Exposing the Power of Psychosis

The Power of Psychosis

Why are so many people with psychotic experiences unable to relieve their symptoms without powerful anti-psychotic medication? What leads someone to seek help for psychosis? Is psychosis a spiritual, creative, social phenomena or purely the result of biological imbalances and/or messed up genes? What is the difference between brief psychosis and chronic psychosis schizophrenia? What determines the difference? What causes psychosis?

Relating Individual Experiences

It must’ve started with a break down, but was it a slow breakdown or a radical shift? Whatever sparked it, it changed me. The wall of bricks that tumbled over and exposed a harsh light, that was my psychosis.

Word or Theme I attach to my Psychosis:

Survival

I saw fear in their eyes, as if they believed that I had actually seen the inner workings of reality.I knew I had not, that time, seen or recalled anything but fears that billowed over me as I walked the miles alone on that barren road. I walked to a house, believing that no one was there. The voice in my head told me to lay on the bench, and rest.

Then I walked almost 15 miles until I realized that I was foolish. Shut up in a hospital that denies experience and alternative views, it does little to put context to experience.

Leaving most of us “schizophrenic” ones fragmented, on the verge of existence, on the cusp of awareness.

Choices

Most do not choose to experience a psychotic break.

Psychosis does not, however, always affect reason. The hallucinations might be real, in the sense, they exist in their own space. If more were to believe us lunatics we might see the nature of this oppressed insight.

Dark Night of the Soul

We’ve all experienced this at least once during the beginning stages of psychosis and schizophrenia. It is like falling through endless space. It is a break down of the self, it can cleanse us of all previous beliefs, our self identities,

Visiting doctors denied our experiences. They told us we were delusional, had fictitious religious beliefs. Thought we were special.

I told the psychiatrist I was special, not that I believed it but I knew it.

What causes us to continue to suffer in schizophrenia?

Well first off, psychiatry perpetuates certain beliefs about it!

Secondly, our experiences are too profound for us to deny!

Third? Maybe it’s better to be insane in a crazy world and we choose to remain schizophrenic regardless of how society sees us.

1 Like

I don’t know about anyone else but I don’t like being ill. I hate it. I did not have fun and I don’t like to suffer.

If someone likes being ill then I guess more power to them. Too bad their family, loved ones, and community have to deal with it.

2 Likes

I do get that for some… they like being in psychosis. They like being on the wild side.

I don’t. I don’t like the paranoia, the panic, suspecting my family of messing with me… feeling like I’m constantly under threat… not making sense… not having people understand me when I try to communicate… having my brain never rest…

There are things that I REALLY WANTED in life… a job I like… a roof over my head… a family of my own (maybe) the ability to look myself in the eye and be confident in my actions… (getting there)

None of that is possible if I’m not stable.

2 Likes

I don’t like being ill either. Some experiences I’ve had may not be related to schizophrenia.

That’s why I’m getting better about taking medication regularly, as I had not been a month ago. I think more clearly and reasonably when I take it regularly and don’t miss a dose.

I think there’s no harm in talking about experiences though.

Yeah the brain never rests. Thats the worst part. Ive lost the ability to just sit there and have my mind wonder away. Voices always set the topic. I seem composed on the surface but my mind is long gone. Im fighting to get it back. I just dont know what to do.

The stats on schizophrenia do not lend to whimsy or romanticization.

1 Like

Oh I am not trying to romanticize lol. I’m just stating my personal experiences leave it or take it.

http://brainblogger.com/2012/05/29/full-recovery-from-schizophrenia/

http://www.rethinkingmadness.com/

The ascendance of the consumer move- ment’s definition of recovery
has brought more heat than light to the growing awareness that persons with
schizophrenia and other mental disabilities can be encouraged to set their own personal goals and educated to participate in an informed manner in decision-making
regarding their treatment.

Recovery, as defined by consumer advocates, is
equated with: a) having a personally meaningful and satisfying life; b) being
empowered to make one’s own decisions regarding life goals and treatment; c) having hope for the future; d) being at peace with oneself and one’s God; e) having a valued sense of integrity, well-being and self-respect.

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3449344/

http://spiritualemergency.blogspot.com/2006/01/shamanism-schizophrenia.html

http://www.reconnections.net/schizo_shamanic.html