Schizophrenia - General Discussion

ja444 said:I remember my brother

he was very ill

he thought he was being filmed, watched, or even poisoned...

He eventually ended up in a psychiatric ward on medication...

He believed the rest of us were demons or spies...

That there was some massive conspiracy being built against him

In the end, when he was released to come home

He picked up a shotgun and shot himself in the head

It was incredibly hard on all of us

Looking back now, I wonder if things could have been even worse; I fear it might have ended with:
Him killing the entire family while they slept and then taking his own life

That is terrible. Honestly, you guys are crazy—how could you keep a shotgun in the house while he was like that?
Why don't you try spending a month in a mental institution just to see how you'd feel?
And since you're thinking so much about yourself—maybe it would have been better if you had ended it too.

I would never kill myself because of my brother.
I don't want to leave behind psychological trauma just because his sister killed herself, especially since we don't even have a mother.
I love my BROTHER.

🙂 🙂 🙂 👋 👋

From a medical encyclopedia:By definition
Schizophrenia refers to a broad category of common psychotic disorders with an etiology and pathogenesis that remains largely misunderstood

Wow, this is dated—it actually lists it as "split personality" from back in the 1970s

That's just not true at all

briskgull27 said:Oh, wow, how wonderful. I don't smoke, I don't drink, and I sleep ten hours a night—truly, my life is just perfect.
I'm not following you on this carbon monoxide thing; could you explain what you mean?😍

I take my vitamins and minerals. I eat a little bit of meat.

You need meat; iron is essential if you actually want to live a healthy lifestyle. And for heaven's sake, cut out the coffee! As for me, I still smoke—I do it at work, and I drink whenever the mood strikes. Regarding the carbon stuff... I had an issue with my water heater once, and it caused high levels of carbon monoxide in my room. A technician eventually came by and fixed it.
I started thinking I was just making things up in my head; I stopped obsessing over all the trivial nonsense in life, became more laid back, and things actually improved a bit. My head still feels a little tight in the back sometimes, but overall, I'm doing alright. Still, the whole situation is a total mess...
They say schizophrenics don't lose intelligence; if anything, they process things much faster than everyone else. It's true.
Just relax and try to enjoy every single moment. Avoid stress at all costs. If you don't have a pet, go get one.

Ida Bauer said:I have a few questions for anyone who has experience dealing with schizophrenia:
1. Do you ever feel like certain people just have this negative energy that affects you for no apparent reason? Like, just being near them feels off, even if they aren't saying anything stupid or doing anything out of the ordinary?
2. Do you get the feeling that you can predict things before they happen? Whether it’s in a dream or just while you're awake...
3. Have you ever felt like you could communicate with the dead, or like you possess some kind of supernatural abilities?
4. Do you struggle with sleep issues, like restlessness or insomnia?
5. Do you find yourself talking a lot?
5. Does your concentration constantly jump from one thing to another?

Of course, I'm talking about how things are when you aren't on medication. If anyone knows someone living with schizophrenia, please share your thoughts... thanks.

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up. You explained it perfectly.

Why are you constantly fixated on the hospital and unable to let go of what happened in the past?

David Stewart52, I suspect that kind of thought process might be linked to rapid impulses firing between neurons, which could ultimately lead to those sudden shifts in mood.😍

grgagrga said:Why do you constantly dwell on the hospital and find it impossible to move past what happened?

Honestly, that’s a bit like asking a veteran who served in Vietnam why they can't just forget everything.
Could those electroshock treatments have been the deciding factor?
Or maybe it's just that moment when you finally realize how many people around you are just putting on an act.
🙂 🙂 🎉

briskgull27 said:David Stewart52, I honestly think that line of thinking relates to those rapid impulses between neurons that end up causing the tremors😍

YES. Honestly, guys, you have way more patience with this group than I do!
I would’ve lost my mind and sent them all packing ages ago.
Just kidding,😁 folks.
Those uncontrolled movements are like jolts... almost as if you’re existing in two different times and places simultaneously, then suddenly twitching back into the present moment. It’s wild. Actually, that state of consciousness is pretty fascinating if you think about it!!
Science, man... nobody truly knows the cause or even the mechanism behind how it actually works. In my amateur opinion, what percentage of the brain does a human actually use? Like, 10%? Is that right?
Where’s the rest? I suspect some unknown center in the brain gets activated—something that basically stays dormant for everyone else.
But, hey, they treat it like a disease because it interferes with the daily grind we all deal with (that constant, frantic rhythm).
Wow, looking back, I really regret not studying medicine....

That post above, where the guy took his own life, is a perfect example of how serious that downward spiral of paranoia can get. And he was absolutely convinced it was real.

Look, you’re married, you’re loved, and nobody wants to see you fail. That’s what matters. Just ignore any potential malice coming from the outside. It’s a cruel world out there.
I spent some time in a psychiatric facility once. From what I could tell, all those patients are incredibly emotional people. Everything hits them hard. Literally everything that goes wrong. And their self-esteem is completely trashed.

David Stewart52 said:YES. Honestly, you have so much patience with this group!
I would have lost my mind with them ages ago.
I mean,😁 everyone.
Those uncontrolled movements are like sudden jolts... It’s almost as if you’re existing in two different times and places at once, and then suddenly you jerk back into the present. It's fascinating. That state of consciousness is actually quite interesting!!
Science, right? They don't even know the cause or how it actually works. In my amateur opinion, what percentage of the brain does a person actually use? Like 10%? Right?
Where is the rest? I suspect some unknown center in the brain gets activated—something that nobody else ever taps into.
But, hey, it’s treated as an illness because it disrupts our daily routines and the steady rhythm we all live by.
Wow, honestly, I almost wish I had studied medicine....

