Don't Let Anyone But You Define What's Possible for Your Recovery

Today I learned that Brent Seal passed in 2021.  Although I never met him personally, I am sad and also grateful for his short but extraordinary life. At 22 years old, Brent's college studies were interrupted and he was hospitalized and diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2007. After getting discharged, he made it his goal to be the first person ever diagnosed with schizophrenia to climb Mt. Everest. He spent the next 14 years in pursuit of that goal. He passed at over 7,000 meters while climbing the eighth highest peak in the world,  Manaslu. He was only 37.

Check out this video of Brent.  He generously allowed us to showcase it in our Recovery Library and I will continue to recommend it, especially to young folks diagnosed with first episode psychosis. 

What I cherish about Brent is his powerful message that a diagnosis of psychosis is not a death sentence.  Brent teaches us the sky is the limit.  Don't buy into the delusion that schizophrenia is a chronic and unremitting disorder. Only you can define your hopes and dreams.  Our dreams are the stars that guide our process of healing, recovery and discovery.  We can live our lives, not our diagnosis.