Schizophrenia - has your real world fallen apart?

In schizophrenia , it seems, you mostly live life from within, and project out what is happening within. And, seemingly, there is a foul up in the the neural interconnections such that their neurophysiology operates askew. The schizophrenic can taste, smell, feel, hear and see, for real. And, they receive additional such false sensations from within. To perceive a sensory stimulus not based on a real physical stimulus, is known as a hallucination. In schizophrenia the wrong data input to the mind puts together a wrong interpretation of what is happening in the real world, you get what is called a delusion. And, the schizophrenic's affect may seem blunted, or inappropriate to the situation, or, like Mona Lisa's smile, may seem ambivalent. The affect may be more closely allied to a self absorbent mind set, than to the external situation, to which there may be reduced attentiveness. And, erratic sensory perception is not the entire basis for delusions, the condition carries with it that illogical and loose idea associations are held. The errant thinking will tend to have a recurring syllogistic theme.

It is not the intent here to be exhaustive in the description of the illness. Be it noted, though, the name, schizophrenia, means a split mind, and we are not here making reference to some one with two or more personalities. But, experience shows that there are many more splits than that of a single mind. More commonly the illness creates a number of schisms and chasms.

Now, I have forgotten who the author is, but, the truism - "As a man thinketh, so is he" - relates to our theme. Consider that a man has come to a belief, and that belief is based on a delusion, but, since it is not recognized as a false belief, then, if the belief imputes that someone intends harm, and if a pre-emptive strike by the deluded is more than a remote probability, then, is forced medical intervention justifiable.

This situation pits the needs of society against the individual; it pits the will of various family members against each other; it pits the patients will against the doctor. The difference of taking a medication from within a benevalent trust, or having it forced on you, as by knife or gun point, is like a big chasm.

As presented, the above story of schizophrenia is like that of Humpety Dumpety, who broke into many pieces by falling off of a wall, and all the kings horses and men could not put him back together. But, I have garnered material from the Manitoba Schizophrenia Society's newsletter - "Reasons for Hope"- that paints a much rosier picture than the above. Our source will provide 'Some Everyday Tips for Living with Schizophrenia and Psychosis, and, I have connected with two individuals willing to offer their vignettes of courage and hope.