Schizophrenia Victim

I woke up in my bed at the Stephens Adult Psychiatric Unit in Joplin, Missouri. I had dreamt of being back home the previous night, so it was crushing to wake up and realize where I was. It was my 2nd day there, but it felt like much longer. Most psychiatric units have a similar structure. During the week, there are group activities that preoccupy you enough to make the day somewhat bearable. The weekends are worse, because there is nothing. You can either sleep or watch television in the day room with the other patients. The lack of activity constantly reminds you that you’re trapped. That all of your belongings have been taken away. That you are not allowed to go outside at all during the duration of your stay. That you are virtually entirely isolated from the outside world. The only thing I had to look forward to during those days was the hour of visitation with my parents twice a day. You’d think a psychiatric unit would be the one place on

I’ve always been passionate about understanding others; stepping into their shoes and seeing, thinking, and appreciating the lives they live. I think it is important to take that extra step and see things from a different point of view. It is the only way to achieve a true understanding. I believe in this philosophy so much so, that it’s one of the main reasons I have this blog; to give others a glimpse of a life with mental illness. I’ve been in treatment for 2 months and 26 days and I think it’s time for another peek into my brain.

I have schizophrenia and I live with schizophrenia. This is my story. I remember being a teenager and loving every bit of life from school work, my family, my dogs and my friends. I was always known for my positive attitude and energy and being the life of the group. This all started to change around the age of 13 or 14 for me. The voices began one late afternoon on my way home from school. At first I thought it was just my imagination until I realized there was no off button for them. The voices continued to appear from this day on and I gradually lost myself within them. I started to shelter myself from my family and friends and believed I was slowly losing my sanity. I was scared to share my experience with anyone so I kept to myself withdrawn from the world I once loved.

It’s a struggle to get out of bed sometimes, I often just sit there struggling to comprehend the sequence of events which have taken place over the past year. I mean, I’m used to this now, its normal to me, but the fact that this has happened and that I am now ‘disabled’ as people would put it is hard to get my head around. And every time I look down I’m reminded of the pain and the struggle I faced, it’s a physical scar which links me to my grueling past, a physical and emotional journey.

I am Simone Alexander. I have severe schizophrenia, but I take my medications regularly. I have been through a lot. Even in my condition, I still try to help out my community during the rough time I have been through. I care a lot about Hollywood, California, because I was raised here. I am such a high spirited, generous, and kind woman. I have been going through a 5 year hardship relationship with my on and off again boyfriend Lucas also known as Paw-Paw. Last night was horrific. The unthinkable was spoken. I was traumatized.

If you were to see me walking down the street you would never guess that I was in foster care. I dress and act like your everyday 17 year old, and in a way I am. Except I was placed in foster care when I was 15 years old. Scratch that I put myself in foster care when I was 15 years old. I bet you’re asking “why”? “Why would you do such a thing”? Well my mother was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia also known as disorganized schizophrenia. Just in case you don't know disorganized schizophrenia is characterized by incoherent and illogical thoughts and behaviors, so when you are 15 that's not a good situation to be in. My mother couldn't keep a job therefore she could not support us.

Mr. Scott is a 34 year old male who presented to the ED via LEO. Mr. Scott reported to nursing staff he has not been taking medication for schizophrenia for the past 8 days because he believes the medication has not helping him with his hallucinations. Mr. Scott reports cocaine use yesterday to nurse staff. At the time of the assessment Mr. Scott is found pacing the floor of his room, However he is calm and cooperative. Mr. Scott reports he was released from a mental health facility in Chatham county. Mr. Scott mention previous hospitalization at Coastal Plains and Holly Hill. He reports a history of Bipolar, PTSD, and manic depression. Mr. Scott reports currently having suicidal thoughts of overdosing on unknown medication he has at his place of residence. Mr. Scott appears guarded and very anxious when talking to this clinician. He reports poor sleep (2-3 hours daily), experiencing flash backs of past traumas from growing up in his previous community, and visual hallucinations. Mr. Scott reports recently he would see dead bodies in the room and doors opening when he knows they are closed. Mr. Scott reports a history of suicidal ideation and attempts, the last being a month ago

Did you plan thoroughly? The interaction was unplanned as the patient sharing their feelings was spontaneous.

