Coping with Schizophrenia: My Experience in the Psych Ward 

joined ❤️

Finding this online community has truly changed my life.

What do you do for a living; what's your occupation.

Were you diagnosed before you became a mother?

So you drive under the influence. Thts irresponsible

I think both sides are important, personally. It’s good to give hope but also important to be realistic, and authentic, as well.

I agree with you. Watching Lauren's videos has been very educational and eye opening for me.

I agree. I think all stories need to be told but I think we don’t all need constant devastation and despair, like our lives are nothing more than illness. I’m trying to get out of that mentality.

I get worried I have it sometimes because I've experienced some of the things she has experienced but I never hear voices I have Auditory Processing Disorder and I'll do strange things. But now I'm being diagnosed with possibly Bipolar 1? It's so strange what next Sciophective disorder? It's just strange.

⁠@@mariahconklin4150 mental health is not well understood, even by doctors. Don’t give up on trying to get help to manage life more easily.

Thank you for your comment.

One for you ❤️ and one for your lovely gem of a mum ❤️

It sounds like your mom was honest about her struggles and willing to get help when she needed it. That's really great and helpful.

Was all the children the same? Bless your mum

@@paulamccarthy8197 It’s interesting because of the seven kids we all experienced our mothers illness differently. Like we went through the same thing but have very different takes on it. Only one of the seven of us has a negative outlook and does not speak with my mother any longer. My childhood was full of love and we were always encouraged to express ourselves creatively through art if different mediums.

Yes 👍🏾❤

Underrated comment ❤

❤

❤

God bless you

So glad you have this. 20 years ago my mom and I had no help with my brother. No info barley any info

Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective are different! Schizoaffective is like Schizophrenia + Bipolar lol

My daughter has it as well, I’m living the same experience 💕

What is schzo's obsessive disorder?

❤❤

I am so sorry about what you went through. You are very useful to many. I love and respect you. I hope you don't feel too bad that you were hospitalized.

I know that I personally felt like a failure, too, when I ended up at a psych ward. I think those moments are some of the lowest in a person’s life. And the fact that the system is such a mess in that area, too, is what bothers me. I refuse to ever go back, no matter what, because they messed up my physical health medications, and they just messed up in different areas in general, and it was too complex with my situation with my rare condition, Escobar Syndrome, that I was born with and my physical disability. The psych ward isn’t for everyone and sometimes leaves people actually worse off. I couldn’t be paid to endure any of that ever again. No thanks. If it helps some, then that’s great, but it can be awful for others.

It’s a huge success that you agreed to go to the hospital

❤❤❤

Again .....u are blessed with a partner whom supports u

For sure. Although at the same time, if someone had said, “I’m not taking the keys, I’m trusting you,” I would have grabbed them and driven away faster than you can count to 1.

Not to criticize him. Not his fault he thinks differently.

i need me a rob..

@@moseseba2117me too ❤️

As someone who also experienced abuse as a result of my mother's untreated Bipolar/psychosis & drug abuse... I definitely feel you. I really wish I had a parent more like Lauren, who has an understanding of & willingness to treat her illness - in addition to a strong desire to protect her children from the worst of it. I'm very proud of her, too, & I'm grateful that Rob is a supportive partner & stable father for the kids.

good choices,agreed

I have same experience with my mother. In addition my dad is bipolar. My childhood and youth was full of abuse

Great point about that.

@@michelledarby6729 imagine writing something so stupid on a public forum

@@michelledarby6729 I can tell

​@@michelledarby6729read the room, Michelle!

@@michelledarby6729 You’re not her psychiatrist. Quit using your google degree to diagnose strangers you’ve never met. It’s embarrassing 🙄

pls what kind of meds helped you there? i neeed help

Moja dcera bola 2 mesiace hospitalizovaná, bolo to veľmi ťažké pre celú rodinu, veľmi nam chýbala chodili sme za ňou stále, boli s nou rodičia sestry. Už je doma 1 pol roka, zatiaľ je OK.. Lieky berie poctivo, uvedomuje si zatiaľ ze ináč to nebude dobré!! Aj hospitalizovana bola preto že neuzivala lieky!! Sme všetci šťastný že je doma a tešíme sa každý deň!! Mame sa veľmi radi a nieje snáď deň aby sme sa neobjali!! ❤❤Píšem to hlavne preto aby sye vedeli že aj keď sye chorí, veľmi Vás lubime!! ❤❤Píšem to ako mama dcéry ktorá si prešla niečím podobným!!! Veľa zdravia šťastia a lásky Vam prajem❤❤🙏🙏

​​@@yehhshhs'm not the OP, but I was also rapid cycling Bipolar I w/ a lottttttt of psychosis. Arguably, I could have been dx'd w/ Schizoaffective, but my psychs have said it's splitting hairs when the treatment is more or less the same. But I think it's probably closer to Schizoaffective because I can get [albeit mild] psychosis around my period, but not a mood episode. I've tried a lot of different meds, but what helped me the most is Lamotrigine 150mg/day & some PRN Risperidone 0.5mg when I notice any breakthrough psychosis... Bear in mind, I metabolize medications weirdly & a normal person might need a much higher dosage than me!! During the worst of my psychosis, I needed 1-2mg of Risperidone every day for two weeks or more in order to break through the wall of psychosis... But Lamotrigine has kept me almost totally episode-free for the last 9 years - it has quite literally saved my life. Seroquel was too sedating for me, personally, even at 50mg, so... Most other antipsychotics were off the table w/ my respiratory depression. Depakote caused me some stomach issues. Lithium threw my electrolytes out of whack & I was dehydrated & getting weird symptoms. Risperidone gives me a high prolactin level if I take it too often & I randomly lactate, but that's the only real side effect I experience! And it goes away eventually. I was SO AFRAID of the Lamotrigine rash & it caused a lot of paranoia, but... I started the meds veryyyyyyy slowlyyyyy & it is one I will never stop taking. Life w/o fear of my own mind & the world around me is too precious! My only side effects were a pretty bad headache/dizziness for the first week after dose increases. Sorry for the essay, lol!!

