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Schizophrenia - General Discussion

Started by briskgull27 · · 👁 665 views · 7.5K replies

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Harold Anderson3 Harold Anderson3 Regular
732 messages
joined May 2023
#5441 ·
Nicole Barrett76 said:I have a question that doesn't strictly belong here, and while I am unsure where else to post it, I felt it would be foolish to start an entirely new thread just for this inquiry.

Suppose a deeply terrified patient arrives at a psychiatrist's office and, driven by intense fear, begins demanding physical contact from the doctor or perhaps a nurse. If the physician administers an injection with anxiolytic properties, there will inevitably be a period of waiting before the medication takes effect.

In such a delicate moment, would doctors actually embrace the patient, offer a comforting pat, hold their hand, or engage in some other form of soothing touch?

🤣
Honestly, it really just comes down to the individual doctor or nurse. They're human beings too, after all, and sometimes they can feel pretty overwhelmed by the intensity of the situation themselves, so they might not always provide that kind of physical contact.😉
Matthew Castillo5 Matthew Castillo5 Regular
264 messages
joined Apr 2013
#5442 ·
Nicole Barrett76 said:I have a question that doesn't strictly belong here, and while I am unsure where else to post it, I felt it would be foolish to start an entirely new thread just for this inquiry.

Suppose a deeply terrified patient arrives at a psychiatrist's office and, driven by intense fear, begins demanding physical contact from the doctor or perhaps a nurse. If the physician administers an injection with anxiolytic properties, there will inevitably be a period of waiting before the medication takes effect.

In such a delicate moment, would doctors actually embrace the patient, offer a comforting pat, hold their hand, or engage in some other form of soothing touch?

They probably play it very safe and avoid doing anything like that, mostly because things like hugging or caressing could easily be misinterpreted as inappropriate sexual contact.

Picture this: you ask a nurse for comfort, she gives you a quick hug, and right at that exact moment, your girlfriend, wife, sister, or mom—who might have just stepped out to handle some paperwork in the lobby—walks in. Suddenly, you've got someone reacting with pure outrage and potentially attacking either you or the nurse, verbally or physically. It's a nightmare scenario.

You actually asked something pretty similar on a different thread over on a political forum once. Why is this weighing on your mind so much?
Nicole Barrett76 Nicole Barrett76 Regular
515 messages
joined Sep 2009
#5443 ·
Matthew Castillo5 said:They probably play it very safe and avoid doing anything like that, mostly because things like hugging or caressing could easily be misinterpreted as inappropriate sexual contact.

Picture this: you ask a nurse for comfort, she gives you a quick hug, and right at that exact moment, your girlfriend, wife, sister, or mom—who might have just stepped out to handle some paperwork in the lobby—walks in. Suddenly, you've got someone reacting with pure outrage and potentially attacking either you or the nurse, verbally or physically. It's a nightmare scenario.

You actually asked something pretty similar on a different thread over on a political forum once. Why is this weighing on your mind so much?

I don’t recall ever asking that on the politics forum, so if there were any responses back then, they have completely slipped my mind. My curiosity stems from something I read quite some time ago—I believe it was a psychiatrist who remarked that no ordinary fear can truly compare to the sheer terror experienced by those living with schizophrenia.

And consider this scenario... if an injection only requires five minutes to take effect, what is the alternative? Is it better to leave a patient alone to endure those five minutes of pure, unadulterated trembling and dread? (Of course, we aren't just talking about schizophrenia here; it could simply be a "mere" panic disorder)

The idea of a hug is certainly open to interpretation. However, if I were to see a family member being held by the hand or gently comforted by a psychiatrist or a nurse—provided they were tucked away in a quiet, private space far from the prying eyes of passersby—then I truly wouldn't find any reason to make a fuss about it.

