By Rhema
They say madness is when the world no longer understands you. But what if you’re the only one seeing clearly? What if the voices in your head are loud, yes, but not wrong? What if the shadows move, and it’s not your imagination?
This isn’t a story.
It’s a reality some people live every day. It’s called schizophrenia, and it’s often misunderstood, dismissed, or feared.
The Thin Line Between Perception and Reality
There was once a boy on the bus. He clutched his journal like it held the answers to life. People avoided him because he spoke out loud, arguing with someone they couldn’t see.
To the world, he was unstable.
To himself, he was defending truth.
Schizophrenia isn’t just “hearing voices” or “seeing things.” It’s a distortion of how the brain processes reality.
For those experiencing it, the hallucinations feel real. The delusions are convincing. Their truth clashes with everyone else’s, creating a painful dissonance.
“I Swear I Saw It” – The Inner War
Imagine your mind playing two movies at once: one that you control, and another directed by fear, trauma, or chemical imbalance.
You see someone outside your window.
No one believes you.
You hear footsteps, whispers, warnings.
They tell you you’re paranoid.
Your mind is screaming truth.
But the world writes it off as madness.
This is the terrifying, isolating world many people with schizophrenia navigate.
How the World Responds
We don’t do enough listening.
We medicate before we empathize.
We label before we understand.
We forget that behind the diagnosis is a human being.
Trying to make sense of their fragmented reality.
In our fear, we silence them.
In our ignorance, we laugh at them.
In our rush, we ignore the signs until it’s too late.
Why This Matters
Schizophrenia affects over 20 million people globally. It often begins in adolescence or early adulthood. With the right support, therapy, medication, and understanding, it can be managed.
But stigma kills hope.
We owe it to those struggling to see them, not just their symptoms. To hear them, not just their silence.
Final Thoughts
So the next time someone says, “I swear I saw it”—pause before you dismiss them.
What if we started believing people enough to help them heal?
What if madness was just a language we haven’t yet learned to translate?
If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health symptoms, speak up. Ask questions. Seek help. Listen deeply.
Let’s build a world where truth and empathy don’t sound like madness.
Powerful message.