How a Schizophrenic Mind Works
90
I have always said that schizophrenics are the most honest people you will meet. They are one of the only groups of people who give you the truth as they see it. It is a little contradictory of a statement, I know, as most of the time, the things that schizophrenics say aren't true to normal people. However, to the schizophrenic, it is very true.
Let's take a look inside the world of a schizophrenic.
Definition: Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness characterized by incoherent or illogical thoughts, bizarre behavior and speech, and delusions or hallucinations, such as hearing voices. Schizophrenia typically begins in early adulthood.
Schizophrenia in the News
- Creative minds 'mimic schizophrenia'
Creativity is akin to insanity, say scientists who have been studying how the mind works. - Sexual Assault Increases Risk for Psychosis and Schizophrenia
New research shows that a history of sexual trauma or rape may increase risk for schizophrenia or psychosis even years after the assault. - Brain patterns may show mental illness risk
British scientists believe they have found specific patterns of brain activity in children and young people which could be signs or 'markers' of schizophrenia.
Experience Schizophrenia
Inside a Psychiatric Facility
I have said before that I used to work on the wards with schizophrenics in our State Hospital. The hospital was designed mostly for the criminally insane. What that means is that these people were convicted of a crime but were deemed incompetent to stand trial. I met some very interesting people while working in the State Hospital. It was actually my dream job, too bad I don't work there now.
Schizophrenics tend to see things and hear things that are not there. They have voices that command them to do things and delusions that make them paranoid. While in training to work for the hospital, I remember doing an exercise that put you right into the heads of a schizophrenic. Everyone in the room had to take on a role. My role was to put on a headset and listen to the tape player. I had to do everything it told me to do. Other people in the class were making conversations with the plants and picking up blue men off the floor. The exercise was a pandemonium of chaos for the next thirty minutes. While it was fun, I got a glimpse into what it was like to be schizophrenic, at least simulated version, I can't imagine what it is really like for these people.
Check out the video on the right to do an exercise similar to the one I had. Turn up the sound to hear the whispers. It is a little creepy, but remember, you can turn it off anytime you want.
Stories About Real Schizophrenics
One woman I worked for would wake up every day and accuse me of stealing her bras. She said that I was stealing her undergarments and hiding them so that she would not be able to wear them. No matter how much I explained that this is not what happened, she would not believe it.
Another woman would get up in the middle of the night (I worked the overnight shift) and say that there was something under her bed, tapping and shaking the bed. I would go with a flashlight to check, except there was no under the bed for this thing to be under. The beds are made of blocks of wood, resting on the floor and topped with a mattress. She also smelled gyros at 2am and wanted to ride a pony through the wards.
A man I met in the ward ate an entire bible - his colon got stopped up and he had to have surgery. He ate the Bible because he thought that he had to have God inside of him to make him live. He also did not shower except when the sensors in his hands told him it was okay to do so.
There was another man who had schizophrenia, dementia, and HIV - he was like a record on repeat every morning. He said the exact same thing, at the exact same time every morning. Same mannerisms, same words, same facial expressions. "Your mama don't dance and your daddy don't rock and roll." And he would shake his hips at me. He would swivel them around and say, "I'm just a sweet transvestite." from Rocky Horror Picture Show.
The Sad Stigma of Schizophrenia
There is a stigma about schizophrenics, like most people with mental illnesses. These people are just different from us. In most cases, they are not going to harm anyone. There are times when they will. They need treatment and they need therapy - all of which can be available to them. Just because the media links schizophrenia to criminal violence - does not make it true, but it does perpetuate the stereotype and stigma associated with this disease.
A lot of times society is living in its own state of schizophrenia when it comes to these people. These people are suffering a disease that steals their brain and tends to take control of their thoughts and belief systems. Though their speech and behavior can be frightening and confusing to on-lookers, it is a good bet that these people are more frightened of you than you are of them.
They are withdrawn and scared, with little to no human contact, because they are afraid of what they will do or what someone will do to them. Its not a comforting life to live, its a life of paranoia and hallucinations. Always thinking someone is out to get you, thinking you have to do things in order for other things to happen. Having voices from inside your head telling you that you are worthless. This is not the kind of life I would like to live.
Next time you see a schizophrenic on the tv - in movies or television series - make sure what you are watching is based in fact. There is already too much misinformation out there. These people already go through enough without having half-truths and lies representing them.
vote upvote downshareprintflag
- Useful (6)
- Funny
- Awesome (2)
- Beautiful (1)
- Interesting (2)
CommentsLoading...
Thanks for reading Shannon, I am glad you enjoyed it.
What is really sad is that funds to help people like this are always among the first things cut when the State has budget problems.
Its true. In fact, while researching the information on this, I found out the State Hospital I was working at are closing down two of their wards and sending the patients to private facilities or releasing them.