In fact, I would be deeply moved to see someone show that level of care for one of my own family members.
Jose Ward4 Jose Ward4 Regular
379 messages
joined May 2015
#5444 ·
Nicole Barrett76 said:I don’t recall ever asking that on the politics forum, so if there were any responses back then, they have completely slipped my mind. My curiosity stems from something I read quite some time ago—I believe it was a psychiatrist who remarked that no ordinary fear can truly compare to the sheer terror experienced by those living with schizophrenia.

And consider this scenario... if an injection only requires five minutes to take effect, what is the alternative? Is it better to leave a patient alone to endure those five minutes of pure, unadulterated trembling and dread? (Of course, we aren't just talking about schizophrenia here; it could simply be a "mere" panic disorder)

The idea of a hug is certainly open to interpretation. However, if I were to see a family member being held by the hand or gently comforted by a psychiatrist or a nurse—provided they were tucked away in a quiet, private space far from the prying eyes of passersby—then I truly wouldn't find any reason to make a fuss about it.

In fact, I would be deeply moved to see someone show that level of care for one of my own family members.

But man, don't you get it? An injection just numbs the symptoms. It helps in the moment, sure, but at the end of the day, the real question is: what is that person actually terrified of deep down?
Nicole Barrett76 Nicole Barrett76 Regular
515 messages
joined Sep 2009
#5445 ·
Jose Ward4 said:But man, don't you get it? An injection just numbs the symptoms. It helps in the moment, sure, but at the end of the day, the real question is: what is that person actually terrified of deep down?

It is certainly beneficial if an injection can alleviate symptoms and ensure a patient becomes cooperative and coherent. When a patient is gripped by intense fear, they might even be willing to cooperate, yet such a sudden surge of terror can completely paralyze their intellectual functioning, making it impossible for them to provide even the most basic coherent responses.

The specific object of the patient's fear is irrelevant to my inquiry. My question remains: the patient is experiencing profound terror and, as a result, is seeking physical contact. Is physical contact permitted for patients in such a state?
Elizabeth Torres60 Elizabeth Torres60 Newcomer
1 message
joined Jun 2017
#5446 ·
I’ve got a question about something I’m seeing, and honestly, it feels like we might be looking at multiple personalities, though part of me wonders if it’s actually some kind of schizophrenia. I’m a little worried because this person is a really dear friend of mine. It seems to me like there are two distinct sides to her—one that’s kind and good, and another that’s just malicious, constantly making things up, living in a fantasy world, lying, and picking fights. What’s even weirder is that when she’s in her "good" persona, she’ll say things through the lens of this other alter ego. She even gives me advice on how I should handle her while she’s acting as that second personality. This whole thing usually flares up during the spring and summer months.
Matthew Castillo5 Matthew Castillo5 Regular
264 messages
joined Apr 2013
#5447 ·
Elizabeth Torres60 said:I’ve got a question about something I’m seeing, and honestly, it feels like we might be looking at multiple personalities, though part of me wonders if it’s actually some kind of schizophrenia. I’m a little worried because this person is a really dear friend of mine. It seems to me like there are two distinct sides to her—one that’s kind and good, and another that’s just malicious, constantly making things up, living in a fantasy world, lying, and picking fights. What’s even weirder is that when she’s in her "good" persona, she’ll say things through the lens of this other alter ego. She even gives me advice on how I should handle her while she’s acting as that second personality. This whole thing usually flares up during the spring and summer months.

Could it just be a Gemini thing? 🍿 😉

I feel like we all carry at least a tiny bit of that Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde duality inside us, even if it's way more pronounced in some people than others.

There's just way too little information here for anyone to tell you if we're looking at schizophrenia, dissociative identity disorder, or something else entirely. And even if we had a mountain of data, we aren't in a position to play doctor or hand out diagnoses on a forum like this.
Rebecca Rivera3 Rebecca Rivera3 Active Member
206 messages
joined Mar 2017
#5448 ·
Nicole Barrett76, your question is... well, complicated. However, research has demonstrated that a human hug can reduce fear and anxiety, which provides a certain level of support. Ultimately, it comes down to the individual doctor and how willing they are to cross that line to offer comfort while waiting for an injection to take effect. Whether such an act is considered moral or immoral depends entirely on the specific details and the circumstances surrounding the situation.

