I met my boyfriend in a mental hospital / psychiatric ward

I (27F) have anxiety disorder and depression, my boyfriend (30M) suffers from a more severe mental illness; he has schizophrenia. We first met during my stay in a mental hospital / psychiatric ward: I had a severe depressive episode with symptoms of suicidal thoughts and I was admitted to the hospital in the middle of the night for my own safety. I woke up on the ward with people screaming, knocking on the door, and howling. I immediately felt uneasy and overwhelmed. My depression made it difficult for me to cope, so I spent most of my time crying in my bed and trying to avoid the noise and chaos around me. <br><br>One day, during lunchtime in the common room, I heard a voice complimenting me on my appearance. He asked for my name, introduced himself, and asked if he could have my phone number. I felt uncomfortable at first, but I still gave him my phone number. Over the next few days, he kept knocking on my door during the day and asking if I wanted to go for a walk with him. I thought he was a bit annoying at first, but he had a very calm and gentle demeanor, so I decided to go for a walk with him. We would walk around the hospital and he would tell me about his life: his hobbies, his favorite sports, his passion for playing chess, or the beautiful places he had visited. <br><br>After a few days, he showed me chess strategies on his laptop, introduced me to Brazilian music, and showed me photos from his travels. He has a wonderful sense of humor, and although I was still very sensitive and depressed, I found myself smiling, especially when he started to show me funny videos on his mobile phone. It was very refreshing to see him so calm and relaxed, and I found that with him nearby, I was able to cope better with the noise and chaos on the ward. His presence made me feel calmer, and I enjoyed talking to him.<br><br>After a week of getting to know him in the hospital, I decided to go back home and I stopped taking all my medications. It was a huge mistake. Two weeks later, I started to feel worse and worse, and eventually I was admitted to hospital again. This time, I was able to get in touch with him, and much to my surprise, he was very happy to hear from me. We decided to meet at a park near my house for a walk. I was so nervous that I felt sick. I didn't know what to expect, but I decided to give it a try. When I saw him on the street, I was immediately stunned. He had gained a lot of weight, looked much older, and had a strange look in his eyes. I felt uneasy at first, and I wasn't sure if I made a mistake. <br><br>However, he behaved very normally. He was still calm, had a great sense of humor, and I felt comfortable with him. We went for a walk, had a coffee, and he introduced me to a board game / card game called Catan. I couldn't believe how rarely I had laughed like that. I never knew that someone with a mental illness could have such a great sense of humor. On the second day, I decided to give him another chance to get to know him better. He picked me up from my house and we went on a day trip to a lake a few hours away from my hometown. During a walk in the park, he told me more about his mental disorder. He suffers from paranoid schizophrenia, which means that he has delusions and thinks that people are talking about him negatively behind his back. <br><br>He also has auditory hallucinations and sees things that are not really there. Despite this, he has a very strong desire to get better and improve his life, which I admire a lot. Over the weekend, I learned a lot from him. I realized that I had prejudged him because of his mental health issues. I learned that people with mental health issues can have a great sense of humor, be very kind and caring, and have a lot to offer. I was so touched by his will to live, his positivity, and his desire to get better and improve his life. I felt that with him, I could be much more relaxed and at peace, and that I could laugh again and feel happy. <br><br>So we decided to start a relationship, despite the warnings from family and friends. My mother and father were shocked and asked me if I was okay with dating someone with a mental disorder. They warned me about the risks of a relationship with someone with a mental disorder. I was not convinced at first, but I decided to trust my instincts. Six months have passed since then, and it has been an incredible journey. I've learned so much from him, especially about mental health and the importance of being more open-minded. <br><br>I've also been inspired to learn more about mindfulness and self-care, which has improved my mental health. I couldn't be happier to have met such a wonderful person who has helped me in ways I never thought possible. I learned to appreciate the simple things in life, to be more present in the moment, and to appreciate the beauty around me. I also learned to accept people for who they are, without judging them based on their mental health. Here's my story. If you are considering dating someone with a mental health disorder, I hope you can relate to this post.