In this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, we explore recovery beyond medical definitions and diagnoses. Host Faydra Aldridge introduces a new era of the podcast which now available in both audio and video by bringing listeners face-to-face with two powerful stories. 

Matthew shares his decades-long journey to remission, the role medication and reflective self-work have played in his life, and how purpose fuels his advocacy through Mind Aid. Abigail offers a different path, one that includes sobriety, shifting diagnoses, daily self-care, and learning to live well while still managing symptoms. 

Together, their stories challenge stigma and remind us that recovery isn’t one-size-fits-all. It’s personal, evolving, and deeply human.

Timecodes:
(01:05) What recovery really means (not what you think)
(03:08) The moment schizophrenia hit
(05:20) The medication that changed everything
(07:30) The day Matthew's symptoms suddenly stopped
(08:40) Recovery vs cure 
(10:10) Why Matthew refuses to stop medication
(12:49) “You still get to write your story”
(14:03) Breaking the stigma around schizophrenia
(15:20) What recovery really looks like
(16:14) 27 months sober: Abigail’s story
(17:30) Years of misdiagnosis
(18:45) What schizophrenia actually feels like
(20:00) The daily habits that keep Abigail stable
(21:34) Why recovery is still possible

In this episode of Look Again: Mental Illness Re-examined, we explore recovery beyond medical definitions and diagnoses. Host Faydra Aldridge introduces a new era of the podcast which now available in both audio and video by bringing listeners face-to-face with two powerful stories. Matthew shares his decades-long journey to remission, the role medication and reflective self-work have played in his life, and how purpose fuels his advocacy through Mind Aid. Abigail offers a different path, one that includes sobriety, shifting diagnoses, daily self-care, and learning to live well while still managing symptoms. Together, their stories challenge stigma and remind us that recovery isn&rsquo;t one-size-fits-all. It&rsquo;s personal, evolving, and deeply human. Timecodes: (01:05) What recovery really means (not what you think) (03:08) The moment schizophrenia hit (05:20) The medication that changed everything (07:30) The day Matthew's symptoms suddenly stopped (08:40) Recovery vs cure (10:10) Why Matthew refuses to stop medication (12:49) &ldquo;You still get to write your story&rdquo; (14:03) Breaking the stigma around schizophrenia (15:20) What recovery really looks like (16:14) 27 months sober: Abigail&rsquo;s story (17:30) Years of misdiagnosis (18:45) What schizophrenia actually feels like (20:00) The daily habits that keep Abigail stable (21:34) Why recovery is still possible

"Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined" is a groundbreaking podcast by the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) and supporting partners. Host Faydra Aldridge, CEO of BCSS, speaks with medical experts, families, and people with lived experience of mental illness to dispel myths and get to the truth. This podcast is for anyone whose life is touched by mental illness.

"Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined" is a groundbreaking podcast by the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) and supporting partners. Host Faydra Aldridge, CEO of BCSS, speaks with medical experts, families, and people with lived experience of mental illness to dispel myths and get to the truth. This podcast is for anyone whose life is touched by mental illness.

Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined

"Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined" is a groundbreaking podcast by the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) and supporting partners. Host Faydra Aldridge, CEO of BCSS, speaks with medical experts, families, and people with lived experience of mental illness to dispel myths and get to the truth. This podcast is for anyone whose life is touched by mental illness. 

"Look Again: Mental Illness Re-Examined" is a groundbreaking podcast by the British Columbia Schizophrenia Society (BCSS) and supporting partners. Host Faydra Aldridge, CEO of BCSS, speaks with medical experts, families, and people with lived experience of mental illness to dispel myths and get to the truth. This podcast is for anyone whose life is touched by mental illness.&nbsp;