The Powerand Limitsof Prayer
Given the importance of faith in the Black community, its often vital that individuals find a therapist comfortable talking about God or spirituality, says Cowan. But while ministers or imams may want to offer advice, she urges those with mental health issues to seek help from a qualified and objective medical professional.
However, both therapists point out that the choice between mental health treatment based on science vs. prayer is a false one.
You need to be very clear and very direct when talking about these issues, says Alexander, who often addresses Black churches. I tell people that if I was having a heart attack right now, I would want one of you to get onto the phone and call 911. The rest of you, go into prayer immediately. When the paramedics come, open the church, let them begin working on me, but keep praying. But I want the best cardiologist, I want the best follow-up doctor, and I want the best rehab possible, while the rest of you pray for me.
Its the same with our brains, she says. A person with schizophrenia is in crisis right now. You have a serious injury that we need to treat. Were going to get you that crisis treatment to stabilize your emotional and cognitive functioning. And then you will follow up with that therapist to make sure youre able to sustain the tools and skills that youve learned.
Is It Possible To Recover From Schizophrenia
Many people who live with schizophrenia have recovery journeys that lead them to live meaningful lives.
Recovery can be thought of in terms of:
- clinical recovery, and
- personal recovery.
What is clinical recovery?
Your doctor might have talked to you about recovery. Some doctors and health professionals think of recovery as:
- no longer having mental illness symptoms, or
- where your symptoms are controlled by treatment to such a degree that they are not significantly a problem.
Sometimes this is called clinical recovery.
Everyones experience of clinical recovery is different.
- Some people completely recover from schizophrenia and go on to be symptom free.
- Some who live with schizophrenia can improve a great deal with ongoing treatment.
- Some improve with treatment but need ongoing support from mental health and social services.
What is personal recovery?
Dealing with symptoms is important to a lot of people. But some people think that recovery is wider than this. We call this personal recovery.
Personal recovery means that you can live a meaningful life.
What you think of as being a meaningful life might be different to how other people see it. You can think about what you would like to do to live a meaningful life and work towards that goal.
Below are some ways you can think of recovery.
What can help me recover?
You may want to think about the following questions.
The following things can be important in recovery.
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Someone with schizophrenia needs a stable, supportive place to live, but finding the right living situation can be challenging.
- Can your loved one care for themselves?
- How much support do they need with daily activities?
- Does your loved one have a drug or alcohol problem?
- How much treatment supervision does your loved one require?
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Take Action If You Think You Or Your Loved One Is In Danger
If you think your loved one is at risk of harming themselves or others and they refuse help, it is possible to have them evaluated by a psychiatrist under the Mental Health Act. This process may involve police and other first responders, and it can be a difficult and stressful process for everyone. But it can also be a necessary step if someone is in danger. You can learn more about the Mental Health Act in the info sheet Families Coping with a Crisis and you can find the Guide to the Mental Health Act at www.health.gov.bc.ca/library/publications/year/2005/MentalHealthGuide.pdf. For a more in-depth discussion of the Mental Health Act, see a video with lawyer and health law consultation Gerrit Clements.
If your loved one says that they have thoughts of ending their life, its important to take action. Call 1-800-SUICIDE at any time or message online at www.crisiscentrechat.ca between noon and 1am. If you think your loved one is in immediate danger, you can always call 911 or go to a hospital emergency room.
Where can I learn more?
- Dealing with Psychosis: A Toolkit for Moving Forward with Your Life is aimed at people experiencing schizophrenia, but it has good information on symptoms and strategies for managing the illness. There is also a chapter for support people
About the author
Caregiver And Schizophrenia: How To Handle The Psychosis
Psychosis or psychotic episodes can be very difficult for caregivers to know how to handle in just the right way. These episodes can be frightening for everyone, especially the person experiencing them, triggering extreme stress and fear which can make their symptoms escalate. Psychosis is defined as a loss of contact with reality, unable to distinguish between what is real and what is imaginary, and includes delusions and hallucinations . Many times when someone is experiencing a psychosis, they may actually be unaware that anything is wrong. Its important for caregivers to know how to recognize the early-warning signs indicating that a psychosis is developing, and to know where or from whom to seek assistance.
With medication, therapy and time, your loved one may show signs of being able to handle more responsibility, once the psychotic episodes subside and no longer pose a constant threat. Talk to them about how they feel when it comes to doing more things, and a good place to begin is with self-care tasks like personal hygiene, getting dressed, and eating scheduled meals. Start assigning simple household chores, and observe whether they want to work alone or with others. For example, they may like to clean the living room, but they may not like someone else dusting in there at the same time.
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What Are The Types Of Schizophrenia
There are different types of schizophrenia. The International Classification of Diseases manual describes them as below.
