Possible Markers For Mental Illness Discovered

Here is a link to a research article which says that they might have discovered the genetic markers that causes mental illness. This discovery will improve treatment outcomes for those with a mental illness.

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2007/12/071203190604.htm

What Does Recovery Mean to Me?

When I was sick I was always suffering from something. I used to go back and forth between positive and negative symptoms.

I used to suffer from both visual and auditory hallucinations. I used to hear voices telling me to kill myself. I used to see transparent animals move around and change shapes on the ceiling.

I spent all my time just pacing the floor, smoking, and drinking coffee. I never sat down any longer than five minutes and I never hardly sat down at all. The reason for this was the side effects of my medication.

There were also times when I abused drugs and alcohol. I was stoned and drunk from the time I woke up until the time I went to bed. As a result of this my hallucinations were more severe than they were when I wasn't using.

I also used to suffer from delusions. I thought that God and Satan were living inside me battling for control of my mind. Either to do good or to do evil. I also thought that I was possessed by a legion of demons. There were times that I believed that I had to die because I was an evil and wicked person. As a result of this I was suicidal and did attempt suicide here and there.

As a result of negative symptoms I didn't do much concerning activities. I only got a shower every two or three weeks. When I tried to read I didn't even last five minutes and I couldn't remember one word that I read.

I wasn't able to cook any meals. When I attempted to do housework I had to stop after five minutes. When Dad wanted me to take wood in I didn't last any longer than five minutes for this activity either. I couldn't even concentrate to watch movies. When I was able to watch a movie I had to pace the floor back and forth while I watched it. I just couldn't sit still.

I was also paranoid quite often. I used to think that people were talking about me. I could hear their thoughts and words inside my mind. Their thoughts used to tell me disturbing things. I also thought that they could read my thoughts thus knowing all my evil secrets I kept in my mind.

Many times when I went out into public like to a restaurant to have coffee I couldn't stay. I had to leave because of my paranoia. Because of this I didn't go out much and just stayed home. But I did have a couple of friends that used to visit me at home. I also used to visit them too. The only people I had contact with was my family, and the few friends that I had.

So: What does recovery mean to me? Overcoming all of these experiences. There is no cure for schizophrenia but recovery is still truly possible. I am presently recovering from both my schizophrenia and my addiction problem.

How am I recovering? First of all my positive symptoms are under control as a result of my medication. I no longer suffer from both visual and auditory hallucinations. I no longer suffer from delusions that defy reason.

I also no longer suffer from negative symptoms. My wife and I cook meals together. We do laundry together. We do housework together. I spend many hours writing for my blogs and the schizophrenia newsletter that I have started. I worked full time at a Candle Factory for five years. At the present moment I have been laid off from that job for a year now. But I still work when given the opportunity. I also spend a fair amount of time reading. I can now concentrate to read for long periods of time. I no longer have to pace the floor. I can sit and relax for long periods of time. I also have a real good social life. I go out to different get together's to socialize with others. I have many friends in my life. I also have a wonderful relationship with my wife. We love each other more than words can describe. She is my companion and my best friend in this world. When I was sick I wasn't able to maintain an intimate relationship with the opposite sex. As a result I didn't have that many girlfriends in my life. I was very lonely because of this. But I am not lonely now because I have my wife.

This is what recovery means to me. I hope that my story gives you faith, hope, and courage not to give up and continue to seek recovery from whatever mental illness and/or addiction that you may have.

Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act

An Interview by Tony Legere with
Dr. David Mulhall Concerning the
Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act


Q. Dr. Mulhall, at the beginning of the Act it says that in order to receive involuntary treatment you need to have a psychiatric disorder, to be a danger to yourself or others, to suffer from serious physical impairment or serious mental deterioration. What does serious physical impairment and serious mental deterioration mean?

A. An example of serious physical impairment would be if somebody with a physical illness, such as diabetes, refuses to take their diabetic medication because, as a result of their psychiatric illness, they believe that the medication is poison, the diabetes could get out of control. It means that if there’s a failure to treat now there might be deterioration of the person physically..

An example of somebody with mental deterioration is that if they are failing to follow treatment including taking their medication, their fears and false beliefs become greater and greater. They would take less care of themselves, or be more fearful, or be angry towards others, and become more lost in their illness. The Act allows for people to have treatment before their illness progresses.

For voluntary admission the Act says that the person must understand and have the capacity to make a treatment decision concerning the nature of their condition for which treatment is proposed, the nature and purpose of the treatment, the benefits involved in the specific treatment, and the risks of not going into treatment.


Q. How does a physician determine if the patient has the capacity to understand these treatment options?

A. First of all it’s important to remember that most patients, 90% or more, are voluntary patients. They recognize that they have difficulties, they are agreeable to treatment, and they are making voluntary and capable decisions regarding coming into hospital to accept whatever treatment is recommended.

Under the Involuntary Treatment Act people can be admitted for a three day period for assessment. During that time it is simply an assessment and the issue of their capacity does not have to be finally determined.

If however they are in for involuntary treatment, that would be determined by the end of the three day assessment. For them to be treated on an involuntary basis they have to lack capacity. How you determine someone’s capacity? Do they understand the nature of the illness? Do they understand the nature of the treatment, and the risks involved in having the treatment? Do they understand the risks involved of not having the treatment? That is how you determine the capacity for any medical decision.

For example, you have an illness such as severe angina. The angiograms show that you have blockage of your arteries. I’m recommending that you have by- pass surgery. The patient has to understand what it is. Particularly the patient has to say it back in their own words. What is it you’ve been told you have? What does that mean? What is the treatment you are being offered? Do you understand the risks involved in the treatment? Do you understand what the risks are if you don’t have the treatment? The patient has to show that they understand and appreciate the decision they have to make.

So far as the Community Treatment Orders are concerned, the prerequisite for involuntary treatment in the community are the same as those for involuntary treatment as an inpatient.


Q. Looking at the CTO from a practical point of view, how will the services required for a person to live in the community be set up?

A. If somebody fulfills the criteria that they have a significant illness, that they lack capacity, that without treatment that they are likely to deteriorate, then they can, in addition to having treatment enforced inside a hospital building, treatment can be organized and arranged on their behalf in the community.

A Community Treatment Order most commonly would start from somebody who has been in hospital and is now organizing plans for their return to the community. These patients in the past have done well with treatment in hospital but have never followed through with treatment in the community, so have become unwell on a number of occasions. What people used call the revolving-door patients. It’s that group of patients where a Community Treatment Order would be of value. These are patients who do well in treatment but they don’t themselves stay in treatment. Treatment works if they are willing to be in treatment.

The Community Treatment Order allows for those cases. It’s expected to be rarely used. The estimate of the Nova Scotia Department of Health is that only about twenty patients at any one time would likely be on a Community Treatment Order.

It involves planning. Everybody who is declared incapable who is either in hospital or under community treatment as an involuntary patient will have a substitute decision maker. That substitute decision maker is normally a relative and will be making decisions on their behalf. There must be agreement of the local mental health system and particularly agreement of the substitute decision maker. They are the ones that will be hearing from the treatment team.

What’s the most appropriate treatment? How is it going to happen? Who are the people involved? With a community treatment order all those things have to be in considered. There has to be a team available and willing to undertake that treatment, and would involve at the very minimum a Psychiatrist. Other members of the team could involve a community mental health nurse, a social worker, and a community support worker. It depends on the individual client. The treatment order would name the treatment being offered, such as the types of medication, the general frequency of appointments, and the support people who would be involved in the treatment. It would not be naming things such as where is the person is going to live, or where they spend their day.

