Before I was on antipsychotics, I was at a mental hospital at the age of 21 and the psychiatrist said to me taking an antipsychotic for schizophrenia is like taking insulin for diabetes. He recommended that I start taking an antipsychotic. I thought it was crap and said how there is no medical test for schizophrenia.
I got out of the hospital, but eventually I was forced to take an antipsychotic later on in time. From the experiences I have had and what I know, I believe comparing antipsychotics to insulin for diabtetes is fairly accurate. The difference between taking an antipsychotic and not taking an antipsychotic can be pretty dramatic. I have seen it clearly with my mother and to a lesser degree with myself.
I don’t love antipsychotics or anything though. I have experienced some hellish side effects.
I may be wrong, but this is what I believe.
Schizophrenia is a medical condition. It is a biological illness involving the neurotransmitters in the brain.
Medication can help with these problems with the brain and the imbalance in dopamine, which I believe influences positive symptoms.
I’ve been told over again and over again by every psychiatrist and mental health worker that anti-psych meds are the first line of defense against the symptoms of schizophrenia.
I’m Type 1 diabetic on insulin. My son is on APs. It’s very, very similar. It’s a treatment, not a cure. It doesn’t take away all the symptoms/complications of the disease but it reduces them to the point where you can have an “almost normal” life. You still have to take care of yourself and monitor your illness all the time - which makes your life harder than a “normal” person’s life - hence we have a “disability”. Some people discriminate against you because of it. (Some people are just generally scared of illness and disability- but I think of this as a good way to sort out the idiots from the people it’s worth being friends with ) Also one insulin may “work” for one person and not for another. Same as APs. You guys, though, can often get away with one injection a month. For us, it’s four or five a day! Blood sugar also affects mood, btw.
Oh and another thing: cranks and quacks also keep telling us they have a magic “cure” or we don’t need our meds if we follow their special plan or we brought it on ourselves by doing something wrong.
And some diabetics nearly kill themselves or do kill themselves by underdosing or refusing to take insulin (or occasionally by accidental overdose).
) Also one insulin may “work” for one person and not for another. Same as APs. You guys, though, can often get away with one injection a month. For us, it’s four or five a day! Blood sugar also affects mood, btw.