Leslie Dulfo
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Trigger Warning:
This article talks about Schizophrenia, Trauma and Mental Disorders. Should you be triggered because of internal and external circumstances, call 911 (for Baguio City) and the Baguio General Hospital Medical Center through the Mental Health Crisis Hotline: 09509916841 (Globe) for individuals in immediate crisis with cases of violence and self-harm. Also, for the National Center for Mental Health Crisis Hotline, they are also available at 1553 (landline toll-free). Should you need further helplines, visit Mental Health Philippines FB page for the directory of legitimate agencies you can reach.
How are you? It’s been sad and gloomy the past few days.
A driver in Vancouver, Canada took to driving and deciding who gets to die and who does not. He swept, injured and killed Filipinos during the Lapu-Lapu Day organized by the Filipino community last April 27, 2025.
A friend talked to a relative living in Vancouver, Canada, the Filipino community there said that the Asian driver (nationality disclosed) was experiencing a bout of mental illness, specifically, Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a term you can google up or AI-up (is there such a word?) as a medical term. You can also ask psychologists and psychiatrists about this matter.
As per experience (someone who was initially diagnosed with Schizophrenia), the sources (at least my sources) said that the Asian driver recently came from the hospital after being admitted with Schizophrenia but was subsequently discharged. Therefore, I can conclude, one which may be true or not, that he at least had auditory or visual hallucinations.
I remember one television show with a character experiencing Schizophrenia, specifically Paulo Avelino. My bad, I remember the actor portraying the role but not the title of the television series. Anyway, who could forget Paulo (wink).
Paulo Avelino, in character, struggled with Schizophrenia while driving and created traffic. How? He did by stopping his car in the middle of the streets while staring into empty space. This is quite a scenario that may happen because of unmanaged Schizophrenia.
That’s why, I for one, am afraid of driving, not only because of my age old eyesight but because I didn’t want to be like Paulo – creating traffic mayhem. Although, I guess mine is manageable except for a case of slowness, muscle stiffness, dizziness and sleepiness sometimes brought by the side effects of the medicines. I’d rather be precautionary on that part.
A youtuber and Patreon vlog initially entitled as Living Well with Schizophrenia had her vlog changed to Living Well After Schizophrenia. The afterthought is that she survived Schizophrenia because of rigid daily exercises and a certain Keto Diet with the guidance of her psychiatrist as well as a dietician. As to her claims of being cured, we never know how and will she be able to manage any outbursts in the future. At least, let us give her the benefit of the doubt. Why? It is because mental health is a personal journey and no two people even with the same diagnosis of Schizophrenia can manage the same way.
My psychologist and psychiatrist friends and acquaintances tell me that there is at least a 1% chance of people living with Schizophrenia going back to their functional lives. I guess, luckily, I am part of that 1% who do function.
I used to hear that people are afraid of hearing about Schizophrenia. In one bank I went to, a friend said I authored a book on mental health. Funny thing is, the next question, “Are you a psychologist or psychiatrist?” This took me time to explain that I experienced the ordeal of the disorder. When I tell people that it was my first diagnosis, oh boy, some people get scared! As if they wanted to run out the nearest exit! Anyway, it’s a typical reaction of sorts. We are afraid of what we cannot understand.
As for the lot that went through Schizophrenia or Psychosis like me, I hope that you go find being part of that 1% who became functional again. It may take time but I know you will do fine soon – keep fighting!