A new approch to mental illness [take 2]

Discussion in 'Human Science' started by Quantum Quack, Jul 28, 2013.

  1. Quantum Quack Life's a tease... Valued Senior Member

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    Years ago when first coming to sciforums I posted a thread with the same title [ ex: take 2]
    I wish to post the exact same OP and compare reactions and responses to what occurred approx, 10 years ago [10/2003]
    When re-reading this OP I see no real reason to change anything except possibly some edited points to aid clarification.

    here it is:
    ------------------------------------------------------------
    posted 10/2013

    Hi all,

    The following is an article I wrote sometime ago and I am very interested in any constructive opinion and thought.

    A number of persons suffering Schizophrenia (classical) have read it and attached to the bottom is one response.

    Mental Illness
    A new approach


    Introduction

    When considering the nature of mental illness it is important that we define what it is we are considering.

    Mental illness is a mental condition that prevents the sufferer from participating in life in the way he or she would wish. It is a condition that places the sufferer in a state of dysfunction.

    It is a condition that society wants to protect itself from for it deems the mental state of the sufferer to be precarious, unreal and relatively unpredictable.

    Within the following example of mental aberration I will use the condition notoriously referred to as Schizophrenia.

    Schizophrenia demonstrates the greatest variety and complexities of the aberrant mental state and I intend to suggest a way that will allow us to treat and cure this condition.




    w w w w



    Schizophrenia is about ability, not ordinary ability but extraordinary ability.

    Edit: I am not referring to Paranormal abilities, or anything to do with psychic abilities, mind reading or anything else of that nature. I am referring to an acute sensory capacity.

    At some time in the patient’s life his brain has acquired an ability or abilities that the patient has little to no control over. The ability(s) are acquired intuitively and usually discounted as inconsequential by the patient himself and as delusion or hallucination by the medical profession when he or she is finally admitted to hospital or some form of professional therapy and care.

    The abilities I refer to are of a sensory nature: intuitive sensory abilities of an extraordinary nature. The patient immediately becomes embattled with what he senses as ordinary sensory behavior and that which he himself would consider extraordinary sensory ability.



    Society is telling him that his ability is delusional and yet he knows that it isn’t. His imagination tries to accommodate society and his own experiences, putting himself in a state of self delusion because he is inclined to deny his ability as real because society is saying that this is the case.

    So we have at least two abilities happening. The first is his ability to know what is extraordinary (Aberrant) sensing this and the actual intuitive ability that he has acquired which is also sensed.

    A classic example would be paranoid schizophrenia where by the patient feels a strong sense of conspiracy, that the CIA or the police are watching him or his parents are threatening to kill him etc.

    A normal person is quite capable of sensing conspiracy in fact we are all part of a conspiracy. We are all part of everyone else’s plans. The wife or girlfriend is planning a special dinner. The government is planning to introduce the GST. The guy down the pub is planning to punch him in the nose etc.

    So the patient has developed an ability to sense conspiracy to a depth that would be considered extraordinary. His sense of reality is threatened and he becomes deluded trying to deal with his sensory ability and that which society would consider normal.

    For instance he senses his girlfriend’s plans for dinner and feels threatened because of his fear of his ability to sense this. He behaves badly trying to cope with all the mixed signals that his brain is trying to interpret. He behaves badly and arrives in the hospital in an extreme state of anxiety.

    The premise I am using here is that fear is always real. Not always understood for what it is but very real and valid. The ability to understand and learn from it is the ability that needs to be learned and it is only by achieving understanding and learning that the patient has any chance of recovery.

    To deny the ability is to provoke delusion. To nurture the ability is to free the patient of delusion.

    Funnily enough it is society’s state of delusion as to the nature of Schizophrenia that is actually perpetrating and enforcing a delusion upon the sufferer. Society having the delusion that extraordinary ability doesn’t exist. Which is of course not true as some of our most gifted people exhibit extraordinary ability all of which could be considered intuitive.

    I am suggesting that the patient’s sensory abilities have somehow achieved a greater depth than would be considered normal and like a person studying martial arts the patient must learn sensory discipline and nurture his ability to the level that he is comfortable with.

    I believe that our current approach to Schizophrenia is in fact quite deluded and as you would now understand the patient is also aware of this causing even more grief.

    Medication rejection, hospitalisation rejection etc are all symptoms of our “insane” approach to schizophrenia: the patient being caught between two worlds and not knowing what to believe.

    Sensory ability is essentially reflexive in that until controlled by other governing reflexes the ability continues to exist at all times in a way that is ungoverned and it is only when the ability is governed by learned reflexes that the ability is controlled and the patient’s anxiety and comfort levels return to “normal”

    w w w w

    Conclusion

    What I propose is that the patient be treated as a person who has abilities yet to be governed and not denied.

    That the treating staff attempt to identify what abilities are in play and structure a learning and therapy program that helps the patient in the achievement of comfort by allowing him to achieve the skills and disciplines needed.

