How much does science and psychiatry know about schizophrenia? Do the unknowns scare society(public) more than the knowns? If so, can we ever talk about the knowns so less will be misconstrued?
Like, of course a hallucination isn’t real for the outside observer. Wouldn’t it help the professionals if we described what the hallucinations were like? I could do this easily and here is one example of my episodes:
I opened up a book and was drawn into the words, i started repeating the mantras and felt as if I could somehow influence the weather around me. I walked into town and a flock of birds seemed to follow everywhere I stood, and I felt an aura or wave of serenity over me. But I knew also that outside of me, I just looked spacey and lost. No one could feel the earth move through me, could see things from my eyes.
As much as i would like to feel a part of community society i cannot reveal my schizophrenia to anyone other than family and mh because the reaction is bad from society. I believe and they see it as unpredictable unstable disorder.
To me it is more of a divergence in perception and thinking; just as in autism spectrum its a difference in communication. The brain/body/mind communicates in a different but yet also meaningful way. I dont think schizophrenia is that unusual or maladaptive. If more research is done to de-stigmatize us and re-integrate us into social groups and not isolate us, it would benefit people so much and lead to ground-breakthroughs and cures for symptoms.
I can still function when my autism is giving me hell. I’m useless and trapped in an imaginary world when my SZ is florid. I would not describe the latter as meaningful - the exact opposite, actually. I also would not attempt to compare the two. It’s beyond apples and oranges. More like apples and dump trucks.
I think maybe for me the problem is either I lack insight because Im not currently in psychosis; or I experience more of Bipolar mania which is different than psychosis and schizophrenia.
I have more insight than most during schizophrenic states. Most people think I have milder schizophrenia or bipolar and it confuses me. I use the term hyper-sensitive or merely sensitive.
I’m terrified of what a psychotic state would look like for me. I would be broken/in shambles.
Its like a reality glitch. it scares me. when I was watching the view, and all that hype about her saying something controversail—and they deleted that clip–because she was glitching out on camera. I’ve seen people do it and I know its not me glitching out hahah. so sometimes i wonder if I was falsely labeled with this illness just because I notice too much or am too observant, hyper aware of reality.
recently if i wear myself out from paranoia or mania i become so tired.exhausted i feel like ill pass out. its unhealthy for me to be preoccupied with the unreal, alternative thinking, hell even deep philosophical stuff can be toxic for me if I dive too deep.
not saying its wrong to think outside the box, but its better to remain on the same plane as others.
I think there is a link between stigma and where many keep their diagnosis and thoughts to themselves. If their was more openness, awareness, dialogue, appreciation and acceptance then there would be less misunderstanding.
well i feel like im in love too…but you can be in love with life without having to gravitate it towards just one person…life is hardship and depressing, love is easy and fun. more love, less pain. haha. more compassion, less fatigue…more stamina, less overwhelmed.
we have the most difficult balancing act of all, to manage these symptoms and the real world is hard enough.
@anon57496651 I feel you there. I am the same I have more of bipolar mania than sz, but they treat me for sz. That’s insane and there’s no way I could talk to my doctor so I guess I have to change it.
I used to get deep into mistery of universe and misticism, but now is over. Do not want to do that anylonger since it got me into trouble.
My first diagnose was as bipolar mania.
Sz meds really knocks me down.
What were you diagnosed with?
My first diagnosis was paranoid schizophrenia. Now its schizoaffective disorder, bipolar type.
My psychiatrist said that schizoaffective was actually a good thing when I was first labeled with it–that its on a better prognosis than paranoid schizophrenia.
over the years I learned to cope and combat the paranoid delusions. I dont have them anymore. I havent had a relapse in awhile…
Its strange that its seemed to get better over time. For the better part of 15 years I have been med compliant. I think its actually helped more than harmed my recovery.
Yeah, the asistant said that probably that’s my diagnostic as well, but so far I get treated as a sz. The meds are really tough thou.
15 yrs, that’s a long time, you’ve managed so far and you seem to see the positive side of things.
They think it’s a brain disease but they’re not sure what is causing the brain to malfunction.
That being said, there are a lot of misunderstood diseases out there. My friends used to get a ■■■■ of negative comments for having an invisible disability because she sometimes walks and she sometimes uses a wheelchair.
I feel like I was diagnosed fairly young (around 18/19) for sz, so having that weight of a diagnosis on me at such a young age was very disheartening. Everyone knew that something was wrong with me but I just couldn’t tell people, I still avoid bringing it up with my family. I’ve had friends that I confided spread that I was lying about my dx and turned down from my local therapy because they didn’t know how to deal with my diagnosis since they only dealt with mild stuff. I feel like the only person I have is my GP lol
Psychiatry knows plenty about it, the general public not so much.
We need to have a movie featuring the disorder at least once per five years. Off hand I can only think of Beautiful Mind, Words on Bathroom Walls, and the Soloist.
It would be nice for a normal movie to feature a schizophrenic character, rather than the entire movie having to revolve around the disorder just because someone in the movie has it. According to most movies schizophrenia affects like nobody lol.