I am a psych nurse who had a brother with schizophrenia. I worked in hospitals first and then in community mental health with people with schizophrenia and am so impressed by your videos. Your relationship with your dad is amazing. The hardest part is getting people with this disease to accept their illness and to continue to take their medication. You are an inspiration and are going to help a lot of people.

I lost my old life after the illness hit for me. I was doing well in college, had friends and lived a care free life feeling I could do anything. After getting psychosis by the end of my first year of college, I was fully dysfunctional and had to go back and live my parents, leaving my friends and old college life behind. I started living a lonely life after that barely going outside but now I've been picking myself up again. I'm on my third semester of college in a completely different part of the world now and going strong

What a beautiful relationship of Stephen and his Dad. My brother in law had a mental break and was hospitalized. He was completely depleted of Vitamin D. It totally messed with his version of reality. He had to get injections of Vitamin D. He is doing better. I am so happy for Stephen and hope he continues to feel good. What a brave, handsome young man.

I am so grateful and glad that you are talking about the grief aspect after coming out of psychosis. I was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 14 and it feels like I am stuck at the point in my life and cannot get past that because I've missed so many milestones and now I'm 30 constantly comparing myself to those around me and who have gone through all the milestones and it causes me a huge amount of internal pain. I thought that this was just me. I've been drinking diagnosed with depression and anxiety in the last few years as well and it's something I try to cope with everyday. It's hard because I am not the person who I was before epilepsy hit me. This video is extremely comforting to me. Thank you both very much and God bless you

I sat here feeling for you both. My Mother suffered from this all her life and was hospitalized many times. You know what i would never have changed her for anybody else. she was caring, loving, clean, tidy and looked after us all and managed to run a perfect home even when she was at her worst points. I bet your dad is worried about the future, but you will cope and live a normal life as possible as long you have loving people around you. My mum had years of suffering this condition and lived up to 89, she would still be here if it was not for cancer. She settled down in her later years with no more episodes. Your relationship will always be special together like me and my late mum. Keep up the good work. Look forward to restarting your new life. It will come and you will find happiness. Thanks for you Videos

Awesome relationship you and your Dad have! The hug.... tears. I wish I had the same support

My son has been ill with schizophrenia for the past 12 years and has tried many different medications, but continued to have a lot of symptoms. He's starting a trial of Clozapine this week, and I'm hopeful he'll finally get his life back.I'm very happy for you and I hope you continue to improve.

Thank you so much for sharing this. In a few weeks, I will start as a researcher at a hospital in the Netherlands. The goal of the research is to predict if patients will be treatment resistant and should take clozapine immediately based on their DNA. It would be amazing if we could achieve this, as it might have saved Stephen some years of non-effective medication if we were able to make an accurate prediction based on his DNA. Thanks again, I will come back to this when I feel demotivated to remember why I am doing this. Love from the Netherlands!

I personally want to thank you for helping me to understand my younger son. He currently has five different diagnoses, but early onset schizophrenia, at least since age 11, is right on the money. His symptoms are just like Stephen's. I can now understand a little better when my son keeps saying he is too tired for chores and that it takes so much effort to do homework.

I am deeply touched by your video Stephen. It has been a difficult journey since my son was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Thank you so much for helping break the stigma by sharing your story! Blessings to you and your father.

Your dad is so supporting... you need a good support group when dealing with this ...

Stephen, you and your dad are just incredible. Thank you

I wish I had a dad like yours. So clear he loves and cares about you. Lucky!

Wow!!😭😭 Thank you for sharing your story. Just dropped my son off at B-MED again. He was just diagnosed and i understand how lonely it can feel for the person suffering as well as the fanily. What a beautiful relationship you have. ❤️

My younger son lost his old life when he was 11. He had long been diagnosed with severe anxiety and high functioning autism and was a little different but accepted pretty well by his fifth grade class. Then the mental illness suddenly got a whole lot worse, with delusions of grandeur, racing thoughts, fascination with conspiracy theories from the internet, suicidal thoughts, running away from school, self harm, and needing a one on one teacher's aid. He used to laugh all of the time, showing off his dimples. Then he became extremely depressed all of the time and consumed by strange worries. He went from good attendance to poor. He used to have a big class birthday party every year. Fifth grade was the last one. My 16-year-old is better than at his worst, but things are changed. Like Stephen, even with delusions and hallucinations gone due to meds and monthly electroshock, there are lots of negative symptoms. Since turning 11-his story has been just like Stephen's

