Schizophrenia

Hey there @Ruby66 !

What an amazing opportunity! Hearing lived experience can be so incredibly powerful.

Here are some resources if you are interested: https://www.sane.org/information-and-resources/facts-and-guides/schizophrenia

You can also have a look at a person's account of having schizophrenia here: Hearing voices and psychosis 🗯️

I wish you all the best with your talk and look foward to hearing how it goes for you!

hey @Ruby66,

thank you for sharing, this topic of discussion will be so important for people to hear and learn from. i'm no expert in this are so i thought i'd link some pages to check out if you haven't already:

• Understanding Schizophrenia: Symptoms, Myths and Treatment - The SANE Blog
• Schizophrenia - Symptoms and causes - Mayo Clinic

also, the hearing voices thread that tyme linked is really great for hearing about people personal experiences and stories, definitely encourage you give it a read too!

i was diagnosed with such in 1972 and went on pension where ive been eversince ,its a vague diagnosis imo as i cant see ive been much similar to others with it so all i can say is the science of psychiatry and psychology have an exagerated idea of what they know what their progress if any has been i am 74 now so ive lived with horrific cripplement for very long time ,its amazing i am still alive

Thank you for sharing @asssailed ,

I can say we have come a long way since 1972, but there's still a LONG way to go.

I'm mindful that the media often portrays schizophrenia in a negative light which can add more stigma to an already highly-stigmatised condition.

It's great to see you here tonight @asssailed .

I think I can also relate to that sentence about it being amazing that we are still alive.

I don't have schizophrenia, but I have complex mental health - so I too am amazed that I'm still alive.

@tyme thanks so much for your message and so sorry for late reply.

In my research about schizophrenia it seems it is now called 'Integration disorder' in Japan and 'Attunement disorder' in Korea, to reduce stigma and generate hope.

@rav3n thanks so much for your message and apologies for late reply. I really appreciate all the links everyone has sent.

@asssailed that was interesting to hear those different ways of conceptualising… people who may present with the complexities that may be described as… that particular S word.

I too, am struck by the differences among people supposedly diagnosed that way…the INTEGRATION and ATTUNEMENT concepts seem relevant, though a lot will depend on the actual therapy and treatment they receive. Yeah, I mostly respect psychiatrists or psychologists who are honest and humble about their professions limits. I am currently having to endure, socially, a badly behaved psychiatrist who seems to have a dreadful case of NPD. Seems to be a case of who, gets away with what!

sorry you have suffered so long. I first went to visit psych ward as a kid in 1960s and vividly remember many visits in 1970 when I was 10. Supposedly both my parents were diagnosed with Schizophrenia. I have needed to do a Lot of research over the years to survive myself.

@Ruby66 good luck with your talk. My sister also suicided, her diagnoses were supposedly differential. Schizoaffective disorder?!? You are fortunate to be able to discuss your grief publicly, mostly I have been silenced by the pain and the shame, and just have a few avenues to share about it. We were all in orphanages etc, so very complicated CPTSD, before that concept was invented. When I joined this forum 10 years ago, I spoke carefully about those S words. It really is too hard for most people, qualified or unqualified. Only a few rare gems can cope even hearing those words, let alone living with the realities.

Thanks for sharing @Ruby66 . Let's hope stigma will be eliminated.

How are you going anyway?

@Appleblossom thanks so much for your detailed message. I think we have messaged before.

I agree with you about feeling silenced by the pain and the shame. I can relate to that. It sounds like you had a really difficult time when you were younger.

I'm interested to hear you say it is too hard for most people, qualified or unqualified and that only a few rare gems can cope even hearing those words.

I guess I have felt silenced too and haven't even tried out the 'S' word with most people.

I attend some sibling support groups every now and again which I have found great and the public speaking is for one of them.

Wondering if you have ever attended any of those groups?

My counsellor is trained in 'Internal family systems' which is about how all of us have 'parts', some more extreme in some people than others. Interesting.