What a open, honest and touching view of schizophrenia. It is such a misunderstood illness. I lost a dear friend to suicide, who just could not tolerate the voices any longer. It is a shame that mental health funding is always the first to go. Excellent eye opening hub.
crazybeanrider - I am glad you liked the hub. I have found such a passion for schizophrenics and the struggle they go through. It always saddens me when the funding causes these people to be treated like second class citizens. Thanks for reading!
My ex boyfriend was schizophrenic, and he tried to choke me to death because "the devil told him to". My friend's dad is schizophrenic, and he is the nicest, most gentle man I have ever met. Because I have had 2 completely opposite experiences with schizophrenic people, I can understand why some people are scared of them. However, they deserve a chance. I can't imagine going through what they deal with on a daily basis.
I'm sorry to hear about your bad experience Sunnyglitter. I understand why you might be fearful of them, I have to wonder if your ex-boyfriend was not on medication. Usually medication can regulate the hallucinations. Thanks for reading, Sunny, I appreciate your reading. :)
My grandmother, who is 93 years old, is schizophrenic and it is sad for me to visit her when she thinks I am there to "get her in trouble" or hurt her. Thanks for this article, it helps me understand a lot better what she is going through.
xnotion - I am sorry about your grandmother. I am glad this article could help you. Hopefully you will find some comfort in being able to better understand her plight. :)
Thanks for your most informative and much needed hub. Schizophrenia proably has the most negative stigma of all the mental illnesses. It is a heartbreaking disorder. But I have met a few people with this disorder who are fairly high functioning. I rememer one patient at the hospital, a 19 year old, very nice looking boy. He was a tad on the quiet side, but one night in group he said the voices had quieted down that day. I realized he was schizophrenic. I was very sad. I pray that he has found a quality and productive life with good care. People are very frightened of people with schizophrenia. Your article helps dispel some of the myths. Thanks for your hub. Great Job!
lambservant - I am glad that you enjoyed this hub. I have a very high passion for all mentally ill, but a sort of soft spot for schizophrenia. I worked with many patients with the illness and they have all touched my life in ways that no 'normal' person could. I appreciate your comments and thoughts!
Excellent, excellent article. I voted it 'up'. Thanks for sharing. I read your profile and had to smile when I read that you love schizophrenics. How many times have I said that to my friends and family, I cannot even count. It is interesting that, as a psych nurse, I know when there is such 'fakeness' coming across from someone who allegedly is experiencing auditory and/or visual hallucinations in comparison to admitting a 'true' schizophrenic. I much prefer to be in the company of the schizophrenics at times. What does that say about me? I have alot of compassion for people with mental illness and a low tolerance for those who take advantage of the system. I find that many schizophrenics have an element of truth telling that other people do not have. I wonder why that is.
Great job. Thanks.
Denise - again, I am so glad to see you enjoyed this hub. We seem to have similar interests! I am encouraged to find people like you, it gives me hope for our world. :)
Ditto :)
Great job! Very insightful.
I have acute schizophrenia and i can tell you, its the most stupid of all hells you can imagine. Some strange part of my brain doesnt understand what goes on and has power to tell me stuff. Problem, gigantic problem is that its all wrong, and even worse, its sometimes right, so u have to analise the retarded stuff. Biggest problem i have is not voices despite the fact i wanted to kill myself cuz i couldnt stand them. Biggest problem is that my entire body and movement went from great to terrible cuz of the torture in my brain. Im affraid schizophrenia made me invalid, fat and ugly. One and only good thing about schizophrenia is in the end, you are absolutly sure there is no God, so it makes u the strongest atheist in universe. So u get to have a best laugh in world at - God, even if you were atheist like me.
My 24 year old son was diagnosed Schizophrenic at the age of 18. Being on the outside looking in, I see him as "special" to God. The tormenting voices try their best to turn him away from God, but my son keeps holding on to faith. Without his faith, I believe he torment would be much worse.
My mother was diagnosed with schizophrenia when I was nine - there is no greater hell than having a mother with this illness. Realising as I reached adulthood what hell my father had to deal with while I was younger, though, has taught me to run as fast as possible from anyone with even a HINT of that illness lest I fall in love and marry them. She refuses to shower for over half a year, thus stinking up the entire house; when younger, we would waste entire evenings and wekends trying in vain to convince her that her mother in law did not break her shoes (they were just old); hearing wild stories from her the one time I invited a friend over about her having octuplets, seven of whom died and 'you, my son, were the one who survived....'
After several years overseas, running away from her and her illness, I now live back with my parents to at least give Dad a hand around the house when need be. And when she walks into the living room after a day of chain smoking and six-month old body odour on her, I hold my breath until she passes through, or I cover my mouth and nose with a towel or my t-shirt. Yes, she must be suffering and all that, and I feel terrible for her, but that illness of hers stole much of what could have been a normal childhood from me, and now a significant portion of twenties.
