Thinking Problems

Hello,

I've recently been diagnosed with schizophrenia and have been on Zyprexa for about a year and a half (I did stop taking it for about two months, but I've been back on it for the past several months).  Since the start of my illness, I've noticed that my ability to think and understand has deteriorated.

Here's what I've experienced:

- Mental confusion.  I feel uncertain about a good percentage of the thoughts I have; it just feels like something isn't right.

- Difficulty understanding what I hear and read.  This has improved a little bit.  It improved near the end of the period when I went off the Zyprexa and has stayed the same since.  However, this skill is nowhere near where it used to be.  This also isn't a concentration problem - I don't find my mind drifting or anything like that.  I just have to focus all of my attention on what I'm being presented in order to understand it, and even then, I'm not able to understand everything - I only get the gist of what I hear/read.

- Having the feeling that my thoughts are cut short or don't fully form.  In other words, there are times when my thoughts don't appear to stay in my mind long enough for me to fully understand them.

- Ambivalence.  I believe that's the term for what I experience.  For example, I might think, "There's definitely a pattern to when I'm experiencing my symptoms."  Then, immediately after that thought, I'll be left with the feeling that what I'm thinking is completely wrong.  This isn't a rational form of doubt - it's just a subconscious feeling that appears to doubt just for the sake of doubting.

- Difficulty making decisions.

Now, I have two questions. 1. Are these, in your opinion, symptoms of thought disorder or are they cognitive symptoms? 2. More importantly, do you know whether it is likely that they can be treated by medication? (If so, do you know if any medications superior to others for these types of problems?).  I ask this because I feel that Zyprexa just isn't helping me.  It has provided no relief for these problems, and, on top of that, when I went without medication for two months, I didn't have any hallucinations or delusions, so, if other antipsychotics can help, I'd like ask my doctor to try something different.

Thank you,
jrm.

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

You are keen observer and very articulate person. If you are not getting the results you need, you should certainly ask your doctor to try another medication.  There are four or five good ones to choose from, and your doctor is the best one to recommend an alternative, knowing your history and drug sensitivities.  I hope you are seeing a psychiatrist  as your prescribing doctor to be sure you have the right dose and right choices.

I think your observations stand by themself and don't need to have a label put on them...they are difficulties that you want treated to get back to more confidence in yourself.

[terramuggus]

You might consider purchasing Grace Jackson's "Rethinking Psychiatric Drugs: A Guide for Informed Consent", http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/1420867423/sr=8-1/qid=1143726340/ref=pd_bbs_1/002-3722503-1321612?%5Fencoding=UTF8

Peter Breggin has written extensively on the dangers and benefits of psychotropics www.breggin.com

The Freedom Center in Northampton, MA is a consumer/survivor support group with lists of excellent complementary, medical, psychological, and alternative resources you might find helpful www.freedom-center.org

Are you sure you actually fit the diagnostic label of scizophrenia? Were you abusing alcohol, or smoking pot before you had a break with reality? You certainly don't sound as though you're having terribly debilitating symptoms at the moment. The memory and cognitive problems you describe are quite possibly side effects of your meds. This is a known and largely ignored problem in medicine. There are healthier ways to approach your particular situation, though self-educating is certainly the responsible place for you to start. It seems like you're already heading in that direction.

Good luck and God bless you,

Terramuggus

[doggies3forme]

I don't have an answer for most of your questions, but I will comment on one.

I was diagnosed as schizoaffective and was reading symptoms online.  I can't remember where I found it, actually I would like to read the list again.  But it stated that people who are schizoaffective and schizophrenic have somewhat of a problem comprehending immediately what is said to them.  I know I have that problem.  Often people will say to me, "Aren't you going to answer?"  I can't help it.  I have to digest the words and then understand what is said.  I could never be on a game show where I had to answer quickly.  I just couldn't do it.  I know stress makes it worse.  I will search again for that site and let you know.  It listed more than the typical symptoms of schizophrenia and schizoaffective.  Sometimes during severe stress I can not only comprehend quickly but I find it hard to speak.  I can't think of the words to use to convey my thoughts.  It does get embarrassing.  Sometimes I try not to talk too much because I feel insecure about it.

Good luck to you.