Dr. Phil.com - Messageboards - 11/23 Schizophrenia

Message Emote

December 9, 2005, 3:36 pm PST

Thank-you, Mary

Quote From: stryker_m

I have to disagree. I can say from personal experience that the meds DO help. Without them (and yes, i've tried going off them before and it was a disaster), I am unable to perform my job duties, function as a wife and mother, and live a fear free life. Meds HELP ME. I do not believe that I "stressed and worried" myself "into" schizophrenia. I do not believe that paranoia 'grows into' schizophrenia. It is a biological and possibly genetic disease that IS helped with medication. To say otherwise to someone with this illness is irresponsible and asking for disaster. My psychiatrist isn't the boogyman. She's a physician with experience that shows that meds help relieve the symptoms of schizophrenia. Yes, reducing stress helps minimize episodes but that is not the whole picture. I, for one, will continue taking my meds because I know what my life is like when I am not on them. I choose to take control over my life and my illness and not succumb to paranoia of the medical system that is there to try to help me. If you think modern mental institutions are bad, try going back in time a little... maybe 100 years when the mentally ill were caged away in asylums and forgotten. The advent of meds for schizophrenia has evolved along with the attitudes and treatment of patients in hospitals. I for one, would not like to go back to the dark days before there was any treatment for this disease. For those of you who think i've 'worried and stressed' myself into schizophrenia, I say walk one day in my shoes. Know the things I know and see the things I have seen. and then tell me meds (in conjunction with medical evaluation and therapy) are not the answer. JUST ONE DAY.

You are so very, very brave to speak so openly about your experiences with this devastating condition. You are, in my opinion, a shining example of how to survive this horrible disease. You are an inspiration, and not just to people with psychiatric disorders!!

Thank-you, also, for standing up to the anti-med crowd. Medical advances in psychiatry have been so badly delayed for so long by fear and superstition. It is really sad to me to think that someone reading this board might actually take some of this hare-brained advice and go to their priest, shaman, or whatever instead of their doctor.

Thank-you, again.

Read Replies to this Message

jlmcalis

User Mood
Scared

Message Emote

December 10, 2005, 7:28 pm PST

11/23 Schizophrenia

Quote From: leslie_50

Hey Jennifer, I am so sorry for what you have had to deal with in your life. My son starting showing signs at an early age under five but then it is so hard to detect a problem as we thought it was just temper tantrums or testing us. When he started kindergarden he was suspended for aggression. This behavior continued. He was fascinated with fires & would be outside knock on our door and when I answered it he would have a match & an aersol can of something and ignite it in a huge flame. Punched holes in the walls, found the key to his dads safe & got the bebee gun out and shot out his back bedroom windows. It was one thing after another every minute of every day. By third grade he was suspended for inappropriate behavior in class & they kicked him out because some of it was sexual gestures. Then was put into special ed and still is now in 9th grade. I can't get him to go to school, pick up anything after himself, always wants everything for himself, he is very selfish and doesn't seem to understand that there are other people in this world that matter and it's not just about him but he doesn't get it. I use to take him into stores and if I told him no about buying him something he would knock things off the shelves and spit on the items. He's hit me when I was driving & pulled the phone out of the wall ripped all the blinds down and I could go on & on....Now since he's been on zyprexa since the age of 10 he is in more control as being aggressive in school but continues to have outbursts all the time. The medication has put extreme weight on him.. In reality I know I couldn't handle him on my own, I am living with his father my ex now for 4yrs. had to quit my job because I was missing 1to 2 days a week at work do to his behaviors in the morning. Now I am going through depression which I never had before...I am frustrated because I have no control over my own life, the little energy I have is to deal with him on a daily basis...I hope I answered some of your questions. Good luck and please feel free to ask me anything you need too, God Bless you & good luck xxoo LeeAnn

LeAnn-

Thanks for your responses..... Iam like over worried that some of these "illnesses" are going to affect me...... you have helped with that. I have also noticed the weight gain on my dad with the zyprexa. I am sorry your son has caused you so much trouble and heartache (that is hard to deal with being offspring - those you must be there for) I sometimes wonder about the role of addiction playing into schizophrenia.... it seems like many schizophrenics have their own addictions previous to the diagnosis (or maybe just thereafter in attempt to "hush the voices" as my dad would put it). He has done some pretty unfair things also.

