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The Good Life

with Leslie Juvin-Acker

Known for her unparalleled insights and transformative strategies, Leslie has worked with A-list celebrities and high-powered executives alike.

But after years of guiding others toward success, she’s decided to share her own journey and experiences through her blog, "The Good Life."

True Tales: Is It Psychic or Schizophrenia?

Leslie Juvin-Acker
May 7
3 min read

True Tales: Is It Psychic or Schizophrenia?

By Leslie Juvin-Acker

In this episode of True Tales, I want to dive into a powerful and often misunderstood question: Is it psychic... or is it schizophrenia?

I chose this topic for the second episode because I hear this reaction often when I share my intuitive or psychic experiences online. People jump to label them as "schizophrenia." And while I understand where the reaction comes from, I don’t think it's always fair—or accurate.

I’ve had intuitive and psychic experiences since birth, but things intensified after the birth of my second child. With the arrival of my son came a surge in vivid spiritual experiences—visions, voices, sensations—happening in my waking life, not just in dreams. Naturally, my first step was to ask: Is this a medical issue? Am I experiencing mental illness?

I decided to speak with a psychiatrist specializing in these kinds of phenomena. During one session, she asked me if I was experiencing anything right then. I was.

Sitting across from her, I saw a glimmering cloud of light next to her head—an energy that felt like a “father presence.” It communicated to me that she was hesitant to accept a marriage proposal, but that she had his blessing to go forward.

I told her what I saw, and she was visibly surprised. Her boyfriend had recently proposed, and she had not yet given him an answer. That moment changed everything.

She looked at me and said, “I don’t think you have schizophrenia. I think you’re having a spiritual awakening.”

From there, she referred me to a psychologist and a shaman. I underwent healing rituals and energy work, which unearthed a profound past-life memory. In a vision, I saw myself as a prehistoric mother dying from an infection in a cave in the Dolomites, terrified of leaving my child behind—mirroring the panic attacks I had whenever my husband traveled and I was left alone with our children.

That healing helped dissolve the panic attacks. It wasn't magic—it was deep, layered healing, both psychological and spiritual.

But not all my experiences with the medical system were like that. Years earlier, when I first started exploring these phenomena in France, I had severe physical symptoms: colitis, fatigue, visions, dreams. I underwent every medical test imaginable—CT scans, MRIs, X-rays. Nothing explained what was happening.

I did have postpartum depression. I was severely sleep-deprived and physically worn down after the birth of my daughter. I needed therapy, rest, and medication. And I got better—because I treated both the physical and the psychic dimensions of my health.

That’s something I think is crucial: a twofold approach. You must care for your physical health—sleep, nutrition, medication if needed—and also allow space to explore the spiritual, subconscious, or symbolic messages coming through.

In my own healing journey, I combined medical care, energy psychology, hypnosis, CBT, tapping, and spiritual mentorship. These tools helped me channel what I was experiencing into something constructive and empowering.

So how do I personally tell the difference?

When psychic ability is genuine, it brings clarity. It helps you make sense of things. It aligns with love and purpose.When it's rooted in illness, it confuses. It overwhelms. It destabilizes.

I’m not here to diagnose anyone or speak on behalf of others. I'm only sharing my experience to say this: don’t make harmful generalizations. Mental illness is real, serious, and deserving of compassion. And so is the psychic or spiritual awakening process. They are not mutually exclusive, but they must be carefully and honestly discerned.

The best path forward is to be open-minded, grounded, and supported by professionals—medical, psychological, and spiritual—who respect both science and soul.