Overcoming Schizophrenia

Since medication is so important to the person with schizophrenia why do they stop taking their medication? As mentioned before in group we discussed the reasons why people with schizophrenia stop taking their medication, this is what we came up with: They are discouraged with the improvements in their symptoms They are in denial that they have a mental illness They think you don't need the medication because they feel better The harsh side effects such as tardive dyskinesia or abnormal involuntary movements (usually in the hands, feet, tongue, or lips), akathisia or restlessness, muscle stiffness, tremors They have simply run out of medication They can't afford the medication There is hope. As mentioned earlier by Wandering Coyote ( http://stigma-busters.blogspot.com/ ) there is an injection that people with schizophrenia could take. Risperidone or Risperdal Consta long-acting injection if the person has trouble taking the oral form of medication. The injections are performed ...

In the state of California health professionals provide patients with an Advance Health Care Directive form. Doctors can give patients information and advice, however, the patient has the right to accept or refuse treatment. I think the Advance Health Care Directive is a proactive initiative that everybody should have. The Advance Health Care Directive is a written statement that gives authority to another person in place of the patient, when they are unable to make medical decisions. If the patient is 18 years old or older and of sound mind they can complete the Advance Health Care Directive form. If you are too sick to make a decision, doctors will ask your closest relative or friend to make decisions for you. However, the Advance Health Care Directive prevents doctors from having to find the closest relative or friend to make decisions for you because your "agent" would already be stated in the form. The form is great because it states the kind of treatment you want and do...

Why don't people talk about schizophrenia? The public seems to overlook schizophrenia. I see commercials about bipolar disorder and depression, but not schizophrenia. Schizophrenia affects 2 to 3 million Americans, yet many people do not openly admit to having the illness. And I do agree you should be selective on who you tell because of discrimination. There is a stigma attached to schizophrenia. Usually people think that individuals who have schizophrenia are violent, however this is not the case; they are usually victims of crime (The Complete Family Guide to Schizophrenia ) . They are discriminated against in housing and jobs, I have experienced this while looking for housing. The landlord would not rent the room to me because she thought the voices and my potential roommate would cause too much stress. Little did she know that I no longer hear voices because of my medication. I think that people are afraid of individuals with a schizophrenia because they are ignorant of the i...

You have been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia or some form of mental illness, so what next? Here's what I did after my diagnosis... Find a psychiatrist- someone who prescribes medication Apply for social securitiy disability- you may need it if it is hard for you to keep a job due to disability Apply for health insurance- it comes with SSI Talk to a psychologist or therapist- they help you adjust to your illness Join a peer group- NAMI (www.nami.org) has peer groups all over the U.S., join one Learn about your illness- I found books and read information off the Internet Take your medication - it is the most important thing you could do to recover Stay positive there is hope with treatment Build relationships with health care providers- I joined a peer group that is lead by my therapist and it meets under a weekly basis and I have a good relationship with my therapist Be honest with health care providers- I have open dialogue with my health care provider because I know that th...