ABILIFY MAINTENA™: A New Injectable Medication Now Available in Cnada

Here is the link to a news article on this new medication.  This new drug is very promising in treating schizophrenia.  There is hope for those whom the present medications don't work.  The trials done on this medication showed that it will be very successful at reducing the symptoms of schizophrenia.

To read the article click on the link below.

http://www.newswire.ca/en/story/1349393/new-once-monthly-treatment-for-schizophrenia-abilify-maintenatm-aripiprazole-for-prolonged-release-injectable-suspension-now-available-in-canada

Schizophrenia Medications

Here is the link to an article on schizophrenia medications.  It discusses the older neuroleptics and the newer atypical antipsychotics.  Medication is the cornerstone of treatment.  In some cases it greatly reduces the positive symptoms.  The new atypical medications also help with the negative symptoms.

To read the article click on the link below.

http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/guide/schizophrenia-medications

Kings County Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society Fund Raiser

We had a fundraiser on April 26/14.  We had lots of entertainment.  Star Dobson who used to work for CTV gave a talk. A silent auction was held.  The food was awesome.  Everyone had a grand time.

Here are some photos:

 

Walk the World for Schizophrenia

Here are some photos from our annual walk for the Kings County Chapter of the Schizophrenia Society, which was held today in Wolfville.  We had wonderful weather for it.  Everything went well today.  We had a good turnout, good food, and draws for door prizes.I think everyone had a real good time.

Marijuana:What science has to say

Here is an article about the marijuana war.There are those who believe that marijuana is harmless and there are those who believe it is harmful.  There are those who believe it is linked with psychosis and there are those who don't.  .Some believe it can be an addiction and some believe it is non addictive.  Another war going on is whether marijuana should be legalized or should it be illegal.  In this article the author presents both sides of the war.  It is up to the reader to decide what position they want to take on the issue.

To read the article click on the link below.

http://www.cosmosmagazine.com/features/marijuana-what-science-has-say/

Brain and Behavior Research Foundation

This organization supplies grants to scientists to do research on different types of mental illness.  Their website is loaded with research articles on the research.  There us also a good number of personal stories about peoples' experiences with mental illness and their recovery.  It is an excellent site.

To view the site click on the link below.

http://bbrfoundation.org/schizophrenia

Your Recovery Journey Session

I went to my session called Your Recovery Journey.  We have a book which explains different aspects of recovery which also contains questions that we answer right in the book.  today we were discussing goal setting.  I personally believe that we create our own destiny.  We decide on our destiny, draw up a plan with all our goals to work on to fulfill our destiny.  I shared with the group that because of my OCD I have problems making decisions.  When I do make a decision I work on it for a week then change my mind and decide on a different destiny.  I just go round and round in circles and don't make any progress.  They gave an excellent solution to my problem.  Completely forget long term goals for now.  Just focus on today. When I wake up in the morning just decide what I want to accomplish just for that day.  Don't worry about the long term.  For me it's not difficult to set goals for just one day.  doing it that way I am not committed to work on the same goals for long periods of time.  Every day I can set new goals to work on just for that one day.  For example my goal for today might be to play the guitar but tomorrow it might be to write an article for my blogs, and another day it might be to play computer games and so on.  I am not able to focus on several things in one day.  I can only focus on and do one thing for that day.  I think the reason for this is my OCD. I feel that going about it this way reduce my stress level and give me the opportunity to accomplish something every day and boost my self-esteem.  That way I can accomplish several goals a week.  If you add all that up I will have accomplished a lot things in a year.  That is how I am going to live my life for now.

What Does Recovery Mean to Me?

Recovery is an ongoing process.  We never arrive.  We continue recovering until we leave this world.  As a result of my mental illness I suffered many losses.  I lost 20 to 25 years of my life.  I did absolutely nothing.

