How Can a Schizoid Be Successful in Life?

"Also isn't getting rich a little bit materialistic for a schizoid? I'm well aware of the variance within this disorder, but I'm still confused as to why you think you want that."

Excuse me, but isn't jumping to wild conclusions about other people inconsistent with schizoid disorder?

Another person wrote this:

"you should change your definition of success from making a lot of money to ..."

I didn't realize that I had provided a "definition of success" in my post!

Pardon me for having used the words "financial and business success." I consider losing money to be unsuccessful. So making money would be a success. We all need to make money to pay our bills.

Also, I too have lost jobs in the past and been fired. I also pointed out that I don't even qualify to work as a janitor. So as you may (or may not) have concluded, I have applied for jobs like that. I just need a job that pays higher than minimum wage, and which hopefully will give me some opportunity for advancement. I am looking for a job, but I also wish I could be able to do better in interviews and have more confidence.

For anonymity reasons, I don't want to discuss what I'm trying to sell. However, I firmly believe it is something that can greatly benefit people, and the world. Also, this has given me the opportunity to do some writing about the product.

I am using positive affirmations. As a schizoid, it has been difficult for me to be consistent with that, but now I'm doing that every day. I think this is one of the most helpful things that a person can do. I am writing them out on paper and thinking about them.

Nobody comes here looking to be criticized. I can already see that other schhizoids are having difficulty with being able to support themselves. So I hope that anyone with good advice will offer it instead of finding things to question and criticize. Thank you.

"you might even consider getting some kind of degree in something schizoid-friendly, like computer science, engineering, accounting"

I am not at all suited for jobs like these because I find that kind of work to be very tedious and boring.

I can try to get trained in something else. However, does this even respond to my question??

SolitaryWolf wrote:

QrvaMatch wrote:But, really, I don't plan to be schizoid forever, partly because long-term existence in the schizoid state seems unsustainable.

How do you "plan" to stop being schizoid? For me it seems almost out of my control, but that could just be because I don't see any reason to change.

Whatever goes on inside me or in my life is largely down to choices - either conscious or subconscious, mostly the latter. If you can harness the power of the subconscious and direct it, you can do virtually anything. IF. People don't like to hear it but ultimately health is down to personal responsibility - it is not about fault or blame but it's about how reality works. I choose not to be schizoid and so one day soon I will no longer be schizoid. It's as simple as that. On some level I chose to be schizoid in the first place, so it's now a matter of un-choosing it. The alternative is to be an anaemic weakling until the time of death and as my death could be decades away, this is an unacceptable alternative to me. What I'm basically saying is that I'm one of those "just get over it" types, but I think that based on years of experience and research.

"Heymitch"]Nobody comes here looking to be criticized. I can already see that other schhizoids are having difficulty with being able to support themselves. So I hope that anyone with good advice will offer it instead of finding things to question and criticize.

Schizoids are inherently inquisitive and so criticism and questioning is a natural function.

EtherealStarlight wrote:frankly, i would think that it would be better to pursue a job that your personality is well-suited for, rather than trying to be some kind of wealthy businessman. you'd be far better off putting your efforts into getting qualified for and getting a career in something schizoid-friendly... you should change your definition of success from making a lot of money to being able to support yourself with a job that you like okay (if that is what you're saying - maybe i'm misunderstanding you though). your personality just isn't a good match for the kind of work that you have been trying to do.

to be blatantly honest, most, if not all of us on here would probably be terrible at selling things, too. you should look first and foremost for a job that fits your personality. employers will be looking for a personality that fits well with the job that they're needing to fill. for example, a bubbly extrovert will be more likely to get hired as a waiter than you, because they're better suited for it personality-wise. so, you should look for schizoid-friendly jobs - perhaps data entry, administrative jobs, night-time security, stocking shelves, etc. you might even consider getting some kind of degree in something schizoid-friendly, like computer science, engineering, accounting, that kind of stuff. if your main goal is to make a lot of money, then i'd say that getting a degree in a subject that is good for intellectual introverts is your best bet.

Right. But I must confess. I am highly creative, so I can make money out of it. I am a programmer, and the reason I am a good programmer is that I usually find a way to make things simpler. It is said that good programmers are lazy.

I also would dread having to interact, but I think you can learn that. That is not terrible. In fact being detached allow me to deal with situations sometimes in a better way then non schizoids.

But what is really difficult to me is get involved in my projects. People want me to be far more proactive, to take the lead, responsibility, but I have no wish or capacity of doing so. I think this is related to cognitive desorganization.

