My Family is Trying to Stop me from Projecting

[Psilibus]

Personalreality-
Was your last post sarcasm? If it was then "ok".

I realize you are being schooled in psychology. I suppose you may "believe" it is not a disease. I however will profoundly disagree with you although for the sake of argument we could say "brain disorder" -http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml. As I have stated, I work in acute inpatient mental health. I have worked in a hospital setting since 1998. I am a registered nurse certified in psychiatric care. I have worked with acutely mentally ill who are generally brought in by ambulance through the emergency room. We can think about the disorder all day long but when I see people who have lost their ability to communicate effectively and live a productive life I don't have to think, I have to act. I know very many who function quite well and enjoy their lives despite the diagnosis but this is not without the support of family and the community. Also, as with all disorders, there are varying degrees and so what works for one may not work for the other. The following is a quote from my earlier post and was exactly how I tried to show some community support -

If you do have a diagnosis of schizophrenia then always and I mean ALWAYS take care of the condition. Stay with your meds, talk with your doctor and seek counseling when needed. You should be able to distinguish your spiritual experiences from drab reality. You should try to keep close to others who understand your beliefs (hard to do sometimes). Your doctor will not understand, your therapist will not understand and your parents will be to concerned of your well being to understand. If you relapse into illness it will be very easy for those around you to distinguish this from you spiritual journey. You are not required by any means to share your religious or spiritual self with anyone you do not want to share it with. Sounds like your parents care about you. Show them you care about yourself as well, that will help in the long run.

The positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia are generally observable by those close to the person with the disorder. If the parents don't understand anything about astral projection and such "real" beliefs they may confuse this with symptoms of an illness - "magical thinking" for example.

I refuse to see mental illness as a handicap. It is a disease which can be treated successfully with meds, without meds, with therapy, without therapy or simply with love and support. It cannot be ignored however and I have never heard ANYONE describe it as a "gift". Voices, "wonderful" or not, are only a small part of the symptom spectrum. Whether they are "open to both this world and the other" is really of no consequence since in reality we all are. We, you and I, are able to distinguish a difference between the two though.

As to the comment on Western medicine I will have to disagree as well. I have worked with many psychiatrists from all over the globe including Sweden, Australia, Saudi Arabia and Germany. The perspectives are unique for certain but the acute symptoms and degree of lethality is the same wherever you go. It is the stigma attached by the uneducated society at large in the western world that can make it a "horrible experience".

I will agree with your statement about what psychology has taught us. I work in this field because I love the people. I see much of myself in their humanity. I witness incredible strength and intelligence. The difficulty with schizophrenia is that it is not a mood disorder which responds to "psychology", it is a neural networking disorder that causes misinterpretation of perceived stimuli. A person with a diagnosis of schizophrenia is not suffering from an existential crisis which responds to therapy. They and their support system require extensive education to cope with the symptoms. Luckily, for you and I, the knowledge required is growing by leaps and bounds everyday and we will be able to share this as we learn.

My apologies to the original poster for hijacking this thread with my ranting. Thank you, Personalreality, for keeping me on my toes {takes a deep breath}

[personalreality]

I still think schizophrenic is a person who lives between worlds. 
But, I understand where you're coming from.  You've seen it.

I know what you must think of me too, "College kid, gets a little taste of psych and thinks he knows" and you'd be right, I don't really know.  I have seen a lot of research films on schizophrenia and seen two in person, but not like what you see on a regular basis.

[Psilibus]

Unfortunately for me I see the dark side of the disorder. I see mentally ill people when things have decompensated to a forced hospitalization. I do however see the drastic improvements and return to their families and communities. There is nothing worse than seeing a straight A high school student and athletic star, beloved by family and friends, brought in babbling incoherently and lashing out in abject fear. The family is devastated and lives change. It generally takes much love and patience on everyone's part. The recovery is usually bittersweet. I hate to paint such a picture. It does not do the sufferer justice. I do wish there were more tolerance and understanding by the general public, not just toward mental illness but other disorders such as the autism spectrum and mental retardation. The people who endure these illnesses are true giants of human spirit and can be some of the most genuine people you can meet.
As I've said before PR, it is a noble pursuit you are on. I Do think you know. Your just getting started. Don't stop. People need you.

[mels8780]

Prove to them that you are NOT a schizophrenic by telling them something that you could not possibly know unless you had astral projected! (like,....i dont know...something that happned outside or a room that you were not in). I'd do that if I could astral project. Psh, Id be furious (Its a natural hate when I am accused of something I didnt do, or disbelieved when I am telling the truth, etc...lol I get physical symptoms)

[mels8780]

Oh I'm sorry...was this subject old? oops.

[personalreality]

that's ok

[sola~]

uhm, it doesn't really matter.. neway

proving such things to people will be hard especially those who seemingly aren't open minded to begin with. You would be shocked to see how resistant humanity is to anti-materialistic ideas as they cling ever so tightly to materialism even with empirical proof.

[personalreality]

i defecate on empirical proof.

[Psilibus]

I flatulate empirical poof.

[CFTraveler]

I empirically declare it smells in here.

[Timandra]

I wonder how Valkry is doing, hope she is fine. 

[personalreality]

It has been a while hasn't it