In a study published online Aug. 19 in Schizophrenia Bulletin (2014 IF 8.45), veteran Jason Jepson recounts his 10-year battle with schizophrenia and eventual victory. Here is the patient’s account: I just passed the 10th anniversary of my schizophrenia diagnosis. Time flies! Some battles end after a single skirmish, while others, last a lifetime. When the diagnosis came unannounced, my life was filled with paranoia and delusions of grandeur. I was in an out-of-control state. I responded to all the irresistible forces of the outside world with bizarre behavior. The voices in my ears isolated me from the world and continued to rage even when I tried to sleep. I was in control of a world that no one else could see or hear. In fact, I was drifting down a path that led to my own demise. The last ten years have been really hard. I have been hospitalized, changed medications numerous times, and lived a major lifestyle in turmoil. These experiences have brought me to my current state of ongoing recovery. I am fully aware that the road to recovery never ends. A plain truth is that I must follow the principles of recovery, not just for the next month or the next six months, but for the rest of my life. Here are the principles of recovery: Principle 1: Be sure to stay on your medication. You may feel better after 1 or 2 months of medication, but that doesn’t mean you can live completely off of them. You are not “cured”. Medications are enough to make a difference in our lives. Never adjust your medication until you talk to your doctor. Principle 2: Find your own support system. I am fortunate to have great family support, but I know that not everyone is as fortunate as I. McGuire has mental health professionals to guide you on how to find your own support system. Church groups, neighbors, and your old war buddies are brothers and sisters who can stand alongside you and provide the support you need for continued recovery. You can’t win on your own. You must ask for help. Principle 3: Find where your fun lies. These activities can provide a refuge for you when those troubling thoughts try to burrow their way into your mind. Examples include: music, brain games, contributing to journals, exercising, following a sport or sports team; using computer simulations to visit places where you served in the military; staying ahead of the times by watching the news or other insightful programs such as history or the National Geographic Channel. Principle 4: Stay away from habits that may be harmful to medication use or health. When I first started medicating, I reasoned that alcohol would dissipate those voices. I was dead wrong! I had no choice but to quit drinking altogether. With God’s help, I likewise kicked the habit of smoking three packs a day. Sickness, mediation, recovery, it’s a battle. The four weapons I mentioned above will improve your chances of taking this fight. As a veteran, you know what it means to fight a battle. It’s not easy, but it’s not impossible to sing all the way to the top. In the ten years since my initial diagnosis, I have battled homelessness, alcohol addiction, isolation, and the occasional feeling of hopelessness; but after 10 years, it is clear that I am here, looking down on the disease. I am not trapped by the disease. I am Jason Jepson. I am a schizophrenic and I am in recovery.