Schizophrenia Question?!
Question: Hello, I am a female age 23 and even though I have never been properly diagnosed it has been popular belief that I am schizophrenic. My question is, if you know what is wrong and understand it can that be enough to keep yoruself balanced? For example, I have a number of halicinations, I hear voices, I even have discussions with "imaginary" friends. But if I know and understand that none of these are real and they are just symptoms is it possible not to need to medication? I am happily married and help maintain our household. I cannot work (I can never pay attention long enough to even get a job) but I do write and will be self publishing this year. My problems have posed barriers in my marriage before but luckily I married a very understanding man who helped me understand what was real and what was just a paranoid delusion. This has probably been the longest I've ever gone without an episode, so far it's been.several months. But yeah, if you've gone through this too, please reply. J.
Answers:
The word "schizophrenia" is simply a label used to categorise a list of psychosocial traits that Psychiatry considers to be improper or abnormal in society. Psychiatry defines these traits as a "mental illness", and promotes it as a "disease" that requires "treatment".
It is not a "disease", despite claims made in certain peoples answers here. There is NO credible scientific evidence that shows the existence of what constitutes "schizophrenia" as a biological/neurological disorder, brain abnormality or "chemical imbalance".
"For a disease to exist there must be a tangible, objective physical abnormality that can be determined by a test such as, but not limited to, blood or urine test, X-Ray, brain scan or biopsy. All reputable doctors would agree: No physical abnormality, no disease. In psychiatry, no test or brain scan exists to prove that a 'mental disorder' is a physical disease. Disingenuous comparisons between physical and mental illness and medicine are simply part of psychiatry's orchestrated but fraudulent public relations and marketing campaign." Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD (Neurologist, Pediatric Neurology), & Fellow at the American Academy of Neurology.
"Chemical imbalance…it’s a shorthand term really, it’s probably drug industry derived… We don’t have tests because to do it, you’d probably have to take a chunk of brain out of someone - not a good idea." Dr. Mark Graff, Chair of the Committee of Public Affairs for the American Psychiatric Association. July, 2005.
Symptoms that psychiatry labels as "schizophrenia" (or it's related disorders), can stem from any number of variable sources. Many people have overcome disorders such as "bipolar" and "schizophrenia" through effective megavitamin therapy and effective nutrition. A growing wealth of evidence supports that underlying nutritional deficiencies can cause even the most severe mental disorders, including "schizophrenia". [1,2,3,4,5,6]
You may also be interested to know that the work undertaken by pioneers such as Dr. Lars Martensson and the late Dr. Loren Mosher show that there is also another way - far safer and more effective than psychiatric restraint, drugs and electro-shocks. For over a decade Loren R Mosher, MD, held a central position in American psychiatric research. He was the first Chief of the Center for Studies of Schizophrenia at the National Institute of Mental Health, 1969-1980. He founded the Schizophrenia Bulletin and for ten years he was its Editor-in-Chief. He also led the Soteria Project, which demonstrated that effective rehabilitation is possible without harmful antipsychotic drugs. Soteria provided a safe and sane environment where schizophrenic patients could stay, medication-free, with a young, nonprofessional staff trained to listen to and understand them and provide companionship. The idea was that schizophrenia can often be overcome with the help of meaningful relationships, rather than with drugs, and that such treatment would eventually lead to unquestionably healthier lives. The results were fantastic. Over just 6 weeks, patients recovered as quickly as those treated with medication in hospitals. [7,8]
Bottom line? Psychiatry is a belief-system, a "faith", not a science. Despite the huge marketing strategies, the so-called "research" and all the propaganda thrown at the world, there is not one iota of scientific evidence that proves that "schizophrenia" or ANY mental illness, in fact, exists as an actual --medical disease--.
If you have been told differently then know this: You have been lied to.
For more information, please visit:
http://groups.msn.com/psychbusters
Decoding Psychiatric Propaganda
See also http://www.alternativementalhealth.com/articles/default.htm#S
and http://www.webcom.com/thrive/schizo/
Other Answers:
Your concentration problem can be significantly helped by medication. As for the hallucinatory symptoms, I suppose the question at hand is, do they bother you or disrupt your daily life to a great extent? You mentioned "paranoid delusions" -- do these hallucinations make you anxious, do they make you depressed, do they bring you down? Do the voices you hear tell you to hurt yourself or someone else?
If your answer to all these questions is "no," then I don't see any reason you should have to take medication. But if these hallucinations are getting in the way of your life, inhibiting your abilities, then by all means, try medication. It's not as horrible as it sounds. It made my life HUGELY better. The side effects are usually manageable.
One more thing. You say you experience "hallucinations." You also said you used to experience "delusions." Can you now tell the difference between reality and hallucination? Do you always know that what you are seeing/hearing is NOT real? Are you able to ignore what you see/hear? If you have problems distinguishing between reality and hallucination, you need to try medication.
Do you see a psychologist or psychiatrist? I suppose you don't, since you say you've never been properly diagnosed. I'd suggest visiting one and talking over your options. They won't force you to do anything you don't want to do -- they'll add helpful insight and give you their professional opinion. Give them a try!
Good luck.
Yes it is possible to live without medication, but wouldn't you rather not hear voices and have paranoid delusions? I can tell ya first hand that my life has improved since I got the symptoms under control. Took a while to find the right meds, but it was worth it.
this is the biggest problem with people with bi polar and schizophrenia they take themselves off of medications and that is the worst thing you can do. I know that the side effects are bad but you can live a normal life once they find the right balance, type and amount of medication for you. It may take awhile but it is worth it. Your husband can only be tolerating this for so long marriages break up all the time because of mental illness. You need to go get a proper diagnois
from what i am learning now in school your parnoia will only get worse with age. Yes people live nice lives i know one lady who was a teacher for years untill she felt she was cured and she took herself of her meds she is now in a homless shelter and her mother, my friend, hardly sees her
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