by K. L. Denman
AUTHOR'S NOTE
The main character in this story, Kit Latimer, experiences the onset of a mental-health disorder that falls under the umbrella of an illness known as schizophrenia. It is estimated that as much as one percent of our population suffers from schizophrenia, and it’s not an illness that is normally ever considered wholly cured. However, if the illness is detected and treated in the early stages, the outcome can be very good— good enough to allow the sufferer to lead a relatively normal life.
The symptoms of schizophrenia vary from person to person, and since no definitive tests are as yet available, diagnosis of the illness is made by qualified professionals based on particular behaviors. For males, symptoms generally begin to occur between their mid-teen years and early twenties, and for females, from the mid-twenties to around the age of thirty. This is only a generalization because schizophrenia can occur in children and, even more rarely, in the elderly. Comprehensive lists of the more common symptoms of the illness are available from numerous sources, including the Internet. One site with a list of symptoms can be found at http://www.schizophrenia.com/. A site with information especially for youth is http://www.psychosissucks.ca/epi/.
Some of the symptoms generally referred to as “negative” include lethargy, low interest in social or other formerly enjoyed activities, difficulty with speech or physical coordination, and lack of emotions. “Positive” symptoms, including hallucinations and delusions, feel entirely real to those experiencing them. One of the most common hallucinations is hearing voices, and very often these voices are abusive.
If the afflicted person also suffers from paranoia, their suspicions and distrust may be directed toward those who are close to them, and in many cases they don’t recognize that anything is wrong. For these reasons, it can be difficult to convince the sufferer to see a doctor. Other trusted people, such as family, friends or school counselors, should be enlisted to help, and the sooner help is found, the more likely it is that treatment will be effective.
As I researched schizophrenia and worked through the creation of this story, I developed an ever deeper sympathy for those with mental illness. It was often emotionally exhausting for me to continue imagining what my character was experiencing, and if it is hard to imagine, I believe it must be incredibly stressful and harsh to live with. It is my hope that we all come to a greater understanding of mental illnesses and do our utmost as individuals and as a society to treat the afflicted among us with compassion.
K.L. Denman
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book could not have been written without the support of some dear friends and family. My husband, Ron Denman, often lent a patient ear and encouraged me to persevere when I voiced doubts. I am grateful to Dr. Peter Uhlmann, psychiatrist, for generously taking time to read and provide valuable comments on an early draft. I also wish to thank Lin Johnson, former director of the Powell River Schizophrenic Society, for reading a later version of this story and for introducing me to a wonderful young man and his mother who were willing to speak to me about their experiences with psychosis. I owe thanks to Andrew Wooldridge, publisher at Orca, for believing that Me, Myself and Ike had the potential to become a novel. Finally, I deeply appreciate the work of Sarah Harvey, my editor at Orca; her professional expertise, insightful commentary and cheerful approach were vital to completing this story.
K.L. Denman was born in Calgary, Alberta, and spent her childhood in a house one street away from the open prairie. When she was eleven, her family moved to Delta, British Columbia, and she got to know life on the coast. Today she lives on a small farm on British Columbia’s Sunshine Coast with her family of people, two dogs, three cats, two horses and an elderly mule. More information about Kim is available on her blog at http://kldenman.blogspot.com/.