About you, the biggest thing is to take care of yourself (I know easier said than done) - but the biggest thing that they say triggers this stuff is stress - which you have enough of. I hope you take care and you will be in my prayers.

All my love,

Jennifer

Read Replies to this Message

missmouse

User Mood
Cheerful

Message Emote
hopeful

December 12, 2005, 10:54 pm PST

All of you on the show are so brave..

My heart goes out to all of you and my prayers that you all find peace and are helped in the right way. As a mother with a young child who has a mental disorder, he is bi polar, I am glad Dr. Phil is helping get rid of the stimga attached to any type of mental illness. Although my son is only 6, he has threathend me with a knife, threathened to hurt himself, been very sad and hated himself. Finding the right doctors and closely monitoring his medications, adjusting them several times over the past 2 years has been my lifesaver, and his.

Although I don't know much about schizophrenic behavoir, I know first how cruel people can be who don't understand any type of mental illness.

Thank you so much for being brave enough to go on national TV and share your stories. I'm sure you helped many, many viewers.

Read Replies to this Message

samarpana

User Mood
Peaceful

Message Emote
quiet

December 13, 2005, 6:52 am PST

Help For Mary?

This is a message for Mary.

i've been working w/ a very profound healer who can remove all types of energies. She has been the best i've found (searching all my life.)

i have had many discordant energies attached to me that she has removed.

She may be effective for you.

If you would like to email me i can get in touch w/ you that way. Thanks.

kali_amma@yahoo.com

Read Replies to this Message

treethorn

Message Emote

December 14, 2005, 3:12 pm PST

Stay Strong

Quote From: stryker_m

I am the one with schizophrenia on the show. In response to your post, I got sick when i was 18. I had my first full psychotic break then. I was unmedicated for years struggling with this disease, self medicating with alcohol and running the streets. I was not medicated at all for anything when the schizophrenia started. I will wait for the show to air before sharing any more. I'm sure the show will cover alot of what I might say here.

It is difficult for me to post anything on this subject because I have dealt with it with my brother for 20 years now and most people don't understand any aspect of the illness. My family and I have gone through things that most people could not even understand but to date my brother is functioning well. He is holding a job and living on his own and is doing so without medication, although how this is I don't know, except that he was diagnosed incredibly early in life (at age 14). My mother is his sounding board and when there are times he can't separate the illness from reality he calls her and she's able to talk him through it.

It is great that you decided to do the show because it's important for society to understand the illness. You've brought clarity to the subject, and even though each case is different and each person deals with it differently there is at least awareness.

Thank you.

Read Replies to this Message

italiana13

User Mood
Peaceful

Message Emote
hopeful

December 18, 2005, 1:51 pm PST

HI FRIEND !

Quote From: jahelmer

Hi Anna,

PTSD is Post Tramatic Stress Disorder. Along with everything else I was severly abused as a child. Something you would see on a horror movie or police show. But, that's in the past now & I like to leave it in the past after I dealt with it.

Yes, your son is on lots of meds. I find Seroquel (1,000mg/day), Tegretol (1,600mg/day), Haldol & Lorazepam does it. I've tried the ones you listed. I can't take any anti depressants at all. Teens & diagonosis can be very difficult. Seems to be more about figuring out what works for them instead of putting lables on them. This is the first time I have written on the message board but it was something I felt passionate about. I still do. My sister & I talk about how negative this topic is sometimes. I honestly have never heard anything positive. Even from a doctor, phychatrist or therapist. Life is not all bad, all the time. People need to know that. If people with these disorders think it's all bad, it will BE all bad.

Feel free to write again. Let me know how you are doing.