Paranoid schizophrenia
- Pranks, giggling and health complaints.
- Usually diagnosed in adolescents or young adults.
Catatonic schizophrenia
- Unusual movements, often switching between being very active and very still.
- You may not talk at all.
Simple schizophrenia
- Negative symptoms are prominent early and get worse quickly.
- Positive symptoms are rare.
Undifferentiated schizophrenia
Your diagnosis may have some signs of paranoid, hebephrenic or catatonic schizophrenia, but doesnt obviously fit into one of these types alone.
Residual schizophrenia
This type of schizophrenia is diagnosed in the later stages of schizophrenia. You may be diagnosed with this if you have a history of schizophrenia but only continue to experience negative symptoms.
Other schizophrenia
There are other types of schizophrenia according to the ICD-10, such as.
- Cenesthopathic schizophrenia. This is where people experience unusual bodily sensations.
- Schizophreniform. Schizophreniform disorder is a type of psychotic illness with symptoms similar to those of schizophrenia. But symptoms last for a short period.
Unspecified schizophrenia
Symptoms meet the general conditions for a diagnosis, but do not fit in to any of the above categories.
My Friend With Schizophrenia Smokes Marijuana And Drinks A Lot Is That Related To The Schizophrenia
Substance abuse is a common problem in persons with schizophrenia, including tobacco, marijuana, alcohol and other drugs. Abuse has all the usual health-related problems, but the presence of schizophrenia complicates this issue. Patients may stop their antipsychotic medications if they believe it interferes with the marijuana or alcohol effect. Disorganized thinking and behavior may be made worse. Marijuana increases the risk of schizophrenia in vulnerable young people and may complicate the course of schizophrenia. Impaired cognition is common in schizophrenia and misused drugs adversely affect cognition, such as attention, memory, task orientation and the like. There are many good reasons to avoid substance misuse.
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After Treatment The Insight That Often Goes Missing During A Severe Mental Illness Can Return
I became aware that this intervention that Id been very keen on for 20 years, actually if you looked in the cold light of day at the evidence, was not a good intervention, he says.
Both sides cite the studies that support their views and criticise the ones that dont. Jaffe says you cant compare the UK results with what AOT is trying to do in the US because community treatment orders and AOT are fundamentally different. Burns, for his part, says that because patients in California and New York arent randomised to AOT, its impossible to tell whether theyre getting better because they have better services or because of the court order. Randomised controlled trials like the one in North Carolina are unlikely to be repeated, which means that both sides will continue to argue their points from imperfect data.
After treatment, the insight that often goes missing during a severe mental illness can return, albeit to varying degrees. A substantial number of patients have no memory of their illness at its peak. Others admit they were truly ill, even if they may share secret doubts that their symptoms were really that bad. Many, like Misty Mayo, fall somewhere in between, with memories that are jumbled and confused. She acknowledges that something was going on, but she cant always remember what, or just how bad it got.
Linda Mayo lobbied lawmakers in the Modesto’s county to bring in Laura’s Law
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How To Deal With Schizophrenia In A Loved One
It is going to be a tough task one that requires ample strength, courage, and perseverance, when you have to deal with your loved one with schizophrenia.
Here is how you can go about the situation.
- Learn about the disorder
In order to help with their mental health disorder you first need to educate yourself about the condition, schizophrenia in this case so that you are well aware about what happens with your loved one and what challenges they face while struggling with the disease. Once you are well-equipped with the right information about schizophrenia you will understand the shortcomings of your loved one and you try to ease things for them.
Knowing about the treatment for schizophrenia will help you to encourage your loved one to seek professional help and you can provide them support throughout their journey to reduce setbacks and make the path to recovery less challenging.
- Be a good listener
To avoid things getting rough between you and your loved one, listen to them with full interest and do not be judgemental rather try to be empathetic since schizophrenia symptoms make it difficult for them to communicate. Even if you dont understand your loved onee condition, try to offer them comfort. And if your loved one is not opening up as you wished they would then respect their boundaries and wait for the right time when it might be easy to talk about their condition rather than insisting them to share everything at the given moment.
- Show empathy and avoid arguments
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Ask Them What They Want
As we mentioned, you cant push someone to do something they dont want to do, and a great way to find out what they want and how to help them achieve their goals is to simply ask them. If theyre open to it, you can even ask them how they feel about doing something you want them to do.
For instance, refusing to take medication is a common theme among people with anosognosia, so a great way to introduce the idea of taking medication to the person would be to ask them, How do you feel when youre taking that medication? Do you feel better? Would you be open to continuing this treatment?
Coping with side effects like nausea, vomiting, and weight gain can be difficult, and its understandable if someone doesnt want to take medication that makes them feel worse. This is especially true of someone who doesnt entirely believe they have a disorder, to begin with, so always validate their feelings and keep them in the loop.