    Many programs can be developed that are able to help the patient with the above in mind.

    Open mindedness to what the patient is describing as delusion and treating the description in the light of uncontrolled intuitive ability will achieve significant results.


     
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  3. river

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    Nutrition would be a start , especially with Niacin
     
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  5. river

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    The book I read on NIACIN is called NIACIN The Real Story by

    Abram Hoffer, M.D. Ph.D.

    Andrew W. Saul, Ph.D. And

    Harold D. Foster, Ph.D.

    Good read
     
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  7. Quantum Quack Life's a tease... Valued Senior Member

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    There is no doubt that diet generally is a huge issue for those that are challenged with these sorts of conditions. One of the first things in an afflicted persons life to suffer dysfunction I believe would be diet [especially if living in isolated circumstances]. Being so preoccupied with their sensory inputs means that cooking and food preparation just has no interest I guess and as money eventually becomes scarce due to not being able to earn a living, dietary needs just seem to become a low priority.
    Often one of the major benefits behind hospital admission is to provide a couple of weeks of reasonable dietary intake as part of stabilizing the patient.
    It is interesting you should bring up Niacin and whilst reading this bit from wiki:
    And recalling how cigarettes were like "gold" on the wards I did advocacy work in, I can't help but wonder how patients self medicating with cigarettes [ nicotine ] may have been an intuitive way patients were trying to deal with their condition. [Nicotinic acid - Niacin]

    Another similar observation was when visiting a ward one day I noticed that the cafeteria was lacking in biscuits for the patients to have with their tea or coffee. I left the ward and returned with Dry salted [non-flavored] biscuits rather than the traditional sweet biscuits and noticed how they seemed to disappear in a very short time once put out for the patients to take. [ considerably faster than the sweet biscuits] I tend to feel this is associated with the salt content more than anything else but it was interesting to notice the profound intuitive differences displayed in the patients candid behaviors.
    Not knowing what I am saying with the following but, Salt [Sodium Chloride] for example could be considered as a "stabilizing" or "flat" agent where as sugar could be considered as a "un-stablizing"or "volatile" agent.
    However if I was able to, I would be recommending that sweet biscuits [ cake type] not be provided and dry low salted biscuits be utilized instead.
     
  8. Quantum Quack Life's a tease... Valued Senior Member

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    "To deny the truth of your experience is to destroy the reality of your existence" ~ss 2003
    Suffice to say IMO, "All experiences are true. It is only our understanding of them that may be delusional" ~ absolute statement [ no exceptions]
     
  9. Seattle Valued Senior Member

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    QQ (Matt) were you diagnosed with Schizophrenia before the stroke or after? Have you found it more helpful when society accepts the delusions as part of your reality? Just tell us what we need to do to make your stay more pleasant.
     
  10. Quantum Quack Life's a tease... Valued Senior Member

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    I think other readers can make a comment or two about the relevance and value of your post..I''ll keep my opinion to my self in this instance.


    However can I ask just one thing?

    Do you prefer sweet biscuits or the more savory type with salt?
     
  11. Quantum Quack Life's a tease... Valued Senior Member

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    Whilst it seems pretty obvious to me, may be someone else would like to comment on what you are trying to achieve with your post...maybe a moderator would like to comment?
     
  12. Bells Staff Member

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    24,270
    Come on guys..

    Play nice.

    If you have an issue with a poster from another thread, best to leave it in that thread. Don't make me put on the Mummy voice and send you to your respective corners.
     
  13. HEQ Registered Member

    Messages:
    12
    Interesting approach. My relative was suffering from mental illness and she was pumped with medicine for months. And it helped. Only thing is it sometimes comes back when enduring stress.
     
  14. Lakon Valued Senior Member

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    1,117
    Slightly off topic, and I don't really want to get involved in the thread (though I complement you on it - it looks good), but what are you saying about the above. Niacin is derived from nicotine ?

    I ask because I've heard some interesting things about nicotine here and there.
     
  15. Lakon Valued Senior Member

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    1,117
    You're probably asking this because you need large doses ?
     
  16. wynn ˙ Valued Senior Member

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    15,058
    l e a v e s c i f o r u m s i f y o u r l i f e i s d e a r t o y o u e v e n j u s t a l i t t l e !!
     
  17. Quantum Quack Life's a tease... Valued Senior Member

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    yes as mentioned earlier according to wiki [relatively reliable source] Niacin has it's early days as follows.

    It is also interesting, though maybe not provable, that Niacin may have been one of the first consumables to be considered in a new group of foods called "vitamins".

    I doubt that a case could be raised for contemporary Niacin being related to nicotine... even if it was the politics of the current "anti-smoking" campaigns would kill of any solid association.

    Another thing that maybe worth adding is that observation indicates that those suffering severe and debilitating psychotic states, who are already addicted to Nicotine, can benefit strong stabilization effects once their supply of nicotine via the "therapeutic behavior of actually smoking it" is guaranteed. Possibly if a way could be developed to allow smoking of Niacin instead... hmmmmm...