Jean

Just checking in today as have been real busy for the holidays and lots going on a present. But trying to keep up with all my friends on here as well as do volunteer work and have donations going out for the holidays as well. I am thankful that you shared your meds and story with me. Please stay intouch. Happy Holidays to you and yours!!

anna

((HUGS))

xoxo

Read Replies to this Message

italiana13

User Mood
Peaceful

Message Emote
happy

December 18, 2005, 1:59 pm PST

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL MY FRIENDS !!

HI EVERYONE,

HAVE A WONDERFUL X-MAS & A SAFE, JOYEOUS NEW YEAR "2006". IT HAS BEEN A FEW WEEKS THAT I HAVE BEEN CHATTING. BUT TRYING TO KEEP UP WITH MY FRIENDS, AND ALL THE NEW POSTINGS AND RECENT NEWS.

WITH MY SON, WELL HE IS DOING MUCH BETTER ON ALL THE MEDS. HAS BEEN CONSISTENT AND LESS STRESS FOR ALL OF US. IT IS NOT EASY BUT IT IS HOPEFUL. MY SON IS NOW GOING OUT, AND DOING THINGS. IT IS FANTASTIC TO SEE HIM BACK AGAIN. ANYWAYS, PLEASE HAVE A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY. I WANT TO THANK EVERYONE ON HERE THAT HAVE EMAILED ME AND I HAVE MADE A FEW GOOD FRIENDS ON THIS SITE.

CIAO FOR NOW:)

ANNA

XOXO

((hugs))

Read Replies to this Message

jwwmhw

User Mood
Cheerful

Message Emote

December 21, 2005, 7:09 am PST

My son has schizophrenia

Quote From: r_u_4real

I have several in my family that has schizophrenia. "IT RUNS ON MY MOTHERS SIDE". My brother has it to. He causes us the most trouble. My brother has been jobless & homeless before to. Hes finally on disabilitly and draws a state check for about 500.00 & 60.00 in foodstamps a mth. and he does odd jobs. People knows when his check comes and often takes advantage of him. They either borrow money, have him buy them cigerettes or beer or they all go to the bar. One night his "so called friends" got him drunk on a cold December night. They had him take his clothes off and had him run around several houses naked. When he got back into the party they had him lay down naked and they all gathered around in a circle and had him sing "Here comes santa claus, while he was playing with hisself". "I HATE HIS FRIENDS". He rides or walks everywhere "It doesnt matter how many miles what kind of weather". Several yrs. ago we all couldnt find him. We thought he was "MISSSING OR SOMETHING HAPPENED". He was gone for over a mth. He finally came back. We asked him where did he go and where was you and why didnt you tell someone where you were at. Well we all live in Missouri. He said he went on a vacation and hitch hike up to 'NEWYORK". He said "He had a wonderful time". He slept under bridges and overpasses. Caught fish and went to those shelters who lets you stay overnight and eat free. He said "He caught rides from time to time". Weve tried gettin help for my brother to. We didnt have the support of the family & police or the judge. "My brother dont see that hes mentall ill either". My brother had a van load of my dads guns after dad died. We finally got him to give the guns to dads brothers for "SAFE KEEPING". My brother was in the state mental hospital to. They had him on meds and let him out. They didnt do no follow up care on him either. "THERE IGNORANT". Were also extremely angry at how our state of Missouri takes care of our mentally ill. Im also angry at my sister, dads family, the police, judge "THERE IGNORANT". My husband and I we tried our best to help my brother. I met my husband through my brother, they were best friends in school. He snapped in 1979. We called the police and had him arrested and the police took him to the state mental hospital. The DR. told us "If my brother could stay on his meds for 1 yr. that he would be well enough he could go off the meds and leave a normal life". I also feel like I dont have a brother or a mother. Mom was mentally and physcially abusive to dad and us kids. If you have time read my post on "CHILD SECRETS". Theres alot of questions Id like to ask mom. But shes mentally ill. As I look back and think of all the abuse mom has did "MAYBE SHE WAS MENTALLY ILL BACK THEN". But then there were times when she seemed like a good mother. I dont blame your mom for being scared. "IM SCARED OF MY BROTHER TO". Its really hurts me & my husband to see my brother the way he is and we feel so "HELPLESS". I want the brother I grew up with. I can remember the time I was in JR HIGH and my husband would come over to visit my brother or go riding around. My husband would always want to wear my softball cap. Dad got sick with cancer and we moved to town and lost touch with my husband. A yr. later we all got back in touch. I was in high school and they had graduated. We started dating and got married. Well yrs. later my husband started talkin about when he liked me. He wanted to date me I was in JR. HIGH, but my brother told him I was to young. "HE WAS A BROTHER THAT PROTECTED HIS LITTLE SISTER". Now when my brother needs help or protectin "I CANT EVEN PROTECT HIM".

