Still Standing

The room stayed quiet while her thoughts moved loud and fast. Schizophrenia affects perception, thinking, and emotional regulation, but long-term outcomes improve significantly with social support, routine, and acceptance rather than isolation (National Institute of Mental Health).

Studies show that community understanding and unity reduce relapse rates and improve daily functioning for individuals living with schizophrenia (Horan et al. 308). No one asked her to explain herself. They stayed. Unity did not cure the illness. It made survival possible.

Works Cited (MLA)
Horan, William P., et al. “Social Cognition and Functional Outcome in Schizophrenia.” Schizophrenia Bulletin, vol. 38, no. 2, 2012, pp. 307–315.
National Institute of Mental Health. Schizophrenia. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2023.