When you become physically ill, there is a good chance you’ll receive ‘get well’ cards, flowers or something indicating a caring community supporting you. When I became severely ill, there was little support. Other than some family and friends, barely anyone knew. It st...
The mental health movement in the workplace has been growing over the past several years. This focus is extremely important given the direct impact of work on mental health. The average person spends upwards of 40 hours a week working. Work is also a leading source of stres...
Accepting help for mental illness is hard, especially while experiencing delusions. Many people don’t trust that their doctors have their best interests in mind, do not want to take medication or stop treatment once they start feeling better, thinking they no longer need it....
I have schizoaffective disorder. Part of how I manage it is by taking anti-psychotic medication. Currently, I take two anti-psychotics, and with that help, I often have symptom-free days. On a symptom-free day, I do not hear voices. I do not get paranoid about my neighbors...
Two years ago, summer began on the heels of my 11-year-old daughter thankfully finishing the school year. Jamie returned to school mid-year after missing months due to major depressive disorder and anxiety. I took family medical leave to care for her after this crushing d...
You are probably familiar with the names of the various mental illnesses, such as major depressive disorder and schizophrenia. These names reflect what is called the “categorical” approach to mental illness, which is the dominant approach used in practice. However, emerg...
My first episode of psychosis arose from a brutal depression. A verse began playing in my head — from a voice that was male, angry and loud. I would later learn that this was The Voice of my psychosis, returning each time my symptoms did. He chanted in a deep timbre and hi...
Schizoaffective disorder — a disorder that is a combination of schizophrenia and, in my case, major depression — is a big part of my life. I find that often, my symptoms dictate what I am able to do in my daily life. Fortunately, I have developed certain coping mechanisms...
We all have dreams, hopes and aspirations that we established when we are young. When we envisioned our futures, we never dreamed of carrying the burden of a mental illness. To many, this may seem more like a nightmare. However, having lived with a comorbid diagnosis for ...
I was about five years old that night, in 1989, when I thought I heard “something scary” talking from the Lego box in my closet. I recall that the voice sounded deep, masculine and muffled. I couldn’t make out the words, but the whole experience incited a deep sense of pa...
Ziprasidone is a medication that works in the brain to treat schizophrenia. It is also known as a second generation antipsychotic (SGA) or atypical antipsychotic. Ziprasidone rebalances dopamine and serotonin to improve thinking, mood, and behavior.
I would consider my condition to be in remission these days, except for minor episodes of mood swings. This was hard won.
CW: This article depicts an episode of psychosis. The end of the world was near. I was a prophet. I had to save us from ourselves. It was 2006. I had been living with untreated severe bipolar I disorder for over six years. I became psychotic trying to understand o...
Schizophrenia interferes with a person’s ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions and relate to others. It also causes people to lose touch with reality, often in the form of hallucinations and delusions.
Mental Health Myth Busters: Borderline Personality Disorder Welcome to Mental Health MythBusters, a show where we debunk misconceptions surrounding mental health and illness. Today's episode focuses on borderline personality disorder (BPD).
Lurasidone is a medication that works in the brain to treat schizophrenia. It is also known as a second generation antipsychotic (SGA) or atypical antipsychotic. Lurasidone rebalances dopamine and serotonin to improve thinking, mood, and behavior.
Cariprazine is a medication that works in the brain to treat schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. It is also known as a second-generation antipsychotic (SGA) or atypical antipsychotic. Cariprazine rebalances dopamine and serotonin to improve thinking, mood, and behavior.
Lumateperone is a medication that works in the brain to treat schizophrenia. It is also known as a second generation antipsychotic (SGA) or atypical antipsychotic. Lumateperone rebalances dopamine, serotonin, and glutamate to improve thinking, mood, and behavior.
Olanzapine/samidorphan is a medication that works in the brain to treat schizophrenia. Olanzapine is also known as a second generation antipsychotic (SGA) or atypical antipsychotic. Olanzapine rebalances dopamine and serotonin to improve thinking, mood, and behavior.