No one considered that Schizophrenia was the ailment that tormented my brother. We assumed it was just stress and anxiety that stole his nights, his sanity, and his joy. We all believed that it was just a phase my happy, go-lucky, comic brother would get over. After all, doesn't everybody go through these rough patches of their life, and like a phoenix tried through a fire, rise triumphantly? That was my hope for my brother. But as the days progressed, fatigue mixed with delusions consumed my brother’s thoughts and disrupted his ability to function. As a sister, I felt helpless watching my big brother, my hero, and my confidant going through the greatest battle of his life - mental illness. Episodes and psychiatric breakdowns were constant,

A large number of the population consists of people who have a mentally disabled. Mental illnesses are refered to as conditions that affect a person's thinking and emotions. These conditions may affect one's ability to function property while relating to others on a daily basis. Different individuals deal with different circumstances. Schizophrenia is refered to as a severe mental disorder that affects the way a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they are apaet of their own reality. Schizophrenia is unlike any other mental disorders. Schizophrenia's symptoms tend to be very disabling. Schizophrenia is a long term mental disorder; however, it can be controlled. Schizophrenia normally eliminates the connection

a muzzle brake, and five magazines. Also, two shorty double barrels with the quickloader”. The quickloader is a machine that attaches on the side of your hamstrings. It has two compartments in each loader, and in the compartments goes shells. You simply stick the inside latch of the double shotgun against it, and it ejects the shells into the chamber of the double barrel for a quick reload.

I’ve been trudging along for what seems like hours. I lost count of my steps sometime after my car broke down. When I look around all I see is an almost tangible grey curtain hiding everything except for a small segment of the highway. As I look forward the dark grey of the asphalt blends into the fog. I have no Idea what time it is when the fog rolled in my phone died. Without a clock, any length of time seems to go on forever, especially when the sun is hiding behind the fog. I just something I don’t understand about my situation, there has been no change in light since the fog rolled in. Same brightness the whole time. It’s almost like it’s not that I can’t tell time is passing. It’s that time isn’t passing, but that’s impossible.

It has been widely accepted that schizophrenia has a genetic component, with the relative lifetime risk of schizophrenia being reported at around 0.3-0.7% (McGath et al, 2008) although some studies have shown this to be much higher at around 3.5% (Pedersen et al, 2014). Studies have shown the risk of relatives developing schizophrenia is correlated with the percentage of shared genes (Tsuang, 2000). Twin studies have been utilised to reveal a genetic component, as monozygotic (MZ) twins share 100% of their genes, while dizygotic (DZ) share 50% of their genes, therefore a higher percentage risk of development should be found within MZ twins. Studies have indeed revealed an increased risk of developing the disorder in MZ twins (48%) than in

The DSM- V defines Schizophrenia Spectrum as a severe brain/mental illness, and when it’s present it’s characterized by incoherent or illogical thoughts, behaviors, speech, delusion/ hallucination, such as hearing voices. The symptoms are noticeable typically late in adolescence or early in adulthood. (American Psychiatric Association,2017). Encyclopedia of psychology (8th Volume Set). The hallmark of schizophrenia is called “Psychosis,” and it’s clinical presentation differs from one patient to another. (James N. Butcher, Jill M Hooley, Susan Mineka) Abnormal psychology (6th edition, pg.444). People have schizophrenia worldwide. Schizophrenia as the prevalence rate of approximately 1.1% of the populations that are age 18 or over (NIMH).

           The patient M. is a 26 year old married female who was brought to the ER by her husband after increased anxiety and depression worsened after a “spiritual attack” that lasted for over four days.  While in the ER the patient admitted to hearing multiple distant male and female voices all around her head and outside of her head.  She states not being able to make out the message but interprets them to be negative in nature. She told the ER Doc she felt people were trying to harm her and that “people in her life have used things against her.”  She felt her extended family may have used witchcraft and “chakra dolls” to cast spells on her.  She is cognizant of the strangeness of her claims but believes them to be real