a new genetic theory of schizophrenia

Here is an article discussing a new genetic theory regarding schizophrenia, bipolar, depression and autism. I think it is a good idea to keep abreast of the latest developments.

In a Novel Theory of Mental Disorders, Parent's Genes are in Competition

At the same time, you may wish to refer to a previous post of mine which questions genetic theory of schizophrenia. Objections to Genetic Theory of Schizophrenia

There are, of course, widely divergent ideas concerning genes and schizophrenia. In the absence of biological proof of what exactly 'schizophrenia' is, I tend to favor the "Objections", but still consider it wise to follow what those who believe in a clear genetic link are pursuing as 'proof'.

away from my blog

Hello. I've been away from my blog for over a month now, so wanted to check in and let you know what's been going on. I haven't been meditating or saying affirmations or exercising during this time. I have been keeping track of the hours I sleep and my weight. I am still on 5 mg. Abilify, taken in the mornings. My mood has been mostly okay. My sleep has ranged from an average of 10 hours a week to 11.7 hours a week. My weight has ranged from 146.7 lbs. to 154.7 lbs. I reached my goal weight for October 1 of 150 lbs. My weight last weekend was 150.2 lbs. My sleep average last week was 10 hours. I plan to start blogging again soon. I have some articles to share with you. During the month of October I was mostly trying to stop smoking. I tried to stop nearly every day and was unable, so this month I am just accepting that, for now, I am a smoker. October 1 was my goal for stopping smoking. Looking forward to sharing more with you in the coming months.

a week's progress

This past week I meditated and said affirmations three times.

• medication: continued taking 5 mg. Abilify
• sleep: average 11.7 hrs.
• exercise: walked two times
• diet: ate when hungry
• weight: 150.7 lbs.
• mood: ok all mornings upon rising

a week's progress

This past week I meditated and said affirmations once. I slept more. I didn't exercise. I was depressed a couple of days.

• medication: continued taking 5 mg Abilify in the morning
• sleep: slept an average of 11.4 hrs. a night
• exercise: no exercise
• diet: ate when hungry
• weight: 147.6 lbs.
• mood: anxious one morning, ok all other mornings

a week's progress

I meditated and said affirmations one day this past week. I didn't exercise at all. I quit drinking coffee, which made me more sleepy. I slept more. I was also depressed and unmotivated. I wondered if this was due to decreasing the drugs. I really think that I'm just getting more aware off of the drugs, and this awareness is bringing with it a depression. Today I feel better. I'm hopeful that I can change some of these patterns around next week.

• medication: continued 5 mg. Abilify in the mornings
• sleep: average 11.1 hrs. sleep per night
• exercise: no exercise
• diet: ate when hungry
• weight: 150 lbs.
• mood: ok all mornings upon rising

a week's progress

I didn't meditate or say affirmations this past week. My lymph nodes went down in size, though. They are almost gone. I didn't exercise very much, either.


last week --

• medication: 5 mg. Abilify in the morning
• sleep: 9.4 hrs. sleep a night on average
• exercise: lifted weights one day
• diet: ate when hungry
• weight: 147.8 lbs.
• mood: anxious 2 days, ok all other days

a week's progress

This past week, I continued meditation, 1 time a day, for 20 minutes, affirmations, 1-2 times a day, gratitude lists, before bed, and my dream journal. I didn't exercise at all, which is rare, but plan to continue next week with exercise. My lymph node swelling decreased yesterday and today, with lots of good sleep. My sleep became less restless as the week progressed.

last week's progress --

• medication: decreased to 5 mg. Abilify in the morning
• sleep: 10.1 hrs. per night average
• exercise: no exercise
• diet: ate when hungry
• weight: 152.7 lbs.
• mood: ok each day upon waking

Here is a good site to check out for info on schizophrenia or other psychotic disorders:
The International Society for the Psychological Treatments of the Schizophrenias and Other Psychoses

lymph nodes

I noticed three enlarged lymph nodes in my body since cutting down the medication. I also had a slight fever yesterday. The lymph nodes have gotten a bit smaller since yesterday. Perhaps these are symptoms of withdrawal from the medication.

reduction in medication

On September 2, I reduced my medication to 5 mg. Abilify in the mornings. I just cut the 10 mg. Abilify in half, then take half. I have had restless sleep since then and greater fatigue in the daytime, leading to 1 hr. naps. I am very happy about the reduction, however. I decided to go ahead with my original plan, from 15 to 10 to 5 mg. to 0. Though the advice I've read suggests cutting back by between 2% and 20%, I decided to go on with my cutting back of 33% of the original dose. This is, in part, due to the ease with which you can do this. Abilify is available in 5 mg., 10 mg., and 15 mg., so there is no liquid titration involved, which is the method that must be used if one decides to reduce between 2% and 20%. So far, other than a little restless sleep and slight fatigue, I've had no real withdrawal pains. Onward!

