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It's easier for health professionals and most
patients to use drugs as a substitute for change.
Self-medication with alcohol or nicotine, or prescription
anti-depressants and stimulants, is easier than applying intelligence,
focus and analytical skills to complex relationship situations.
Drugs
are cheaper for the patient (in the short term) and more profitable
for health professionals. The long-term consequences and side-effects of
psychoactive drugs are unacceptable to an increasing number of professionals and
some patients.
What is Schizophrenia?
People who appear unable to differentiate between
real and unreal experiences, logical and illogical thoughts, or
appropriate and inappropriate behavior may be diagnosed by a health
professional as suffering
from schizophrenia. Their opinion are not supported or rejected by laboratory
tests, and may be mistaken for other problems (such as
allergies to common foods).
Schizophrenia is an opinion, a label, applied to people who appear to lose contact
with a cultural or shared reality. No cure for schizophrenia is accepted
by Western medicine. If people diagnosed with schizophrenia find
lasting drug-free solutions - it wasn't schizophrenia.
The duration of symptoms is critical. A combination of
bizarre behavior, disorganized speech, decreased expressiveness and/or
social withdrawal may follow a few days of sleep deprivation (for example
following flights from Hawaii to Europe) and last a few
days. The same symptoms, if lasting for a few months, may be diagnosed as
schizophrenia.
|
The terrible label of schizophrenia,
as much as the symptoms, can devastate lives. Many people labeled
as schizophrenic kill themselves, and many more attempt
suicide. |
In Soviet
Russia, some dissidents were diagnosed with schizophrenia without
symptoms and were imprisoned. Similar phenomena may occur in military
organizations and prisons, and in other cult-like organizations. People
with views not accepted by the leaders
may be defined as sick.
|
Psychosis is exaggerated normality!
Teresa Mocna
|
The symptoms associated with schizophrenia can impair a person’s ability to work,
study, enjoy relationships, or take care of oneself. Some people diagnosed with
schizophrenia are hospitalized to prevent them harming themselves - or others.
Tragically, many homeless street people seem to exhibit symptoms associated
with schizophrenia, but cannot afford medical treatment or specialized care.
|
The medical and the systemic coaching
models are different in how behavior is perceived and
interpreted. Yet medicine and Soulwork both
start from observed symptoms and both aim to provide appropriate treatment via
accurate diagnosis. Ana
Pejcinova, PhD |
Schizophrenia Symptoms
Symptoms of schizophrenia can be arranged into three
overlapping groups:
positive symptoms (excesses of thought, emotion and behavior), negative symptoms
(deficits of emotion and behavior) and psychomotor symptoms. While positive
symptoms can often be treated with antipsychotic drugs, negative and psychomotor symptoms may
prevent people living independently. These symptoms may limit personal or
working relationships, and disrupt everyday social events.
The more obvious positive symptoms are inappropriate
behaviors: unexpected movements and
disorganized speech, describing delusions (for example of persecution),
heightened perceptions and hallucinations.
These symptoms indicate chaotic internal organization and an inability to
differentiate between subjective thinking and objective reality.
The so-called negative symptoms or deficits may seem to
show a lack of interest in other people and in the world. Their inexpressive
faces, monotonic and monosyllabic speech, few gestures, inability to feel
pleasure or act spontaneously may motivate other people to shy away.
The psychomotor symptoms include awkward movements,
repeated grimaces and unusual gestures. These symptoms may take the extreme form
called catatonia, and include stupor, rigidity and posturing. Some movements may
appear to be made for magical or religious reasons.
|
People labeled as
schizophrenia often research the symptoms -
and become depressed or suicidal. This depression can be a
reaction to their diagnosis - not to their symptoms. |
Most symptoms associated with schizophrenia develop
between the ages of 15 and 30. This is the age range where most people wish to commence
a committed partnership leading to parenthood. Some people cannot
consider partnership or parenthood due to identity issues
and toxic relationship bonds. Their abreaction to this lost chance of
happiness may be severe; and they may cling to their symptoms to justify
their inability to communicate.
|
My son was diagnosed with
schizophrenia and takes drugs to control his symptoms ... However
he likes his symptoms and sometimes stops taking his drugs to enjoy
"other-world" communications that he does not want to lose. IR,
Warsaw, Poland |
Symptoms often become less severe as people grow older.
About 25% of people with symptoms of schizophrenia become symptom-free
later in life, perhaps as the genetic imperatives and emotional demands
for partnership and parenthood are diminished or replaced.
[
Suicide ] [ Bipolar
Disorder ] [
Depression ] [
Mental Illness ]
Coaching vs Therapy
We find that people are whole, creative and
resourceful …and sometimes they’re unable to access or use their resources. A
coach who suspects that a person shows psychotic behavior can refer that person
for medical or psychiatric evaluation. We use systemic coaching not to treat
disorders, but to explore emotions and improve relationships.
-
Coaches don’t “treat” mental health
disorders
-
Coaches are collaborators rather than
experts
-
Therapy focuses on a person’s past; coaching
focuses on the present and future
-
Coaching focuses on a person’s whole life;
psychotherapy targets specific symptoms
-
Therapy seeks to fix unresolved issues;
coaching helps people be involved with their lives
-
Therapists may seek theories and treatment
plans; coaches seek the person's own wisdom
We coach some people with schizophrenic symptoms
on how to request assistance, how to express their feelings appropriately and
how to adjust their voices and facial expressions with family members and in
other relationships. This may include rehearsing various social interactions and
exploring the various emotions that may surface.
|
In the end - we become who we pretend to be |
Consult a physician about any opinions about
schizophrenia or other medical conditions.
Relationship Coaching ...
Systemic Coach Training ...
Your Next Step
Do you want relationship coaching or systemic coach training?
Do you want to coach people to resolve relationship challenges? Do you want to
coach people to fulfill their dreams? Contact us.
Copyright © Martyn Carruthers 2005, 2008
All rights reserved.
|
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or telephone: +4 860 275 8295 or +38 591 881 2682