This is a serious post. There are a lot of people here we refer to as "hopeless AFC's". No amount of willpower ever seems to change anything for them. We tell them time after time that their thinking needs to be modified. For a small percentage, their thinking does need to be changed. They need to start thinking of their social deficits as a symptom of a biological illness- a brain disease called schizophrenia.
I've divided this post into 3 sections:
1.) What it Feels Like to Have Schizophrenia
2.) Early Warning Signs of the Disease
3.) Seeking Help
1.) What it Feels Like to Have Schizophrenia
First, the part of your brain that should recognize that something is wrong is damaged by the disease. Those who are developing schizophrenia are unaware that they are becoming sick. I bet everyone who is reading this is thinking: "I'm not sick, I don't need help." It gets complicated when you really are sick. It's the problem of having to use the sick organ to diagnose itself.
Schizophrenia is characterized by altered perceptions, thoughts, feelings, and behavior. It does not mean having a split personality. The split refers to an inability to separate what is real from what is not unreal. Your mind interprets them both as one reality. To be concise, everything mimics reality (while you have no clue you are becoming sick).
Compare yourself to the symptoms below to see if you are ok. Keep in mind that schizophrenia has a very narrow age of onset, typically between ages 15 and 25, and affects males harder than females. For this reason, I would hope that this post would make it into the good Don Juan Bible under the health and fitness section.
2.) Early Warning Signs of the Disease
The disease can come on over a period of years (called insidious onset) or be very rapid. It affects 1% of the general population. Subdivided into Physical Symptoms, Feelings and Mood, Behavior, Cognitive Problems, Delusions, and Hallucinations.
Physical Symptoms----
A blank, vacant facial expression. An inability to smile or express emotion through the face is so characteristic of the disease that it was given the scientific name of affective flattening or a blunt affect.
Overly acute senses- lights are too bright, sounds are too loud.
Staring, while in deep thought, with infrequent blinking.
Clumsy, inexact motor skills
Sleep disturbances- insomnia or excessive sleeping
Involuntary movements of the tongue or mouth (facial dyskinesias). Grimacing at the corners of the mouth with the facial muscles, or odd movements with the tongue.
Parkinsonian type symptoms- rigidity, tremor, jerking arm movements, or involuntary movements of the limbs
An awkward gait, how you walk
Eye movements- difficulty focusing on slow moving objects
Unusual gestures or postures
Movement is speeded up- constant pacing
Movement is slowed down- staying in bed (in extreme cases, catatonia)
Feelings and Mood----
Feelings:
The inability to experience joy or pleasure from activities (called anhedonia)
Sometimes feeling nothing at all
Appearing desireless- seeking nothing, wanting nothing
Feeling indifferent to important events
Feeling detached from your own body (depersonalization)
Hypersensitivity to criticism, insults, or hurt feelings
Mood:
Sudden irritability, anger, hostility, suspiciousness, resentment
Depression- feeling discouraged and hopeless about the future
Low motivation, energy, and little or no enthusiasm
Suicidal thoughts or suicidal ideation
Rapidly changing mood- from happy to sad to angry for no apparent reason (called labile mood)
Anxiety
Behavior----
Dropping out of activities and life in general
Inability to form or keep relationships
Social isolation- few close friends if any. Little interaction outside of immediate family.
Increased withdrawal, spending most of the days alone.
Becoming lost in thoughts and not wanting to be disturbed with human contact
Neglect in self-care- i.e. hygiene, clothing, or appearance
Replaying or rehearsing conversations out loud- i.e. talking to yourself (very common sign)
Finding it difficult to deal with stressful situations
Inability to cope with minor problems
Lack of goal-directed behavior. Not being able to engage in purposeful activity
Functional impairment in interpersonal relationships, work, education, or self-care
Deterioration of academic or job-related performance
Inappropriate responses- laughing or smiling when talking of a sad event, feeling silly for no reason at all, and making irrational statements.