This order is in place for up to six months, and can be renewed or can be set aside. If there is a situation during that time, such as the person becoming unwell, then there are grounds to have the person return to the hospital.

Sometimes a person will become unwell because their illness is worse, even though they are following treatment. There is no resistance to treatment, they are just getting unwell. It allows them
to return to the hospital directly rather than having to go through another assessment. The team can make that decision with the substitute decision maker being involved.

The second group is the group who are becoming unwell because they are not remaining involved in treatment, they are not coming for their appointments, they are not taking their medication. There is facility to say we need to see that person. We need to know that we can rescue the situation in the community.

Can we get to see the patient? Will the patient agree to co-operation with the community treatment order? Sometimes it might be as simple as arranging a meeting. and coming to a decision. If their situation is not stable in the community they would be brought back into the hospital to improve their situation with the expectation that they return to the community in a short time. All those decisions have to involve the substitution decision maker.

Again, the idea behind it is to prevent things going wrong all the way. It’s like seeing something going wrong and stepping in early. That’s the purpose and the intent of the Community Treatment Order. It allows for the treatment to be enforced in the community.

New Legislation: The Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act

By LeRoy Lenethen

This provincial legislation took effect in Nova Scotia on July 3, 2007. The broad general purpose of the Act is to ensure that those who are unable to make treatment decisions, due to severe mental health illness, receive appropriate treatment.

The Act makes significant changes to provisions that used to be included in the Hospital Act. The new Act has Guiding Principles setting out how the Act is to be applied. Among the nine guiding principles are the following:

• Patients are to be treated with dignity and respect
• Patients have the right to make treatment decisions (if the patient has the capacity to do so)
• The patient should be allowed to live in his/her community.
• Promotion of self-reliance by the patient.
• Confirmation that the primary mode of hospital admission is to be voluntary.
• Confirmation that mental health services should be provided as close to a patient’s home as practical.
• Involuntary admission must be based on evidence.
• Lack of capacity to consent to treatment must be determined on the basis of evidence.

The Act deals with “mental disorders” which are defined as:

• any substantial disorder of behaviour, thought, mood, perception, orientation or memory
• that severely impairs judgment, behaviour, capacity to recognize reality or the ability to meet the ordinary demands of life
• in respect of which psychiatric treatment is advisable

Hospital admission to access mental health services can be voluntary in the same way as hospital admission for any physical illness i.e., through your family doctor or the Outpatient process. In addition hospital admission for an involuntary psychiatric assessment can be ordered by any two licensed doctors following an examination of the patient. If the patient refuses the initial examination or to attend for such an initial examination then, in an appropriate case, an order for an initial examination can be obtained from a Family Court Judge (on application by any person) or can be initiated by a police officer (if certain conditions are found to exist). The new Act contains special provisions setting out how the initial medical examination can be obtained through a Family Court Judge or through the police. At the time of the examination by two doctors (not necessarily psychiatrists) any further admission for an involuntary psychiatric assessment must be based on the determination by those doctors that

• the patient has an apparent mental disorder, and
• would benefit from inpatient psychiatric treatment, and
• will not submit voluntarily to a psychiatric assessment, and
• meets the old “dangerousness” criteria (harm or threat or attempt to self or others), or
• is likely to suffer “serious physical impairment” or “serious mental deterioration”.

If the medical examination results in a finding, on the above criteria, by the doctors of a need for an involuntary psychiatric assessment, the patient can be forcibly taken to a facility and held for a maximum of 72 hours to permit an assessment to be done by a psychiatrist.
In order for a patient to be placed in a psychiatric facility on an involuntary basis for a period beyond that psychiatric assessment, the psychiatrist must then conclude that the patient does have a mental disorder, is in need of psychiatric treatment, that the treatment needed can be provided at a psychiatric facility, that the “dangerousness” test is met or that the “serious physical impairment” or “serious mental deterioration” test is be met. In addition, the psychiatrist must conclude that treatment in a psychiatric facility is required (as opposed to in the community) and that the patient will not or is not capable of consenting to such admission.

Finally, the patient will not be admitted unless the psychiatrist concludes that the patient does not have the capacity to make admission and treatment decisions on his or her own. A patient who has the capacity to make his or her own admission and treatment decisions will no longer be “on hold” in a psychiatric facility while refusing treatment. Involuntary admission under the new Act will not occur if the patient has capacity to make his or her own admission/treatment decisions. Unless the psychiatrist can reach all of these conclusions within the 72-hour holding period, the patient must be advised of his/her right to leave the facility. Any declaration by a psychiatrist of involuntary admission beyond the initial 72 hour assessment period must, under the new Act, be reviewed on a stipulated regular basis.

In deliberations to determine whether or not a patient has the capacity to make a specific treatment decision the psychiatrist must consider whether the patient fully understands and appreciates
• The nature of the condition
• The nature and purpose of the treatment
• The risk and benefits involved in taking the treatment
• The risk and benefits involved in not taking the treatment

The new Act also provides for, and sets out a list of those who can act as, a Substitute Decision Maker for an involuntary patient. The Act covers the process for the appointment of such a person and how that person’s authority is exercised on behalf of the patient.

The new Act now specifically provides for “Certificates of Leave” (for a maximum of six months) to permit involuntary patients to live outside the psychiatric facility. The Act spells out how this process works and sets out a process for canceling such certificates.

In addition, the new Act provides for the treatment of an involuntary patient in the community by way of a Community Treatment Order (CTO). The Act spells out the process involved and conditions that must be met for any treatment order that releases the involuntary patient into the community. There is also a process for amending, canceling and renewing a CTO.

Finally, the new Act also provides for a Patient Advisor Service (independent of any hospital or any District Health Authority) and for recognition of patient rights. The Advisor can work with the involuntary patient or the patient’s Substitute Decision Maker. As yet there are no regulations in place under the Act to implement this service.

This has been a brief overview of some of the significant provisions of this new Act. Additional details and facts sheets for patients, police and hospital administrators along with a copy of the Act and the regulations and the various forms involved can be found on the Department of Health website at- http://www.gov.ns.ca/health/mhs. When the page opens on your screen on the right side of the page is a list of patient services, just click on the item entitled “Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act”

Stigma In Mental Illness

By: Dr. David Mulhall

There is a high level of stigma associated with mental health problems. Stigma comes from a Greek word meaning “a mark of shame or discredit”. It is an attempt to label a group of people who are less worthy of respect than others. People with mental health problems are often stigmatized due to a lack of knowledge, misinformation and fear. Stigma against people with a mental illness often involves negative labels or inaccurate and offensive representation in the media portraying them as violent, comical or incompetent.

The most common misconceptions about mental health problems are:

1) Fear. Fear of violence and unpredictability. Fear of what mental illness represents and the way it attacks the faculties (emotions, thoughts and behaviors) and the part of us (the brain and mind) that define our very humanity.

2) Blame. It is the view that people with mental illness have brought the problems upon themselves.

3) Poor prognosis. The view that there is little hope for recovery from mental illness.

4) Disruption of social interaction. The view that people with mental illness are not easy to talk to and have poor social skills.

