Teach Them to be Self Aware

 Teach them to be self aware

Schizophrenia Bulletin, Volume 39, Issue 3, Published 01 November 2012

https://doi.org/10.1093/schbul/sbs126

Several Schizophrenics think that their voices and delusions are true. I have been on my medications for years now, and even I have to tell myself that I am not that popular. You probably think that sounds simple enough. If I don’t do that I do my best to ignore them. 

I believe that most schizophrenics do hear positive voices in their head. I thought I could hear the voice of God, and it was God who told me to refer myself to mental health at Fort Irwin California. I also thought it was a voice of God who told me that I will get the help I needed in my second stay in the psyche ward. Believe it or not I think it was that voice that helped me to be self aware to question what I was feeling or in some cases ask if something was really going on.

I sometimes hear negative voices too. They can be insulting and they can tell me to kill myself. This is part of the struggle. It something I don’t like to talk about. When I hear these voices I do my best to stimulate my brain and be active or I try to ignore them. 

The realization that what is going on in your head isn’t really going on is a tough pill to swallow. For a doctor to tell a patient to be self aware or to tell them that the voices aren’t real can be taken wrong. So waiting is important. Wait until the medication takes hold and even the patient will wonder why have the voices and delusions have subsided. I felt like I received an epiphany when this happened to me. It was cathartic. 

I am sure doctors and other people in the mental health field struggle with this. I never had a person in the mental health field tell me to question what was going on inside my own head until later on in my recovery. I never had anyone for that matter tell me that my delusions weren’t real. 

I think if a doctor told me it. I probably wouldn’t believe it. Maybe there should be better “bedside manner” I respect doctors but maybe instead of putting themselves on a higher level which maybe they deserve, they should be a friend or maybe a neighbor. 

How can doctors do this? You might be asking. 

Maybe they should start a meeting by talking about what movie they just saw. Talk about the last football game they just saw on tv. If they don’t like sports talk about their kids rather it is a nephew or a niece. They may not want to go into talking about the holidays, because even people without a mental illness can feel lonely or depressed during these times. In conclusion, build a relationship. Show some sensitivity. 

I have had some doctors (don’t want to mention any names) that I felt the less I say the better I am. This will not help the patient or the doctor. There are some doctors who feel numb to the mental health field. They may even feel that it is all the patients fault. I ask all doctors and staff of the mental health field don’t give up, speaking for the mental health consumer, we need you to be optimistic. Maybe tell the patient you are optimistic or try your hardest to be positive. 

I have to plead ignorance on this one, but I don’t think you have seen it all. 

You may have heard about peer counseling. This is a good program. Some of you in the field know that we do get better. The patients who have maintained their stability and stayed on their medication for a couple of months should be invited back to the psyche ward. This would help the patient who have stayed on their meds because it will show them how far they have come. This would help the patient who is actually in the psyche ward because it is an equal. 

The stable schizophrenic can go into their past delusions as long as it isn’t stressful. Both schizophrenics may find some things in comman. Both would experience hope whether it is seeing where they can go or how far they have gone. Imagine inspiring a mental health patient into going into the field of public service. 

Questions to ask and statements by the newly formed schizophrenic citizen as a peer counselor or public servant:

“What medication do you take?” 

“How long have you been in here?” 

“Do you know it does get better?” 

“Do you write in a journal? You should start.” 

“How’d you sleep?” 

“Who’s your doctor?” 

“Everyone falls; it is rather or not you can pick yourself back up again.” 

“You know you will have to stay on your meds.”

“No one is after you; you are safe in here.” 

“You know if you are not compliant they make you stay longer.” 

To name a few conversation starters. 

Of course the staff should make the decision rather or not the patient in the psych ward can handle a visitor. I assure you it is possible to feel lonely in the psyche ward even when you are around people who have some of the same symptoms that you have. It would be nice to have some positive energy on the other side of the table. 

How can doctors be self aware?

I know that psychiatrists are in high demand. There is probably not enough to go around in some cases. The ones we have are probably are over worked. 

Dennis Leary said, “Happiness come in short doses.” I think that means grab hold of the simple things. That can be a diet soda, cup of coffee or tea, or observing nature when you have the chance. Maybe they should have a break room that plays cool jazz (for those of you who don’t know too much about cool jazz you should buy Miles Davis Kind of Blue to start) or find some other way to relax when they take a break. Anyway for those of you in the mental health field, thanks for your service. 

Finally we all have to be self aware in our little piece of the world. We all have to know what is going on in our environment rather it is in our minds or outside. This will help us be mentally strong and emotionally strong.