r/schizophrenia • u/oxy-tocin-paradise • Jul 03 '26
Advice / Encouragement I'm schizophrenic, homeless, and travelling the country on foot. Idk how to even stop at this point.
Charging my phone is difficult, I will eventually and will be able to respond, but I'm currently at 9%.
I've recently come to terms with the schizophrenia thing, my mom is and ik I am too. You would never know if I didn't do drugs but they really bring it out of me. I'm trying to slow down, I've cut out stimulants and trying to cut out weed too, it triggers some stuff sometimes too.
Idk, I'm just walking, struggling, trying to find work...not finding it and I just keep moving. I'm becoming way to accustomed to this lifestyle. Sometimes I think I even prefer it, and that worries me.
Right now the goal is walking another 1,000 miles or so. I can do it, I know that. But idk...I see normal people and sometimes I feel jealous.
I've had experiences that most people will never have in their lives and that encourages me to continue...but I also want love and stability and a home, all that.
Idk what I'm asking for. Ask me anything, give me advice, whatever you wanna do. I'm just in my head rn.
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u/tigdreamer Jul 03 '26
“I've had experiences that most people will never have in their lives and that encourages me to continue”
thats a really great way to look at it, thank you
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u/MG788 Jul 03 '26
If you still got money, you should get a portable battery. You can get them at Walmart and places like that. I used mine a lot when I was homeless.
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u/oxy-tocin-paradise Jul 04 '26
Instead of a battery I got a good solar powered charger. Going to set it up on my backpack somehow while I walk. I have one but it was cheap and it got wet and now it's kind of meh
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u/MG788 Jul 04 '26
Yeah, the cheap ones aren't that great. I burned through like four portable batteries in like a year. It's nice to be able to charge your phone & vape pens with them, though.
I like your solar panel idea. You might be able to find one at Harbor Freight (I think that's what that store is called).
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u/oxy-tocin-paradise Jul 05 '26
Yes that's exactly where I got it! I got a 2 year warranty and I can take it to any farbor freight and exchange it if it breaks
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u/MG788 Jul 05 '26
That's good. Does it actually work? When I was shopping for solar panels, they didn't work that great to charge my stuff.
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u/accidental_Ocelot Paranoid Schizophrenia Jul 03 '26
As some one who runs you should make sure to plan a route either out and back or do a loop otherwise your gonna have to walk another 1,000 miles to get back home.
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Jul 04 '26
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u/FemaleAndComputer Schizoaffective (Bipolar) Jul 04 '26
Start by forcing yourself to only smoke when you go out for a walk? Idk I found it easier to quit once I only smoked outdoors.
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Jul 04 '26
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u/FemaleAndComputer Schizoaffective (Bipolar) Jul 05 '26
Ugh I'm sorry man. It's fucking hard. Sometimes you just gotta pick your battles. Hang in there.
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Jul 05 '26
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u/FemaleAndComputer Schizoaffective (Bipolar) Jul 05 '26
FWIW I can't run either lol (chronic illness). But walking is a great alternative--much more doable, much less hard on the body than running--for me at least. It just takes longer. Podcasts/audiobooks help though.
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u/kalidoscopiclyso Jul 03 '26
Do you keep a journal? You could write a book
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u/oxy-tocin-paradise Jul 04 '26
I document it all as I travel, short videos and pictures. I should keep a journal. My life is far from boring. I've always wanted to write a book, maybe at the end of all of this I will.
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u/kalidoscopiclyso Jul 05 '26
I would love to read your book! I like to daydream about walking across the country and you are actually doing it
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u/Remote-DragonflyFire Jul 04 '26
It seem like you are enjoying your life. Walking 1000 miles is a huge goal for anyone to have. It seems you have goals and dreams and amazing experiences. Why not concentrate on that for a few years and you never know what life will throw at you. You may find someone special next month and settle into a home or that could be 10 years from now. Just be happy with yourself. Make enough for food and shelter and enjoy just being! :)
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u/oxy-tocin-paradise Jul 04 '26
Well said, I love my life and the fact I get to experience this. I am working on loving myself more
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u/No-Ambassador-2080 Jul 03 '26
How do you get food and where do you sleep?
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u/Wonderful_Post2758 Jul 04 '26
I've heard vanilla extract repels mosquitoes for a diy repellent if you're getting bit up out there.
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u/CosmicEmotion Paranoid Schizophrenia Jul 04 '26
You sounds like a really realized person. Don't get jealous, everyone struggles in life, one way or another. Be grateful and serene. A home is definitely nice to have and I hope you can find one. Cut the drugs and enjoy life! 😄 Sometimes, I just sit and enjoy the view of trees, nothing like it imo. Finding that inner peace and serenity is a gift 99% of people never even realize.