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

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.

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.

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.

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
  

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.

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

fear, feelings, "rethinking schizophrenia"

Last week, I continued meditation, once a day for 20 minutes, affirmations, 2-3 times a day,
and gratitude lists, most nights. Last week I felt fear twice unnecessarily. Once while waiting for my husband at the grocery store I felt frightened. Once I was afraid to fall asleep. This is
cause for concern because unwarranted fear can be a prelude to symptoms, so I talked about it with my husband. I was frightened to fall asleep because I'd been having bad dreams. I may have been frightened while waiting at the grocery store because I've been living in a different country since the end of March. I dealt with my fears and talked about it. The feeling of fear went away. I think that my feelings are coming a little bit more to the surface now that I decreased the medications. The week before I felt happy for a time one day, sad for a time another. This is a big improvement, as I realized that my feeling have been paralyzed by the medications. I look forward to dealing with them more in the future, though I'm certain that it will be challenging to figure out how to handle them after so much lost time.

Here is an article I found from Dr. Nathaniel S. Lehman called Rethinking schizophrenia: its original nature, its drug altered character, and thoughts about its treatment.
In it, he suggests that there is no "brain pathology" in schizophrenia not caused by medication. He also suggests that therapy without medication is appropriate.

Last week's progress --

• medication: continued taking 10 mg Abilify in the mornings
  
• sleep: slept on average 9.4 hours a night, decided to keep a dream journal to deal with troubling dreams
  
• exercise: walked two days, ran two days, lifted weights two days
  
• diet: ate 3-4 meals a day
  
• weight: 158.8 lbs
  
• mood: ok each morning upon rising. Depressed one evening. The day before that, feeling very energized from exercise.
  

a "learning experience": trying to withdraw from medications

The last time I withdrew from the medications, I went off of 15 mg Abilify by decreasing to 10 mg, then going to one every other day, then stopping. It was over a month or two that I decreased. This was in September of 2006. I lasted until April of 2007, when I had a
psychotic break. This started with distrusting my husband. I began to have delusions and hallucinate constantly. I was involuntarily hospitalized. Eventually I was put on injections of Prolixin, 20 mg Abilify, and 5 mg Prolixin.

I think that I must have not been ready for the decrease, as I wasn't dealing with emotional issues and the precursors to a breakdown for me. Stress can cause me to get symptoms. I felt a great deal of stress suspecting my husband of infidelity and feeling that we weren't communicating well. I began to have an obsession. I also learned from this not to decrease the medicines too abruptly, which is why I'm decreasing them more gradually this time. I further learned that symptoms can appear long after the medication has been discontinued. I will have to be vigilant for a period of years after I discontinue medications in the future.

"harm reduction guide"

I found a great guide to withdrawing from psychiatric medications. It is from Freedom Center and The Icarus Project. It has details regarding nearly every ascpect of psychiatric drugs and what coming off of them can do to you. I hope you find it useful. You can download it from here:

Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Medications

my definition of recovery; emotional recovery

I continued meditation, 17 minutes twice a day, affirmations, 3 times a day, and gratitude list before bed. I was told by two people from the Withdrawal and Recovery group that I am
withdrawing from the Abilify too quickly. 5-10% reductions are recommended there. I am
reducing by 33%. So, I am a bit confused as to what to do. For now, I'm keeping with my original plan. I am, however, considering these smaller reductions.
Some define "recovery" from schizophrenia as functioning normally while on the medicine.
While I have no problem with people who use this definition for themselves, and know that there are many, this is not what I mean when I say recovery. What I mean is what is defined there as a "full" recovery. Recovery for me will include no medications. So, right now, I'm in the process of recovery. I don't consider myself recovered yet.

Here is my progress this past week --

• medication: continued taking 10 mg. Abilify once a day in the mornings

• sleep: averaged 10 hours a night

• exercise: walked 6 days (one day was raining), lifted weights 3 days

• diet: ate 4 meals a day, usually. This is in accord with the Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle

e-book, which I have been following. It has a plan for goal setting, combining protein, carbs, and fat into 4-5 meals a day, and cardio and weight training. It is recommended that weight loss be kept at 1-2 lbs a week. I am trying to lose 20 lbs. (10 lbs by October 1). I gained 100 lbs on Zyprexa in 2000, then lost 40 lbs when I was put on Abilify in 2003.

• weight: 158.6 lbs

• mood: ok except one morning depressed. I realized that this was due anger at my ex-boyfriend, who I'd been trying to forgive. I immediately decided to express this anger inwardly, rather than keep turning it against myself. I chose not to forgive him at this point. He beat me up rather badly in 1987. There were a series of extremely violent incidents, including one which involved severe head trauma. (This may be part of the reason I was diagnosed "schizophrenic", not just the head trauma, but also the PTSD - Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, which lingered.)