Background          Schizophrenia has been negatively observed in today’s society due to several major violent crimes and violent actions committed by persons with the diagnosis. The general populations’ lack of knowledge increases the risk of a faulty attitude when meeting individuals with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is a psychosis which creates suffering for the effected. Common symptoms of schizophrenia are hallucinations, delusions, apathy and difficulties with emotional relations. Nearly half of all schizophrenics attempts suicide, at some point.

Aim                        The aim of this study was to describe how people with schizophrenia experience their life-world.            

Method                  This study is based on six autobiographies and is analyzed with qualitative content analyses.

Results                   The study resulted in six categories which are perception of their illness, positive symptoms, negative symptoms, suffering, experiences of health care and medication and strategies towards a brighter future. During psychotic periods the individuals often experienced their surrounding as frightening because of hallucinations. Some of them live their lives alone because they are afraid of being perceived as crazy and want to conceal their diagnosis. The result shows strategies that the persons were using for reducing their suffering.

Conclusion            Prejudices about the disease can generate that persons with schizophrenia is not getting the care they need. If the patient is treated based on a life-world perspective, he or she will feel like being seen as a person rather than a diagnosis.