Dave, thanks so much for your comment on this hub. I appreciate you sharing such a personal story with me. I am so sorry that you have to deal with this and I hope you can get your mother some help in the near future, though I do know how hard that can be and overwhelming it can be to start! I wish you and your family only the best and I hope that things will start looking up for you all. :)
Thanks for writing this hub on schizophrenia. I have a friend who is a nurse in a mental ward and she often shares stories about her patients. It makes me a sad. These people go through so much already without all the prejudices. Rated up and interesting.
your opions seem to be sympothetic for people like me that live day in and day out with this disease. Thank you for your kind thoughts. Maybe, if more people thought of us the way you do the world would be better for us. Thanks again.
amymarie- thank you so much for your comments. I appreciate your reading!
cathysue - I am sorry that you have struggled with your disease and of course the stigma that society has stuck you with in the process. I am so glad that I could give you a little hope that there are people out there that have nothing but love for you and your disease. :)
I had a friend who had this condition. He heard voices and wondered if I did too. They were friendly voices who gave him encouragement and unconditional friendship, something that everyone craves. So, who is to say that his way isn't the right way? Certainly not any of you. Do you talk to God? Do you wish upon a star? What's the difference. This is a serious question so I hope you will give a serious answer.
I am schizophrenic and God keeps harassing me. God is evil and a liar. He truly is a liar.
I was diagnosed with shizophrenia roughly two years ago. The hardest part for me was the stigma asociated with my new found label, thank you for bringing awareness to others and looking at the "dis ease" in a different light.
Thankfully I was able cope with the symptoms on my own and improve. I believe if caught at the right time and handled properly this disease could actualy be benefical to those diagnosed as well as humanity as a whole. In some cases medication is needed but not as a first responce, the way we throw a pill at everything these days is troubling to me.
For me my first encounter was scary as hell, but a blessing. It is like when you are a child and first found out the easter bunny was not real. I feel woken up to reality, not losing touch with it more and more everyday. We currently believe schizophrenia is an incurable disease of ther brain that will only worsen over time., with that aproach it will become a self fulfilling prophesy. Same song and dance with no progress at all.
Most of the "schizophrenic" people I have came in contact with, are among the most loving empathetic people I have ever met. The main stream media presents the most atrocious acts of humanity to us daily, we are bombared with it. Then they pushe medication for anxiety and depression to us through commercials, that is insane.
I just stumbled on this hub again and thought I would make a few more comments based on some study and experiences I have had. Statistics say that people with mental illness, schizophrenia included, are often less likely to be violent than the general population.
I am around schizophrenic patients a lot. They are harmless most of the time and I often see them smurking or chuckling at something that is going on inside. I always am tempted to ask them to share.
That being said, every once in a blue moon I see a very hostile patient and it is very scary. Then, I got to know one woman with schizoaffective disorder and when the voices got to be too much, she would scream and bang her head against the wall. I felt so bad for her. So they gave her a portable cd player to carry around with ear things in it. It helped her a great deal and it was pretty simple tool to help her. I thank you again for advocating for these dear people by writing it about it in your hub.
@michael - I am sorry if you took this hub and its comments to be negative. It is certainly not supposed to be and it seems that all the comments have been generally very positive. Thanks for reading though, I hope your friend is doing well.
@rerednaw - Thanks so much for reading. I love hearing personal stories from my readers and yours is no exception. Thanks so much for opening up and allowing others a peek into your world.
@lambservant - Thanks so much for coming back! I enjoy your stories as well, they are always so interesting to read and they remind me of the days when I worked with schizophrenics. Those individuals were the most interesting and genuine people I have ever met.
This helped me a lot thank you. My dad's mother was a paranoid schizophrenic and my my father was never diagnosised with it but was deemed 100% diabled upon retiring from the military. Mostly because of his mental problems which they assumed were because of his time served. Little do they know how he has acted since ive known him. I have been on meds for depression, but i have never been completely honest with anyone especially doctors what i go through every day. It got worse the past year and i have have turned into a recluse and wear headphones everywhere even the grocery store. I was finally honest with my bf who is the first person in my whole life i have ever been completely comfortable with and actually feel like i can trust so i told him and i told my mom some of it. I left out the voices with my mom bc the weird things ive been paranoid about and at such a young age i could tell scared her. I do want to go to a therapist and see if i can get on medications to help it though. My boyfriend recently started living with me and i still get paranoid about stuff but when he goes with me to the store and stuff it really helps i dont even wear headphones. This really helped give me that extra push to go i just dont want to be institutionalized. I also hope it doesnt get progressively worse because i dont want to put my boyfriend through that.
@sally - I am so glad my hub could help you. I love hearing personal stories and it heartens me to know that I could help you in some way. I really suggest you find a good therapist that you can trust and talk to them. They don't have to institutionalize you, there are so many other things that they can do for you - medication being one of the first things. I hope you will get the help you need so that you can live a productive and wonderful life. It sounds very much like you deserve to. :)
Shannonwrites 22 months ago
Great article- thanks for your perspective on the topic!