For instance, the psychiatrist I saw would know that doing something like that would be inappropriate, because even his initial demeanor was unprofessional—the way he looks at me makes it impossible to ignore. I can see a hidden desire in his eyes as he types away at his computer... that's why I avoid male doctors. Honestly, I don't have to look far to see this pattern; none of my male friends have ever wanted to be "just friends"—eventually, everyone wants more. It seems like men have a genetic predisposition toward it; I honestly wonder how any of them manage to stay monogamous.
And of course, I ended up having to see a male psychiatrist at the local medical center. I don't really have a choice; I either go or I don't... haha, though usually, I just don't go.
Nicole Barrett76 Nicole Barrett76 Regular
515 messages
joined Sep 2009
#5449 ·
Rebecca Rivera3 said:Nicole Barrett76, your question is... well, complicated. However, research has demonstrated that a human hug can reduce fear and anxiety, which provides a certain level of support. Ultimately, it comes down to the individual doctor and how willing they are to cross that line to offer comfort while waiting for an injection to take effect. Whether such an act is considered moral or immoral depends entirely on the specific details and the circumstances surrounding the situation.

For instance, the psychiatrist I saw would know that doing something like that would be inappropriate, because even his initial demeanor was unprofessional—the way he looks at me makes it impossible to ignore. I can see a hidden desire in his eyes as he types away at his computer... that's why I avoid male doctors. Honestly, I don't have to look far to see this pattern; none of my male friends have ever wanted to be "just friends"—eventually, everyone wants more. It seems like men have a genetic predisposition toward it; I honestly wonder how any of them manage to stay monogamous.
And of course, I ended up having to see a male psychiatrist at the local medical center. I don't really have a choice; I either go or I don't... haha, though usually, I just don't go.

thank you Rebecca Rivera3 for the response. I have mostly seen female psychiatrists in the past. Although, I would love to try seeing a man. It doesn't even have to be a psychiatrist; it could be a clinical psychologist. But one male neuropsychiatrist I saw briefly used to churn through patients in record time. He could barely listen for ten minutes.

I don't hold any prejudices that male psychiatrists are better than female ones. That isn't my reasoning. I simply want to experience a male approach once. I believe approaches differ because male and female thinking patterns are distinct, even after years of schooling, experience, and rigorous training.

The issue with hugging is the double standard. If a female psychiatrist were to hug a male patient, it likely wouldn't be judged at all. But if a male psychiatrist hugs a female patient... well, that's where things start to get messy.

It seems to me that over the last 10-15 years, women have taken over the majority of the psychiatry profession. What are your thoughts on this?

-------------------

I have a question regarding how to help a friend who suffers from schizophrenia. He is taking several potent medications for his condition, but it seems his liver isn't functioning properly because his complexion has taken on a strange color. To make matters worse, even the medication cannot fully prevent him from believing his delusions and hearing voices.

He is terrified that his mother will be put in a nursing home, that his house will be taken from him, or that his Social Security benefits will be seized; he also fears being recorded and, because he served in the military, that enemy combatants will come looking for him. Fortunately, that last delusion is the least common one. But he simply cannot stop talking about the others.

He will soon be starting monthly antipsychotic injections, and hopefully, that will provide some relief, but I am deeply concerned.

A mutual relative of ours says he tries to reason with him every day to dispel these delusions. He claims he is perfectly fine until he turns on the television. He can't even watch anything on TV because he believes people on the screen are going to do the terrible things he describes. Otherwise, he would give anything to hang out with the group. He has no trouble treating people or going out occasionally, but I assume he struggles socially because few people truly understand him.
Jose Ward4 Jose Ward4 Regular
379 messages
joined May 2015
#5450 ·
Rebecca Rivera3 said:Nicole Barrett76, your question is... well, complicated. However, research has demonstrated that a human hug can reduce fear and anxiety, which provides a certain level of support. Ultimately, it comes down to the individual doctor and how willing they are to cross that line to offer comfort while waiting for an injection to take effect. Whether such an act is considered moral or immoral depends entirely on the specific details and the circumstances surrounding the situation.