Some people affected by mental illness say the effective stigma can be as distressing as the symptoms. Stigma can be a barrier to individuals in getting the help that they need due to fear of being discriminated against. Recent surveys showed that half the population would not want anyone to know if they developed a mental health problem; likewise, half the respondents in the survey thought that media portrayal of people with mental health problems was more negative than positive. This has negative affects in many ways. People with serious mental illness have the highest rate of unemployment and underemployment of all people with disabilities at a rate of around 85%. When people with mental illness find work, their work tends to be sporadic, poorly paid and lacking employee benefits. They all too often find themselves in the three “F” occupations (food, filing and filth). Also, mental illness is the second leading cause of work-place discrimination complaints. Surveys have found that from one-third to one-half of people with mental illness report being turned down for a job for which they are qualified after their illness was disclosed or of being dismissed from their job and were forced to resign as the result of a mental illness. Contrary to common myths, Schizophrenia is not a split personality, nor does the behavior of people with the diagnosis swing dramatically between “normal” and “dangerous”. People with Schizophrenia are rarely dangerous but are experiencing things that can be extremely unpleasant or frightening to them. Recovery rates for mental health problems are between 70 and 80%.

There have been a number of campaigns overseas to address stigma; i.e. in England, Changing Minds; and in Australia, SANE. Much of the emphasis of these programs is to let the general public know that the myths are not true and that terms like “demented/loony/madman/nutter/schizo” are offensive. The positive messages are that people who have mental illness have the same needs as everyone else; that they can and do recover and lead productive lives; that they make valuable contributions to the society and that discrimination against people who have mental illness keeps them from seeking help. These campaigns have many features in common. They include information leaflets for the public and media about mental illness and are often backed up by monitoring programs that encourage people to report examples of stigmatizing language in the media, supplemented with letter templates for people to write to the perpetrating organization. There are also guides for employers that detail the benefits of hiring people who have mental illness, providing suggestions for recruiting and training people who have mental illness, outlining action plans for educating employees about mental health illness and creating a “healthy environment”.

In Nova Scotia (in 2005), a similar survey was done on the media’s portrayal of mental illness. 2% of all stories showed some inappropriate content with either outdated, negative or inappropriate language. Often, subjects like “suicide” would be sensationalized with reference to celebrities, photograph or description of scene, description of methods, interviews with the bereaved family and with little information on how someone could get help or any contact numbers of appropriate organizations, etc.

Programs that look to change attitudes are hard to evaluate and change comes slowly; however, there is evidence that it is possible to improve attitudes towards illnesses such as Schizophrenia and behavior such as suicide with consistent changes in how the media portrays these issues.

The Department of Health and the Mental Health Program sees this area as an important part of the Mental Health Program playing a role in both mental health promotion and prevention.

For further information, please see the Department of Health website under “Our Peace of Mind” document.

Walk the World for Schizophrenia

The local Kentville Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society had our Walk the World for Schizophrenia today. Things went really well and everyone had a real good time. The weather was excellent. It wasn't to cold and it wasn't to hot.

The walk was held in Wolfville. We met at the park to register. While everyone was registering we had a live band called Rust Bucket play some music for us. The music was great. I think everyone liked the music.

After the registration we started the walk. We followed the path along the water. Eventually we got on Main Street and walked along Main Street. Then we turned right and the walk ended at the Lions Club.

We all went inside. We had another live band playing called The Mud Creek Boys. It was a blue grass type band. Their music was great too.

Everyone had a bite to eat. We were all mingling and socializing. After everyone was finished eating they had some draws for prizes. They give out nice prizes. After the draws were done the band played some more music.

After that the crowd started diminishing. Finally everyone left and went their merry way. It was a great day and everyone had a real good time.

We also raised a good chunk of money for the Schizophrenia Society.

Depression

Often times people with schizophrenia go through periods of depression. I have been depressed and discouraged all day. The reason being that I am laid off and haven't worked in nine months. I've been so distraught I haven't been able to do anything at all today. I haven't been able to concentrate on my reading, my writing, and I haven't done much housework today.

But I have made a decision. Even if I never work again I do not have to be depressed or discouraged. I can still live a life of meaning, purpose, and be a productive member of society. I have my wife as my best friend in the world. I can get meaning out of life in my marriage. As time goes on our love for each other grows more and more. We become closer and closer with each other. Even if I never work again I will never be alone in life because I have Kim for companionship.

Outside my marriage I can still have meaning, purpose, and be a productive member of society. I can devote my life to my writing. I can continue writing for my blogs. I have a few of them on the net. I can use my writing skills to help my fellow consumers, family members of consumers, and educate the general public about schizophrenia to help remove some of the stigma against us consumers.

I am the editor of the Schizophrenia Newsletter put out by the local Kentville Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society of Nova Scotia. I will continue working on our newsletter. We put it out three times a year.

I can also go to the Acadia University Library to do research there on various topics. I will use this research for writing essays, and articles for my blogs and newsletter.

If I never work again there is still hope that I can live a life of meaning, purpose, and be a productive member of society.

Schizophrenia and Violence

The majority of those with schizophrenia do not commit violent acts. In fact they shrink from others and just want to be left alone. The majority of violent acts are not carried out by people that have schizophrenia. The majority of people that have schizophrenia are not responsible for violent acts. (Psych Central )

Among those that do carry out violent acts drugs and alcohol play a big role. But they also play a big role among those that don’t have any mental illness that carry out violent acts. ( Psych Central )

According to Dr. E. Fuller Torrey people with schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are only responsible for roughly 1000 homicides a year. Only the ones that are not taking their meds are usually responsible for these murders. If you compare this statistic with the total number of homicides a year in the US these 1000 murders are a small percentage of the total amount which is roughly 24,000 homicides. ( Schizophrenia.com )

It is true that violence amongst those with schizophrenia is very minimal but it is also true that people try to ignore the fact that there is some violence among those who are not receiving treatment. (Schizophrenia Research )

The whole issue of violence boils down to a treatment issue. There is a connection between those who do not believe they are ill, don’t take their medications and violence. (Schizophrenia Research )

So, the question is: How can we reduce what little bit of violence that is carried out by those with schizophrenia?

The Province of Nova Scotia has passed and made law the Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act.

This law will see to it that those who do not believe that they are ill and will not take their medication will receive treatment for their condition and get well thus reducing what little bit of violence is carried out by those with schizophrenia.

References

National Institute of Mental Health (2006 December)
Schizophrenia and Violence Psych Central
Retrieved 10 August 2007 From the World Wide Web
http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/schizophrenia-and-violence/

Schizophrenia and Poverty, Crime and Violence Schizophrenia.com
Retrieved 10 August 2007 From the World Wide Web
http://www.schizophrenia.com/poverty.htm

Violence and Schizophrenia Schizophrenia Research
Retrieved 10 August 2007 From the World Wide Web
http://www.psychlaws.org/GeneralResources/110006SchizophreniaResearch.htm

Causes of Schizophrenia

No one knows what exactly causes schizophrenia. But there are some theories out there concerning the causes. Scientists don’t know all the facts but through biomedical research they are searching for genes, factors in the development of the brain, and how the environment might be some of the causes of schizophrenia. (Fact Sheets)

Schizophrenia does seem to run in families. Due to this fact scientists have been searching for genetic reasons that cause this illness. They are trying to identify the actual genes that might cause it. (Rethink)

Scientists also suspect the neurotransmitter dopamine as a potential cause of this illness. A neurotransmitter is the chemical that carries messages from one nerve cell to another in the brain. The dopamine binds to the receptors on each cell. They suspect that there is too much dopamine. Therefore it does not bind properly thus causing the symptoms.

