Going on Vacation With Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder

Going on vacation with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder is mandatory for those of us with the disorder. We can't just leave it at home. We bring it along. But that doesn’t mean you can’t unwind, relax, and have fun while on vacation with a mental illness. Sure, there will be tough moments, as there always are with any illness. When you vacation with a chronic illness like schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder, the key is to focus on the fun times and not expect everything to be perfect.

A Good Vacation With Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective Disorder

I had one of the most magical, blissful, heavenly moments of my life while on vacation with my family. I felt like I was 14 or 15 again, before the heavy clinical depression, that was to be a nearly constant companion, set in. I felt weightless—because depression really does weigh you down. In this moment, I was sitting on a pier overlooking the lake in Wisconsin, dangling my bare feet over the edge.

What was especially magical was that I felt like a kid again with my husband, Tommy, who was sitting right next to me, dangling his feet over the side of the pier, too. I felt like a kid while sitting next to the love of my adult life. The feeling was almost indescribable. And almost as quickly as it came, it went away. Luckily I snapped the picture at the right moment as a testament to what I was looking at during the fleeting sense of bliss.

There were a lot of other good times on the same trip. Tommy and I shared a vacation home on Rowley’s Bay with my parents, my brother, and my brother’s girlfriend. Another great time also involves my husband: he bought me a pair of handmade, sterling silver and turquoise earrings for our eighth wedding anniversary. Even the bad things turned out to be good, as they so often do. For example, one restaurant got so noisy that I had to step outside with Tommy (Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective Disorder, Overstimulation).

My brother and his girlfriend came out after us, and I told them I felt scared and also embarrassed for having to leave. My brother’s girlfriend assured me I am protected and loved, and there was no reason to be embarrassed (Seeing Someone in a Mental Health Crisis). From now on, whenever I feel scared or even just nervous, I can remind myself that I am protected and loved. But the point is that I had to go through that experience to be able to add that memory to my toolbox.

Hearing Schizoaffective or Schizophrenic Voices On Vacation

It did get to be a recurring theme that I got freaked out while going out to dinner with everyone. So I was really relieved on the night my mom made dinner at the resort cabin where we stayed. But, wouldn’t you know it, that was the night that my voices decided to drop in. Well, I have to admit they did have good timing. Imagine what a disaster it would’ve been if we had been out. My dad was watching the news, which was muffled by our closed bedroom door. Tommy asked, “What are they saying?”

At that moment, the voices were making fun of me for hearing voices and making fun of some absurd political news. I replied, “They’re making fun of how ridiculous the news is.”

Tommy said, “Well, that kind of makes sense, right?”

I laughed and said, “That’s what I hate about my voices. They always make sense.” (Schizophrenic, Schizoaffective Voices Can Say Good Things)

Keeping a sense of humor is key to dealing with hearing voices, having any illness, the unplanned surprises on vacation, or, really, anything.

Coping With Hearing Voices On Vacation

Photo by Elizabeth Caudy.

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