Bukan lagi melawan, Fitri belajar hidup bersama skizofrenia

Mohammad Fitri Aziz, diagnosed with schizophrenia since 2020, has learned to live with her condition, moving away from the psychological shackles that once hindered her. The 31-year-old from Tapah, Perak, initially tried to recover but later realized the importance of understanding and accepting her schizophrenia as a lifelong condition.

She follows a doctor's advice, takes medication, maintains regular sleep, and adjusts her lifestyle to manage her symptoms, aside from practicing her faith. When asked to rate her current stability on a scale of one to ten, Fitri replied that she is at level nine.

Fitri utilizes TikTok to share her journey with schizophrenia, posting updates since 2023 about the challenges she faces and her daily life as someone living with the mental illness. In an August video, she recounted that she engages less with other social media content to avoid emotional fluctuations, preferring to read books instead.

Now, she does not wish to be seen only as someone needing help, emphasizing that individuals with schizophrenia should be given the space to live independently. Her workplace is her sanctuary, where her colleagues have gradually come to understand and accept her condition.

Dr Fakrul Azren Azhar, a psychiatrist who diagnosed Fitri through several audio interviews about schizophrenia, expressed awe at her efforts and courage in openly sharing her experiences. For Dr Fakrul, recovery is not just about alleviating symptoms but enabling individuals like Fitri to lead a life as normal as possible, ultimately improving their quality of life.

In 2024, Malaysia recorded 8,303 cases of schizophrenia, while public hospitals noted an 14.6% increase in cases compared to 2021, according to Health Minister Dzulkefly Ahmad.