Medications Changed My Life, 1990s, Kathleen McCain
From MemoryArchive
Who: Kathleen McCain What: Life-changing meds When: 1990s Where: New York, New York
Today I am happy to be alive. Taking a new antipsychotic drug has changed my life and my attitude. But, the 15 years before I found this medication were not easy. I lost my family, my home, and nearly my life.
I married at 19 years of age and had my son at 20. Three years later my daughter was born. The children were the light of my life. I loved them and domestic life very much. When my daughter was in kindergarten I went back to school. I graduated from Cerritos College in 1977 and later attended California State University-Long Beach, but never graduated.
When I was 31 years of age, I started having schizophrenic episodes. I couldn't take care of myself and because I was psychotic and paranoid, I wouldn't let anyone help. My husband divorced me. After surviving my ups and downs for several years, my children became too ashamed of me and went to live with my parents. That hurt. I sold my house and spent the money foolishly. I was scared of myself, but I thought I could overcome my illness if I was just more careful about my environment. I turned to church and psychiatrists for help. The doctors half-heartedly gave me medications that didn't work and that had terrible side effects. As soon as I was better, I quit taking them because I felt like I was being forced to take poison.
Finally, in 1993 a nurse at a local mental health clinic referred me to the research department at UCLA's Harbor General Hospital in Torrance, California. She said they had a new drug that "was like a cure," and there would be money in it for me if I stayed in the program for a year. I couldn't refuse. I owed it to my family and myself to make another effort to get well.
The doctors were very optimistic about this new drug. The one I took is called olanzapine. Other medications include risperidone, clozapine and quetiapine. I took it and they monitored my monthly progress. I did very well. I went from living in a board-and-care facility to living in an apartment within months. Best of all, I no longer had the symptoms of schizophrenia (like voices and thought disorders). There have been no side effects either. Just taking a tiny pill once a day makes my life livable once again.
My family is back together and very proud of me. I live a full life. From time to time I am asked by UCLA to make speaking engagements about my success. I take art classes at a local community college and attend church. I am ever so thankful for my success in overcoming my mental illness with this drug and I hope that speaking out about my experience will help.
Reproduced with permission from New York City Voices, where you will also find more information about recovery.