For instance, the psychiatrist I saw would know that doing something like that would be inappropriate, because even his initial demeanor was unprofessional—the way he looks at me makes it impossible to ignore. I can see a hidden desire in his eyes as he types away at his computer... that's why I avoid male doctors. Honestly, I don't have to look far to see this pattern; none of my male friends have ever wanted to be "just friends"—eventually, everyone wants more. It seems like men have a genetic predisposition toward it; I honestly wonder how any of them manage to stay monogamous.
And of course, I ended up having to see a male psychiatrist at the local medical center. I don't really have a choice; I either go or I don't... haha, though usually, I just don't go.

🙂
Jose Ward4 Jose Ward4 Regular
379 messages
joined May 2015
#5451 ·
Rebecca Rivera3 said:Nicole Barrett76, your question is... well, complicated. However, research has demonstrated that a human hug can reduce fear and anxiety, which provides a certain level of support. Ultimately, it comes down to the individual doctor and how willing they are to cross that line to offer comfort while waiting for an injection to take effect. Whether such an act is considered moral or immoral depends entirely on the specific details and the circumstances surrounding the situation.

For instance, the psychiatrist I saw would know that doing something like that would be inappropriate, because even his initial demeanor was unprofessional—the way he looks at me makes it impossible to ignore. I can see a hidden desire in his eyes as he types away at his computer... that's why I avoid male doctors. Honestly, I don't have to look far to see this pattern; none of my male friends have ever wanted to be "just friends"—eventually, everyone wants more. It seems like men have a genetic predisposition toward it; I honestly wonder how any of them manage to stay monogamous.
And of course, I ended up having to see a male psychiatrist at the local medical center. I don't really have a choice; I either go or I don't... haha, though usually, I just don't go.

Why does every damn man think beauty is all in the eye of the beholder when it clearly isn't? 🙂
Nicole Barrett76 Nicole Barrett76 Regular
515 messages
joined Sep 2009
#5452 ·
Rebecca Rivera3 said:Nicole Barrett76, your question is... well, complicated. However, research has demonstrated that a human hug can reduce fear and anxiety, which provides a certain level of support. Ultimately, it comes down to the individual doctor and how willing they are to cross that line to offer comfort while waiting for an injection to take effect. Whether such an act is considered moral or immoral depends entirely on the specific details and the circumstances surrounding the situation.

For instance, the psychiatrist I saw would know that doing something like that would be inappropriate, because even his initial demeanor was unprofessional—the way he looks at me makes it impossible to ignore. I can see a hidden desire in his eyes as he types away at his computer... that's why I avoid male doctors. Honestly, I don't have to look far to see this pattern; none of my male friends have ever wanted to be "just friends"—eventually, everyone wants more. It seems like men have a genetic predisposition toward it; I honestly wonder how any of them manage to stay monogamous.
And of course, I ended up having to see a male psychiatrist at the local medical center. I don't really have a choice; I either go or I don't... haha, though usually, I just don't go.

Here is what I have decided to search for online if I want to find a truly substantial answer to my inquiry.

"psychosis" "injection" "hug" "fear" -insulin

But, if by any chance you happen to have a link or a document on your computer regarding research on this matter, please do send it my way. You can reach me via private message or at piskavac@gmail.com.
Larry Cooper89 Larry Cooper89 Newcomer
2 messages
joined Jun 2017
#5453 ·
First off, hello to everyone on this forum!

I’ve spent quite a while combing through every single page of this thread, hoping to find some answers that might actually make sense of what we're facing....

I have so much respect for all of you fighting schizophrenia; seeing how you hold your ground and manage to claim victories year after year is truly something else.

