You are more likely to be harmed than to cause harm.

People hear the word “schizo” and think “dangerous.”
They think of headlines. Crime shows. Horror movies. Mass shooters.

But here’s the truth:
People with schizoaffective disorder are far more likely to be victims of violence than perpetrators.

🔍 The Reality

People with serious mental illness are 10 times more likely to be victims of violent crime.
The majority of people with SZA will never hurt anyone but themselves.
When violence does happen, it’s often linked to substance use, lack of care, or extreme stress—not the diagnosis alone.
Most violent behavior in society comes from people without any mental illness.

💥 Why the Myth Persists

News stories exploit rare tragedies for clicks.
Pop culture presents mentally ill characters as villains.
Police reports often highlight mental illness when it has nothing to do with the crime.
Schizoaffective disorder is poorly understood—even by mental health professionals.

🩹 The Cost of This Myth

We’re treated like threats when we seek help.
People avoid us, isolate us, or call the police instead of asking what we need.
We internalize shame. We start to believe we’re dangerous, unpredictable, or beyond redemption.
It leads to more trauma, less care, and increased suicide risk.

🛑 Let’s Be Clear

Having schizoaffective disorder does not make you violent.
It makes you vulnerable to:

Your biggest threat isn’t other people.
It’s being misunderstood by systems that are supposed to protect you.

The Violence Myth

Surviving SZA