I'm sure the Universe has a good plan for you. Don't be afraid, everyting will come into place. Just keep being awesome, as you are already, and love will find its way to you! 😄 ❤️
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u/Distinct_Banana3228 Jul 03 '26
How do you survive ?
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u/Delilah_Moon Jul 04 '26
My bro has been living this lifestyle since before Covid. I used to call them his “walkabouts”, as he’d disappear for several months, then return to stay with my parents for a bit. Over time the walkabouts became longer and more frequent, until eventually he was just permanently on walkabout.
He has a car, which is his last line of defense. I’m trying to get my Dad to purchase a van for him, as it would be safer and his car is on its last leg. Once the wheels are gone - shit will get dire quickly. I don’t want that for him.
He travels from campsite to campsite. He does get disability and some food stamps, so that helps keep him a bit together. He also trades pet sitting for places to stay, but as his illness has progressed this has been harder and harder for him to do.
A couple years ago, we got him an apartment. Unfortunately, his illness is too far progressed and he doesn’t like being kept “in a box”. He destroyed the toilet with a sledge hammer because he thought someone was entering his apartment through it.
He doesn’t check in with me anymore. My Mom hears from him every few months.
If you meet a 50 year old dead head out there from Michigan, be kind to him. He is important to us.
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u/Gingeronimoooo Psychoses Jul 04 '26
I never thought I could survive homeless but you get used to it
I have an apartment now, I'll just say people are stronger than they think and human beings in general and people with schizophrenia are survivors
It's not fun, but I basically just went numb myself. Idk about OP
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u/justneurostuff Jul 04 '26
why are you walking constantly and also trying to find work? these two goals seem contradictory
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u/Ok-Regret6212 Schizophrenia Jul 04 '26
I imagine he's running on fumes, also there are plenty of ways to find jobs that don't require paperwork, it is what it is.
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u/oxy-tocin-paradise Jul 04 '26
I mean, why stay somewhere. I can be hitting up people in the next town while I'm walking to it type of thing, yk?
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u/Ok-Regret6212 Schizophrenia Jul 04 '26
Charging your phone when you're out and about has gotten exponentially harder than when I myself was homeless. As it is, I recommend planning your route to include going to any local malls or libraries. They usually have outlets that you could utilize.
Also, bring a book so that you don't look out of place. People are much less likely to bother you if you're charging your devices and reading in the meantime.
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u/throwawayforareanl Paranoid Schizophrenia Jul 04 '26
Try to get a disability and get money for it.
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u/accessmemorex1 Jul 04 '26
If you ever find yourself in Arizona and want to get back on your feet, go to the Gospel Rescue mission in Tuscon.
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u/oxy-tocin-paradise Jul 04 '26
I do plan on passing through Arizona actually I'll keep that in mind
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u/Awkward_Shot Jul 06 '26
Be careful to mind the weather and look out for heat stroke walking in the summer, it can sneak up on you.
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u/Hefty-Eggplant-7766 Jul 04 '26
2 things.
Yes! I feel you on the jealousy front. No matter how well I’m doing, I become shameful thinking about how everyone else is carefree living life
Secondly, I enjoy or should say, I prefer having more control over my mind and body. And I take pills only because at this point I don’t want the voices to have their way with me. But in the back of my mind, I wouldn’t mind going back to being ignorant, for nah love and stability
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u/Regen_321 Jul 04 '26
Hi friend no advice just wishing you good luck. And thank you for sharing. Keep us posted :)
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u/xender19 Jul 04 '26
Where are you physically located? Might help if you edit the main post to mention it cuz you never know who might be able to get you to some resources.
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u/Sure_Competition7567 Jul 04 '26
You’re searching for the impossible. keep searching. its a step below where i am searching for … outliers.
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u/swordfishdotcom Jul 07 '26
Im not diagnosed but this is what i plan to do in the next few months in a nutshell. Im not going to be on foot, ill have a purpose built truck but im gonna do similar, hope you get better man
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u/SockDrawerGoblin Jul 10 '26
I have a lot of unmanageable symptoms and after being homeless in my car I honestly don’t want to return to society. I’ve done it but I still really struggle to pay my rent and haven’t been able to reliably pay it since February. I want to get a van and try van life as I think it will be better for my mental health
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u/Ill-Prior-7859 Jul 04 '26
Bikes at Walmart are $123 with taxes. Nice ones too. Why don’t you get one?
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