i do hope he gets better as well kelly.. the good news is that hes getting treatment and the advancements in treating schitzophrenia are significant over the past couple of years.

quote:

Originally posted by loca I can understand your cousin's refusal to get treated, my friend went through the same thing. The thing about schizophrenic's is they abhorr change. So any change in their routine or life is very unwelcome, which is why he is upset now. He will get over it though i'm sure! My friend got over it as well and is now in great shape! He's still quiet but does not have episodes like he used to

+1

One of my relatives had a similar problem and would refuse to be treated when the doctors came she was forcefully taken to a hospital..but couple of months down the line after she was treated - she was in a much better shape and I kinda grateful too.

Now, she is living normally, there are a few things she has issues with but mostly she is doing absolutely fine. Good luck to your cousin :-).

I've never had to deal with a family member, let alone a friend that has a mental disorder as serious as that. I'm really sory to hear that you're feeling so bad Kelly. If your family stays strong - which I'm sure it will - you guys will be able to come together and make the best of the situation. As sad as the situation is, try to think of the positive things and come up with ways that you can make this all easier on each other.

Good luck Kelly. You know we're all here for you if you need to vent.

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Shut up and DANCE!!
House moves my body, Trance owns my soul, Progressive drives me wild

Apparently there is now a once a month shot that schizophrenics can get for those who refuse to take their meds. My ex bf's mother has schizophrenia and he told me recently that he takes her for a once a month shot in Toronto. I don't know if it's true though..I haven't confirmed if there is such a needle.

Here is a helpful website: http://www.mentalhealth.com/book/p40-sc01.html

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I support bacteria because it is the only culture some people have.

I just thought of this Kel...the only time I've encountered anyone with this disease is working at Chrysler. I was moved out to the Engine line one night and I was working with a guy on the line with this disorder. Apparently he was on medication that kept him sane and as long as he took it he was fine. He'd never missed a day of work, was always on time, and never harmed a soul. The only thing that was a little odd was that occasionally he would yell things and a lot of the times he would have conversations with a lamp or his computer (you get the point). But he was completely harmless. People just let him go about his business...doing his job on the line and having conversations with no body, but it didn't bother anyone.

Try not to think of all the bad stories you hear about people with schizophrenia. There are a lot of people in this world that have the disease and can live a somewhat normal life.

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Shut up and DANCE!!
House moves my body, Trance owns my soul, Progressive drives me wild

wow, something like this must be hard to deal with. Hopefully it will all turn out for the better.

What exactly is schizophrenia, and how does it impact those that have been diagnosed with it?

quote:

Originally posted by Nrg2Nfinit This is an incorrect statement.. teh truth is schitzophrenia can come from abuse of drugs and anything that affects your dopamine levels and causes a chemical imbalance. People who do alot of cocaine can develope schitzophrenia due to the chemical imbalances it causes within the brain.

Really?
I'm taking psychology in university and I've never heard or read about schizophrenia being caused by a chemical imbalance due to drugs... I have heard that drugs can cause symptoms to show more prematurely or even cause more intense hallucinations or distortions.. but I've always been taught that ppl with schizophrenia always have a genetic link above all other influences

Nikki

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Take me home, in time you'll love me like one of your own..take me home.. with you.. no one on earth knows me like you do....

yep there seems to be a major theory that ties schizophrenia to improper dopamine function... and cocaine is one of those things that messes with the dopamine system amongst other things

Wow, Kelly - that is some hard news to take. Regardless of how your cousin feels right now, given time, he might be able to see that is was the best option left and very necessary for his own good. Mental health is such a touchy subject with anyone - people lose all credibility when they get labeled "a mental patient" and it's pathetic. If someone had cancer, you wouldn't write them off mentally.

One of the people I love most in the world is bipolar and I've learned to read when a mood is coming on and react appropriately so as not to further upset them. They also recently were diagnosed with a mild form of schizophrenia (i.e. seeing things out of the corner of their eye that aren't there, etc.).

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quote:

Originally posted by Nikitha Really? I'm taking psychology in university and I've never heard or read about schizophrenia being caused by a chemical imbalance due to drugs... I have heard that drugs can cause symptoms to show more prematurely or even cause more intense hallucinations or distortions.. but I've always been taught that ppl with schizophrenia always have a genetic link above all other influences Nikki

You are absolutely right. There is no single cause but it has been long known that schizophrenia runs in families. The chemical imbalance is not DUE only to drug use..it is due to the neurotransmitters dopamine and glutamate. Doing drugs such as cocaine or ecstacy mimics in the brain some of the same imbalance that schizophrenia does. Drugs like marijuana and other street drugs do increase the risk of getting schizophrenia.
Many many things are responsible..even a woman having complications while giving birth, to maternal stress and age of the father when the child is conceived will increase the risks.

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I support bacteria because it is the only culture some people have.

Sorry to hear this Kelly.

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The Matrix is everywhere, it is all around us, even now in this very room. You can see it when you look out your window, or you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes. It is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth.

quote:

Originally posted by kabelicious (i.e. seeing things out of the corner of their eye that aren't there, etc.).

oh o :O that happens to me once in a while. ill think ill see somethig and its somethign completely different out the corner of my eye