Schizophrenia?

[Jean Pierre]

Do poeple with schizophrenia do things to make their hallucinations seem real to people around them?  Such as posing behind email to impersonate other people, thus making their stories seem real to the people they are telling them to. Thanks

[Roger Gould, M.D.]

Yes, that is certainly a possibility. But it is hard to say for sure.

[fat belly jones]

You know I don't like the idea of being schizophrenic and I sometimes doubt the effectiveness of the medication which I have had changed numerous times over the last three years. I am now on just lithium and seroquel and my body wieght has continued to grow and one day I am going to get sick of this and stop having any meds at all so I can be a normal person. I have a nice private doctor and I tend to believe him too much.

At least I am not suicidal as I usedd to be and I am certainly not back in hospital where I have spent much time. I get very scared of the future and get scared of having a major relapse that it might be the mother of all relapses. I have a hard time getting my family to believe I have a brain that works alright. Theyre always telling me I say and do things that I do not do.

I get to thinking it might be nice to jump off a cliff except there are none around here.

[fat belly jones]

What people with schizophrenia say is usually real and other people arn't satisfied with that. Schizophrenics are the real people.

[lovely714417]

I too am schizophrenic, at least thats my diagnosis. They make me take meds. I take serequil, and topomax. I used to take resparidol, and depikote. If I miss a dose of my meds or go off them by my own will for the slightest period of time my family thinks im going to go psycho. I don't like meds they supress my imagination and thats all I have in this world.

[satans get-away driver]

lovely, your imagination is whats causing you to have your dillusions and whatever...if that goes, then you get new things in life and be happy...and look to teh future..in 10 years they may have complete cure to it..you just dont know..id also like to say how sorry if feel for schitzophrenics because mental helth is everything...when i was on drugs, i got a mild taste of what it must be like to be schitzophrenic, and what a sour taste it was....i am in great fear of losing mental health and living in fantasy....if anyone with schitzophrenia (thats a ***** word to even spell) would like to contact me, as i am very very curious about it, please emial me at satans-***@**** . i dont want to just read about it from books, id like first hand awknowlegements so to speak

[Ever Hopeful]

I have 2 brothers who both suffer from metnal illness.  One with Schizophrenia and the other with Borderline Personality Disorder.  Both are on medication and my parents and my sister have been coping with this for the last 15 years.  My parents are now retired and still looking after 2 aging and demanding sons.  I saw my brothers both battling to cope with their illness (or rather fristration), the constant arguements, dramas, and pain.  Having been there at the beginning since I was a little girl and witnessing every stage of their illness, we have learnt to cope with the stigmas that society has thrown at us, what the illness means and feels like to my 2 brothers through their eyes and how difficult it can be.  We have not stopped searching for alternative treatment and there are studies and alternatives out there that has helped many people although its still new.  It's not guaranteed that these alternative treatments can help but hell i wont give up and still have hope that one day we will find a cure.  Having followed a few leads we are have learnt that there may be a strong connection between nutrition and mental health.  The factors which are most likely to have a major impact on mental symptoms include nutrient deficienes, food intolerances, biochemical and blood sugar imbalances, and toxicity issues.



My brother does not hold a coherent conversation with his jibberish friendly chatter (sometimes tantrums when he is frustrated) and at the moment as he talks in 'pictures'.  But we understand him, what he is saying and what he feels even though he cannot sometimes express what he wants to say.  When I read what other sufferers write, I am even more hopeful that my brother can at least express himself the way you do. I have a lot of admiration for those who are coping with medication and all the problems it brings such as weight gain.



Next week I will be taking 33 year old brother to have a simple test to find out what these difficiencies are and see if a new course of diet might help.  It's not gauranteed for everyone as each person is different with their chemical imbalances but its worth a try.  If all goes well (fingers crossed) then I will spread the word that this is worth a try. If it works for him then I will get my other brother the same tests. What have we got to lose?

[STARLA GRRRL]

The sad thing about schizophrenia is that even if they do find a "cure", they won't use it because they make SO much income off of drugging these people.

I'm the first to admit that some schizophrenics NEED all the drugs they can get...but schizophrenics sadly do fall into the category of those people who are not treated as people, but rather, like specimens. They are overdrugged and turn into zombies.

Lovely and Fat belly jones: You are in my prayers. I can imagine how hard all of this is for you to deal with. If you think a medication is supressing your creativity, tell your damned doctor to get you on something else! If you feel like you want to go through a trial period without meds, then damned well do it!!! Of course, inform your doctor of this first. You may have schizophrenia, but you are STILL a human being (sadly, many professionals forget this all too often) That being said, you have every God-given right to try out new things, and see what happens. You also have every right to put trust in YOURSELF, as well as your doctor. Not all schizophrenics go insane and kill people when they aren't medicated. It's just so easy to group one person in with the stereotype and the other groups of people.

So in short, do what you feel is nessesary, because it is YOUR body and YOUR life. But remember to first run all of it by your doctor, because he/she may want to inform you of what your options are and what to expect from a medical viewpoint. DO NOT let them tell you what YOU are going to be like...but ask them information about what other meds there are out there, and how to get off meds if that is your choice. And I cannot stress enough to RESEARCH all medications that they recomend to you on your OWN. All too often, doctors do not give the whole side of the story...sad but true.

And one more thing. Don't let your doctor tell you that this supressing of creativity and imagination is in your head! Do not let him do that to you. Medications CAN do this, and there ARE alternative routes.

Bottom line: You have schizophrenia, but you are NOT stupid, incompetent, or unable to distinguish when you are being pissed on and then told it is raining.

God bless.

[chriscaggs]

I'm a person who has suffered from Schizophrenia for 2 1/2 years and it's been 1 nightmare.



In Feb 2001,I had my 1st Psychosis and was placed into hospital and all of these symptoms of delusions and hallucinations happened within 2 days.Thats for real.



I thought the Police or some secret service were following me all over Sydney and it was the most scariest experience I've ever had.



I initially was diagnosed with manic depression but it must of developed into something else.



I've been taking Risperdal for 2 1/2 years and I was once 69kg's and now i'm 100kg's.It's put on so much weight and I do exercise and eat well.I was also placed on 60mg's of Flupenthixol injections.



It's been 1 nightmare although I don't experience anymore hallucinations and delusions anymore.



Thats my story but if anything,I just want to lose weight and wish I didn't have to take this anymore.