiver- spouse and doctors

(01:52):
.
I also remind myself constantlythat failing to reach a preset
goal due to problems with mymental illness is not a tragedy.
I am learning more every dayabout compromise.
What can I reasonably expect todo on any given day?
I ask myself that question atthe beginning of the day and

(02:16):
then prioritise so that I do themore urgent tasks first.
I want to encourage hope in thehearts of all mental health
consumers, even when they can'tfind it directly.
One place to find hope is inhealth advocacy groups like NAMI
, ring Change to Mind or SANEAustralia.

(02:38):
Going to a mental healthsupport group once a week can be
supportive and uplifting.
I have spoken a lot in thispodcast about my published book,
the Overlife, A Tale ofSchizophrenia by Diana Dirkby,
my pen name.
My real name is Paula Tretkoff.

(02:59):
If you visit the book on Amazonor just search for it on Amazon
using my pen name, iana Dirkby,you will find it as a paperback
, as a Kindle book and as anaudio book.
I encourage everyone to listento the audio book as it makes
the whole story come alive tohear it as a tale told to you by

(03:19):
someone else.
My forthcoming novel, hreeKidnapped, three Siblings, three
Furies, by Diana Dirkby will bepublished soon.
Information about the book ison my new website and social
media.
For insight into both books.
I especially recommend myInstagram account,

(03:42):
@dianaderkby__writings.
My website will direct you toother social media accounts
featuring my books and myself.
The fiction novel ThreeKidnapped, hree Siblings, three
Furies, features a heroinecalled Isabel Morse who lives

(04:03):
with paranoid schizophrenia.
She is 35 years old and single.
After a long effort by herselfand her doctors, her
schizophrenia symptoms have beenunder control for some years.
She suffers stigma from some ofthe population in the town she
lives in, but has a trustedfriend who always sticks up for

(04:25):
her, ather Lewis, who is 55 anda Catholic priest.
The book is in thehorror-thriller genre but deals
with damaging problems in threefamilies.
These isolating problems areoften taboo in conversation,
even within families where theyoccur.
Isabel Morse's schizophreniadoes not contribute to solving

(04:49):
the central problems of thenovel.
Instead, her many other aspectsmake her invaluable.
Isabel is much more than herschizophrenia.
Advocating for mental healthinvolves knowing the typical
symptoms and descriptions ofmental health consumers and
their experiences.
This narrative can be writtenin the fiction genre, as I did

(05:13):
with the character Sarah and hermother, odie, in the Overlife A
Tale of Schizophrenia, basingit closely on my experience of
the same situation.
Mental illness can be isolating.
Sometimes the symptoms make youwish just to rest and be alone.
You may be in a situation wherethe people you live with do not

(05:34):
try to understand you.
Three Kidnapped, Three Siblings.
Three Furies deals with anotherproblem that can be isolating
sibling abuse.
The Three Furies from Greekmythology are surreal players in
the drama who force the truth,the thriller part, to emerge
through horrific acts, thehorror part performed on three

(05:57):
kidnapped teens from threeseparate families.
These nightmares occur eventhough there is a lot of love in
the three families directlyaffected by the shock of the
kidnapping of their eldest child.
So I see no reason to changethe title of my podcast, even
when I write about matters thatdo not involve schizophrenia.

(06:17):
I live with schizophrenia and Ialways will involve
schizophrenia.
I live with schizophrenia and Ialways will.
So my writing will always bepart of schizophrenia as I live
it.
Thank you for listening.