Please could you provide a brief summary about yourself, and your background:

I was born in Sudan, a country full of rich history and diversity. Civilisation in Sudan can be traced back to the pharaohs which occupied the land of the Nile which dates back thousands of years, building hundreds of pyramids and temples which still stand to this day. Growing up in the capital Khartoum, where the blue and white Nile meet, I was a happy and very curious child who was always willing to take a step into the unknown to satisfy that curiosity. I grew up in our family home in Khartoum 2 where I was always surrounded by my family and friends. I used to play various sports such as football, basketball, tennis, swimming billiards etc. however my most beloved sport was shooting. I remember ever since my first shooting competition I managed to secure the first place and maintained the title of champion of Sudan until the day I left the country. I even participated in international competitions representing Sudan as one of the youngest athletes in the sports of shooting in Sudan’s history at the time. I used to go hunting and I was in love with nature and all its beauties. I have always been fascinated by wild animals and I have owned a couple throughout the years. My first pet was a deer, and from there on it kept getting more interesting until I ended up with 2 lion cubs that my family and I raised and nurtured till they were big enough to handle the wild on their own. I finished school at a young age (16) and started studying medicine which continued for 2 years until I was forced to leave the country due to my health situation. After several years of struggling and healing I managed to start studying again. I Joined a university in Germany to study medical biology, which I did for a year and then decided that I would rather study in English rather than German and so I am currently studying applied biology in Germany. I was diagnosed with schizophrenia at the age of 19, however my life took a turn from being that fast, easy flowing life to a life of pain and struggle a while before that. I have been battling this illness for over 9 years and I can say that I have developed an understanding and a unique relationship with it. I am under the care of one of the top doctors in Germany who always follows up with me and has helped me get my life back on track. With the support of my family, multiple doctors, and therapists I have managed to get the upper hand on my illness. I have successfully integrated back into society and my illness goes unnoticed by others because of the medications, various techniques, and the understanding I developed in camouflaging this illness and being in control. I have remained silent on this issue for long enough and I think it is time to get somethings off my chest and face the world for the sake of the people that are silently struggling. I want to raise awareness on mental health issues and convey a message of hope.

For readers that aren’t familiar with your book, please give us an outline of Chapters In The Mind of a Schizophrenic.

This book reflects and immerses the reader into the mind of a schizophrenic. It offers a rare glimpse into how schizophrenia can affect a person’s mind, life, and perception. It doesn’t only tell a story about the events in the life of a schizophrenic, but rather projects what was on the inside and the way the mind was wired to perceive its surroundings. It reveals events that were abnormal and unjustifiable to a normal person, but once they understand and see how this illness dictates and functions it can change their perception of the perimeters that define what’s “normal”. This book sheds light on a topic that has long been a taboo and not quite understood by the general population. People struggling with their mental health and mental illnesses have long been suppressed and forced to remain in the shadows, isolated from society and presented in a way that makes the general population want to keep their distance from people that are suffering from severe mental illnesses. But this book offers an insight and tells the story of a schizophrenic that didn’t surrender to his illness and fought until he was able to understand the illness and take back control of his life. It is a story of struggle and hope, it takes the reader to unimaginable depths into the darkest moments of a struggling soul but also how these many hurdles were overcome. This book offers a raw account of a person that has and still is battling schizophrenia while maintaining a positive attitude in life. It describes the journey, the phases of such an illness, how to hang in and withstand the many loads and obstacles that are associated with it and how if one person can overcome it, so can many others that are unfortunate enough to be affected by it. This book is a relatively short book that gets to the point and conveys the message of the author in way that is intriguing to the reader and eye opening to the general population in regards to mental health. It amplifies the voice of a person that was in a downwards spiral that stripped away his confidence and disrupted his life. But after many years he built up the courage to tell his story and face the outside world in order to help people that might be on the same boat, but also to raise awareness amongst people that might find themselves caring for a loved one that is battling this illness. It is a tool to reintroduce the masses to mental health issues and offers a view from a different angle with schizophrenia taking the centre stage. It puts diverse issues in the spotlight for people struggling with mental health problems in a way that is relatable. The book has a unique structure, it is divided into many chapters with each chapter addressing problems related to its title. Each chapter possess’ the ability to stand on its own and deliver a clear communicated message to the reader. The book in its entirety compiles the chapters in a way that is uncommon which has a post read effect that could leave the reader a bit disorientated, not being able to pin point or figure out the way in which it was compiled and written but that is the effect intended to portray the mind of a schizophrenic.

Your journey with your schizophrenia started in Sudan and then Tunisia. It was during a point in your life where you were meant to be finishing your second year of medicine. Tell us more about this period of your life and how deeply it affected your late-teen years, a time when you are supposed to be embarking on a new path and discovering yourself?

I can describe it with one word, confusion.

Is there anything in particular you would say to anyone struggling with schizophrenia? Is there a message you would like to convey?

I would say that accepting your diagnosis is the first step to recovery and that patience is key. Whether it be being patient with your symptoms or side effects of the medications or the time you will need to invest in rebuilding yourself. I would like to convey that there is hope, so push through and you will make it!

There is a part in the book where you say something incredibly insightful and something we can all empathise with, ‘I have come to the conclusion that no matter how much a person loves you, they can never truly feel your pain or adopt your thoughts and fight your demons for you’. I can see how this is a hugely difficult part of mental illness for both parties- the one going through it and their support system. If you have any advice for the support system, how should they support and help someone through this time? - If you find yourself caring for a loved one going through a hard time mentally, then a good place to start is by informing yourself about the issue and potential problems that can arise. It could be as simple as googling their symptoms or trying to find an explanation as to why they are behaving in a certain manner. Then try and getting them the help they need. It requires great patience and a lot of love and the willingness to sacrifice your time in order to support your loved one.

Finally, have you received any feedback from this book you are particularly proud of?

I found great support from my family and friends. Not a lot of people knew about my condition but when they found out they were very accepting and supportive, which is something truly amazing!