    Especially for female patients, whereby prostitution for a cigarette(s) is minimized.

    "A padded cell with an exhaust fan comes to mind"

    To me this indicates the severity of and "strongly amplified" dependency on nicotine for some patients. Hence Cigarettes are "gold" in any psych ward and nurses use them when they can, to enhance patient calming effects during times of acute trauma. [Some nurses of course use cigarettes as a reward / punishment regime as well]

    All the above tells me one thing quite clearly , that nicotine has a potential to be realized as a major brain /mood stabilizer, and that if not for it's addictive nature would possibly make an excellent therapeutic drug...

    Perhaps starting thread on the subject of nicotine might prove valuable?
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2013
  18. Quantum Quack Life's a tease... Valued Senior Member

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    hee hee he.....speaks volumes that does...

    Please Register or Log in to view the hidden image!

     
  19. spidergoat pubic diorama Valued Senior Member

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    I don't recall if I responded to the original thread. But my response is that this approach is dangerous and misguided. You don't indulge in someone's schizophrenic fantasies in order to cure them. No one knows exactly what mental illnesses are, but they are almost certainly the result of a dysfunction in the brain's electrochemical mechanisms. Drugs are the primary answer, combined with a kindly atmosphere where underlying psychological problems can also be addressed. Perception is not reality, and the perceptions of the mentally ill, while sometimes acutely sensitive, are mostly confused and disconnected from reality.
     
  20. Lakon Valued Senior Member

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    1,117
    Very interesting. Yes, as I said earlier, I've come across come revealing stuff concerning the benefits of nicotine, particularly with those suffering dementure, Altzheimers (sp ?), etc.

    There was discussion in our parliament recently, about banning smoking in all prisons. Imagine - all those hard core crims, many of them psychotic, being deprived of their nicotime fix - about the only comfort / crutch they would have for their term (oftem life). It would be a disaster.

    That said, wouldn't want anyone to think I'm advocating smoking.

    A nicotine thread ? Would be interesting but I'm having great trouble, time wise, in keeping up with the threads I'm involved with at the moment.
     
  21. Quantum Quack Life's a tease... Valued Senior Member

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    What you have posted is IMO valid and appropriate. You have expressed an opinion that is similar to the opinions of many.
    I seriously disagree however.....whilst the medication regime is ok for a short term "cover up" it is failing the long term needs of Western society and the individuals with in that society terribly....


    http://www.traumaticbraininjury.net/depression-is-it-a-pandemic-in-the-u-s/


    Personally I believe a mixture of "sensory ability training" and medication may be appropriate.

    There is one sensory ability/discipline that stands out to me as a serious candidate for training. That is the ability to "sample" what you sense before on loading sensory information. This ability is reinforced in children as a normal part of learning.
    Examples:
    Test the temperature of a liquid before taking a mouthful. Test the temperature of a heater glass before touching it... test the smell of a container before breathing in too deeply etc...
    Learning to self regulate sensory information intake, is one of the most important abilities we have. IMO

    Another:
    Most people when they walk past rotting garbage can "block" or "filter" their ability to smell that garbage too strongly [by way of intuitive sampling]. This avoids serious effects like vomiting and loss of mental emotional coherence. Most do this as a part of automatic/deliberate function [like breathing] that they think very little about, almost intuitive. I would suggest that if research was carried out, those suffering Paranoid Schizophrenia and possibly other psycho tropic disorders will be found to be deficient in this area and retraining and re-enforcing this skill may prove rather enabling.

    Rebuilding the "think before you act" aspect of normal behavior.
    Similar to the ability you and other posters are employing after reading the above.. regarding whether to post a response or not, and what to respond with.
     
    Last edited: Oct 25, 2013
  22. Quantum Quack Life's a tease... Valued Senior Member

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    @Larkon
    and the most insane thing is, the incidence of cardio-vascular and lung disease morbidity has continued to grow despite the anti smoking campaigns "apparent" success...as so has the reduction of salt and fat in food diets seemingly led to a "pandemic" of obesity in children and adults.
    "We didn't have a problem with obesity until they started to take the fat out of milk"
    "The quickest and best way to kill a life long smoker is to get him all stressed out over his addiction to nicotine"
    "The best way to seriously traumatize children of those smoker parents is to print horrific images on cigarette packages and produce gory advertisements showing graphic images of parents dying "
    The above irony is due to the very real possibility that most cases of conditions [cardio-vascular/lung disease/obesity] are fundamentally psycho -somatic in nature. But rather than relieve the psycho-somatic causation for emotional stress we have chosen to modify our consumption instead. [leading to even more emotional stresses in most cases]

    ~ unqualified opinion only
     
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2013
  23. Lakon Valued Senior Member

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    .. and did you see the thing on ABC's 'Catalyst' program last night ? The evils of saturated fats are no longer. The virtues of polyansaturated fats are now evils ..

    Stop me .. everything you say above is so true, so resonant, I could spend weeks on it.
     

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