The reason they believe dopamine might have something to do with the cause of this illness is because anti-psychotic medications that bind to the dopamine receptors do reduce the symptoms of schizophrenia. (Mental Health Channel)

There is another cause scientist’s suspect. A physical abnormality in the brain. Due to neuro-imaging technology scientist’s have been able to find abnormalities in both structure and function such as the fluid-filled cavities (the ventricles) deep in the brain being enlarged. Some research has shown a decrease in the metabolism of certain regions in the brain. It is believed that these abnormalities were caused in the fetal development of the brain. (Psychology Information Online)

The afore mentioned are just causes that scientist’s suspect. I personally believe that there is no 100% factual evidence to prove these theories true. But what evidence we do have certainly points towards these theories being definitely true.

References:

Causes of Schizophrenia Fact Sheets
Retrieved 8 August 2007 From The World Wide Web
http://www.fact-sheets.com/health/mental-health/schizophrenia_causes/

Causes of Schizophrenia Rethink
Retrieved 8 August 2007 From The World Wide Web
http://www.rethink.org/about_mental_illness/mental_illnesses_and_disorders/schizophrenia/causes_of.html;

Schizophrenia Causes Mental Health Channel
Retrieved 8 August 2007 From The World Wide Web
http://www.mentalhealthchannel.net/schizophrenia/causes.shtml

What Causes Schizophrenia Psychology Information Online
Retrieved 8 August 2007 From The World Wide Web
http://www.psychologyinfo.com/schizophrenia/causes.htm

The Involuntary PsychiatricTreatment Act of Nova Scotia

The Involuntary Psychiatric Treatment Act was passed in Nova Scotia on July 3rd 2007.

This Act raises an important question. Does someone being forced into treatment against their will impinge on their rights as Canadian citizens?

This a very tricky and complicated issue. The answer is not cut and dried. There are pros and cons for both sides of the issue.

Do people with a severe mental illness who do not know that they are ill have the right to refuse treatment? They believe that they are not ill and that they do not need to be treated with anti-psychotic medication to get well because they are not sick. According to the medical profession this belief is part of the symptomology of the mental illness itself. They are not capable of making a rational and objective decision concerning treatment because they are not mentally competent enough to understand that they are ill and understand the pros and cons of treatment. They just simply believe there is no problem that needs to be treated.

So, does giving them the right to refuse treatment benefit their health and well being? No. In fact they will stay ill and suffer beyond what people that have no mental illness could imagine. They will suffer psychologically, emotionally, mentally, and even sometimes physically due to hallucinations. Many people that don't receive treatment oftentimes end up on the street with no place to live. Though this is rare some people might end up in jail due to a violent crime they committed due to paranoid symptoms. My personal opinion is that these people who refuse treatment due to the fact that they do not believe they are ill do not have the right to suffer, live on the street, or end up in jail for many years due to a violent crime that they are not mentally responsible for. Ask yourself this question. Is it impinging on their rights to prevent them from much pain and suffering for the rest of their lives?

If I were to get ill again and didn't have insight into my condition I would not want to have the right to refuse treatment and suffer much pain and suffering for the rest of my life. I have already suffered to much pain, torture, and torment due to my own mental illness. I never refused treatment but it took the Doctors many years to find the right medication. I would not want to go through all that sickness again. I am very glad, pleased, and full of much joy about this Act being implemented in this great Province of ours.

This Act will prevent much suffering, pain, torture, and torment in peoples lives. I believe the Government did the right thing by passing this law.

Grateful and Thankful

I've been thinking about for hours today what to write about. I've decided to just write about my feelings and emotions I'm experiencing at the present moment.

I'm grateful and thankful about all the good things in my life right now. I'm so grateful and thankful that I cannot express it in words. I personally believe that the reason for all the blessings in my life are a direct result of God's Divine Providence and Intervention.

My main mental illness is almost in complete remission. I have been clean and sober for seven years now. I now have meaning and purpose in life. I have become a productive member of society. I have more joy and happiness now than I had even before I started using drugs, alcohol, and developed full blown schizophrenia.

Another very important blessing in my life is being married to my present wife. She loves me more than I can imagine and I love her more than she can imagine. We are having a great and wonderful relationship. As time goes on we love each other more and more. It just keeps growing and growing.

I have also been active in the work force for over five years now. I have been working in a candle factory. I've been making candles there, doing shipping and receiving, and doing paper work for the research and development results. I have to say with sadness that I have been laid off for the last several months. I didn't realize how important work was in my life until I got laid off. But I am still grateful and thankful. My rent is being paid, we have lots of good food to eat, and we live in a real nice apartment. It's not a dive. We have lots of material possessions. If and when I do get back to work my gratefulness and thankfulness will probably grow and grow even more.

What other good things are there in my life. I believe that I have a special gift from God Himself for writing and public speaking. I love writing and the very act of writing. I love giving speeches. I want to use my writing and public speaking skills to be a spokesman for myself and my fellow consumers, the family members of consumers, and educate the general public about mental illness and addiction for the purpose of stamping out the stigma and discrimination against those of us that have a mental illness and/or an addiction and alcohol problem.

We consumers need to get together, get organized, speak up, and fight for our rights as Canadian citizens. We have the same rights as any other member of society. But our rights are being impinged upon by society as a whole. We need to rise up and stamp out permanently that stigma and discrimination against us.

I have also signed up at the Acadia University Library. For $20 a year you can join the Library and have exactly the same privileges as a student. I have access to the whole Library, and I can take out up to fifteen books at a time. I'm going to use the facilities there to do research for my writing. The resource materials are endless there. I will always find something there to use as a resource for my writing.

I would like to end this entry with the thought that "THERE IS HOPE" for anybody with a mental illness and/or an addiction and alcohol problem. Recovery is truly possible. Recovery doesn't mean a cure but it does mean that we can live happy, meaningful lives despite the wreckage caused by mental illness and addiction. Just look at the half full glass instead of the half empty glass. You will find peace and tranquility in life. Just "DON'T GIVE UP" Keep on trucking and you will find your place in life. Just have "FAITH, HOPE, AND COURAGE"

Schizophrenia and Suicide

Based on Premature Death from Recognizing Schizophrenia For What It Really Is: A Call To Action.

If you compare brain pain with physical pain people cannot not observe brain pain because it's psychological but people can observe physical pain because it is more obvious. Brain pain can cause suicidal thoughts more so than physical pain.

When consumers talk of suicide it should be taken seriously. Roughly 40% of those with schizophrenia attempt suicide and 10% successfully finish the job. Approximately 15 to 75 more percentage of people commit suicide in the consumer population than those in the general population.

It's not the actual disease that causes consumers to commit suicide but the hopelessness associated with schizophrenia. The consumer feels that there just is no hope of living happy, meaningful, and productive lives. Their lives are a total waste with no hope of digging themselves out of the hole that they find themselves in as a result of the disease.

An important goal of mental health professionals, workers in the community, and family members of consumers should be to aware of suicidal thoughts and tendencies. The timing could be critical.