In short, usually I make a good first impression, but then people want me to make much more then I would like to. My way of relating dealing with that now, is playing the fool.

But I dont now if this is schizoid or more schizotypal. But that is my dillema. I hope somenone could give me a better insight.

If you are intelligent, the academia path has a lot of crevasses that the socially mal-adjusted can hide in. Also criminal career paths exist.

Personally, I chose to develop and wear a mask with society. Some of the cracks are starting to show lately, whether intentionally or not. I'm going on six years at my current job.

Ashlar wrote:If you are intelligent, the academia path has a lot of crevasses that the socially mal-adjusted can hide in. Also criminal career paths exist.

Personally, I chose to develop and wear a mask with society. Some of the cracks are starting to show lately, whether intentionally or not. I'm going on six years at my current job.

I found the perfect career, everyone! It's called becoming the unabomber!

Ashlar wrote:If you are intelligent, the academia path has a lot of crevasses that the socially mal-adjusted can hide in. Also criminal career paths exist.

Personally, I chose to develop and wear a mask with society. Some of the cracks are starting to show lately, whether intentionally or not. I'm going on six years at my current job.

Sometimes I think about studyng to get a master degree and then a phd.

But then I read it.

"Dogs poop in alignment with earths magnetic field studyfinds"
http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/dog ... udy-finds/

And say nooooooo.

Heymitch wrote:Another person wrote this:

"you should change your definition of success from making a lot of money to ..."

I didn't realize that I had provided a "definition of success" in my post!

Pardon me for having used the words "financial and business success." I consider losing money to be unsuccessful. So making money would be a success. We all need to make money to pay our bills.

Also, I too have lost jobs in the past and been fired. I also pointed out that I don't even qualify to work as a janitor. So as you may (or may not) have concluded, I have applied for jobs like that. I just need a job that pays higher than minimum wage, and which hopefully will give me some opportunity for advancement. I am looking for a job, but I also wish I could be able to do better in interviews and have more confidence.

sorry, i misunderstood you. i didn't mean to come off as critical, sorry about that. D:

Well I think as long as you look for a job that suits your personality it should be fine. Something on the lines of research and so on. Just in general job areas where more introverted than extroverted people may be found. I have found introverted people to be much more barable for me than extroverted ones (go figure).

Sooo... I guess that would mean independent work like drawing or writing. Or as I have already mentioned, research facilities or university jobs in general.

QrvaMatch wrote:But, really, I don't plan to be schizoid forever, partly because long-term existence in the schizoid state seems unsustainable.

I like this sentiment even though I think schizoid is rather permanent. I have always had hope that I might overcome some of the problems that I now know to be schizoid PD-related. However, I don't think it can be done by wishing it away, nor only by believing it away. I think beliefs are important, but I think there must also be strategies and actions we do to bring about change.

One reason why I did door to door selling is, first I didn't know that was a job requirement. lol Then I did it anyway to see what the reaction would be, and whether or not I could sell. I thought that if I could learn how to sell, that would be a valuable skill. For instance, as I mentioned, everyone needs to be able to sell him or herself, especially in job interviews.

Unfortunately, nearly everyone is only looking to buy from the bubbly-headed, bouncy girl or the used car salesman. People apparently don't see emotion in me even if I feel emotion about a product or a person.

Another thing I want to say is that I think schizoids often have a lot to contribute to the world. If most of us settle for boring, traditional jobs away from the public eye, we won't be sharing the most valuable gifts we have, for those of us who are creative types. I suppose that not all schizoids are very creative though.

I am sorry that, at least from what I am seeing on this forum so far, most of the schizoids here seem to be resigned to the worst effects of this disorder. The first priority must be to cope with it on a personal level and obviously, people here are trying to do that. However, after that we need to find a way to survive, if not prosper.

I'm sure a lot of the regular contributors here probably have a decent job or some other means of support. If so, please know that not all of us are so fortunate.

I was offered some prescription drug (can't remember what) but I think such a medicine would probably make me more like an institutionalized person than a functioning member of society.

Finally, I think that if psychologists were looking at this forum, they would want to see schizoids talking about how to (if at all possible) make positive changes instead of considering a criminal career or whatever. lol

I am still hoping there will be a good post that might help me. No matter what, I am keeping a positive attitude about my future. I know that I have much to contribute!

PS - EtherealStarlight, it's no problem! I am overly sensitive anyway.