I am a mother with a son with severe schizophrenia. His first hospitalization was in August of 2010 at 18 years. He was on Risperadal but in the beginning went off it because he felt well again after taking it for a while. He became psychotic again and had to be hospitalized again. He went off again in 2012 when he went to massage school because he feared the medication would go through his hands onto the people he massaged. He had another psychotic episode but managed to go back qnd finish massage school. I took him to Toronto to a doctor who prescribed a meat diet , no carbs and vitamin therapy instead of Risperadal. Six months later he had another psychotic episode in January of 2014. The head psychiatrist of the community hospital at that time was sending the more severe ill patients to the state hospital which was a nightmare far beyond One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest or Snake Pit, more like the movie Shelter Island. The psychiatrist at the state hospital loaded my son up with Halidol at such a high dose that he had to shuffle to walk. The other patients were so heavily medicated they were like ghosts. It took five months to get my son out of there, even though they let him go home on the weekend for the last couple of months. He was discharged on monthly injections Risperadal which did not work so he was back in our community hospital behavioral science unit with another psychotic episode after a month. Risperadal no longer worked so the doctor decided on Clozaril. It took over a month to get him on a high enough dose for it to work. During that time my son was catatonic, unable to move, at one point on an IV and needing to be turned in bed because he couldn't move at all. The Clozaril eventually took effect and as soon as my son could walk and eat again the head psychiatrist insisted on sending him to a state hospital. We managed to have him sent to a different one which was much, much better. He was released to our care after three weeks. He was so much better on Clozaril, and Vraylar and an anti depressant was eventually added. He was still hospitalized every two months or 5 or 6 times a year when he would become distressed by the voices he heard, which can be quite bullying. My son does not have anosognosia. He knows he has schizophrenia. Nevertheless, he hears voices whom he believes are disembodied people. He is able to maintain many of his hobbies, writing music, playing the guitar, drawing, fishing and fly tying. He has made friends fishing. He often catches trout, bass and salmon from the huge lakes nearby. He sleeps 12 to 14 hours a day so does not work. After 10 years of being hospitalized, roughly every two months, he has now been home for 3 years without a hospitalization. He still hears voices that lead to poor judgment when he listens to them, so we still have a ways to go. Clozaril has been a tremendous help, though, in actually addressing his symptoms of schizophrenia rather than just tranqilizing him. I am grateful for the doctor who put him on it. I wish we had known about Clozaril from the start as it would have spared us all much pain.

I truly admire you Sir, you are such an inspiring Father to your awesome Son, May God continue to bless you with abundant health and wisdom 🙏🏻

Thank you for sharing your experience with us. My daughter has been suffering from schizophrenia for 8 years now. She couldn't go on Clozapine because her neutraphil levels fluctuate and sometimes go below the threshold. Recently, there has been a change to treatment policy and with the review and approval of two haemotologists, people with low baseline neutraphil levels can have a trial of Clozapine. She is now just into her fourth week and is starting to show some small improvement. Very small but encouraging. It is inspiring to hear your story and we hope our daughter can recover as well.

The best video yet. Totally touches on post psychosis and the reality of the illness. My son takes Envega injection and positive symptoms are gone, but still flat.

Thanks for the openness and clarity guys, i definitely feel the grief of a lost life personally, but it is a new challenge and a new life we can face. Wishing you and your family all the best, thanks once again

Hi Stephen, your story is very inspirational. My son was diagnosed with schizophrenia 12 years ago, and it's been a really tough journey for him. He may be starting a trial of Clozapine in a couple of weeks, which we pray will lift him from his ongoing psychosis. Best of luck and take care.

My daughter has tried Olanzapine, Abilify, and Respidone. She had the worst psychosis while on Abilify. She’s now starting on Clozapine. We’re very hopeful. Thanks so much for sharing your story. This is very helpful.

Your family support is awesome, your doctors heroic. Steven I wish you the best outcomes in your journey. And I hope that your channel and productions help reduce the stigma associated with illness. I believe we have lost a good deal of our humanity in this modern rendition of our society. Let us all recognize the value of the spirit. All the best! Your dad is amazing. And so are you.

I look forward to your videos 💕 we are only six months into clozapine after suffering for 10 years. This information helps me alot so I know what to look forward to. Thank you

stephen, great to find your channel. i myself take clozaril, along with other medications i wont further disclose. its done wonders for me man. as long as you stay on your meds things will only improve for the best. lots of love

I have so much respect for both of you. You are a very strong father-son duo! I’m so glad that you found out medication that works for you. I have been praying every day for two years that my friend will have the same experience. She is very ill with schizophrenia, but she hasn’t tried clozapine yet.

My son also now in psychiatric ward with psychosis for the second time after he decided not to take his medication. It's hard to comprehend for a parent and do the right thing. Glad Steven is better and back in reality. It seems it is the hardest thing to do for schizophrenics to keep on taking their medication.

Good morning Steven, another great video! So thankful for your desire to shed light on schizophrenia. And so glad to hear about your journey back to reality. Keep up the good work...you give me hope for my son.

