-An Unquiet Mind: A Memoir Of Moods And Madness 

-by Kay Redfield Jamison

 The term "schizophrenia" translates roughly as "shattered mind," and comes from the Greek σχίζω (schizo,"to split" or "to divide") and φρήν (phrēn, "mind"). Despite its etymology, schizophrenia is not synonymous with dissociative identity disorder, also known as multiple personality disorder or "split personality"; in popular culture the two are often confused. Although schizophrenia often leads to social or occupational dysfunction, there is little association of the illness with a predisposition toward aggressive behavior.

 - wikipedia.org

I am keeping this journal for twofold reasons. First, to help me keep track of me: my mania, depression, and mixed, as well as psychotic, episodes for I am diagnosed with what is known as a schizoaffective disorder ( defined "paranoid schizophrenia with bipolar type I" ). I'm hoping this will help me to better prepare myself to deal with my illness in the future as it can be quite a struggle at times now. Second, I hope to better educate society at large against commonly held stereotypes, stigmas, and prejudices  retained concerning the mentally ill. While this diary may show that I personally am curious in a individual sort of way and do sometimes grapple with the definitions of reality within my own life, I am not in fact, "insane", and resent any implication that I am so. 

This journal will be kept true to my experiences. If I say that something in here happened to me it truly did whether you care to believe it or not. Also included are some of my more fanciful writings. To avoid confusion as to what is real and what is fabrication i have labeled the titles to avoid as much confusion as possible. Anything not expressely titled as a poem or story is part of my life as I perceive my life to be. It is the truth as hard as the truth may be to accept for someone "normal".