Today marks five years that I have been medication free, since June of 2013. That’s about half as long as I was sick. My life has continued to improve, and I am looking forward to the next five years and beyond!
The reason that I consider being medication-free healed is because mental illness is an illness of lack of functioning. Being able to function without medication to me means that I am free from the illness. (Note: I measure the time that I have been healing from when I stopped taking medication, because that was very important to me, and I felt terrible on meds. I do not mean to imply that that is the only measure of healing. If another person is on medication and functioning and moving forward and living a good life, then I would consider that healing as well.)
Though the past five years has been a bit bumpy, and I have had some symptoms and had a minor relapse in the summer of 2016, it did not require me to be hospitalized or go back on medication. Since then, my health has still been improving, and I am happier and more fulfilled in my life than I have ever been.
Below are some before, during, and after pictures (the first two were in my book Healing Schizoaffective, available here, in black-and-white). It’s been a long road, and a steep climb, but it has been more than worth it.
– Joshua
p.s. you may want to read my book Healing Schizoaffective, available here, for a general overview. It includes my story up until I discovered the Medical Medium, but there were many steps and transitions along the way. Like the saying goes, “the path to enlightenment is like a bird flying; it leaves no footprints”. I have tried to include as much helpful information on this website as possible, but everyone’s journey is unique. However, I believe that each of us is uniquely suited to our own journey. In other words, just know that you have what it takes, and where you fall short God is carrying you (even if it doesn’t seem like it). Be well!!!
LEFT: this is me in December of 2003 the day before my first inpatient hospitalization and diagnosis of schizoaffective disorder. I look pale and gaunt and am obviously distressed. 😥 While I’m doing my best to hold it together, you don’t want to know what I was experiencing (think Stanley Kubrick film). Despite it being called a “mental illness”, I was still experiencing many physical symptoms such as severe fatigue, weakness, weight-loss, aches and pains, attention problems, neurological sensitivity, insomnia, and more.
MIDDLE: this is me in November of 2014 after a ten year battle with the illness. I started homeopathy in January of 2013 and was able to discontinue taking medication in June of 2013. The homeopathy allowed me to stay balanced enough and function without medication. However, I still struggled with fatigue and physical pain, and you can see that my eyes look dark and dull and my face looks puffy.
RIGHT: this is me in September of 2017 about two and a half years after being on the #medicalmedium protocol, such as removing dairy, eggs, gluten, corn, soy, and canola from my diet, juicing celery every morning, taking the heavy metal detox smoothie (wild blueberries, #vimergy barleygrass juice powder and spirulina, Atlantic dulse, and fresh cilantro) regularly, and taking some of the main supplements such as liquid B12, Vitamin C, etc. I feel like this protocol really worked at healing the root cause of my illness (a viral condition with high levels of toxic heavy metals – I also believe that other factors such as trauma played a role). You can see that my eyes look clear and bright and my skin looks fabulous (if I do say so myself 😄). Moreover, I feel healthier and happier than I ever have in my whole life!!! ❤️
Don’t ever give up, keep the faith, just take one day at a time, and have compassion for yourself. Compassion is the understanding of suffering, and an illness can give us this understanding, and teach us valuable lessons. In a sense, our suffering turns into our gift, because it allows us to have compassion for others, which helps to heal the world. God bless you!
well done. you’ve come very far. that’s a huge achievement. xx
Thank you!
As a parent, I have gained a huge amount of insight from your story.
I pray my daughter can have your success.
Congratulations, and thank you so much
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You’re very welcome. I wish you and your daughter the best!!
Thank you very much for sharing your journey! I, too, suffered from a serious mental illness, bipolar 1. I was also healed through homeopathy (Dr. Mark Janikula). I have searched for other’s testimonials of healing and yours is the only one I have found. I know there are many more but I guess once someone is well, they are busy with life. I’m guilty of not writing my own story so that others can benefit, though I do share it verbally. Thanks again for taking the time to write this for others. I’m sure it is doing more good than you will ever know.
You’re very welcome. That’s so great to hear that you’ve healed as well! I think just healing, living a good life, and being kind to others is a tremendous act of service. That’s where I’m at now. Thank you for your kind words, and I wish you the very best!!!
You give me hope that I can survive this. Thank you for sharing!
You’re very welcome. If I can do it, so can you. God bless you!!!