I love this SO much. I have often felt that people with schizophrenia may actually be more IN TOUCH with the “real” reality and the rest of us just don’t understand them because we live in an illusion we mistake as reality. I think if those who experience life with schizophrenia were better understood and looked at with compassion (instead of fear), they might be great teachers.
I really appreciate the compassion behind your words! 😊 Understanding and reducing fear and stigma around schizophrenia is so important.
I think you’re touching on something meaningful, people with schizophrenia experience reality differently, and their perspectives deserve more understanding and compassion. The more we listen and learn, the better we can support those living with it.
I love that you’re thinking about this with curiosity and kindness, the world needs more of that!
Thanks for reading, Andrew. I’m really glad it brought something new your way! Schizophrenia is often misunderstood, so I’m always happy to help make it a little clearer. Feel free to reach out if you ever have any questions about it :)
Thank you for this very articulate explanation about schophenia. I agree that it is often misunderstood and others become frightened because of a lack of understanding
Thank you, Dr. Karen. I really appreciate your kind words. Schizophrenia is indeed often misunderstood, and I’m grateful this piece helped shed some light on it. Conversations like these are so important in fostering understanding.
There’s a good book I read by a guy called Ken Dickson who developed psychosis after major surgery. No other history of it. He had more trouble with attitudes than with the condition itself, and recovered despite all the help he received
Excellent myth busting post. The condition seems to be a syndrome (a collection of certain recognisable symptoms) but there is no test in existence yet that shows that a terminal decline in brain function is underway. There is a bit of overlap with some of the symptoms of PTSD, so I’ve often suspected that the symptoms show that the brain has had a shock to its system of some kind. There are so many possible potential causes of problems in normal brain processes. Causes could be anything from a virus or infection, to inflammation after injury or surgery, to an unexpectedly intense reaction to a major life event, or even genetic or congenital factors. But while there is no clinical test for the condition, I feel that it’s unethical to say to someone that they will never recover. It’s possible that they may indeed need to take medication for life, but that is a very different picture than being told that they have an incurable disease. No one has identified a disease yet that specifically causes the symptoms of schizophrenia.
Thank you, Sarah! 😊 It means a lot to me that you think this is a good post. Your reflections are always so insightful. You’re right, schizophrenia is best understood as a syndrome, a collection of symptoms rather than a single disease with one identifiable cause. And the overlap with PTSD is an interesting point. Research does suggest that early life trauma and severe stress can contribute to psychotic symptoms, though, as you highlight, the potential contributing factors are vast.
I also appreciate your emphasis on hope in recovery. While schizophrenia can be a lifelong condition for many, framing it as an untreatable, inevitably degenerative disease only adds to stigma and discourages people from seeking support. There’s so much more nuance to it.
Thank you for sharing this deeply personal story, Hillary. It’s clear how much you cared for your brother and how difficult it must have been to navigate those decisions together. It’s understandable that experiences with schizophrenia and its treatment can be complex and deeply individual: what helps one person may not be right for another.
Your perspective on how your brother experienced the world is valuable. Mental health diagnoses can be challenging, especially when different conditions overlap or evolve over time. And I completely agree that trust and respect for a loved one’s choices, even when they’re hard to understand, are powerful acts of love.
I really appreciate you taking the time to share this. It’s an important reminder that behind every diagnosis is a person with their own unique story and perspective :)
I love this SO much. I have often felt that people with schizophrenia may actually be more IN TOUCH with the “real” reality and the rest of us just don’t understand them because we live in an illusion we mistake as reality. I think if those who experience life with schizophrenia were better understood and looked at with compassion (instead of fear), they might be great teachers.
Hello Sarah,
I really appreciate the compassion behind your words! 😊 Understanding and reducing fear and stigma around schizophrenia is so important.
I think you’re touching on something meaningful, people with schizophrenia experience reality differently, and their perspectives deserve more understanding and compassion. The more we listen and learn, the better we can support those living with it.
I love that you’re thinking about this with curiosity and kindness, the world needs more of that!
Wow, thank you for the info. This is new to me
Thanks for reading, Andrew. I’m really glad it brought something new your way! Schizophrenia is often misunderstood, so I’m always happy to help make it a little clearer. Feel free to reach out if you ever have any questions about it :)
Thank you for this very articulate explanation about schophenia. I agree that it is often misunderstood and others become frightened because of a lack of understanding
Thank you, Dr. Karen. I really appreciate your kind words. Schizophrenia is indeed often misunderstood, and I’m grateful this piece helped shed some light on it. Conversations like these are so important in fostering understanding.
There’s a good book I read by a guy called Ken Dickson who developed psychosis after major surgery. No other history of it. He had more trouble with attitudes than with the condition itself, and recovered despite all the help he received
Excellent myth busting post. The condition seems to be a syndrome (a collection of certain recognisable symptoms) but there is no test in existence yet that shows that a terminal decline in brain function is underway. There is a bit of overlap with some of the symptoms of PTSD, so I’ve often suspected that the symptoms show that the brain has had a shock to its system of some kind. There are so many possible potential causes of problems in normal brain processes. Causes could be anything from a virus or infection, to inflammation after injury or surgery, to an unexpectedly intense reaction to a major life event, or even genetic or congenital factors. But while there is no clinical test for the condition, I feel that it’s unethical to say to someone that they will never recover. It’s possible that they may indeed need to take medication for life, but that is a very different picture than being told that they have an incurable disease. No one has identified a disease yet that specifically causes the symptoms of schizophrenia.
Thank you, Sarah! 😊 It means a lot to me that you think this is a good post. Your reflections are always so insightful. You’re right, schizophrenia is best understood as a syndrome, a collection of symptoms rather than a single disease with one identifiable cause. And the overlap with PTSD is an interesting point. Research does suggest that early life trauma and severe stress can contribute to psychotic symptoms, though, as you highlight, the potential contributing factors are vast.
I also appreciate your emphasis on hope in recovery. While schizophrenia can be a lifelong condition for many, framing it as an untreatable, inevitably degenerative disease only adds to stigma and discourages people from seeking support. There’s so much more nuance to it.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! 💙
Thank you for sharing this deeply personal story, Hillary. It’s clear how much you cared for your brother and how difficult it must have been to navigate those decisions together. It’s understandable that experiences with schizophrenia and its treatment can be complex and deeply individual: what helps one person may not be right for another.
Your perspective on how your brother experienced the world is valuable. Mental health diagnoses can be challenging, especially when different conditions overlap or evolve over time. And I completely agree that trust and respect for a loved one’s choices, even when they’re hard to understand, are powerful acts of love.
I really appreciate you taking the time to share this. It’s an important reminder that behind every diagnosis is a person with their own unique story and perspective :)