tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894514913516471357.post4354617813899565740..comments2023-07-13T05:01:01.343-07:00Comments on Holistic Recovery from Schizophrenia: Cold turkeyAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06700295858497275586noreply@blogger.comBlogger7125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894514913516471357.post-91388161419551221242010-04-19T06:28:07.150-07:002010-04-19T06:28:07.150-07:00Seven days may not have been enough time lapsed to...Seven days may not have been enough time lapsed to produce significant withdrawl symptoms. I wouldn't take this as a sign that he can quickly eliminate the neuoleptics and not experience tardive psychosis. Some individuals, during the prodromal stage before full blown psychosis, can conceal their onset quite well. <br /><br />My advice to anyone getting off neuroleptic drugs is to taper the dose over a period of several months until it is withdrawn. Even at that there will be psychosomatic concerns following. Depending on the drugs taken and the overall mental and emotional state of the individual one may also experience apathy, depression, suicidal ideologue, etc. even after the drugs are successfully withdrawn without reverting to a psychotic state. I suggest that this is the most critical time to have an effective and intensive program of psychotherapy in place.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894514913516471357.post-30699666781204539332010-04-17T01:40:13.487-07:002010-04-17T01:40:13.487-07:00Btw: Sometimes I had to virtually cling to my duve...Btw: Sometimes I had to virtually cling to my duvet, and additionally make use of the "coping strategy" that is to reel off my cats', dog's and horses names, over and over again, in order to not instantly jump out of bed again (it's called "catatonic excitement", and it's nasty, really nasty, contrary to "stupor"). I later found out that there is such a thing as weight blankets. How I wish, I had had one at the time, pinning me down to the mattress.Marianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16273435151682585281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894514913516471357.post-38133355949174095872010-04-17T01:24:25.236-07:002010-04-17T01:24:25.236-07:00A lot of people do /have done that successfully, u...A lot of people do /have done that successfully, using drugs occasionally/periodically. <a href="http://www.madnessradio.net/madness-radio-2007-09-12-patricia-deegan-personal-medicine" rel="nofollow">Pat Deegan</a> for instance. And in fact, looking at the research, crisis-related short-term use is the only one proven to have an effect. From personal experience I'd say it's because they can provide a good night's sleep. I used to crawl in, at least trying to get a nap, each time things simply got too "weird". It worked wonders. The only problem is that these drugs interfere with REM-sleep. So it's probably better, if you can get some sleep without them.<br /><br />It doesn't sound like Chris' "doctors" would be too thrilled about the idea to use drugs occasionally, crisis-related, though. So the question is whether he maybe should try it on his own, without their approval (without asking for permission, ha!). Of course, it would require him to bring up a certain amount of self-discipline. He would have to be completely honest with himself, and accept whenever he felt that things threaten to get out of control. It's no use to wait until they <i>are</i> out of control, because you hope crisis will wear off by itself. People often go into that trap, because they feel it would be a personal defeat, a sign of weakness, having to take as much as one pill. Bs. Not accepting a situation as it is is rash, and it's much more a sign of "weakness" if you're too proud to admit that you need help.Marianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16273435151682585281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894514913516471357.post-18873504288671675522010-04-16T23:57:57.741-07:002010-04-16T23:57:57.741-07:00I have challenged the doctors in the past on the t...I have challenged the doctors in the past on the two meds being "better" than one argument, but not this set of doctors. (Chris's psychotherapiest knows my complaint.) The person I risk being in disfavor with is my husband, who does not hold the same dim opinions of the meds that I do. Chris did not seem to be experiencing withdrawal symptoms, which is kind of weird, because you would think that after being off them seven days (he now says seven) it should be noticeable that something's going on. You would think he would be vomiting, or having headaches, or something. The odd thing about him is that he does not have a co-addiction, or whatever they call it. He didn't smoke at all or drink excessively. I would like to get some kind of all-round agreement that should Chris get off the drugs, and should he later relapse, that at most the drugs will be maintained for a short time and then he is off them again. It seems so logical to me to only use them in a crisis period if otherwise "needed."Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06700295858497275586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894514913516471357.post-68021605173422158812010-04-16T10:26:17.103-07:002010-04-16T10:26:17.103-07:00Have you ever tried to ask these "doctors&quo...Have you ever tried to ask these "doctors" (sorry, I just <i>have to</i> use quotation marks here) to show you the scientific evidence that supports two or more neuroleotics to work better than one? Or the scientific evidence that supports long-term use of neuroleptics to have any benefits? On the other hand, you risk to get into disfavour with them, since there is none.<br /><br />Did Chris experience any withdrawal symptoms? It happens, though very rarely, that people are able to cold turkey psych drugs without experiencing major withdrawal symptoms. I'd certainly not recommend this method to anyone! It's simply not worth it. Most people who cold turkey end up in the hospital again. But now that he has done it, and if he's all right... All he'd have to do is go back on immediately as soon as he experiences anything "unusual".Marianhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16273435151682585281noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894514913516471357.post-78257585552943654962010-04-16T09:41:15.673-07:002010-04-16T09:41:15.673-07:00I don't know how to tweet. I don't underst...I don't know how to tweet. I don't understand tweeting. Next week I am going to take this up with a colleague who knows how to tweet, so hopefully I'll be tweeting soon. Thanks for your confidence!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06700295858497275586noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2894514913516471357.post-80219525745425896412010-04-16T09:05:51.673-07:002010-04-16T09:05:51.673-07:00I had to tweet this to others, cause it is so insp...I had to tweet this to others, cause it is so inspiring!! <br /><br />When will you start tweeting? I'm asking our twitter followers to encourage you to tweet so they read your blogs and pass it on. <br /><br />1 minute ago via web<br />April 16 2010<br />"Will anybdy else pls encourage her to tweet We suggested but not doing it so we post: Holistic Recovery Schizophrenia http://bit.ly/dCJ1Es "International Schizophrenia Foundationhttp://www.isfmentalhealth.orgnoreply@blogger.com