Shared Voices: Real Stories From Washington’s Psychosis Community
Every story shared here is a reminder that psychosis has many faces, many paths, and many forms of recovery.
With consent and care, we highlight the lived experiences of Washingtonians to create understanding, reduce stigma, and show that no one is alone.
You can share your story with your name, a nickname, or completely anonymously. Your comfort comes first.
I grew up never imagining that psychosis would become part of my story, and eventually, part of my purpose. For a long time, I didn’t have the language for what I was living through. I just knew that my mind began to feel different: louder and more confusing than I could explain. I struggled to understand what was real and what wasn’t, and I didn’t know who I could talk to without being misunderstood or judged. Like so many people, I faced stigma before I ever received support. I heard the stereotypes, the misconceptions, the fear, and I carried that weight silently. But psychosis didn’t make me weak or broken. It made me fight harder for the right to be understood.
With time, proper support, medication, and self-education, I learned what schizophrenia actually is, and what it isn’t. I learned grounding tools in outpatient therapy, reality-testing strategies from online forums, and how to advocate for my needs from advocates I saw on social media. I learned that I wasn’t alone, and that thousands of people experience the same symptoms every year.
The turning point for me was realizing that my experiences weren’t something to hide. Living with schizophrenia has given me a voice that I once tried to silence, a voice that now fuels my advocacy, my community work, my creativity, and my platform. It pushed me to build the Evergreen Psychosis Network, to stand on stages as Miss Auburn, and to speak publicly about things most people are afraid to even whisper.
I share my story because I want others to know:
They are not broken, dangerous, or alone. You deserve understanding, care, and respect.This is only one story, mine.
I hope you’ll share yours too, however you feel comfortable. Every voice matters, including yours.— Chandler Groce, 2025
These stories may include sensitive experiences.
We edit only for clarity and safety, never tone or authenticity.If you are in immediate distress, contact 988 or your local crisis line.
The Evergreen Psychosis Network Washington 