Premature death isn't only caused by suicide but also by homicide and accidents as a result of high-risk behaviour. If consumers are not receiving treatment a small percentage do carry out violent acts. Some people die as a result of homicide and some consumers die at the hands of police officers by being shot because they are committing dangerous acts toward others. Despite the fact that there are some consumers who commit violent acts the majority of consumers are completely harmless.

Society as a whole should take on the responsibility of doing their best to prevent suicide by mental health consumers. We need to give them hope that things are not as hopeless as they appear to be. If everyone takes part suicide prevention is truly possible.

It's impossible to truly measure the impact of premature death on the mental health consumer population in Canada. All the numbers mentioned in this article are just rough estimates. The numbers in reality could be a lot higher.

We need to show much love and compassion towards the mental health consumer population and do our best to prevent suicide amongst these truly suffering group of people. They need our help. They can't do it on their own. Let's all reach out and give a lending hand to help prevent suicide amongst this population of people.

Schizophrenia: Stigma and Discrimination

I like to read over all the articles I write for my blogs. When I read over the entries I've written about schizophrenia and mental illness I've noticed that I have a main theme running through them all. I also read over comments I've made on other writers' blogs. I've also noticed this same theme running through these writings.

What is that theme? Stigma and discrimination.

Webster's English Dictionary states that the word stigmatize means "Disgrace." The same dictionary states that the word discriminate means "having the difference marked."

Applying these meanings to the way society views mental health consumers they have negative connotations. Society views us as a disgrace to humanity as a whole. We are also a marked group of people. We are marked as violent, unproductive members of society, useless, lazy, weak minded people, crazy, insane, not normal by societies standards, and the list can go on and on.

Many years ago mental health consumers were marked as servants of the devil, possessed by demons and spirits. As a result of this many consumers were put to death by the so called servants of Christ.

Later on when they started Asylums they were treated like animals in these places. Peoples pets lived like kings and were treated with more love and compassion than those in these institutions. At one point in history people paid to get into these places to watch the patients to ridicule, and laugh at for their own personal entertainment.

Then in the twentieth century those Doctors that treated the mentally ill in mental institutions discovered anti-psychotic medications. Consumers had some reprieve but still suffered tremendously. The way consumers were treated greatly improved but still not up to standards of the United Nations and our own Canadian Charter of Rights.

I must truly confess that we are treated a lot better than we were back in history. But despite that we are still treated like outcasts of society. We are still stigmatized and discriminated against. According to the Canadian Charter of Rights we have rights and not to be discriminated against. That looks good on paper and is just a big joke. In reality we are not accepted by society, we have trouble getting employment, we find it hard to get decent housing, and society as a whole will not have anything to do with those that have a mental illness.

As a result of the way mental illness affects a person many consumers are not able to work and hold down a job. The government supplies social assistance but that is also a big joke. Most consumers live in poverty. They live in housing that's not suitable for animals to live in. They go hungry the majority of the time. What food they do manage to purchase brings no health to their bodies. They have a lot of medical problems caused by their low standard of living.

The consumers that do manage to acquire social assistance live like kings compared to the consumers that have to live on the streets. I don't know exact statistics but it is common knowledge that the majority of people that live on the streets have some form of mental illness.

They don't have access to a decent bed to sleep in, they have no access to medical care for both their mental illness and other medical problems. They probably eat less than those fortunate enough to acquire social assistance.

Those consumers that are fortunate enough to recover well by that I mean those whose symptoms have been greatly reduced, and receive good psycho-social treatments. As a result they are able to be independent, have their own place, manage their money, cook their meals, keep up on house work, able to get an education, able to work at a full time job, and do all the things that the so called normal people are able to do.

Even this fortunate group of consumers are still stigmatized and discriminated against just as much as those not so fortunate group of consumers.

Those of us who are mental health consumers need to rise up and fight for our rights as Canadian Citizens. We need to stamp out the stigma and discrimination against us. We should have the same rights and opportunities as the rest of society. We should have access to decent housing, be able to find half-decent jobs, be able to get an education, and last of all we should be accepted by society and be able to partake in societal activities as one of them and not as outcasts.We need to be a part of the community not rejected by the community.

We consumers need to get together, get organized, and become activists, and start advocating for our rights as Canadian Citizens.

Schizophrenia and the Media

On the Zfarside of Life and Other Thoughts blog there is an entry on stigma and discrimination against the mentally ill caused by the way the media presents mental illness in their TV broadcasts. There is a three way conversation on the comments section of that entry.

One of the points I made was how can we get the media to present the true facts about mental illness instead of presenting it as an evil disease that lies behind violent crimes?

How are we going to permanently stamp out that stigma and discrimination against the mentally ill?

I have one answer to this previous question. The newly established "Canadian Mental Health Commission". I have just finished reading their official web site. If the Commission is successful at achieving their goals the plight of the mentally ill will make a radical change.

There is more hope waiting in the wings. There will be better service delivery. The Commission is going to carry out a massive anti-stigma campaign. The Commission will help improve research on mental illness.

The Schizophrenia Society of Canada's national emblem is the Iris Flower. This flower represents "Faith, Hope, and Courage". I personally feel that the newly established Commission will make "Faith, Hope, and Courage" a reality and make a major turn around in the plight of the mentally ill.

We've been waiting a very long time for the Government to do something to change the lives of those affected by mental illness, both consumers themselves, family members of consumers, and other people in society that are affected by mental illness.

I just can't put into words the feelings that are flowing through through my veins right now.

A final word. Let "Faith, Hope, and Courage" flow through your entire being because things are going to start happening that we never dreamed possible.

Schizophrenia and the Church

When I was a young man I got involved in the Church. While I was a member of this particular Church a very good friend of mine developed schizophrenia. The first thing I was told was that my friend was possessed by demons and spirits. That there was no hope for this person and this person was on their way down to hell. The sad thing about the whole thing was that the Christians there had me convinced that this was true.

Meanwhile I was developing schizophrenia myself. When my schizophrenia got to the point where it was in full bloom and I started using drugs and alcohol again I was told the same thing about me. They told me that I was full of demons and spirits. This was after I left the Church. I was having difficulty living up to my religious beliefs because of my mental illness so rather than being a hypocrite I left.

A few years later I met a fellow and he attended a Church. We became very good friends. I started going to Church with him. I told him right up front the day we met that I had schizophrenia. This fellow showed me a book called "Pigs in the Parlor". It was about people that had schizophrenia were possessed by demons. In fact a whole legion of demons. Every symptom of the illness was caused by a different demon. Of course he told me that I was full of demons.

For awhile there he had me convinced that it was true. This had a very negative impact on my mental health which wasn't very good in the first place due to my schizophrenia. I started asking around looking for a Minister that performed exorcisms. I was in a big mess mentally and psychologically. After awhile I muddled through all this and came to the point where I no longer believed that I was possessed by demons. By the grace of God I came to believe this. Even though I still suffered from the symptoms of my illness believing that I was not possessed by demons brought some relief mentally and psychologically.

A few years later I was with a Christian from the first Church I was involved with. He even went as far to say that the Schizophrenia Society was of the devil. This really upset me. When I went home I told my Mom about this. She got angry, called him up, to tell him off. Didn't he deny that he said this. Not only did I experience stigma and discrimination from him but outright denied it. He wouldn't even admit to my Mom that he was prejudiced against those with mental illness.