Catatonia- staying in the same rigid position for hours, as if in a daze.
Preoccupation with religion or spirituality
Drug or alcohol abuse
Smoke or have the desire to want to smoke (70-90% do smoke)
Frequent moves, trips, or walks that lead nowhere
Strange dress/ clothing
Cognitive Problems----
Racing thoughts
In conversation you tend to say very little (called poverty of speech or alogia)
Suddenly halting speech in the middle of a sentence (thought blocking)
Ruminating thoughts- these are the same thoughts that go around and round your head but get you nowhere. Often about past disappointments, missed opportunities, failed relationships.
Making up new words (neologisms)
Becoming incoherent or stringing unrelated words together (word salad)
Frequent loose association of thoughts or speech- when one thought does not logically relate to the next. For example, "I need to go to the store to buy some band-aids. I read an article about how expensive AIDS drugs are. People take too many street drugs. The streets should be clean from the rain today, etc" The need to go to the store to buy band-aids is forgotten.
Directionless- lack goals, or the ability to set and achieve goals
Trouble with social cues- i.e. not being able to interpret body language, eye contact, voice tone, and gestures appropriately. Often not responding appropriately and thus coming off as cold, distant, or detached.
Difficulty expressing thoughts verbally. Or not having much to say about anything.
Speaking in an abstract or tangential way. Odd use of words or language structure
Difficulty focusing attention and engaging in goal directed behavior
Poor concentration/ memory. Forgetfulness
Nonsensical logic
Difficulty understanding simple things
Thoughts, behavior, and actions are not integrated
Obsessive compulsive tendencies- with thoughts or actions
Thought insertion/ withdrawal- thoughts are put it or taken away without a conscious effort
Conversations that seem deep, but are not logical or coherent
Delusions----
First, long-term oneitis. This is the delusion that someone is in love with you when in reality they aren't. It's also called erotomania or de Clerembault syndrome.
The most common type of delusion or false belief are paranoid delusions. These are persecutory in nature and take many forms:
Feeling that people are talking about you, looking at you
That you are being watched, followed, and spied on (tracking devices, implants, hidden cameras)
Thinking that someone is trying to poison your food
Thinking people are working together to harass you
Thinking that something is trying to control you- i.e. an electronic implant
That people are reading your mind/ controlling your thoughts
That your thoughts are being broadcast over the radio or tv
Delusions of reference- thinking that random events convey a special meaning to you. An example is that a newspaper headline or a license plate has a hidden meaning for you to figure out. That they are signs trying to tell you something.
Religious delusions- that you are Jesus, God, a prophet, or the antichrist.
Delusions of grandeur- the belief that you have an important mission, special purpose, or are an unrecognized genius, or famous person.
Hallucinations----
Hallucinations are as real as any other experience to the person with schizophrenia. As many as 70% hear voices, while a lesser number have visual hallucinations.
Auditory hallucinations can be either inside the person's head or externally. When external, they sound as real as an actual voice. Sometimes they come from no apparent source, other times they come from real people who don't actually say anything, other times a person will hallucinate sounds.
When people hear voices inside their heads, it is as if their inner thoughts are no longer alone. The new voices can talk to each other, talk to themselves, or comment on the person's actions. The majority of the time the voices are negative.
Visual hallucinations operate on a spectrum. They start with the overacuteness of the senses, then in the middle are illusions, and on the far end are actual hallucinations.
3.) Seeking Help
Highly Recommended Books:
Surviving Schizophrenia by Dr. E. Fuller Torrey
I am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help! by Xavier Amador
Resources to help the suicidal:
suicide...? read this first: http://www.metanoia.org/suicide
National Suicide Helpline: 1-800-SUICIDE
Further Reading:
Comprehensive info, including diagnostic criteria, can be found here: www.schizophrenia.com
Schizophrenia can be treated and you can live a relatively normal life. Remember that you have an advantage in recovery- many of the keys to leading a better life are in the Don Juan Bible. You can't think your way out of this disease, it doesn't work like that. But for everything else Pook's quote is true, "As you think you shall become."
