A Troubled Childhood
I started out as a very troubled child. I had many problems and brushes with the law because of it. I was constantly battling my parents because I thought I…
Schizophrenia
Living with Schizoaffective Disorder, Part 2
The Heebee-Jeebies Be careful when you wrestle with monsters, lest you thereby become one. For, if you stare long enough into the abyss, the abyss also stares into you. —…
Demons in the Age of Light: A Memoir of Psychosis and Recovery
From the very first paragraph of Whitney Robinson’s first book, Demons in the Age of Light: A Memoir of Psychosis and Recovery, her way with words is not only apparent,…
Resources for Extraordinary Healing: Schizophrenia, Bipolar and Other Serious Mental Illnesses
Though uneven, Resources for Extraordinary Healing: Schizophrenia, Bipolar and Other Serious Mental Illnesses by Emma Bragdon nevertheless offers some fascinating insights into mental wellness from a perspective not normally considered…
Antipsychotic Medications
Medications for Schizophrenia and Psychotic Disorders A person who is psychotic is out of touch with reality. People with psychosis may hear “voices” or have strange and illogical ideas (for…
Living with Schizoaffective Disorder, Part 3
If You Think You’re Mentally Ill If you feel you may be suffering from a mental illness, or could be in danger of doing so, I urge you in the…
After Schizophrenia
I was not sure what to expect when I first opened Margaret Hawkins’ After Schizophrenia. Memoirs about people suffering from mental illness are quite common these days and I was…
Art Therapy: Beneficial Schizophrenia Treatment?
Recent findings question the popular use of art therapy for people with schizophrenia. Schizophrenia affects up to one in a hundred people at some point and can cause hallucinations, delusions,…
The Differences Between Bipolar Disorder, Schizophrenia and Multiple Personality Disorder
Sometimes people confuse three mental disorders, only one of which could be referred to as “common” within the population — bipolar disorder (also known as manic-depression), schizophrenia, and multiple personality…
Illuminating 13 Myths of Schizophrenia
It’s safe to say that no mental disorder is more shrouded in mystery, misunderstanding and fear than schizophrenia. “The modern-day equivalent of leprosy” is how renowned research psychiatrist E. Fuller…
What a Life Can Be
In “What a Life Can Be: One Therapist’s Take on Schizo-Affective Disorder,” Carolyn Dobbins, PhD offers an insightful look into the evolution of a successful mental health professional with a challenging…
Betrayal & Hearing Voices
Note: This story is based on what actually happened in one instance of psychotherapy. Names and details have been changed to protect identities. It was 25 years ago. I was…
All About Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia occurs in about 1 percent of the general U.S. population. That means that more than 3 million Americans suffer from the illness. The disorder manifests itself in a broad…
Pregnancy and Psychotropic Medications
Pregnancy can be a challenging time for women with long-term mental disorders. While mental illness is common among women of childbearing age, it can bring increased difficulties and risks during…
The Memory Palace: A Memoir
We children of schizophrenics are the great secret-keepers, the ones who don’t want you to think anything is wrong (p. 5). Author Mira Bartok has encapsulated in this statement her…