At the present moment I'm writing this my schizophrenia is pretty much in remission. I still have my Christian beliefs. I would like to go back to the same Church I first started with but I can't because of the stigma and discrimination.

I need to find a Church that does not believe that mental illness is caused by demon possession and does believe that mental illness is a real biological disease. But that is still not good enough. I would probably still encounter other forms of stigma and discrimination there. I probably would not be accepted by the Church community. I would be left out in the cold there. They probably wouldn't even talk to me let alone have fellowship with me there.

Look at the gay community. They were rejected, stigmatized, and discriminated against by the Church. But they solved the problem. They started getting together all across this great country of ours and started their own Churches. So now we have gay people able to get together, worship God together, have fellowship together, and help and encourage one another with their Christian faith and walk.

I've been entertaining similar thoughts. Why don't we consumers get together and start our own Churches. Get together, worship God, have fellowship together, and help and encourage one another in our Christian faith and walk. Not only that if people that are not consumers want to attend our Churches we would gladly receive them into our Churches and let them be members if they so please.

But there is an obstacle. Consumers that believe in Christianity need to find each other so that they can get together and start our Churches.

We don't need ordained Ministers and we don't need to pay our Ministers a salary. We can all share in giving sermons at Church services. Those that have a gift for it. We can organize the way we want our Churches to be governed. Eventually have our Churches scattered all over this great country of ours. Why Not? The gay community did it. Why can't we?

Schizophrenia and Poverty

Schizophrenia is a real biological disease just like any other disease such as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or any other disease. Because of this a person is not responsible for developing schizophrenia.

When a person has schizophrenia they suffer much from mental and emotional torture and torment. They also suffer in another way needlessly. They suffer from poverty.

Most people with schizophrenia are not able to work and support themselves. There is government assistance for this population of people. But in reality it's a big joke. After one pays their rent there is not enough money left to live on.

After they buy their groceries there's nothing left and the groceries they do buy are not very good healthy choices. They can't afford to buy the food that is healthy and brings health to their bodies. A lot of consumers have very poor health because of the types of food they have to live on.

What about those who smoke. They say that smoking is a luxury. That is not true. Smoking is an addiction. One of the hardest addictions to break. Not only that scientists have proven that smoking has a biological effect on those with mental illness that makes them feel better mentally and psychologically.

What about money for transportation. The government allows traveling expenses but only enough to last a week out of the whole month. Therefore consumers are stuck and have no way of getting around especially if they live in the city.

What about monies for recreational activities. Recreation is a very important part of a consumers healing and recovery. Without the ability to get out and excercise and have social interactions a consumer is very isolated. They spend most of time alone. That's not good for ones mental health. How would the politicians like to spend their life being lonely and depressed most of the time.

What about having a phone. The government says that a phone is a luxury. That is not true. A phone is a necessity especially in an emergency. Like I said in the last paragraph it's not good for ones mental health to be isolated from having contact with other people. It's bad enough that one cannot get out to socialize but to not have the ability to talk to anyone at all because they cannot afford a phone isolates them even more.

There is no need for people living with schizophrenia to have to live their lives in poverty and be cut off from the rest of society. If the government wanted to they could find ways to supply more money to mental health consumers.

I think that the government has no compassion for this population of people and they just don't care about them and the fact that they have to live in poverty.

The government and society as a whole should be ashamed of themselves for this needless suffering that mental health consumers have to go through.

I also think that it is national disgrace for this country to treat their fellow human beings that suffer from mental illness in such a merciless way that we do.

There is just no legitimate excuse for this sad state of affairs.

Needed: Treatment Programs for Dual Diagnosis

Nova Scotia needs to set up and develop treatment programs to treat those with dual diagnosis. Meaning those who have a mental illness and the disease of addiction.

To my knowledge there is only one treatment program in our province that targets this special population. I think that it is located in Halifax.

Why do we need such a program?

Treating dual diagnosis is very complicated and involved. To treat the mental illness alone would not successfully help the person recover. To treat the addiction alone would not successfully help the person recover. Both problems need to be treated simultaneously.

There are three main aspects to the disease of addiction. Mental, physical, and spiritual. The mental part is the unrelenting obsession to use drugs and alcohol. The persons whole thought life is focused on using.

The physical part is once a drug is in the persons system the person develops a physical compulsion to continue using. Once the drug is out of their system they go through a severe craving. Their body needs more drugs.

The spiritual part has to do with self-centered, self-absorbed, self-seeking, and self-willed thinking and behaviour. Their thought life is completely focused on themselves. They very seldom think about others.

Mental illness is even more complicated than addiction. When a person is experiencing psychosis they are not living in reality. They are hallucinating, suffering from delusions, their thoughts are very disorganized. They are living in their own little world completely cut off from what is going on around them.

So, if you treat the addiction alone the person still suffers the symptoms of their mental illness. If you treat the mental illness alone the person still suffers the symptoms of their addiction.

Because of this both disorders need to be treated at the same time.

This is why we need special programs to treat those with dual diagnosis.

Consumers, and the family members of consumers should get together, get organized, and start some real serious advocating on behalf of consumers to get treatment programs set up to treat those with dual diagnosis.

Because this is a real major problem amongst the consumer population. You would be surprised if you knew how many consumers have dual diagnosis. I don't know the exact statistics but there are many many consumers out there that have this problem.

Healing and Recovery

I have just finished reading a news article on the Schizophrenia Society of Canada's new mission statement. Up to this point in their history their mission statement focused on symptom reduction to remove some of the suffering.

But symptom reduction by itself does not produce healing and recovery. In order to get healing and recovery you need to be able to live. You need to experience happiness and success. You need to live a life of meaning, purpose, and be a productive member of society. Recovery means that you can be independent. Have your own place. Be able to keep it clean, cook your own meals, learn to budget your money, learn to shop for groceries, and learn to pay your bills.

It also means to have a social life and be able to participate in recreational activities. If a person gets well enough. To get and hold down a job, or go back to school and get an education.

It also means to have access to good service delivery from the mental health field, to have access to funding if the person is not able to work, and to have access to affordable housing.

The new mission statement still aims to reduce symptoms and the suffering but it also promotes healing and recovery. I personally believe that the things I've mentioned is what healing and recovery is all about.

Dual Diagnosis

There are many types of dual diagnosis. For the purpose of this article this term refers to people that have both a mental illness and the disease of addiction.

According to (About.com) there is a problem for those who work in the mental health field. That is making an accurate diagnosis. It is very problematic to recognize dual diagnosis. The reason being someone with a mental illness is most likely to be in denial about their drug or alcohol abuse. Also when it’s obvious that someone has an addiction problem this can cover up the symptoms of a mental illness.

The (Better Health Channel) states that because the mental health system lacks knowledge about dual diagnosis this could cause problems for the patients and their families.The health care workers often point the finger at their clients accusing them of being difficult and not responding to treatment. When in reality the mental health system is not providing adequate treatment and support for their clients.

If a client decides to seek treatment first for the drug problem, the addictions workers treat their mental illness as a "secondary issue". Or, if the client decides to seek treatment first for their mental illness the mental health workers treat their addiction as a "secondary issue". They do not view these two problems with equal importance and as "interdependent" with each other.There is usually no specialized or "early intervention treatments " available for those with dual diagnosis.Many times the family is not involved in the treatment process even though the family can offer more insight into their loved ones "problems and experiences".

