OHIO — Schizophrenia is a chronic, neurological brain disorder that affects two million Americans today, according to the National Alliance on Mental Illness.

“My name is Bethany Yeiser, and I have been fully recovered from schizophrenia for about 13 years now. But as I often say, this was not supposed to happen."

What You Need To Know

  • Bethany Yeiser was diagnosed in 2007 but before then, she dealt with unimaginable symptoms

  • Yeiser fully recovered from schizophrenia and continues to do what she loves

  • Her and her doctor started a foundation to help spread awareness of schizophrenia and help break the stigma surrounding it

  • She published a memoir in 2014 sharing her experiences, hoping to encourage others to never give up

In high school, Yeiser had a passion for the violin. She played in the Cleveland Orchestra’s youth orchestra and was a member of the National Honor Society.

"Looking back, I had a very happy and normal childhood," said Yeiser.

After graduation in 1999, she went off to her dream school: The University of Southern California to study molecular biology. But soon, she would begin to experience delusions.

After traveling to countries in Asia and Africa, Yeiser was set on helping people, becoming a sort of prophet or Mother Teresa-like figure.

"I didn't realize that my mind was totally broken, and that the truth was that my best efforts were producing failing grades," said Yeiser. 

Yeiser became homeless during her junior year of college. She cut off contact with her parents and friends; she slept in libraries or public restrooms for years.

"I thought, 'When I become a prophet or a politically-powerful figure like Mother Teresa, nobody will care that I used to be homeless.' For a while, I thought being homeless was what it took," Yeiser said.

Then came the hallucinations and the voices.

"March 13, 2007, I woke up one morning screaming back at the voices — which are the most irritating stimuli imaginable — and I was picked up by police, taken into a psych ward for evaluation, and that was the start of a new life," Yeiser said.

When doctors told her she had schizophrenia in 2007, Bethany was angry, insulted and humiliated.

"I didn't know what Schizophrenia was. But I thought it was a mental illness where people did not recover. And I thought that if you had schizophrenia, you'd basically be locked out for the rest of your life. I didn't know it was a brain disease; I thought it was a sign of a centricity or weakness or an excuse for mistakes," Yeiser said.

Today, Yeiser is fully recovered from schizophrenia. She found Dr. Henry Nasrallah, who prescribed her Clozapine, an anti-psychotic that treats hallucinations and delusions. She went on to graduate from the University of Cincinnati in 2011 and published a memoir in 2014.

She said Clozapine makes her drowsy, so she isn't able to work full time or drive a car.

"I do have some limitations, but I have a great life. I have meaningful relationships. I have meaningful work. I volunteer. I play violin for my church. I teach piano lessons," Yeiser said. "I do what I love."

In 2016, Yeiser and Nasrallah started the CURESZ Foundation, which stands for Comprehensive Understanding via Research and Education into Schizophrenia.

"Our biggest objective is to reach out to the general public, saying look, this is a disease. It's a lot like Parkinson's disease or Alzheimer's disease. It's a little bit like diabetes, you know, when I take my medication every day and stay in remission from symptoms. I feel like a diabetic who's taking insulin. And once they agree to take insulin every day, they can have a normal life," Yeiser said.

She encourages anyone with this brain disorder to fight for the highest quality of life and tells them never to give up.

"I do not consider my schizophrenia to be a life sentence. With the appropriate medication, and many great conversations with my doctor talking about goals, I've rebuilt my life," Yeiser said.