Paths to Wellness

Schizophrenia has been considered an incurable illness but this is not necessarily the case. Statistically, one third of all diagnosed will recover completely, one third will improve over time and one third will not improve. This is based on J.H. Stephens' summary of 25 studies of 44,000 patients, followed on the average for 10 years, and is a commonly held "Rule of Thirds" coined by American Psychiatrists. So, is the cup half empty or half full?!

1. Medication: The most common treatment is antipsychotic medication. Fortunately, there are better and better medications available; recent ones which have a good reputation include Clozaril, Olanzapine and Seroquel. It is important to find the right medication for you, as some can make the illness and experience worse for some and better for others. For example, some found that Haloperidol made them feel tortured and did nothing for the delusions. Others had Haloperidol injections on a regular basis and felt a lot better with the drug. However, in general the newer drugs are more likely to work better and you should insist on trying these first rather than being used as a guinea pig to those old medications, if you can. Make sure you have a Doctor that understands something about schizophrenia and has a caring attitude. You always have the right to change Doctors. Exercise this right - it is very important to find a Doctor you feel comfortable working with. A good medication can be a good start to stability, which is necessary if you wish to pursue other forms of healing.

2. Orthomolecular Therapy: The orthomolecular approach is based on the premise that the brain needs optimal nutrients to function properly, and some people may need a lot more of certain vitamins and minerals to maintain mental health than others. Many people have fully recovered using orthomolecular therapy. A whole foods diet and megavitamins are generally prescribed. For example, vitamin B3 (niacin) has been found to be deficient in schizophrenia patients and conversely has helped many to heal when given large amounts. Also schizophrenia has been linked to food allergies such as to milk and wheat.

3. Psychosocial Therapy: This includes one on one supportive psychotherapy or group psychosocial rehabilitation but not psychoanalysis. It has been found to be useful combined with other approaches in bringing the person to stability and wellness. Again, finding a person who has peaceful and empathic energy and who has some understanding of schizophrenia can make a big difference in helping a person's recovery from the illness. Social support is very important, though it not easy when the person is having an episode of the illness. Peaceful, calm, supportive individuals can do more than they realize just by being this way and forcing nothing. However, when a person is more stable, belonging to a psycho-social program where one can relate to others who have been there is a very helpful thing in the healing process.