(HELPGUIDE.org) informs us that looking back historically there have not been very effective programs developed for treating dual diagnosis. The mental illness and the addiction problem were treated separately.

Here are some suggestions from (HELPGUIDE.org) as to treating those with dual diagnosis:

(1) Both disorders ought to be treated at the same time. Not separately.

(2) The first step in treating drug addiction is to have the person detoxified. The drugs need to be washed out of their system.

(3) The detoxifying should be carried out with medical supervision. Otherwise there could be complications that could even cause death.

(4) Treatment should be carried out gradually. Healing takes time and people with this problem need to go at their own pace.

(5)The program should look towards complete abstinence but should not be a pre-requisite to enter the treatment program.

(6) Some people may not be successful in working the 12 step programs offered by various self-help groups.

Furthermore, another very important thing in treatment is having a survival network set up. This would include:

(1) The opportunity to engage in socializing and "recreational activities" in order to have relationships with their own "peer group".

(2) Partake in groups that offer education on the issues surrounding dual diagnosis, education concerning medications, daily life skills, and well-being.

(3) The family should be involved in the treatment process. They need to be given support and education to be better equipped to help their loved one.

A major problem among those with dual diagnosis is denial. They usually lack insight concerning their mental illness and addiction. They need to know that it is truly difficult to get clean and sober. They should be praised and given encouragement for their successes.

There are three major types of care offered.

(1) Stay in hospital full time.

(2) Stay in hospital during the day and going home at night.

(3) Be treated completely as an out-patient.

Because of simultaneous treatment for both disorders, patients should be allowed to receive psychiatric medications while being detoxified.

(CIGNA Behavioral Health) says that receiving treatment for both problems at the same time should be implemented by one clinician and treatment team, which is often called the "integrated approach".

People with dual diagnosis need "hope, knowledge, skills, and support" if they are going to effectively deal with their problems and be successful at achieving their goals in life.

If this population can receive "effective treatment", it will give them a better chance at recovery. It would reduce problems such as "increased symptoms of mental illness, hospitalizations, financial problems, family problems, homelessness, suicide, violence, sexual and physical victimization, incarceration, serious medical illnesses, and sometimes even early death".

If recovery is going to be achieved it must be the client’s decision to seek recovery. They must choose to seek recovery for themselves, not for someone else. People cannot be forced into giving up drugs and alcohol. Once this decision is made, recovery then becomes possible.

It takes "time, hope, and courage". It does not happen overnight. Sometimes it takes months and even years.

Programs that offer "appropriate, integrated services" will bring about recovery for those who suffer from dual diagnosis"Recovery can reduce the repercussions on family, friends, and society as a whole.

By encouraging people to "stay in recovery, help them find housing and jobs, and develop better social skills and judgement", it is possible to greatly reduce the tremendous suffering caused by dual diagnosis."

References:

Buddy T. Dual Diagnosis The Problem About.com
Retrieved 8 April 2007 From the World Wide Web
http://alcoholism.about.com/cs/dual/a/aa981209.htm

Dual Diagnosis Better Health Channel
Retrieved 8 April 2007 From the World Wide Web
http://www.betterhealth.vic.gov.au/bhcv2/bhcarticles.nsf/pages/Dual_diagno

Dual Diagnosis: Information and Treatment For Co-Occuring Disorders HELPGUIDE.org
Retrieved 8 April 2007 From the World Wide Web
http://www.helpguide.org/mental/dual_diagnosis.htm

Dual Diagnosis CIGNA Behavioral Health
Retrieved 8 April 2007 From the World Wide Web
http://www.cignabehavioral.com/web/basicsite/bulletinBoard/dualDiagnosis.jsp

My Story

When I was fourteen years old I became addicted to drugs and alcohol. I became a very heavy drug and alcohol user. Many times I overdosed and came very close to death. In fact I believe the only reason I’m alive is because of God’s divine providence and intervention. According to the laws of science I should be dead a hundred times over. Finally after three years of living hell I got clean and sober.

After that I became heavily involved in the Church. Eventually I got to the point where on Sunday nights I used to get up and preach the gospel. I also took public part in the Lord’s Supper, in other churches known as communion. I also took part in public prayer at the Bible Studies. At what we called the Children’s Gospel Hour I used to speak to the children.
I stayed involved in the Church for a few years. But meanwhile I was developing schizophrenia. I had very severe psychological problems. I was having trouble living up to my religious beliefs. Finally I left the church.

I decided to go back to school. While there my psychosis started getting very severe. I quit school and started using drugs and alcohol again.

I was suffering from both visual and auditory hallucinations. Paranoia started settling in my thought life. I did drugs and alcohol from the time I woke up until I went to sleep. I just wandered around town day and night stoned right out of my mind. I very seldom talked to anyone because of my paranoia.

Finally I was taken to the hospital, given a couple of needles and sent down to the Nova Scotia Hospital, a hospital for the mentally ill. I was put on chlorpromazine and stayed there for about six weeks.

The second day home I started taking my meds for the purpose of committing suicide. Mom came out and caught me. I was sent back down to the hospital. I was put on a injectable called modecate. After a couple of weeks I was sent back home.

After arriving home I managed to get clean and sober. My positive symptoms, the hallucinations, delusions, and thought disturbances kept under good control. But I suffered from negative symptoms. I couldn’t do anything. Get showers, read, do house chores, etc. All I did was pace the floor continually because of anxiety, and restlessness which was a result of the side effects of my medication.

In about a year after being discharged from the Nova Scotia Hospital my family doctor decided that I didn’t have schizophrenia. He took me off of my meds. Within three weeks I got sick again. This was the beginning of experiencing long term chronic mental illness. I was put back on medication. Approximately for the next 15 years my illness was in full bloom.

After being put back on meds I started using drugs and alcohol again. Between my psychosis and the drugs and alcohol I lived in my own little world. I had completely left reality. I lived in my own psychotic world completely cut off from being able to think rationally, logically, and make sense of the outside world.

During the next few years I was tried on several different medications. None of them worked. Finally it got to the point where I was on 825 mg of chlorpromazine, 250 mg of nozinan, 15 mg of artane, 3 mg of xanix, a day and 15 mg of fluanxle im every two weeks. I was kept on these meds for a few years.

While on these meds I bounced back and forth between positive symptoms and negative symptoms. I was always sick. I had no relief from mental torture and torment. Many times I was suicidal during this time period. Sometimes my Mom and Dad had to watch me 24 hours a day. They took turns so they could get some sleep.

After years of my suffering I was sent down to the psychiatric unit at the hospital in Truro. I was put on olanzapine. It worked. I was able to get showers, read for long periods of time, I went on long birdwatching hikes. My life seemed to make a turn around. Then something happened. I got sick again. My well period only lasted about four months.

While in Truro hospital I met a woman there. We started going out together. I decided to move to Truro. While there I was still sick. I started using drugs again. I was hospitalized four or five times while living there.

It got to the point where I couldn’t stay in Truro. I called Mom to see if I could come back home. They said yes. Meanwhile I went up to out patients at the Truro hospital. I wasn’t admitted but arrangements were made for me to go to detox in Springhill which is only a twenty minute drive from Mom and Dads. I went back to my room. Mom and Dad were there. After everything was packed we headed out.

Mom and Dad dropped me off at detox. After being there a couple of weeks I went home to Mom and Dads. I lived at their place for awhile and stayed clean and sober.