All I did was pace the floor, drink coffee after coffee, and smoked cigarette after cigarette.  I wasn't able to work, do much reading, or anything that required concentration.   I lost the opportunity to get a higher education, work in the field of my study, and have a real career (not just a job).  I felt all alone even though there were others around me.  I lived in my own little world.

Around Christmas time in 1999 I had to go to detox.  I was released just before Christmas.  I went through the motions of Christmas.  By the time February rolled by I had enough.  I couldn't cope with my illness and addiction any more.  I made the decision I was going to end my life and this time I was going to succeed. For some reason I called up my nurse and told her.  She said, "well, you could give up and kill yourself or you could do something about it".  I thought about what she said for three days.  I decided I wasn't going to give up and kill myself but I was going to do something about it.  I didn't know what or how.  After I made my decision my nurse called me up and told me about the Beacon Program.  I was there in a week.  It was located at the Rehab in Waterville.  There is where I learned the what and how.  While there Dr. Mulhal put me on medication that actually worked.  I also received psycho-social treatment while I was there.

I am presently living in recovery.  I have a real good support network to help me.  My wife, family, friends, and mental health workers.  When things are bothering me I have lots of people to talk to to get me in the right frame of mind.  If I need to vent there are lots of people to vent out with.  If I am having problems there are lots of people to point me in the right direction and help me out.  My support network is an important part of my recovery journey.

The most important thing in my recovery is my wife.  We are having a great relationship.  Having an intimate relationship really helps with my recovery.  I can share things with her I can't share with anyone else.  She loves me and stands behind me in every decision I make in my life.  If I have made the wrong decision she shares it with me and reasons with me to change my mind.

Another part of my recovery is the ability to concentrate on my research and writing.  This activity is very important to me.  I love the very act of research and writing.  I get great pleasure from  these activities. Doing these things gives me much meaning and purpose in life.

My work is also important.  I am still writing for the CMHA newsletter and the Schizophrenia Society newsletter.  I am not collating right now because I haven't recovered enough from my guillian barre syndrome yet.  My legs are not strong enough yet and my hands are still numb and wouldn't be able to pick up the flyers.  I am not able to drive the car until at least June.  I do my exercises the physio therapist gave me to do.  This helps strengthen my legs, arms, and hands.

I also believe that having the right attitude helps with one's recovery.  I am where I am right now because of shear determination, motivation, and real hard work.  I didn't get where I am by being lazy, and unmotivated. I have a real positive attitude towards life.  I look at the half full glass instead of the half empty glass.  

Have faith, hope, and courage. Recovery is truly possible.

My Day Today

Concerning my recovery from guillain barre syndrome I'm making progress in leaps and bounds.  I was able to rinse off the dishes, put them in the dishwasher, and empty it out when they were done.  I also did a second load.  I also helped Kim cook supper.  We had baked fish and boiled potatoes.  I spent most of my day sleeping.  One of the symptoms is fatigue.  

I am very pleased how my recovery is going.  The Doctor told me that my recovery is going faster than most people with this disorder.  I believe him.  A week ago I thought it was going to take me forever to make any progress.  It usually takes up to a year to achieve a full and complete recovery.  I am hoping for a complete recovery.  If I don't have a complete recovery I will have to simply accept it and do the best I can with my disability.  I would be limited as to what I could do for work, but I feel that I might be able to still write.  It will just take longer to type. My typing is very slow.  At the present moment I am having problems concentrating.  I can't focus on reading and writing for very long.  The nurse told me in the hospital that this condition can affect my cognitive functioning.  I agree with her.  With determination and hard work I will overcome this problem.  It's all mind over matter.I am also determined and am going to  work very hard at beating my condition.  There are still a lot of things I can't do with my hands.  My fine motor skills in my hands isn't very good right now.  Concerning this I have a long ways to go.  Over all I have had a wonderful day and I am very grateful and thankful for what I have accomplished today.  I am looking forward to tomorrow and what I will accomplish.  I am just taking one day at a time.