The reality is, I've recently begun to suspect that a family member is dealing with similar struggles, and it feels like we're staring down the barrel of the same battles.....but there's no turning back now. She was actually the one who sought out a psychiatrist because she could feel that "something wasn't right" with her own mind. She has this persistent sensation of being watched, coupled with the feeling that some man she vaguely recognizes is constantly sitting nearby, whispering horrific things to her... things like, "you'll never succeed," "you're ugly," or "everything you do is worthless." It’s happening as intrusive thoughts rather than actual audible voices.

This started about eighteen months ago, and while it's still present, the intensity has dialed back slightly. She claims she’s just gotten used to him and chooses to ignore him! On top of that, she’s been struggling with depression, a total lack of focus and willpower, impulsivity, irritability, hypersensitivity, and ultimately, suicidal ideation.

After her consultation with the psychiatrist, they mentioned an adolescent crisis, an F23 diagnosis, and perhaps some borderline traits?

They've started her on a low dose of Olanzapine, 2.5mg at night, as a starting point, specifically aiming to silence that presence she knows isn't real but can't seem to escape....all because we're terrified of more severe symptoms developing.

Processing the start of this treatment and finally accepting the reality of the situation has been incredibly heavy for us; we're still trying to wrap our heads around it all. The plan is to seek a second opinion in Washington, D.C., and they were thinking of seeing John Doe privately, since she’s a specialist in pediatric and adolescent care, which is necessary given that my family member is only 16.

I'm wondering:

1. Is it even possible for this to be transient, even if it has been dragging on for a year and a half? (It seems painfully obvious to me that this looks like a prodromal phase of schizophrenia.)

2. Does anyone here have any firsthand experience with John Doe—was it positive or negative?
Harold Anderson3 Harold Anderson3 Regular
732 messages
joined May 2023
#5454 ·
I honestly don't know, it seems like everyone experiences it in such a different way. My own experience wasn't even remotely similar to what that girl went through. I didn't deal with any hallucinations until I hit the peak of my psychotic episode at age 21, though there was certainly depression, apathy, and a total lack of focus leading up to that for years.
Brandon Newman95 Brandon Newman95 Active Member
245 messages
joined Jun 2024
#5455 ·
All I know for sure is that Dr. Kocijan works as a court expert, and honestly, I've been waiting forever to hear anything, but you guys should probably check on this myself
Harold Anderson3 Harold Anderson3 Regular
732 messages
joined May 2023
#5456 ·
I’ve been having a really rough time these last few days. I feel completely wiped out. It’s this strange paradox where I’m craving company, yet at the exact same time, I find myself pulling away from everyone and retreating into my own shell. There’s this heavy sense of worthlessness hanging over me. I don't hold any ill will toward anyone, but I’m struggling not to feel that way about myself either. Honestly, it feels like everyone has just walked away from me. My immediate family is still there, but they’re pretty disconnected from reality; my mom is increasingly losing touch with what’s actually happening around her. This isn't the life I wanted, and I doubt anyone would. And honestly, trying to finish my degree at the state university is driving me to the brink. I'm 29 years old and I haven't even cleared my first year of coursework, all while piling up debt I can't manage. I just don't think I can do this. Now, everyone is breathing down my neck, trying to force me to graduate and finally become independent. But where were all the doctors, social workers, and support systems when my mother basically abandoned me right after birth? Where was anyone when my stepmother was hitting me, or when my father acted like I didn't even exist? She was such a selfish person, always thinking only of herself; I wasn't even a footnote in her life. All the people who have known me for years—who watched everything unfold from the sidelines—they knew things were bad, but they either didn't want to or couldn't step in. I feel like it might be too late to fix something that was broken so fundamentally a long time ago. I genuinely can't see an exit from this dark tunnel. I don't want to end my life, even though part of me truly wishes I could, because I know I’d leave my family in total chaos. If anything, hurting myself would be the ultimate way of hurting them. I could head to the ER, but the thought of being back in a hospital setting again is just too much. I'm going for a walk. Alone, though I wonder who else is even out there. I'm hoping for some kind of support here once I get back.🕺
Andrew Doyle Andrew Doyle Regular
268 messages
joined Aug 2011
#5457 ·
Harold Anderson3 🙂

