My name is Soumya and I am a 34 year old Male. 

I am Mr. Soumya, a 34 year old Indian male from 
India, suffering from schizo-affective disorder for the past decade and
a half. I was forced to discontinue my higher studies after graduation
as I was unable to concentrate & study. I had been giving tuitions to
school students since then and for the last two years I have been
working in a small privately owned concern as a computer operator cum
clerk.I am a bachelor.
I had major psychoses twice with severe auditory hallucinations and
paranoid delusions- people plotting against me etc- also have strong
suicidal urges from time to time.I had to be hospitalized once.
Medications & psycotherapy has solved a lot of my problems and I would
say I have regained 60-70% of my previous self. Medicines like
antipsychotic Olanzapine; Sodium Valproate as mood stabilizer; sleeping
pills like Nitrezepam have proved effective. However somehow drugs like
Risperidone & Quetipine have proved ineffective in my case.
I have been associated with an NGO named Turning Point  since
its inception in 1998 as a patient / volunteer,which is basically a
rehab centre for the mentally challenged. I was taught computer basics
like Windows, MS Office etc which is helping me to earn at least my
pocket money today. I knew computer basics like DOS, Wordstar, Lotus 123
etc but those had become obsolete by 1998.I taught other patients at the
rehab center computer basics which I had learnt there and took part in
other activities like games , role playing etc. We are now planning to
start a self help group for the mentally challenged in India where
patients like me can come together and share our experiences and chalk
out coping strategies for our problems apart from holding workshops and
organizing awareness campaigns and last but not the least fighting the
stigma of " madness".
I wish to exchange notes with other sufferers like me.
I have a strong faith in the Almighty and believe that whatever He does
is ultimately the best alternative. Maybe I have suffered because of my
past life karma or some other reason which I can't fathom. I am a much
better , stronger , peaceful person now than I ever was before my
illness. In order to make steel iron has to go through the blast
furnace. Hopefully one day I will emerge as strong as steel, resurrecting
whatever I can of my career which is in shambles.

My email is: roycsoumya@yahoo.co.in