Hello i am a student studying psychotic disorders. I greatly appreciate any feedback i recieve. I was wondering...
Why do some people with schizophrenia go on to lead independant, functional lives (meeting basic needs) when others do not?
Thank you for taking the time to answer my question
Emily
Hello Ekozan01,
A friend told me years ago that some people won't begin the process of recovery because they see recovery as a chore. I agree with sunflower that some of us are outgoing in terms of wanting to live independently.
In my life, I stopped collecting government disability checks, lived in my own apartment, and had a full-time job with health benefits within three years of being diagnosed with the SZ. It was my goal to find work after I got out of the hospital the first time, and nothing would stop me from achieving this goal, I wanted it more than anything.
Two things work against some people with a diagnosis of SZ: they could have lingering negative symptoms, like lack of motivation or desire, a blunt affect and also could be depressed. It is harder to bounce back from the negative symptoms, which the SZ meds don't treat. The medications only treat the positive symptoms. And they could have a chronic form that is unremitting.
Not everyone with SZ has a chronic form; some of us have a mild form. The reality is, it's the luck of the draw what side you're on. Also, people who suffer from anosognosia, the lack of awareness that they have an illness, which is a symptom of SZ affecting up to 50 percent of the people with this condition, will have a lot harder time of it because they refuse treatment.
And yes, because the mental healthcare system in the U.S. is so fragmented and hard to access, that will prevent people from recovering, too. You can't get well unless you get treated well from the beginning.
Regards,
Christina
I can answer some things in this question and some things maybe not for more detailed info you could get in touch with the national alliance for the mentally ill (NAMI).
My thoughts and opinions requarding your question is: These are possibilities I can't answer for everyone
1. Sometimes people don't want to admit that they are ill and they get embarresed by the disease because they know people will treat them different because they seen it happen to others before they got ill. Some friends are no longer friends I think because they won't try to find out about the illness because they are embarresed to have friends with sz they was'nt true friends they let stigma and ignorance ruin their relationship. Real friends stay true and help you thru.
2. Some people have caring close bonded relationships with their families ties that last no matter what. ( This really helps)
3. Some people have different personalities I personally think this means a bit of the outcome but not all of it.
4. This should maybe be the first one on the list Medication, Some medications help some symptoms not all of them. There is a last resort med that helps almost everyone however it does not come at an easy price because people on it have to have blood tests called cbc or complete blood counts in order to get their meds. Most of the other meds help alot of people but for the people who are medicine resistant(meds not working) there is a last resort med. And that med can really be dangerous more than the other treatments there is a possibility it can cause blood disorder that affects the White blood count. from my understanding Something like luekemia.
5. Alot of people with sz are outgoing this makes them want to live independently, work and do what they can do and not worry about what people think
6. They have to make sure their intended employers don't know they have sz or they won't get hired because of STiGmA
7. People who had good communication skills, life skills etc. from what I've noticed seem to bounce back a little better along with real love from family and friends.
I hope this helps I can't talk for everyone but I know and have seen this much hope it helps
I was in the hospitals alot. I had good people teach me survival skills. I was eager to learn all that I could. I looked beyond the locked doors. I saw with time, that I had a good chance at recovery. I say recovery, not recovered.
I also had to prove to myself and my family that I wasn't gonna let this disease rule me. Medications are a huge factor in recovery. Taking meds at the same time everyday is a good way to be stable. There wasn't too many meds out when I first got sick.
Maybe the degree that my "illness" affected me wasn't too bad. I had drive. I wasn't gonna settle for being a "lifer." A pdoc once told me that I would be in a hospital every year. I proved her wrong by staying out 3 years in a row and then 7 years in a row.
If you told me I couldn't do something, I will do it to prove you wrong.
One time I was in a hospital, I was trying to figure out how to Suduko puzzles. A tech on the unit said he couldn't do them. I thought "I'm gonna learn to do them, because he can't." I do all the time now.
DON'T EVER GIVE UP!
For negative symptoms of Schizophrenia, medicines such as Amazeo 100 mg or 200 mg a day is prescribed. The medicine is not available in all cities of USA but in Europe , India , SIngapore.
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Thank you very much for taking the time to respond to my questions. Being able to talk with you is an unique opportunity for me to understand and learn from a personal POV rather than reading out of my text books.
Is there anything else you would recommend for a student to research about mental illnesses? Or even better, recommendations you would give to someone who is becoming a clinical therapist working in mental health?