You’re also not the same person you were back when you were twenty. Illness changes us, but so does time and life experience. Change isn’t a bad thing - you just have to find what is good in the present.
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This is poorly labeled, the way they define recovery, they should just call it “can people with schizophrenia fully recover.”
With how hellish this disease is when full blown, a 90% recovery is still a recovery if you ask me, in that it’s still a terrific boon. I know I’m not functioning to the level I used to, but if my brother could recover as much as I have, well it would make our lives a whole lot easier.
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People don’t really use the rule of thirds anymore. Now it’s the rule of quarters, with 25% of people presenting only one episode in their life. However I would argue that most of these one episode folks shouldn’t qualify as a SZ diagnosis, often aren’t diagnosed, and many shouldn’t even be included in the count. I think the rate of full recovery is closer to 15-20% if that. The big statistics are 10% dead by their own hand, 15% not improved, 25% partially improved, 25% mostly improved. That last 25% is what they are claiming only has one temporary episode and nothing more.
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It’s exactly what I’ve always thought.
I think a “full recovery” depends entirely on the criteria of an author of an article, and that seems to vary greatly. Some circles claim a full recovery is absence of symptoms but still being on medication. I don’t believe in a full recovery, to me, it’s absence of symptoms, no medication, and functioning (as the article says) with the same degree as before you got sick. And doing all this for a significant amount of time. How many people have we seen on here who claim they’re fully recovered because their positives have been non existent or very low for a couple of months or a few months? A lot. If someone can function fully, without medication and no symptoms for 4 or 5 years or more I might believe in a full recovery, Haven’t seen anyone fit that criteria in the 15 years I’ve been on this site.
I believe people get better and improve; I’ve seen that before.
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What about the trauma of a psychotic break and being in mental hospitals. I will never recover from that. I have no positive symptoms. I have depression and panic attacks. The panic attacks are the worst.
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I recovered from panic disorder so it is possible.
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I think every person with sz should define their version of recovery. I have symptoms but I can live a good life. I see myself as recovered.
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Depends on day to day basis… If we encounter a psychotic episode or multiple life is not the same… unless there are people who live a fulfilling happy life for longer period of time just like anyone else can and the count of it is increasing and well known… as far as I know there are very few who are lucky to be happy and fulfilled though diagnosed with sz or any other severe mental illness…
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I think recovery is doing what I would be doing if I never had SZ.
I think it is possible.
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I think finding and accepting one’s new normal is key.
It might not be pre-SZ levels, but one can certainly achieve a healthy baseline for symptoms.
So, yea, I agree with the folks saying there’s room for great strides even if it’s not 100% back to how things were before getting ill.
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We have to reduce the bench mark for success and quality of life few notches. Then life will be manageable I guess. We need to always expect the unexpected.
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I believe people can get free of psychosis and meds. I was in contact with a leading doc here. Who uses a more novel approach to psychosis, with cooperation and therapy and all. He sees people get free of meds and psychosis. Long-term.
I think your functioning always gets a blow. Even Newton said his coherence of thought suffered.
I think you also…cannot “unsee” what psychosis showed you. I think your view on yourself and society is forever changed. I think this may actually be one of the reasons the system goes into psychosis…a sort of emergency brake…a last effort of your system to signal to you and your environment “yo something not going right here, turn around”…after other signals (e.g. fight/flight instinct) failed. But maybe I’m projecting my own situation on everyone now.
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I keep hearing that. I guess I just suck at following directions.
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Imo it is something we can try to do. Just stay low profile and not compare oneself with others. Even if we are not able to achieve something trying matters.
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I am recovered enough to be off APs and function quite well. I work part time 3/4 of the year and fulltime 1/4. I care for 3 family members with disabilities and special health needs on top of my own. I try to be a good, supportive friend. I have been a very active mod here for…3 years, I think.
But I am absolutely not the same person I was before the big psychotic break that landed me in intensive mental health care and on meds.
And that’s ok. I like who I am now.
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I would like to be a admin level in something or the other. I am trying my best in my job to secure a good position. I have hunger to learn more. Hopefully I get to learn and be of help to others.