I've divided this post into 3 sections:
1.) What it Feels Like to Have Schizophrenia
2.) Early Warning Signs of the Disease
3.) Seeking Help
1.) What it Feels Like to Have Schizophrenia
First, the part of your brain that should recognize that something is wrong is damaged by the disease. Those who are developing schizophrenia are unaware that they are becoming sick. I bet everyone who is reading this is thinking: "I'm not sick, I don't need help." It gets complicated when you really are sick. It's the problem of having to use the sick organ to diagnose itself.
Schizophrenia is characterized by altered perceptions, thoughts, feelings, and behavior. It does not mean having a split personality. The split refers to an inability to separate what is real from what is not unreal. Your mind interprets them both as one reality. To be concise, everything mimics reality (while you have no clue you are becoming sick).
Compare yourself to the symptoms below to see if you are ok. Keep in mind that schizophrenia has a very narrow age of onset, typically between ages 15 and 25, and affects males harder than females. For this reason, I would hope that this post would make it into the good Don Juan Bible under the health and fitness section.
2.) Early Warning Signs of the Disease
The disease can come on over a period of years (called insidious onset) or be very rapid. It affects 1% of the general population. Subdivided into Physical Symptoms, Feelings and Mood, Behavior, Cognitive Problems, Delusions, and Hallucinations.
Physical Symptoms----
A blank, vacant facial expression. An inability to smile or express emotion through the face is so characteristic of the disease that it was given the scientific name of affective flattening or a blunt affect.
Overly acute senses- lights are too bright, sounds are too loud.
Staring, while in deep thought, with infrequent blinking.
Clumsy, inexact motor skills
Sleep disturbances- insomnia or excessive sleeping
Involuntary movements of the tongue or mouth (facial dyskinesias). Grimacing at the corners of the mouth with the facial muscles, or odd movements with the tongue.
Parkinsonian type symptoms- rigidity, tremor, jerking arm movements, or involuntary movements of the limbs
An awkward gait, how you walk
Eye movements- difficulty focusing on slow moving objects
Unusual gestures or postures
Movement is speeded up- constant pacing
Movement is slowed down- staying in bed (in extreme cases, catatonia)
Feelings and Mood----
Feelings:
The inability to experience joy or pleasure from activities (called anhedonia)
Sometimes feeling nothing at all
Appearing desireless- seeking nothing, wanting nothing
Feeling indifferent to important events
Feeling detached from your own body (depersonalization)
Hypersensitivity to criticism, insults, or hurt feelings
Mood:
Sudden irritability, anger, hostility, suspiciousness, resentment
Depression- feeling discouraged and hopeless about the future
Low motivation, energy, and little or no enthusiasm
Suicidal thoughts or suicidal ideation
Rapidly changing mood- from happy to sad to angry for no apparent reason (called labile mood)
Anxiety
Behavior----
Dropping out of activities and life in general
Inability to form or keep relationships
Social isolation- few close friends if any. Little interaction outside of immediate family.
Increased withdrawal, spending most of the days alone.
Becoming lost in thoughts and not wanting to be disturbed with human contact
Neglect in self-care- i.e. hygiene, clothing, or appearance
Replaying or rehearsing conversations out loud- i.e. talking to yourself (very common sign)
Finding it difficult to deal with stressful situations
Inability to cope with minor problems
Lack of goal-directed behavior. Not being able to engage in purposeful activity
Functional impairment in interpersonal relationships, work, education, or self-care
Deterioration of academic or job-related performance
Inappropriate responses- laughing or smiling when talking of a sad event, feeling silly for no reason at all, and making irrational statements.
Catatonia- staying in the same rigid position for hours, as if in a daze.