You're both making changes in how people view this illness! You should both be very proud!!! ❤

Glad to hear you went through the process of awakening. You 2 have the most precious relationship. To watch you relate to each other feels like a gift. Thank you for these videos. Each one I watch touches my heart ❤

it is nice the affection you guys show each other considering what you all went through.

Hello Stephen. I just want you to know how happy I am for you that you have awakened from psychosis and are doing well now. I can relate to your story and have been on a myriad of medications including some of the ones you've mentioned as well. I came out of psychosis a couple of years ago and have made many strides in my life. I am now a certified Peer Specialist, which is a person with lived experience with mental health challenges that provides support and advocacy for people in those same situations. What I've found that helped me heal the most is my belief in God. My earnest prayers and faith that I could get better and that He would protect me from all evil, danger and harm. I really love the fact that you are taking your experiences and turning them into a platform to break down the stigma associated with schizophrenia. More people suffer with it, than many know and there are many medications that do not work. It took 14 years and countless meds for me to find the medication that truly worked for my symptoms. I look forward to using your KZfaq channel as a resource in my new career. All the best.

Thank you for sharing all of this, it’s valuable to learn!

Thank you for your channel. Abilify, while hopeful, had a difficult effect after breaking up with my romantic girlfriend. Waking in the middle of the night, craving nicotine. My awareness of possible "wellness", started with olanzapine. Reduction in voices. Less delusional thinking, much better sleep. Way to go, guys!

Shout out to Steve! Worlds greatest Dad!

Thank you so much for sharing your story. We need to hear more from people in recovery, from both the people afflicted and the supporting family because it brings hope and inspiration to all those who are still suffering and cannot yet see the light. Congratulations on your successes!

what a great dad you have Stephen

Hi, my mom took her life earlier this year. I believe that she was misdiagnosed and she was not sharing a lot with me. Mom was ill with anxiety and depression when I was 17 over 30 years ago. She got ill again the end of last year but I didn't know what it was and then it hit me..but I never thought it would have been schizophrenia. All the symptoms are so similar. The first time she was ill for over 4 years which I know believe she was in a psychosis. We were left speechless and in great pain. Thank you for sharing. This video confirms to me that she was in a psychosis then and recently. God bless!

Thank you for sharing your story. This gives me hope.

I found yer guy's channel a lil bit ago, and am just now saying how much I like it now , i think what you guy's are doing is great and is helpful for people like me with a recent pychosis diagnosis .

Congrats to both of you... it's so nice to see the familial love between father and son...

You can see the love this father has for his son. Quite beautiful.

you guys have me teary eyed, to see the empathy and connection you two have for each other .It seems (ironic) that schizophrenia, brought you two closer than ever. You are doing an awesome job sharing ,your struggles ,milestones and achievements. You bring hope to so many people out there 7.72K subscribers and 20K views in one year!!!!WOW!

Much love. Trying to support a family member through your amazing videos

Thank you for sharing, Stephen and Dad. You are very helpful to many people. I work in the field and I know how hard it has been for you. My patients are lovely individuals, the same as you are. Blessings. 🥀

They've found that having no sugars or carbs leaves people with schizophrenia, symptom free. In the same way epileptics respond to a ketogenic diet. They've now since this finding, discovered many other psychiatric conditions respond positively to this. My husband had Schizophrenia Bi Polar Effective disorder. If I had k own that a strict Keto diet would've saved him. Its so sad. He hates any of the meds. You can find the research reports, its still very new.

It's great to get perspective from Stephen's father on this, but I came for Stephen's perspective on this. It seemed as if he was trying to talk for him which was interesting

Hey Stephen! I write from Sao Paolo, Brazil. My mom and my brother have the same ilness as you do. I have learned a lot from your report. You have a great dad and you are a wonderful young man. Please keep up this wonderful channel. All the best to you and your loved ones. Márcio.

Youguys are true love. Being very aware of your mind and body is sooooooo hard to do for people in general. But you have an amazing Dad that can truly teach you how to live the best way you can. So amazing and beautiful.

I appreciate you and your father being so open and honest about this illness. Your helping others deal with their own problems with their own journey with Schizophrenia.

What a difference you BOTH are making in others lives. Who knows what would have happened if you had never gotten sick, BUT you are teaching others in one of the BEST vlogs on KZfaq!!! Love you just the way you are. Love watching you guys.

Beautiful people and inspirational for all. Thank you both. Sending much love 💖💖💖

Steven gets his compassion from his dad and that helps them ..i live these humans ..such good humans

God bless you both. My nephew suffers with schizophrenia and he's in college. Thank God mathematics is a second language for him. It's extremely sad to watch him unable to connect. This is a fantastic uplifting video!!! I would love to hear you Stephen, talk about how you felt and what your thinking process was like when you was in the throws of the illness. Bless you and congratulations on your comeback! Thank you both for this video and for sharing your experience.

