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I work a great deal with individuals with schizophrenia. I love my work. I love seeing people recover and lead the lives they want to lead. Over the years I have know many well. Some are creative, some are gifted others less so. I have mostly see their gifts as comming from the person they are not their illness. Individuals who have an illness or a disability are not defined by that illness. James Tayor is not a bi polar, he is a person who is a singer songwriter who happens to have bi polar disorder.

I have also noted that these creative gifts are more likely to come to fruition when their illness is in good remision. I have only very rarely heard people say they benefit from hearing voices or struggling with delusions. Having been hit with brain cancer myself, I had a short but educational experience of what it is like to have an impaired brain. My delusions were beneign. Still I became totally dependent on my doctors, my two wonderful sons and my very patient sisters to live my life. When the chemo killed my cancer, my delusion went away, I could think better and go back to work. Having a better functioning brain can be a blessing. Sure sometimes bi polar folks can go through surges of creativity, but they also pay a price. I also know lots of artistic types who intentionally impair their brains with drugs to enhance their creativity. There may be some utility to such an approach, but it has limits. As a musician I love playing drunk sometimes as long as I don't have to listen to the recordings.

Most of the people I know with schizophrenia (and that is a lot) really want to feel and think better. If the means are there to help them to do that, I think they have that right. Today we have more and more tools to enhance thinking and promote recovery. I think that is good think. Personally, I want to thank Dr. Lieberman, Jenifer the PA and my treatment team for helping me get my brain back. Thanks also to my family and friends for putting up with me when I was a little more goofy than I am right now.

Sam Flesher
Pittsburgh.