Category: relapse

Blurred Voices (Schizophrenia)

angelagrey

The above picture is the best glimpse that I can give you as to what schizophrenia is like for me. My son and his girlfriend had to move in with us for a short time until they can get an apartment they like. So they are living in my basement which is difficult because she is like a stranger to me. And that sets off my positive and negative symptoms. When she touches my things or rearranges stuff then I can see voices and there are so many it is like a crowd of people around me all clamoring for attention. Hopefully, they will only be here for a few more days instead of the month that they asked for earlier.

Relapse

angiegrey

One surefire way to go into relapse is not taking medications. Why or how would that occur? Degree of insight into the illness, disorganized thinking (forgetfulness of a complex meds regimen), prescription costs, negative side effects, or stigma towards taking anti-psychotics. For the longest time I thought that I was in control of my problem and that nothing really was wrong: I wrote the symptoms off as other things (PTSD or anxiety). Then I took meds for another more acceptable problem (depression). I shouldn’t have hidden my symptoms for so long; but I was afraid.

What are other possible reasons for a possible relapse? Susceptibility to stressful interpersonal conflicts, adherence to the complex meds schedule, or discouragement are but a few. My family knows to watch for the signs of relapse: withdrawal from social situations, changes in sleep patterns or eating habits, staying focused, controlling behavior, being obsessive or compulsive, fear of common things or places, strange or risky behaviors, feeling targeted, or definitely seeing or hearing things that aren’t there.

It is difficult enough with all the possibilities of relapse; but the one we shouldn’t have to worry about is stigma. Myths and misperceptions are preventable.People with schizophrenia aren’t serial killers or don’t have split personalities. Shame, humiliation, and/or isolation need not be another things that people with schizophrenia need to cope with in addition to all the other reasons for relapse.