The post above regarding the brother who took his own life is a perfect example of how serious those delusions can get when someone is being persecuted. And he was absolutely convinced it was real.

Look, you’re married, you’re loved, and nobody wants anything bad for you. That’s what matters. That's the bottom line, and
any potential negativity from others should just be ignored. This world can be a cruel place.
I spent some time in a psychiatric facility once. In my estimation, all those patients are just incredibly emotional people. Everything affects them. Literally everything that goes wrong hits hard. And their self-esteem is completely shot.

Oh, I have to tell you something—you should watch the movie Girl, Interrupted.
Basically, in the hospital, they give you all your meds and put you to sleep.
So I'm sleeping away, and then suddenly someone wakes me up because—
Stana was throwing chairs down the hallway.
CAN YOU IMAGINE? THROWING CHAIRS IN THE HALLWAY RIGHT OUTSIDE MY DOOR!
And I didn't hear a thing because I was so drugged up.

I’ve always wondered: if these impulses move that fast, couldn't they be harnessed for something productive or even helpful?🙂 ☕ ☕

druid said:By the way, the work of psychiatrist Ronald Reagan is quite fascinating. He exposed many of the secrets within his profession, which is why he wasn't exactly the most popular figure among his peers. People often link him to the concept of "anti-psychiatry." There are several other authors who follow a similar path.

If anyone is interested and isn't familiar with them, I’d be happy to list the specific names and their major works.

They weren't just talking for the sake of it, either. They backed up their theories with personal experience and were known for their unique approaches and incredibly selfless dedication to their patients.

I would love to read some of those books. Please, could you let me know "who and what"?

Thanks so much!

A schizophrenic joke:
I actually ran into Morales and got some close-up shots of him and his tattoo
on his left arm
and I didn't kill him, for the record

😂

Anyway, regarding all those different opinions floating around, it basically feels like psychiatrists are just modern-day Mengele
but the truth is, nobody really gives a damn about you any more than anyone else; everyone is just looking out for themselves. 👏

So, what's the deal with electric shocks? Was that actually part of it? I mean, what does it even feel like?🤔What's the point of doing that anyway? Does it actually make you feel better afterward, or is it just... more chaos? 🤔

Taylor Howard36 said:What is electroconvulsive therapy actually like? Did you experience it? What does it feel like?🤔What is the point of it? Does it make you feel better afterward? 🤔

Listen closely, sweetie.
Here is how it works:As far as I know,ECT is performed at the state hospital, but definitely not at the local clinic.
After I told the doctor she was a schizophrenic, threw my meds around, and smashed through those glass wire doors,my dad had to sign a consent form for me to undergo ECT, essentially taking full responsibility if there were any lasting side effects. I had six sessions.

I honestly had no idea what to expect—I’m actually surprised I still remember all my English after six rounds of shock therapy!
1. They put a mouthguard in for you.
2. You get an injection.
3. As you're drifting off, they place electrodes on your temples.
4. Then, you wake up.

The best part was when my girlfriends came to visit for my 19th birthday; they were allowed to visit by then. They kept telling me, "Hang in there, it'll get better!" and then the nurse would walk in saying, "Come on girls, let's do one more," and just like that, they'd leave while I headed into another session.

☕

In my case, they use ECT when medication hasn't worked for about three weeks.
And regarding the local clinic, I once ended up in a coma, and a doctor hit me with such a heavy dose of Haldol that I wasn't myself for two months. I was shaking like a leaf. I don't know much about the Hippocratic Oath myself.

😂 😂 🎉 ☕

It’s more about preventing those clogs, if I can even find the right way to put it.
Everything stays exactly where it is, it just moves from the surface to underneath.

I just realized I messed up what I wrote above—was that it? 😂instead of pain...
Well, look, if you're sleeping, fine... but how are you actually feeling once you wake up? Any real changes? And honestly, what’s even the point of it all? Is the goal just to get someone to finally calm down?

The goal is essentially the same as any antipsychotic: whether it’s sulpiride, Haldol, risperidone, Zyprexa, or leponex.
If those don't do the trick, then it's straight to electroshock therapy.
After an ECT session, you don't really feel calm on the inside—it's more like you've been calmed from the outside.

Wasn't that one psychiatrist just on TV a little while ago?🙂
But honestly, it isn't her fault; she can't help it. She probably has something like 500 patients on her caseload.

Still, though, this current doctor actually treats me as an individual and shows some genuine humanity.
I suppose the one over at Jankomir is just too straightforward to deal with all the chaos involving schizophrenics.🙂

briskgull27 said:But still—this doctor actually treats me like an actual human being, you know? Like, individually.

Man, if only they were all like that! 😍
Honestly, there are way too many people in the healthcare system who are just... I don't know, cold? Just going through the motions, strictly by the book. My own primary care physician didn't even look at my 😬 last time, BUT there are exceptions to the rule, 😍

I feel like I’ve seen it all, okay?
I can’t change anything about companies like Eli Lilly or Jansen, nor can I fix the chaos out there.

But I *can* do my own little part by reminding people that those living with schizophrenia aren't just some specimens to be studied.
You actually won't believe what happened
I met this girl yesterday, and when I told her, "Hey, I have schizophrenia," she turned bright red.
Turns out, she had been seeing a descendant of Freud (maybe a great-granddaughter?) and we ended up having this intense conversation about how he took his own life and all that.
With all due respect—forget that! But then again, isn't everyone just like that?
Everyone is fighting their own battles to survive, though I definitely have to fight harder since I don't have much freedom.
But honestly, who cares?

Only the strongest survive.

outoftheblue said:Electroconvulsive therapy is used when medication simply isn't enough.

😱
Is that still a standard practice? I was under the impression that method had been phased out long ago. That sounds quite intense. 😢