Strictly one should not use the words because they belong to manic depression, but schizophrenia has its own ups and downs, in and outs, highways and byways. "In" because so many people are caring and concerned, "out" because an individual employer may reject you out of hand. "Up" because some of our dreams may be pretty inspiring, "down" because the voices may be driving you to suicide.

There is a happy ending: with rest and the right medication you may never fall ill again. I have flourished for 25 years, but for 15 years before that I was pretty grotty. The trouble was - I could not admit it. I was OK but the world had gone mad around me. Indeed it had by the time I had finished with it. Destitute, homeless, wandering the streets of London: bring on the violins!

You think this is happening just to you. You alone are going from bad to worse. How little do you know thousands all over the world are going through the same thing at the same time. Who or what can be to blame?

A friend of mine invented haloperidol. I'm very glad he did, because with Priadel and Largactil it has kept me on an even keel (with no side effects) for years. I don't feel drugged, I feel secure and happy and I see people twitching all around me and I think "poor souls". Naturally I have to do my bit. Too many patients lie back and say "Cure me." Getting better is a partnership between the patient and the doctor. The patient must be her or his own doctor when going back to the community.

But that is no reason for long faces as many a happy schizophrenic knows. However, if you are out of action completely because of your illness, you still have some way to go - internally and externally. Greater realism always helps. By all means be hyper-romantic or wallow in grief if you think it is going to get you anywhere, but why not just have a biscuit and cheer up? With time and the right pills you can.

Life would be poorer without the illness. Schizophrenics are the stuff of genius. Great artists are schizophrenics. They are to be admired, wondered at.

The old 1960s stigma is becoming unfashionable, even if it hasn't completely disappeared. The more the public are enlightened, the fewer employers will throw the schizophrenic in the bin. They are dealing with talent here. Provided schizophrenics can prove their worth, they are home and dry and will try harder than most.

End the secrecy, the false information, the witch-hunts. Chemicals are no more frightening than lumbago - for anyone who is not suffering from them. Yes, there are violent nutters but don't tar all schizophrenics with the same brush. Yes, you can be labelled schizophrenic for the rest of your life (I am) but that constitutes about 0.0000001 per cent of my consciousness. To the sufferer I would say - there is help all along the line: I should take it. To the doctor I would say - enjoy the variety. And to the employer I would say - he's a human being, mate: give him a break.

Richard Jameson is a mental health service user