Schizophrenia - General Discussion

It’s not like I can prove that I was just grabbing a coffee at the local cafe
You can't really prove anything to anyone—not for me, and who knows about him?
I've actually noticed this pattern with certain people too.👍 😁

Here is some interesting info that might be helpful for you:

Branches of Psychiatry

Biological Psychiatry is a school of thought and discipline that focuses on the physical, chemical, and neurological causes of mental illnesses and how to treat them accordingly.

Psychotherapy — Psychotherapeutic and psychodynamic psychiatry focuses on processes where individuals looking to alleviate symptoms or seek personal growth work with a therapist or psychoanalyst. They aim to understand their behavior during both wellness and illness by examining motivations, emphasizing psychological meanings alongside biological instincts as drivers for change.

Forensic Psychiatry — Forensic psychiatry is the branch dealing with legal issues related to mental disorders. Forensic psychiatric experts provide evaluations for individuals whose mental health status intersects with legal standards, including criminal and civil law, as well as non-adversarial proceedings.

Social Psychiatry is a field that examines the cultural, environmental, and sociological factors that trigger, exacerbate, prolong, or otherwise complicate maladaptive behavioral patterns and their treatment.

Liaison — Consultation-Liaison psychiatry involves collaborating with other medical professionals to improve the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients suffering from primary physical illnesses.

Child and Adolescent Psychiatry is the branch dedicated to studying, diagnosing, preventing, and treating mental disorders in children and teenagers under the age of 18.

Addiction Psychiatry focuses on addictive disorders, such as alcoholism.

Gerontopsychiatry deals specifically with the mental health challenges faced by older adults.

Stress, Psychotrauma, and PTSD (Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder) represent a particularly vital area of interest for psychiatrists.

I was wondering if any other forum members who have logged in before—specifically those navigating mental health challenges or who have experienced hospitalization—might be willing to share some advice.

For those of you currently married, how have things like mood swings, medication side effects, or even the social stigma surrounding mental illness impacted your marriage?

Do you ever get that sinking feeling that the playing field isn't level between you and your partner?
How does that actually feel for you?

briskgull27 said:I was wondering if any other forum members who have logged in before—specifically those navigating mental health challenges or who have experienced hospitalization—might be willing to share some advice.

For those of you currently married, how have things like mood swings, medication side effects, or even the social stigma surrounding mental illness impacted your marriage?

Do you ever get that sinking feeling that the playing field isn't level between you and your partner?
How does that actually feel for you?

I'm not married, but I've been living with my girlfriend for a long time now. We've both been hospitalized before—me with psychosis, her with neuroticism and depression. Because of that, we actually get each other perfectly.

In that sense, I got lucky!

stormylynx23 said:I'm not married, but I've been living with my girlfriend for a long time now. We've both been hospitalized before—me with psychosis, her with neuroticism and depression. Because of that, we actually get each other perfectly.

In that sense, I got lucky!

Really? So does that mean you both are living on Social Security?

Dammit, my post ended up at the very bottom of the page, so I’m just gonna copy it over to a new one.

So, I'm still in school—and working whatever odd jobs I can find, though mostly I'm just carrying the weight of my parents on my back right now.

The point is, having someone who actually *gets* it makes a massive difference. Someone who can offer real support because they've lived through it themselves. It's hard to get empathy from people who haven't walked this path, regardless of what specific diagnosis you're dealing with; we have so much in common.

Honestly, I think I have a much better shot at finishing my degree, landing a solid job, and finally getting my life together if I have someone by my side who understands the grind.

And look, when people claim being a schizophrenic means it's a lifelong sentence, it doesn't have to be as grim as the movies make it out to be. Plenty of people manage to taper off their meds and find stability... it's incredibly individual, depends on a million different things. It's "lifelong" only in the sense that nobody can give you a 100% guarantee that a psychotic episode won't pop up again down the road.

I've only ever seen Medvedica over at rebro, so I have zero clue what she's actually like.

PUPA16 said:If I'm not mistaken, your psyche hasn't fallen apart
but Taylor Campbell4, have you finally realized what nature actually is?!

I haven't.

For briskgull27 and those photos:
😲
So, I'll see you there!!! 🙂

A bit more on-topic:
I’d honestly recommend—to everyone, but especially to those dealing with health issues—that you read the field and say The Biology of Belief. (It should be available in American soon.)
I think it could really help once you start discovering all these fascinating things about how certain forces act upon us—well, to put it simply, they're emancipating and liberating. Plus, you might find some very practical, useful insights within them. These are the kind of books that fundamentally shift your perspective on the world and on themselves.

(Speaking of shifting perspectives, I just remembered that everything in my signature is a constant recommendation of mine—specifically, all the books by Benjamin Crema 😁 They also change your worldview and your life, even more so if they truly "click" with you.)

Barbara Ann Brennan : Where the light is

Lately, I’ve been feeling pretty wired—just constantly on edge—and since I spotted Taylor Campbell4's link in their signature, it got me thinking. Does anyone else here have actual experience with meditation, autogenic training, yoga, or any of that stuff? Honestly, I’ve only managed to get through the part where you tell yourself "my right arm feels heavy"... my psychiatrist is way too busy to walk me through the rest of it.
Pills might take the edge off for a second, provided they don't completely knock me out, but even then, they rarely do much.

