Everyone on this site is so nice.

You might think that it would not be that way. I know that this is not a full representation of everyone affected by sz but it is refreshing compared to what is out there on the web. It could be a consequence of what happens when people suffer. They tend to be more considerate or sensitive to other people who suffer.

Anyway, I do not have symptoms of sz but I am interested in the way the mind works and the people here are quite inspiring to say the least.

I am not so familiar with the medical treatment side of things for sz. It seems to me that medication is used to alter the regular course of events of a person affected. If one medication is not effective another one is tried. My problem is that during the time that the medications do not work, isn't that the same as not being on medication and still having side affects to boot or is it better than nothing?

I just feel for the person that has to be constantly medicated. We all know (or should know) that is still not "normal" in any way shape or form even if the medication is considered to be working but it might be better than before. I get a sense that the medications treat the symptoms rather than treating the cause of the symptoms. This is a common mistake of medicine and of other fields as well. If we knew the *root* cause, we could better treat the illness.

Some might think the cause is not enough or too much of a certain chemical but there could be logical reasons, controllable reasons, why that chemical is not at the accepted level. We know the person can benefit from counseling but it has to be knowledgeable, symptom specific, effective counseling. The real problem is for the person to hear and benefit from the facts.

Genetics predetermines susceptibility for ways of thinking but there are still measures that can be taken and changes that can be made that can result in a different outcome.