Sunday, August 31, 2008

a week's progress, a good site

I continued this past week meditation 1-2 times a day, 20 minutes at a time, affirmations, 2-3 times per day, gratitude list at night, and dream journal in the mornings.

past week's progress --

  • medication: continued taking 10 mg Abilify in the morning
  • sleep: average 10.6 hrs. a night
  • exercise: walked 3 days, lifted weights 1 day. doubled walking time from 20 to 40 minutes
  • diet: ate when hungry
  • weight: 155 lbs.
  • mood: ok all days, happy one day

Sunday, August 24, 2008

a week's progress, objections to genetic theory of 'schizophrenia'

This past week I continued meditation, once a day for 20 minutes, affirmations, 2-3 times a day, and my dream journal. Some nights I did a gratitude list. I smoked 15-20 cigarettes a day. I drank one cup of coffee a day.

last week's progress--

  • medication: continued taking one 10 mg Abilify in the mornings
  • sleep: averaged 9.6 hrs. a night
  • exercise: walked 3 days, lifted weights one day
  • diet: decided to eat when hungry, stop when full
  • weight: 158 lbs.
  • mood: ok all mornings, but one down, one anxious

I've noticed that before I have had an 'episode' or extreme states of mind after I stopped taking medications in the past I have become obsessed with someone or something. I remembered a psychologist I had in 1986, before I had trauma, suggesting I may have OCD,
so I looked into that to see if it may be a problem. I have concluded that I don't have that, as I don't really have the ritualized behavior that goes along with that, though I do have recurrent obsessions. I talked with my husband about getting therapy for this, but we decided that he will continue to act as my 'therapist' for now. It is good, however, to recognize that obsession often precedes a psychotic break for me.

There are various problems with many accepted genetic studies of 'schizophrenia'. While genes have often been implicated in 'schizophrenia', there is controversy as to whether this is a genetic 'illness' or not. Some say genes combined with environment is the cause; some say environment alone is the cause. Often it is said that genes merely provide a predisposition to 'schizophrenia'. The studies are not definitive, it turns out.

Sunday, August 17, 2008

a week's progress

This past week I continued meditation, twice a day, 20 minutes at a time, affirmations, 3 times a day, and my dream journal. Most nights I said my gratitude list. I smoked between 15-20 cigarettes a day. I drank one cup of coffee a day.

the week's progress --

  • medication: I continued taking 10 mg Abilify in the mornings
  • sleep: average 9.3 hrs a night, two nights restless sleep
  • exercise: walked 2 days, ran 1 day, lifted weights one day
  • diet: ate 4 meals a day
  • weight: 157.7 lbs
  • mood: ok all days upon rising

I need to exercise more, but it has been very hot here. I also have plans to quit drinking coffee.

Friday, August 15, 2008

the term 'schizophrenia'

I think that there needs to be some distinction made here regarding the use of the term 'schizophrenia'. Early on in my blog, I offer videos and an article suggesting that there is no such thing as 'schizophrenia'. I have to say here that this was something I considered when I first became more familiar with the term back in 1985.

But I tend not to put quotes around 'schizophrenia' when someone has fully recovered. This is in part due to the tendency of the medical establishment to claim that if someone fully recovers they never had schizophrenia to begin with and were simply misdiagnosed. This is suggesting that there is no such thing as a full recovery from schizophrenia, a line the medical establishment embraces. I think that this approach takes power away from those individuals who do achieve a full recovery, while offering no hope whatsoever to all of the others labeled with the diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Here is a small articles with suggestions for changing the label of 'schizophrenia' to something else. Dr. John Breeding, elsewhere, calls it (and other 'mental illnesses') extreme states of mind.
The Term Schizophrenia by Brian Koehler

Let me know what you think.

Sunday, August 10, 2008

the week's progress, long-term studies

This past week I continued meditation, one time a day for 20 minutes, affirmations, 2-3 times a day, and gratitude lists most nights. I also continued with my dream journal. I now smoke 15 cigarettes a day. I cut back to one cup of coffee a day (from 2).

I've noted that full recovery from schizophrenia has been said to be non-existent, rare, 20%, 25%, and 33% in various articles and studies. Here is an article which collects some long-term studies of schizophrenia: Long-Term Follow-Up Studies of Schizophrenia

One thing to point out about these studies is that in the WHO study it has been said that the better rate of recovery in developing countries may be due to the fact that neuroleptics are rarely used there.

this past week's progress --

  • medication: continued taking 10 mg Abilify in the morning each day
  • sleep: averaged 10 hours a night
  • exercise: walked 2 days
  • diet: ate 3-4 meals a day
  • weight: 158 lbs.
  • mood: ok all mornings but one, when I awoke depressed

Saturday, August 9, 2008

neuroplasticity: hope for the brain, another great blog

There is plenty of info found at Discover and Recover what remains of a great blog by Duane Sherry I found.

Neuroplasticity refers to the brain's ability to change. Only in the last 20 years or so has science become aware of the neuroplasticity of the brain. Previously, it was thought that the brain stopped growing and changing when we were young children.

I have added to my meditation a focus on compassion for myself (which can only lead to further compassion to others). I hope as I grow in compassion for myself that I will be able to extend it to others, as well. For the time being, my meditation is focused on me.

Wednesday, August 6, 2008

an example of a schizophrenia cure

This is an interview with Dr. Daniel Dorman, who cured a patient of schizophrenia using only therapy, no medicines. In the interview, Dr. Dorman disagrees with the "brain disease" model of schizophrenia and reveals serious doubts regarding the efficacy of drugs to treat it.

A Conversation with Dr. Dorman