Oh, right, totally forgot to mention this

I haven't been on this forum for very long, but it’s pretty obvious there are some sharp, articulate people hanging around here. So, if anyone feels like putting together a piece on this topic, send it my way via email (use a pseudonym, obviously) and I'll try to get it featured in the 'Column' section over at the Sjaj Association website.

The grittier, the better.

stormylynx23 said:Oh, right, totally forgot to mention this

I haven't been on this forum for very long, but it’s pretty obvious there are some sharp, articulate people hanging around here. So, if anyone feels like putting together a piece on this topic, send it my way via email (use a pseudonym, obviously) and I'll try to get it featured in the 'Column' section over at the Sjaj Association website.

The grittier, the better.

As for me, I make it a point to pray every single day. 😬 😵 😵 😵 🙂

Since nobody else seems able to answer you, I guess I'm the only schizophrenic on this whole forum.
And honestly, the Sjaj Association feels a bit too clinical and academic for my taste, but that's fine. Since I'm just playing the part of a schizophrenic anyway, I probably wouldn't fit in there regardless.👍

Look, it doesn't have to be strictly about schizophrenia. Anything related to psychology, psychiatry, the psyche—whatever—works. I mean, as long as it fits the theme of the column.

briskgull27 said:I’m curious—what actually goes through the minds of you mentally healthy folks when you happen to meet someone who is a schizophrenic?

a) "Okay, let's get out of here fast"
b) "Whoa, I've never actually met a real crazy person before!"
c) "Yikes, a real lunatic... this is terrifying"
d) "Oh, you poor thing"
e) "They actually look totally normal to me"
f) "They're clearly struggling and acting really erratic"
g) "Thank God I don't have anything like that"

So, what's the verdict? ???????????

🙂

Hey briskgull27!
I drop by your place every once in a while...
I have a friend who’s a schizophrenic. Four years ago, he killed his wife... stabbed her. Now he's been sentenced to treatment at a state mental hospital...
Out of all those so-called "friends," only my husband and I actually stay in touch. We’re the ones visiting him and hosting him at our place. That pretty much answers your questions above...

Props to you for being so honest... though honestly, besides that, you've got a killer sense of humor... 👍

You seen that movie "Saint from Fort Washington"?

@Kevin Mitchell20, goodness gracious... but alright......
The issue here is a global one, not just some case of schizophrenia.
Honestly, this is the first time I've ever heard of murders
committed by a schizophrenic against someone else; maybe this guy is actually perfectly sane ?😁 😁 😁

It’s definitely urgent. I’ve even joked to myself that I’m God—whenever I disappear from the forum, you know where to find me.
But it doesn't matter, life goes on normally over there too!!!!

briskgull27 said:@Kevin Mitchell20, goodness gracious... but alright......
The issue here is a global one, not just some case of schizophrenia.
Honestly, this is the first time I've ever heard of murders
committed by a schizophrenic against someone else; maybe this guy is actually perfectly sane ?😁 😁 😁

It’s definitely urgent. I’ve even joked to myself that I’m God—whenever I disappear from the forum, you know where to find me.
But it doesn't matter, life goes on normally over there too!!!!

look 🤔 interesting theory here

regarding the movie, I love how the old guy explains to his schizophrenic partner that hearing voices isn't actually a big deal... if doctors had run into Moses when God spoke to him, they would've rushed him straight to the psych ward

Taylor Campbell4 said:If the guy (the one who did it) had been surrounded by even a little bit of love, I don't think this would've happened. What do you think, Kevin Mitchell20?

Hard to say... some level of support definitely wouldn't have hurt.
It was just one bad thing after another; PTSD, my brother's suicide, getting hooked on heroin and pills, and then that tragically stupid decision to try and handle everything on his own... leading up to the tragedy, he hadn't slept for about a month...
We live in different cities so I didn't know what was going on, and the people who did know felt like it wasn't their place to step in... now they won't even visit him because they think he was being arrogant, thinking he could just control everything himself.

Kevin Mitchell20 said:Hard to say... some level of support definitely wouldn't have hurt.
It was just one bad thing after another; PTSD, my brother's suicide, getting hooked on heroin and pills, and then that tragically stupid decision to try and handle everything on his own... leading up to the tragedy, he hadn't slept for about a month...
We live in different cities so I didn't know what was going on, and the people who did know felt like it wasn't their place to step in... now they won't even visit him because they think he was being arrogant, thinking he could just control everything himself.

Yeah, I tend to ramble sometimes. It really all ties back to that stigma surrounding mental illness. I actually wrote a piece once about a former colleague of mine who recently took his own life—before that, his brother told me, "Don't tell anyone he has mental health issues" or that he'd been hospitalized. It essentially forces a kind of isolation upon them.

That’s why I keep nudging Out to start her own blog 😁, but she just won't do it.

😠 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠 😠
😁

Can I ask you something? Do you experience external events as an extension of yourself? And vice versa?

silverfox6 said:Can I ask you something? Do you experience external events as an extension of yourself? And vice versa?

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure what you mean by that, but yes—I view the things happening in my life as part of who I am. I don't see myself as separate from my experiences, just as I feel myself to be an integral part of the world around me. Should I go into more detail?

From what I’ve gathered looking at the data, the percentage of killers among people with schizophrenia is actually about the same as it is in the general population.

And honestly, regarding all this talk about stigma—if you ever run into some guy riding an MTA bus wearing nothing but the top half of his pajamas with "Mayo Clinic" printed on it, it just means I’m scaring the hell out of the bus driver.
😁 😁 😁 😁