Hi all, hope you are well, or at least coping well. 
I know this subject might sound deep and heavy, but hopefully not… I think it’s a very interesting subject and perhaps with everyone sharing and reflecting, a lot might be achieved and ascertained. I welcome thoughts and opinions, and we are here to support one another.
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I’ve learnt now - not to automatically trust what my brain is telling me. I question it. I do come a cropper though, when my insight dwindles, and I’m not aware of it.
Thats scary. Cos then I’m unpredictable.
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I know when im having a bit of psychosis. Like roght now im feeling paranoid. But i know it will pass eventually. Even if it takes all day
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Psychosis can be a very scary place, and what do we need when we’re in a scary place, people who can perhaps re-assure us and those we can trust, and perhaps trust their judgements… I wonder if there are any amongst us who are actually blessed to have these, and if so how effective those support mechanisms are. I welcome your thoughts and opinions.
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Its hard for me to be aware, but little by little im getting there:). How about u?
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You know that’s a very good question. These days I know the signs of what is healthy thinking, and what isn’t. It’s easy for me to sit here and say that now of course… but if we as a collective get the information out to others, it could very well be the precursor that enables others to pre-empt a downward spiral and know how to address it.
I personally think there is somewhat of a mis-conception around mental health. My take on good mental health is someone who has a healthy perception of themself, a healthy perception of how they feel others see them, someone who is able to cope with life’s stresses and has a healthy outlook on life and their future. In the case of diagnosis I can’t help but think some take on this vision of that affliction and then in essence they become that vision. Thing is they are exactly the same person they were the day before that diagnosis. A unhealthy perception in essence can become someone’s reality.
When our thoughts are taking us down a unhealthy spiral it’s important we speak to those who can make the difference. Getting those negative thoughts out of our heads and open for healthy discussion means they no longer have that control over us (provided we talk to the right people with the right attributes, otherwise the downward spiral could accelerate if we are under the wrong inputs and wrong influences). I think many would agree there is still a stigma around schizophrenia, and it can be really difficult to talk about especially if the very word debilitates us. Perhaps a lot of the change needs to start with us… Healthy discussions, healthy outlooks on ourselves, our lives etc. Know what the affliction is, and what it isn’t. Perhaps change needs to start with us, and when we have an understanding and not phased by it all, then perhaps we can start to educate others. Again I put this out there for discussion and as always I welcome thoughts and opinions.
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One woman Springs immediately to mind, Joanna my neuropsych. She walked with me through hell, and was always there. I wouldn’t be here without her
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Yes I have ponder that question repeatedly.
You sound like a very wise person. There is this stigma around schizophrenics being chaotic. I see it as an afflicted person being unable to organize their thoughts and behaviors, making them unable to function. Of course after medication you see some get better and some stay where they are. It takes a lot of insight to realize what is unhealthy and what is healthy way of thinking. I think we should be grateful for what we have even if it’s a bad deck. :)!
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Thank you for sharing and for your kind words. In the case of healthy, unhealthy thinking, but more importantly a negative outlook on ourselves and our lives, I think it comes down to awareness. Thing is the very nature of psychosis which we buy into can draw us down those rabbit holes. It’s having the presence of mind to see the decline in our outlooks to be aware that we need to intervene before things spiral out of control. That does probably mean having a strong/disciplined mind, although talking and sharing can make us more aware of the negative impacts our trains of thought are having on our lives, and the need to address them. I’d be keen to hear your thoughts on this etc.
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My Alter who is my chief voice is obsessed with appearances, is afraid of looking bad, being laughed at. It’s shallow and stupid. He attacks me by calling me “stupid” most of all. And he wants to deny me out of existence: make me doubt I’m real so I’ll die. He definitely doesn’t know his place. I have glimpses into his glory, only brief glimpses which give me faith. But that is suspicious. I am aware of other people’s alters since everyone has them though they are unaware. I want to squash him like a bug. He’s a devestating creep. He is everyone I’ve ever loved/hated. He is the reality I’m supposed to strive for? That’s how it happens to people. The imagination, ego and aspiration. Was I led to this point to not focus so much on imagination? Is there any truth on earth?
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If we were to look at this objectively, could it be said that this voice is a influence. If so is it having a positive influence, and if so is it based on truth/fact etc. and if not is that healthy. If it’s having a negative influence are there things that can be done ideally to silence it, or to take that negative influence away allowing focus to return to where it should be. I welcome your thoughts and opinions.
I constantly remind myself that though I have to hear the voices, I have no choice, I don’t have to listen to them. I just reduced them down to a sound, neither positive nor negative, which allows me to focus on the task at hand
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That is exactly it. I treat mine like bad elevator music. Annoying, but can be tuned out by concentrating on other things. When I occasionally do listen it’s because now I can laugh at how silly what I’m hearing is.
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I’m not quite at that point yet, lol. But you give me something to work towards
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Sometimes I wonder if there may be a connection between the nature of voices and how someone perceives themself and how they feel others perceive them, like an extension of self-reflection, if that makes sense. I’d be keen to hear others’ views and opinions on this.
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To me, the voices seem ideally designed to prey upon weaknesses. But over time, this has become strength. I think it all depends what you do with it
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Your posts are an excellent contribution to the site, by the way
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That’s a very kind thing to say. It’s really nice to be able to post on here and have meaningful conversations etc. Your posts and input are of great value too.
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I had absolutely no self-awareness whatsoever before I got on mood stabilizers. I’d never experienced being able to actually understand what was happening to and around me before. It was life changing, my quality of life has gotten immensely better since then
At the moment I’m just barely starting to gain a tiny bit of insight into my stuff. I know that there is a lot that isn’t normal and is unhealthy because it causes me intense distress and makes me unable to function
I believe I can get to a point where I am perhaps still experiencing a psychotic disorder, but not struggling to function or think. All in good time
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