I took years to figure out why my son was having rellationship propblems. I thought he drank to much and had a drug problem. He is 34 before I figured out he had this problem. He always had a good job and makes a good living. He moved to another state trying to get away from his "demons". After about a year, he finally went to a counselor for help. I have tried to get him help, but he says he does not have any problems. The place where he works got him to go see a couselor. He is on medication now and sees a therapist every week to monitor his medication. It is amazing how he was able to work these past few years. Thank you Dr. Phil for putting this program on TV. My mother was this way. My son is the only one showing these sysmtoms. It has been very difficult to deal with this before he went to get help.

Read Replies to this Message

leslie_50

User Mood
Stressed

Message Emote

December 23, 2005, 10:22 pm PST

giving up

Quote From: jlmcalis

LeAnn-

Thanks for your responses..... Iam like over worried that some of these "illnesses" are going to affect me...... you have helped with that. I have also noticed the weight gain on my dad with the zyprexa. I am sorry your son has caused you so much trouble and heartache (that is hard to deal with being offspring - those you must be there for) I sometimes wonder about the role of addiction playing into schizophrenia.... it seems like many schizophrenics have their own addictions previous to the diagnosis (or maybe just thereafter in attempt to "hush the voices" as my dad would put it). He has done some pretty unfair things also.

About you, the biggest thing is to take care of yourself (I know easier said than done) - but the biggest thing that they say triggers this stuff is stress - which you have enough of. I hope you take care and you will be in my prayers.

All my love,

Jennifer

Hi Jennifer sorry I haven't responded to you lately! My son is getting worse each day. As I said he is 14 & 270 pds now. He won't go to school so lately I deal with him 24/7 and becoming so depressed I feel like I can't go on anymore. My entire life has been dealing with a family member with mental illness. I use to be happy, outgoing & full of life. I had to move back with my ex 4 yrs. ago for two reasons, deal with my son & I surely wouldn't let him live with his father alone. His father is an alcoholic & smoke pots all day after work. I believe he is bipolar to and as you know if they are not treated in the appropriate way they self medicate. He is home from work by noon everyday and I have no time for myself. This is not living just exsisting and I don't want to exist anymore. I dread waking up each morning for what. To have another miserable day. Sorry to vent but it is easier to vent to someone who is not personal in your life. How are you doing? What's going on in your life? Please vent to me I am here for you. I hope you have a Merry Christmas. Much Love LeeAnn

Read Replies to this Message

nordic

User Mood
Happy

Message Emote

January 7, 2006, 4:06 am PST

IMPORTANT

Among numerous creations there is a creation which we call "jinn" and that is other than animal or human. We usually do not see them. Some of them like to play with people. People would hear voices, breathing and see the things. In US and Europe not many people know about that. However Muslims know how to deal with it. Yes, it could start with playing of a jinn, but end up with a serious break down. But also it DOESN'T ONLY SEEM to those people what they hear and see. They really do. I did. I became a Muslim. I learned what to do. It was gone. There are special verses of Qur'an to read. There are special words to say. Jinn hate copper, so we put copper on our bodies. There are certain plants they don't like. There is a lot of knowledge between Muslims how to fight that. Dr.Phil himself said they don't know everything they need to know about schizophrenia...

Read Replies to this Message

Message Boards

Topic : 11/23 Schizophrenia

Thank-you, Mary

11/23 Schizophrenia

All of you on the show are so brave..

Help For Mary?

Stay Strong

HI FRIEND !

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO ALL MY FRIENDS !!

My son has schizophrenia

giving up

IMPORTANT