Normal. said:Here’s my take on why psychotherapy doesn't cut it for those dealing with schizophrenia: We now have evidence regarding genetic predispositions for schizophrenia. Essentially, an individual might carry a specific gene that can be triggered by unknown factors, leading to the onset of the disorder. It tends to run in certain families. While the risk increases if one or both parents have been diagnosed, it isn't a guaranteed fate for their children. Schizophrenia might just be a breakdown in communication between the temporal and frontal lobes, combined with some frontal lobe atrophy. You also see this characteristic drop in metabolic activity within the frontal region—what they call hypofrontality. Biochemical theories suggest this disorder stems from an imbalance of neurotransmitters within the brain. Essentially, these chemicals act as messengers, passing signals from one neuron to the next. Research suggests that a schizophrenic brain struggles to process data correctly or filter out noise. Patients end up drowning in a sea of trivial details while completely missing the forest for the trees. The reason for such flawed information processing is purely chemical, and... Structural brain disorder. The neurodevelopmental hypothesis regarding schizophrenia is quite relevant today. It posits that the condition is essentially a brain development disorder. During prenatal development, faulty connections form between neurons. These miswired pathways remain undetected until adolescence. They are incredibly subtle shifts, yet once the disorder takes hold, they manifest across various behavioral aspects. The theories linking schizophrenia to viral or autoimmune causes are becoming increasingly outdated.
To add to this article, about 90% of schizophrenics showed enlarged latent ventricles on their MRIs. 🙂
Let me tell you one thing—neurology and neuropsychiatry aren't exact sciences to me. Sure, some things are established and certain enough that a treatment method is considered "proven," but it’s mostly just a bunch of people talking in circles. All that fluff they use in their sentences? Words like "maybe," "it could be," "perhaps"... honestly, it drives me absolutely insane. To me, a real doctor is one who actually admits when they don't have all the answers regarding complex brain processes. I have zero respect for those who play the intellectual giant only to end up solving absolutely nothing. I’ve lost count of how many people I know who were slapped with ten different diagnoses, only for every single one to be questionable, before finally being told: "Just come back for a follow-up if you feel like it." When it comes to neurology, let’s be honest: most theories are still just floating in mid-air. We actually know surprisingly little about the specific processes and reactions happening inside the brain.
I can't say for certain since I don't have the book right in front of me, so I'm not positive... but I'll be able to give you the exact details next week... It's pretty gripping overall, though it feels a bit like reading a collection of horror shorts... Apparently, they were intentionally inducing comatose states in people; I'm not entirely sure if it was via insulin or something else, but my guess is they were driving them into hypoglycemia, which is something you could actually achieve with him... If I've got that wrong, I'll correct myself, but I won't know until next week..
I was digging through some ancient psychiatry textbook... it was full of stories about meds, psychotherapy, electroshock therapy... and it mentioned a few old-school "techniques." Like inducing hypoglycemia or even a coma. I can't recall the specifics—I’d need to double-check—but it sounded pretty horrific. Were you thinking about any of that, briskgull27?
Taylor Howard36 said:Thank God they sedate you first... I always assumed while watching movies that they did it to someone wide awake... I was totally convinced people were conscious during electroshock therapy...
To be honest, I suspect they used to perform it on patients who were awake, though I'd have to double-check the records.😲 ...
Ann, basically, they use electricity to depolarize your brain to shift the chemistry, which is supposedly how it works😕 , but briskgull27 is proving once again that it doesn't.
I found some info on newer shock therapy methods—it’s called TMS (transcranial magnetic stimulation) now instead of ECT, but the concept remains identical:
The magnetic fields used in this new TMS procedure can actually penetrate the skull to target specific areas. A large capacitor generates a rapid alternating current, creating magnetic fields that enter the brain through a metal coil placed against the scalp. These magnetic field lines pass through the brain, inducing a weak electrical current that causes electrons to depolarize. This triggers what are known as "mood circuits" in patients with major depression, shifting them toward a better mood. Since the magnetically induced current travels indirectly, it can be focused solely on specific parts of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex—the area responsible for suppressing negative emotions. Along with other psychological shifts, this treatment boosts serotonin levels, which is the same neurotransmitter targeted by medications like Prozac and Celexa.
