Story 2
Journey to Recovery from Psychosis
My daughter was diagnosed with early onset schizophrenia six years ago by Dr. A. Malla, a
leading psychiatrist who established Canada's first Prevention and Early Intervention Program
for Psychoses (PEPP) in London, Ontario.
I am proud of Tara who continues to benefit from early treatment of psychosis with atypical
anti-psychotic medication, and a variety of self-styled interventions. I admire her commitment
to learning all she can about her illness, as well as her hard work at preventing relapse.
Tara and I managed to overcome obstacles presented by neurobiological disease in unique and
creative ways. After the voices and other symptoms were identified as psychosis, I began
research to help my daughter regain her health. Tara let me read her private inner experiences
captured in poems she began writing at thirteen years old. In the pages of several journals I
learned the impact schizophrenia had on my daughter's life. I realized it was vitally important
to help her re-establish a sense of identity when she 'woke-up' from her "strange dream".
I understood Tara's "world crashed down" after medication resolved psychotic symptoms, so I
encouraged her to participate in a variety of hobbies and activities to regain self-esteem.
Initially, we did things together such as joining a neighbourhood gym, learning the rudiments
of painting at an art workshop and making handcrafts to sell locally. However, as Tara gained
confidence she pursued favoured projects independently. She joined a Tai Chi class, student's
council, and wrote articles for an early psychosis newsletter outlining the impact of
schizophrenia on her life. She also discovered a hidden talent for creating shimmering,
textured and richly symbolic textile art, which she enjoys displaying to raise awareness of
psychosis in young people.
Presently, Tara is pursuing full-time studies in Psychology at the University of Western
Ontario in London. She is working part-time to offset the high cost of tuition and living away
from home. A year or so ago, my daughter organized a peer support group for interested young
people in the PEPP program who are recovering from their first-episode of psychosis. Tara has
many projects 'in the works' to promote awareness of mental health issues. She believes
"participation in [her] own history" is essential to helping her overcome her disease.
I am grateful for the modern treatment of psychotic disorders enabling my daughter and me to
manage a complicated disease in creative and enriching ways. Moreover, I am thankful to Tara
for her honesty and courage. I appreciate her talent and willingness to be open about profoundly
personal experiences. She has taught me a lot about the impact of psychosis on a young person's
life and the value of creative expression in recovery from serious mental illness.
-PEPP parent
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