Have you recovered from Chronic Schizophrenia?

Cheers Tooley Parrot.

It's great to see your prepared to educate yourself. Being a meal ticket for a shrink will get you no where.

Lat.

Psychiarty helps many many many people.
Finding the right doctor however sometimes is the hard part.

Hi Latitudinarian

Cheers for the links and stuff - you sound like an interesting guy. I was never actually told I suffered from Schizophrenia (my Psych, turns out, is somewhat anti Psych himself) but I had quite a long "psychotic episode" for a year aged 19 and another a year ago (smoked too much dope, started having "delusional" beliefs and hallucinations). Anyway, between the episodes I was feeling REALLY well, better than I had ever felt. I was feeling super-confident - it was really like a natural high. Like breaking through to the other side, or something.

I've sort of recovered from the second now (apart from the odd panic attack that seems to be related to my medication) but I know my psych is somewhat concerned about my "delusional beliefs": i.e. my belief that there was somesort of reality or sense behind what I have experienced, and my belief that this was not necessarily bad or "abnormal". It's somewhat of a Joseph Heller novel: admit to the fact that you suffer from this evil condition called schizophrenia and by default have it - deny it and that in itself is deemed proof that you not only have it, but are having a fool-blown positive episode with delusional beliefs (or "not feeling particularily well at the moment") as my psych puts it. It's a slippery, slidy rope down.

What are your views on anti-psychotic medication? Do you think they have a long-term or even short-term use? Would also be interested if you know of anything out there about adverse effects of these drugs (not only in a pathological sense, but also from the Jungian point of view that they might be hindering something that needs to be experienced).

Cheers

bob68

Hi bob68,

I'm real busy at present but I'm thinking about a response to you. I have to go away for a few days (holiday) but I will do a detailed response when I'm back. I just thought I would supply this link as it contains valuable information, I hope you read it.

Unethical Psychiatrists Misrepresent What is Known About Schizophrenia

http://www.webcom.com/thrive/schizo/articles/ehss.html

Cheers
Lat.

Lat I've red the article, but exactly what is the point that you want to demonstrate? Is it that schizophrenia does not exist? Some schizophrenic people do indeed recover; if you are among those people and you don't have it anymore, that doesn't mean that schizophrenia does not exist.

Hello somebody,

If you read the top of my last post you will see it's addressed to bob68, not you. It is quite clear to me your views are extreme pro psychiatry. I do not see what discussing psychiatry with you will achieve. I post on this forum because not everyone shares your views. There have been quite a few that like to get both sides of the argument and make up their own minds. If this were a healthy forum, all views would be welcome.

I cannot assist you if do not understand the information contained in the link.

If there is going to be bickering between members and guests on the site I will close this thread.

Hi bob68,

Heres a link to the Foucault Tribunal. Psychiatry was put on trial in 1998 and if you check out this site you will see the verdict. Their was some very prominent people on the jury. Definately worth a look.

http://www.foucault.de/

The Foucault Tribunal on the State of Psychiatry

1. The aim of the tribunal is an offensive against forced institutionalization and treatment and the currently accepted medical term for madness which results in persons being stripped of their self-determination and the very essence of their dignity by medical academicians who have their own particular view on society and who persue pecuniary interests in the excercise of their profession. The justice system works hand in hand as an accomplice to these academicians and acts as a legalizing body. As a result, psychiatry is the one large domain in society which is excluded from all social controls, to which every executive power in a democratic constitutional state is normally subject.

Psychiatry is after all not a penal institution, but nevertheless open to the arbitrariness of doctors with such uncivilized powers at their disposal such as physical punishment (e.g. being strapped to a bed) and the use of personality-changing drugs. All this is diametrically opposed to the freedom-creating functions of a modern democratic state.

Against this background a new concept for madness should be found to oppose this situation and which comes to terms with Foucault's interpretation of madness.

More http://www.foucault.de/description.htm

The point I am trying to make bob68 is that you have a birthright to believe anything you want. Any belief system is legitimate. Unfortunately we have psychiatry in our lives, this mechanism of power deems we must all adhere to consensus reality.

Have you read any Thomas Szasz? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Szasz
He is probably the most respected Professor of Psychiatry in the world (outside the USA) and he wrote the book "The Myth of Mental Illness". Definately worth a read.

I hope you don't think I am skirting your questions, I am trying to get to a point.

Lat, I respect your opinion, but I think that I can also state mine.
If you want to make sure that people that disagree with your opinions will not respond to your posts, you can use the messanger and mail the people that you want to listen to your ideas.

Hi somebody,

Thanks for your advice.

When I get replies such as this........

Tooley parrot wrote:Hi Lat, I must say that i found your link interesting. It certainly is making me think. Ive not had a psychotic episode for almost three years now. it was good to read something alternative and shall give it some serious consideration. Take care and all the best for 2005 regards tooley parrot

........it makes posting on this forum (including the flack I get) worthwhile.