What an absolute disaster. I was reading up on it, and while I get that it’s a last resort when meds just aren't cutting it, I honestly don't see the point. I mean, I understand the mechanics, but if a procedure carries that many side effects, why is it even still part of the playbook? 👎 I feel terrible for you regarding that.😘
briskgull27 said:I actually have a document with a stamp on it.
Listen, just another crazy lady and I are talking about some bloody mess in Los Angeles, and she tells me, "Honey (she loves me), you could have just stayed quiet."
Love ya🙂 😘
Do they give you any local anesthetic during that, or do they sedate you? Or is it all "live"? Did you experience any side effects afterward..?
rocker11 said:That’s true... I was in Columbus for a spiritual retreat led by James and experienced Jesus and His power—that sense of peace is just incredible. You have to keep seeking it... yet so many people don't... But I'm worried about my girlfriend. I don't know how to help her. She struggles with lying, and it's massive. She lies so much now that I can't tell what's real and what's an act. When I try to be honest with her, she reacts negatively, pulls her hair out... she supposedly has schizophrenia, though reading this forum makes me wonder, since she isn't taking any meds...
I've met plenty of people living with schizophrenia. Some were intimidating, some were kindhearted, others were too heavily medicated to even hold a conversation, and some seemed perfectly fine. I never got close enough to anyone to judge, but I don't have any prejudice against them. Every individual is unique, just like anyone else.
I’ve always believed—and seen it firsthand in others—that those living with schizophrenia possess heightened senses, feeling the world more intensely and differently than everyone else. It isn't just some "hallucination"... I suspect things can be incredibly difficult for you, but at least you perceive and experience life on a deeper level than most... if there's any silver lining to be found, that's it.
briskgull27 said:They convinced me I'm helpless without my meds, yet here I am, ten attempts later, still unable to find the willpower to stop taking them.
I just hope my aura isn't gray. If it’s colorful with holes in it, I think I can handle that.
I'm positive your aura is the full spectrum. It might sound bizarre, but tell me—have you noticed any internal shifts, like heightened senses or anything? I mean, during those periods when you're lucid and things aren't spiraling.
Christian Doyle3 said:You're crazy. Just write whatever you want. Nobody here knows who you are anyway, so who cares what people think about your posts? As long as you feel okay, that's all that matters.
I completely agree. And Jason Sanchez3, I know you aren't trying to brag, but I just wanted to say it's fine—even doctors deal with similar issues. Don't feel bad about posting; maybe you just needed to vent, and honestly, everyone should be able to speak their mind.
It seems you have highly developed intrapersonal intelligence—you truly understand your own internal mechanics, as you put it. However, regarding your interpersonal side (that tendency where you claim you can't hurt anyone, or find yourself weeping over a news article because you sympathize so deeply), you might not actually be reflecting others' emotions. Instead, you may just be absorbing them and projecting them back as your own. Someone mentioned this in an old thread, and I have to agree... it’s often difficult to tell when you are genuinely "feeling" for someone else versus when you are simply inventing their emotions and manifesting them through yourself. I don't know, I see it more as a gift than a flaw. The key is learning to distinguish "what is you" from "what belongs to someone else." If you constantly act based on the feelings of others, you risk becoming passive—avoiding conflict by fighting battles within yourself instead of standing your ground. Your "gift" is a real gift; you just need to learn how to master it.
😕 I wasn't even attacking her... I was simply trying to point out that some people might actually relate to her story (she asked if anyone had similar experiences, after all), but she just kept insisting there's nobody like that here and that the whole thing is pointless... It's quite bizarre to ask for input and then refuse to listen to what others have to say... you know, some people actually empathize with her