Replies to '11/23 Schizophrenia'

Quote From: plainsue

I would like to add some things to this discussion.My life has been very much like Mary's who appeard on the Dr. Phil Show. I understand completely what Mary has been going through because it was a near repeat of my experiences. The major difference is that I've been living with this illness for over 30 years.=====After my first complete psychotic break which lasted for nearly two weeks, I was terrified. I had literally "lost my mind" and have no memory whatsoever of those two weeks. Supportive friends and family closed ranks around me and protected me from the outside world as I began this unwanted journey/intrusion into my life. Shorter complete psychotic breaks followed at intervals.=====I was under the care of a superior physician-psychiatrist for the first three years. During that time, the doctor prescribed every available medication for me. The medications reacted strangely or not at all with each trial. The doctor I was seeing during those three years was perplexed, but he hypothesized that I had an enzyme deficieny which undermined the effects of the drugs we kept trying. The drugs included the entire spectrum of anti-psychotics and anti-depressants.=====Basically, I was left to battle this disease on my own with years of psycho-therapy that helped me a great deal. From my experience, I have learned that my body's chemistry has something missing that does not allow it to process medications properly.===== Therefore, I am very limited in what few drugs offer me help.=====Like Mary, I have seen "insects" crawling around on countertops. Of course they were visual hallucinations. Like Mary, I hear voices constantly. Like Mary, I've held a fulltime career and achieved my dreams to a level I'd hoped for.=====I refer to the voices I hear as "that radio in my head which won't shut up". I've become very adept at trying to discern whether someone is really speaking to me or if the voice is internal. Fortunately, to the outside world I can say, "I didn't hear you" if I ignore a real voice. That's a lot easier than answering a phantom voice and trying to explain to people I don't know well that I "distinctly" heard their voice in my head. :)=====To the mother of the son, I'd like to give encouragement that there is hope for your son. Although I am not medically qualified to offer any advice, please ask your son's physician if the drug Risperdal might help him a little.=====I am thankful that Dr. Phil chose to break the silence of this illness on his show. I've been writing a book about my journey with this very illness. I have trepidations that a personal journey book such as this might not be accepted. But after having lived my life as fully as I could, I think it would surprise and perhaps shock some of the people with whom I have successfully interacted over decades.=====It is my hope that Mary will read my message as I've walked fully in her shoes.