I honestly don't think you realize just how much strength and genuine positivity you carry despite everything being thrown at you. You have this knack for finding the silver lining, even when things look bleak. So what if you took a walk by yourself today? At least you were in your own good company, rather than dragging along someone mindless. Real companionship will show up when it’s meant to. Stop putting this unnecessary pressure on yourself and just stick to your routine—keep moving, get outside, and find your flow. Don't feel like you're some kind of burden to others, either. Most people out there are just walking around in packs, pretending they aren't chronically lonely.
Harold Anderson3 Harold Anderson3 Regular
732 messages
joined May 2023
#5458 ·
Azure, when I saw you were the first one to comment as a moderator, I honestly thought I was about to get handed a penalty because I really went off the rails there for a second. It was pure emotion. But instead, I got a hug! Thank you so much for the hug and those kind words. 😘It’s been raining here all day so I haven't moved from my spot, but I think I'll head out for a light run now since I'm feeling wide awake.
I suppose it’s just part of who I am—my moods tend to shift quite drastically, and when I'm spiraling, my main priority is just keeping a cool head so I don't end up doing something incredibly foolish 😢you know exactly what I mean.
Andrew Doyle Andrew Doyle Regular
268 messages
joined Aug 2011
#5459 ·
Look, I truly get how brutal those mood swings can be. But I’m telling you again: you are stronger than any of the chaos you dump onto this forum. Behind every single one of your setbacks and every moment you feel like you're spiraling, there is a spark in you that keeps breaking through, over and over again. I realize this is just people typing on an internet board and things often get lost in translation or misinterpreted, but somehow, I’m not worried about you. I genuinely believe you’re one of those rare people who will actually cross the finish line and hit their goals—regardless of your diagnosis, regardless of what happened in your childhood, and regardless of all the hurdles life keeps throwing your way.
See, it started raining. Most people would just sit there waiting for the rain to stop before they even think about going for their walk or their run. A lot of people would just give up entirely... but you aren't most people. You don't quit. 😉

A ban? 😲 Wait, did you honestly think you could come here looking for support and end up getting banned? If that were actually how things worked on this platform, I’d step down from my moderator position myself. 🙂
Harold Anderson3 Harold Anderson3 Regular
732 messages
joined May 2023
#5460 ·
Andrew Doyle said:Look, I truly get how brutal those mood swings can be. But I’m telling you again: you are stronger than any of the chaos you dump onto this forum. Behind every single one of your setbacks and every moment you feel like you're spiraling, there is a spark in you that keeps breaking through, over and over again. I realize this is just people typing on an internet board and things often get lost in translation or misinterpreted, but somehow, I’m not worried about you. I genuinely believe you’re one of those rare people who will actually cross the finish line and hit their goals—regardless of your diagnosis, regardless of what happened in your childhood, and regardless of all the hurdles life keeps throwing your way.
See, it started raining. Most people would just sit there waiting for the rain to stop before they even think about going for their walk or their run. A lot of people would just give up entirely... but you aren't most people. You don't quit. 😉

A ban? 😲 Wait, did you honestly think you could come here looking for support and end up getting banned? If that were actually how things worked on this platform, I’d step down from my moderator position myself. 🙂

😛 Depression is a real beast. I'm not sure if you've ever heard the saying, "If hell exists on earth, you'll find it in the heart of a melancholic man." There are so many different levels to depression, but when it hits hard—the way it tends to hit me—it feels pretty close to actual hell. Honestly, looking at the clock right now, just two hours ago I was sitting here wondering if you were okay and how I could help ease your burden, and yet, here I am feeling capable enough to get a workout in. The weather is pretty lousy right now, though; the wind is really picking up, so it's probably not the best time to head out.
Thanks again, 😉

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