Community Mental Health Teams
Most people with schizophrenia are treated by community mental health teams.
The team provides day-to-day support and treatment. They will also try to ensure you have as much independence as possible.
The team can have:
- community mental health nurses who have specialist training in mental health conditions
- occupational therapists
- psychologists and psychiatrists
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Find Support For Yourself
We cant help others if we dont help ourselves. Its hard to fill someone elses cup when yours is running on empty. Patience and compassion are also difficult to practice when youre emotionally and physically exhausted, so be sure to practice self-care and find ways to recharge.
This can mean something as simple as implementing a relaxing nighttime routine or seeking therapy with a professional. The more you support yourself, the more supportive you can be to the individual. If youre looking into professional support for yourself, our mental health program in Boca Raton offers family therapy that can help.
Identifying Early Psychotic Symptoms
The earliest phase of a psychotic disorder consists of nonspecific symptoms that can be difficult to recognize as serious, says Karen Graham, MD, medical director at OASIS, a clinic in the Department of Psychiatry at the UNC School of Medicine that treats young people with psychotic disorders and those who are at high risk of developing them. Many of these symptoms might just seem like fairly typical behavior, especially in teenagers, Dr. Graham says.
These symptoms include:
- Lack of interest
- Lack of enjoyment
Many things can cause these symptoms, including depression, anxiety, drug use, trauma, bullying or teenage angst. But Dr. Graham says if these symptoms progress to unusual experiences such as thinking others can read your mind, paranoia, misperceiving events, or hearing and seeing things, then the likelihood that the person is developing a psychotic disorder goes up.
When a teen or young adult withdraws socially, starts to fail at school or work, begins to use drugs or displays other unusual behavior, its worth pursuing a mental health evaluation. A good place to start is with your family doctor, the OASIS program or another local mental health center.
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The Prospect Of Recovery
Several more winters passed with almost no contact. And then, in February 2014, Sardy got word that Tom had been arrested again, and again sent to the Alaska Psychiatric Institute but this time, things were different.
He was completely accepting treatment, Sardy said. He decided he was going to do whatever the system required to get off the street and stay off the street.
Sardys father called to tell her the news.
It was one of those moments of, `Should I allow myself to feel elated right now? she said. On the one hand, it was our dream coming true, right? On the other hand, none of us knew if it was going to stick.
Sardy allowed herself to be cautiously optimistic, telling herself she wouldnt believe it until she saw it.
But at the same time, she said, I was bouncing around, you know? I was so happy.
This time, it wasnt a quick in-and-out hospitalization Tom was allowed to stay for months, during which time he finally got a lot of the help he needed.
Four months into his stay, Sardy called her brother on the phone. It was the most coherent, the most himself hed sounded in years. But he also sounded worried.
Sardy tried to convince him otherwise to be optimistic, and let Tom know they were there to support him, but she wasnt sure if he believed her.
Despite Toms concerns, things were looking good. His symptoms were stable hed been accepted to a halfway house, one that he liked and his family had promised to support him once he was out.
Who Is At Risk Of Having Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia affects people globally. It is a mental disorder that can target anyone irrespective of their race, age, gender. Predominantly it begins the onset in ages between 17-25 and strikes the late teens or early twenties age group. It is also seen that this age group is most aware of the psychological health issues and most people of this age group question How to deal with Schizophrenia most. However, this is the age that people are mostly unstable due to the growth and development of the brain, which is why early signs of Schizophrenia go unnoticed. If we consider the ethnicity, then Scandinavian and Irish people are more at risk than compared to the Hispanic or Amish groups or the general population.
In men, the first episode of Schizophrenia develops at an age younger than the women. Women tend to do better than men and recover at faster rates with lower risks of relapses. Genetically, it tends to run in the genes and if you have a family member that has suffered the disease then you may be at some risk of developing Schizophrenia. This risk increases to 10% if your sibling has Schizophrenia and increases to 50% if your identical twin has it.
Interestingly this illness shows a preference towards the seasons during onsets too. People born in months of January and April have a 5-10% higher risk than those born in other times of the year. Even patients get admitted to the psychiatric facility more inn months of Summer than in winter.
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Let Them Know Youre There For Them
While you may know that youre up for helping your loved one with anything they might need, they might also need reassurance. Mental illness denial can be stressful both to the individual and the people theyre closest to. The tension caused by their denial or lack of insight regarding their condition can be stressful to others, and that stress just bounces off both parties, creating tension.
Just remember: if the person is unaware of their condition, then theyre going to struggle to understand the source of your stress. Remember to practice patience and simply remind the person, as often as you need to, that youre there for them.