Then I decided to get my own place in town. After two days in town I started the drugs and alcohol again. I was using so much I hardly ate anything. For the next few months all I did was use drugs and drink. I just sat at my kitchen table smoked lots of cigarettes and listened to music. I also went out to drink sometimes at a friends place and went to the bar sometimes. But most of my time was spent home by myself.

I got tired of my lifestyle. One night I called detox to see if they had a bed. It was around 11 at night. The nurse told me there was no bed but proceeded to talk to me because she knew me and my drug habits. Before I hung up she told me to go lay down. About ten minutes after I called the phone rang. It was the police. The officer asked me if I would go downstairs and let a couple of police officers in. They wanted to take me to the hospital. I went downstairs. They told me to get in the car. I had no coat, no cigarettes, and no boots on. They wouldn’t let me go back upstairs to get them

After arriving at the hospital they gave me some kind of charcoal mix to drink. I started vomiting a lot. I was really sick and very close to death. I knew the security guard and when he made his rounds he stopped by, took me outside and gave me a smoke.

The police came and picked me up in the morning and drove me back home. I arrived home at six in the morning. As soon as I got in I called detox again. They had a bed. I was there by noon. I stayed there about two or three weeks. When it was time to go home the staff there talked me into going back home with Mom and Dad. They knew that if I went back to my apartment I would start using again.

I went home to Mom and Dads. I went through the motions of Christmas. In February I decided that life wasn’t worth living anymore. I’ve been living in hell for the last fifteen years. I decided that I was going to kill myself and this time I will succeed.For some reason I called my nurse up and told her my intentions. She said, "well, you could give up and kill yourself, or you could do something about your life".

I stayed awake for three days and nights thinking about what my nurse said. I decided that I wasn’t going to give up and that I was going to do something about my situation and make my life better. Some how some way. I didn’t know how I was going to do this.

A couple of days after making my decision my nurse called me up and told me about the Beacon Program at the Rehab in Waterville. I was there within a couple of weeks.
Dr. Mulhal, my psychiatrist, told me about clozapine, and the dangers of taking it. I thought about it for a couple of weeks and decided to try it. He put me on the clozapine and combined it with lamictal. It worked. I started getting well. I felt better than I had in my whole life. Even better than I was before I got sick.

While there I started attending the Annapolis Valley Work Activity Centre. I started off full time but couldn’t handle it. I went into a severe depression and stopped going for a couple of weeks. They called me up and talked with me. We decided that I would just attend the centre for a half day in the morning. So I did. After a few months I felt that I could handle going full time. I did. I took upgrading, personal development, job development, and woodworking.

Meanwhile the staff at the Beacon Unit were working with me so I could achieve rehabilitation. They taught me how to cook, do laundry, they taught how to solve my psychological problems, and most of all they taught me how to make my own decisions. I tried to get the staff there to make my decisions for me. But they wouldn’t. They made me make them. If I made the right decision I reaped the benefits, if I made the wrong decision I reaped the consequences.

Meanwhile I met my present wife on the bus while going to the Work Centre. We talked every morning and every afternoon on the bus. Then we started getting together and doing things.

Finally it was time to leave the Beacon Unit. Kim, my wife helped me find a room in Kentville. A few months after leaving the Rehab it was time to graduate from the Work Centre. My family and Kim attended my graduation.

Around the same time I graduated Kim and I got a place together. A few months later I landed a job at a candle factory. A couple of weeks after landing this job Kim and I got married. We’ve been married for over five years now. I also worked at the candle factory for over five years.
During this period after I started working I started up a Schizophrenia Newsletter. Our local chapter of the Schizophrenia Society sponsors it. A real good friend of mine by the name of Harold helps me with the newsletter.

During this time I was also diagnosed with obsessive compulsive disorder. I was put on medication for this problem.. I take celexa for it. My OCD still gives me trouble but I am slowly getting it under control and being quite successful at it.

At the present moment I’m writing this article I have been laid off from the candle factory for over five months. I didn’t realize how important work was in my life until I got laid off. I’ve been holding out hoping I would get back to work at the factory. But I’m not back yet. I’m hoping to get back there soon or find another job.

To end on a positive note. There is hope for those who have a mental illness and/or addiction. It is possible to get well and live lives of meaning, purpose, and become productive members of society.

What is Schizophrenia?

First of all schizophrenia is not just a psychological problem. It is not the persons fault if they have this disease. It is not caused by the influence of outside forces on the person with schizophrenia. It is not a split personality. It is not caused by drug and alcohol abuse.

It is a biological disease caused by a breakdown in the bio-chemistry of the brain. Through much research scientists have discovered and proven that schizophrenia is a real physical disease just like heart disease, diabetes, cancer, or any other physical disease that plagues mankind.

The disease originates inside the brain. It is thought that the limbic system (part of the brain that involves emotion), the thalamus (the part that has to do with outgoing messages) and other areas of the brain are responsible for schizophrenia.

It is thought that neurotransmitters, particularly the dopamine, and serotonin are responsible for the symptoms of schizophrenia. These neurotransmitters carry messages from the receptors of one brain cell to another. There is an over-activity of these chemicals. For some reason there is too much of these chemicals and they don't bind properly to the receptors. As a result the messages get all scrambled up and this is what causes the symptoms.

What are the symptoms? There are different types of symptoms. The two major types are positive symptoms and negative symptoms.

The positive symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorders. A person can experience both visual and auditory hallucinations. They will see things that are not there and they will hear things that no one else can hear. For example a person might see a friend of theirs in front of them and carrying on a conversion with them when in reality they are not there.

Delusions are false beliefs that defy reason. No one can convince the person that they are not true. Your just wasting your time trying to convince someone with delusions that what they are believing is not true. An example of a delusion would be someone that thinks that God and Satan are living inside of them battling for control of their mind. There is a battle between good and evil and one of them is going to win.

Thought disorders affect the way that the person organizes and processes their thoughts. Their thoughts get disorganized. They don't flow in a rational and logical manner. They get all mixed up. You can tell this symptom when the person tries to carry on a conversation. Their words don't flow in a rational and logical manner. It sounds like jibber jabber.

Negative symptoms include lack of motivation, blunted feelings, and depression.

Lack of motivation is when the person just has no get up and go. They cannot get interested in anything in life, and don't have any energy to do anything. This symptom is viewed by people as laziness.

Blunted feelings is when the person is not able to show emotion either with hand motion or facial expression. They appear to other people as not being able to show or feel emotion. This does not mean that the person does not have feelings. In fact their feelings might be more intense than other peoples but are just not able to show them. These blunted feelings might even be more observable as the disease progresses.

Depression is a common symptom among those with schizophrenia. A person with schizophrenia feels hopeless and helpless. There just isn't any hope of things getting better now or in the future. Their life is ruined and will never be the same again. Everything looks bleak. Many people with schizophrenia get so depressed that they attempt suicide and roughly 10% succeed.

But due to research there is hope for people with schizophrenia. Through scientific breakthroughs in research better medications have been developed that are able to combat and control the positive symptoms.

These same medications are also able to combat and get rid of the negative symptoms so that the person is able to function in life.

The foundation of treatment is medication but there is more. Through psycho-social treatments people with schizophrenia can live a life of meaning, purpose, and become productive members of society.

There is hope.