Preoccupation with religion or spirituality
Drug or alcohol abuse
Smoke or have the desire to want to smoke (70-90% do smoke)
Frequent moves, trips, or walks that lead nowhere
Strange dress/ clothing
Cognitive Problems----
Racing thoughts
In conversation you tend to say very little (called poverty of speech or alogia)
Suddenly halting speech in the middle of a sentence (thought blocking)
Ruminating thoughts- these are the same thoughts that go around and round your head but get you nowhere. Often about past disappointments, missed opportunities, failed relationships.
Making up new words (neologisms)
Becoming incoherent or stringing unrelated words together (word salad)
Frequent loose association of thoughts or speech- when one thought does not logically relate to the next. For example, "I need to go to the store to buy some band-aids. I read an article about how expensive AIDS drugs are. People take too many street drugs. The streets should be clean from the rain today, etc" The need to go to the store to buy band-aids is forgotten.
Directionless- lack goals, or the ability to set and achieve goals
Trouble with social cues- i.e. not being able to interpret body language, eye contact, voice tone, and gestures appropriately. Often not responding appropriately and thus coming off as cold, distant, or detached.
Difficulty expressing thoughts verbally. Or not having much to say about anything.
Speaking in an abstract or tangential way. Odd use of words or language structure
Difficulty focusing attention and engaging in goal directed behavior
Poor concentration/ memory. Forgetfulness
Nonsensical logic
Difficulty understanding simple things
Thoughts, behavior, and actions are not integrated
Obsessive compulsive tendencies- with thoughts or actions
Thought insertion/ withdrawal- thoughts are put it or taken away without a conscious effort
Conversations that seem deep, but are not logical or coherent
Delusions----
First, long-term oneitis. This is the delusion that someone is in love with you when in reality they aren't. It's also called erotomania or de Clerembault syndrome.
The most common type of delusion or false belief are paranoid delusions. These are persecutory in nature and take many forms:
Feeling that people are talking about you, looking at you
That you are being watched, followed, and spied on (tracking devices, implants, hidden cameras)
Thinking that someone is trying to poison your food
Thinking people are working together to harass you
Thinking that something is trying to control you- i.e. an electronic implant
That people are reading your mind/ controlling your thoughts
That your thoughts are being broadcast over the radio or tv
Delusions of reference- thinking that random events convey a special meaning to you. An example is that a newspaper headline or a license plate has a hidden meaning for you to figure out. That they are signs trying to tell you something.
Religious delusions- that you are Jesus, God, a prophet, or the antichrist.
Delusions of grandeur- the belief that you have an important mission, special purpose, or are an unrecognized genius, or famous person.
Hallucinations----
Hallucinations are as real as any other experience to the person with schizophrenia. As many as 70% hear voices, while a lesser number have visual hallucinations.
Auditory hallucinations can be either inside the person's head or externally. When external, they sound as real as an actual voice. Sometimes they come from no apparent source, other times they come from real people who don't actually say anything, other times a person will hallucinate sounds.
When people hear voices inside their heads, it is as if their inner thoughts are no longer alone. The new voices can talk to each other, talk to themselves, or comment on the person's actions. The majority of the time the voices are negative.
Visual hallucinations operate on a spectrum. They start with the overacuteness of the senses, then in the middle are illusions, and on the far end are actual hallucinations.
3.) Seeking Help
Highly Recommended Books:
Surviving Schizophrenia by Dr. E. Fuller Torrey
I am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help! by Xavier Amador
Resources to help the suicidal:
suicide...? read this first: http://www.metanoia.org/suicide
National Suicide Helpline: 1-800-SUICIDE
Further Reading:
Comprehensive info, including diagnostic criteria, can be found here: www.schizophrenia.com
Schizophrenia can be treated and you can live a relatively normal life. Remember that you have an advantage in recovery- many of the keys to leading a better life are in the Don Juan Bible. You can't think your way out of this disease, it doesn't work like that. But for everything else Pook's quote is true, "As you think you shall become."
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