Your transparency and willingness to be vulnerable is an incredible blessing to those with Schizophrenia and to their support people. There are other mental illnesses that the person suffers same symptoms as Schizophrenia therefore your videos are reaching more people than you may be aware of. I will be sharing you to my friend, who's brother is Schizophrenic. Thank you so much!

I love to see the caring and affection between the two of you. It’s very heartwarming.

Thank you for this open descussion. You help a lot of people.

you guys rock! thanks so much again for your honesty and bravery.

Excellent channel. Good for you. Thank you for creating this resource!!!🙏

Wonderful. Love the video, a parents love and their un breakable family spirit! Steven, keep moving forward! Parents-you are the perfect parents for Steven!

You both are AWESOME! Thanks for sharing your stories with others. AWESOME!!!

HAPPY Christmas Stephen!!!

You two have such a relationship that is so beautiful to watch. Your so strong. Thank you for making these vids❤

You are amazing Stephen. You are making a positive out of something that could be a negative. You are going to help so many people. What a light you are!

Great info! I know the strength and the struggle. Lots of love involved. ❤️

I’ve been just diagnosed with Schizophrenia. I have major problem with loss of focus and attention. I fear I will never graduate and work and become homeless. Im wondering what are you doing for a living? How do you manage to support yourself?

Thank you Stephen and Steve, for sharing and helping others! And what an AMAZING relationship you two have! I am sure it helps your healing process and also with your successful recovery. Good Bless!.

You two are great. Thanks for sharing your hearts with the world.

You guys are fantastic for sharing this. You are helping many people in many, many ways. Besides the benefit to other folks living through similar experiences, you are educating those of us with little or no knowledge of schizophrenia. Thank you for the blessing of your open generosity.

Thank y'all for sharing. I hope the act of telling your story helps you as much as it helps others to hear it.

I've personally seen many people who finally benefit from Clozapine when nothing else has worked. Glad to hear it has helped you. Others need to know there is always hope!

Stephen is so lucky to have such a wonderful dad.

What you are doing is super admirable and brave. You both are an example of the best of humanity.

I think it's therapeutic for you 2 to be talking about that difficult time and when you're talking about something difficult in the moment, you guys embrace each other. Not only is this perhaps making your bond even stronger, you're talking through traumatic events, dealing with them head on and at the same time helping other people not to feel alone and make others aware.

I'm so glad to hear of your progress in your journey. I'm sorry for the time you have lost. It's really wonderful to see that you have support from your dad. Wishing you all the best

Thanks for sharing your story. I’m grateful for you sharing. Catching up on your videos.

You and your dad are amazing. Thank you for your channel. I’m sure you are helping thousands of people/families. ❤

I would have like to hear Stephen talk more

Thank you very much for sharing your videos to increase an understanding of schizophrenia . It's very nice to meet you.

I had no idea you can awaken from this. I had an aunt and uncle with it. Good luck Steven

Thank you for every thing you are doing to help people and families dealing with this disease. You and your father are doing a lot of good, Again thank you.

I’m so sorry you are going through this, but it’s an amazing story!!! So interesting to me how you came to realize yourself. Hard to learn how to do human adult things after being in psychosis so long, but you’re doing phenomenally.

Amazing dad I just can’t get over the support during a hard time

You two are brilliant teachers! Bravo, Stephen and Steve!! Sending you both much love and gratitude for the insight you bring to understanding Schizophrenia. I am hooked on your videos!

Thank you and Great Job Men!! Blessings 🙏

You are succeeding...keep going!!

The KZfaq channel is amazing. So are Stephen and his Dad.

You are both amazing!

Thank you for this. I’m glad you mentioned the ptsd.

You are a good example for a lot of peoples!!! Keep on going😊😊 look FORWARD!!!! And by the way i wish i had a Father just like yours❤

God please heal Stephen❤

Society has all kinds of weird ideas about mental illness because 0f Hollywood and lack of education or the way they were brought up I am so glad you and your dad are helping to change the way people think

My son lost his job, lost his car and owed over 4000.00 in fines. It is a miracle though that he's recovered now. He's got his car back and a new job. He's got himself back. How long have you been taking your medication now?

Sending you both love❤❤❤ You’re relationship and you both are incredible!!!!

You are a good father. And well done Steven.

Your relationship inspiring.

Hi Stephen,you are a great young man. Thank you for sharing.

thank you for your video

Thank you so much for sharing your experience. I know it takes a lot for f courage and you are telling your story beautifully.

LOVE this video, thank you!