Lots of sympathy.

@@ZijnShayatanicathank you for your comment 💜

It’s a real issue. Many people say that to me too. That I look well, that I can express myself coherently despite my mental disorders and it’s difficult. People don’t believe you and dismiss your problems or think you are exaggerating when you say you need help because you don’t look like it. 😢

I agree. Well said! 😊

@isaflechas same. Everyone says oh your so nice and they they see my IED episodes and then I'm embarrassed and ashamed

Not appearing to be ill is something that I experience. My Dr knows all too well, in my case, the better it looks, the worse it is. I also have a "disaster plan" with ALL the info needed. All phone numbers, step by step stuff. I keep it in an obvious place.It's for me primarily. I cannot rely on myself to look for things when I'm in a cascade. It helps me feel more secure in the event of an emergency. I also have my business current. Advance directives, POA,..all that stuff...in order. Those things reinforce that I am the CEO of my circumstances, no matter what I encounter. X

Well said! Agree 💯

So children don't inherit schizophrenia because I have schizophrenia too and I am afraid of my kids having it if I have kids

My kids did not inherit their mom’s mental illness. I don’t know if there was a greater chance of developing a mental illness but it certainly is not automatic.

​​@@bhanusri3732it's genetic, but not 100% guaranteed. The most important stuff to teach kids with high genetic loading for schizophrenia are healthy stress management and stay away from marijuana.

So kind ❤

I’m glad you found a solution 🙏

I have what has been diagnosed as PMDD, and have for many years struggled with depression, that I didn’t realize was connected to my cycle. Now, I believe that in the past it would always start before my period, and with little awareness, I would just let myself slip deeper into the darkness and not know how to get back. Watching this video, I recognize myself somewhat, but so far I’m able to push through without meds. I wonder at which point do you really KNOW you need medical treatment. I usually have suicidal thoughts, and a sense of “doom”, best way I can describe it is, world turns dark, people are cold and can’t be trusted, because they’re ill themselves (and most don’t realize it). Every time it feels pre apocalyptic? Like i’m done with my life and am now awaiting something that will bring clarity and put everything either to end, or in its place.

I just lately figured out this keeps happening around my period. Damn :/

Wow that's so interesting. Thanks for sharing. This is going into the memory bank.

@@masha5444 They can prescribe medications that you just take before your period. Meds make me worse, but for most people, this could help PMDD. Don't give up seeking treatment. They can also put you on a birth control to stop your cycle.

agree

Agree. I want to give Lauren a hug and tell her she is a good person. Not abusive, not narcissistic, not trauma-inducing, not any of the negative words she used to describe herself in this video. As psych survivors we internalize so much shame and guilt that doesn’t belong to us.

This may be symptomatic.

It is 100 percent abusive to bring kids to a psych unit and explain your terrifying delusions of being poisoned with them. Absolutely, positively abusive. She's is not their mother. I would never forgive someone for exposing my children to that. It would be a cold day in hell , in fact, before I ever left them alone with her. I probably would not let them even see her. Her delusions were about the kids. Everyone is so loving and she deserves compassion. But she is hurting someone else's kids. It's so uncool. If she wants to expose her TWO YEAR OLD to that, ok. But the mother of the other two needs to protect them immediately.

@@Bethechange197 She didn’t bring her kids to the psych ward. That was Rob’s choice. Then she carefully answered the eight year old’s questions about her symptoms when they got home. This is NOT abuse. This is like visiting any other family member who is sick in the hospital and providing an important educational experience.

It is for lots of conditions i can't entirely explain what happens during my episodes that happen once every 2 - 4 months with my anxiety and depression and the hardest feeling to describe is this werd nagging feeling in my brain and body i don't know what it is... and every time i keep thinking maybe it's some kind of deficiency cos it feels like something has gone low in my body, it makes me feel this weird gnawing ache that makes me want to claw myself out of my own body i'm so uncomfortable and restless... and my body is screaming it at me, but then normally 3 or 4 days later i wake up and... it's like nothing happened😕lol it's like "is this a joke? it must be" lol, all that fuss and it just pretends nothing happened lol. There's a few other things too where it's really hard to describe cos i don't think there's really a name for some things cos nobody knows the deeper things going on, on a cellular and bio level, but i know that our bodies DO tell us when something is low in us in various ways but the main thing is how it makes us feel sooo maybe that's telling us something i don't know... but when you're feeling some of these symptoms it's indescribable but feels so awful, it's like something is there i want to get out of my body it's so gnawing at me is the best way to describe it, but i can't describe it beyond that.

Schizotypal is a personality disorder which does not include psychotic symptoms , not the same symptoms as schizophrenia.

Lauren is diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder. Some believe this is a variant of schizophrenia, some do not. Like schizoaffective, schizotypal disorder includes negative symptoms such as social anxiety, paranoia and magical thinking. Perhaps schizotypal has more in common with schizoaffective than schizophrenia.

Of course schizotypal people don't usually have auditory or visual hallucinations. Apparently some do; these don't persist as in schizophrenia. I have had few hallucinations myself. Schizotypal disorder and Borderline disorder were once lumped in to "Borderline Schizophrenic disorder". I think there is some disagreement among psychologists as to whether STpd is a personality disorder distinct from the schizophrenic spectrum. I can relate to things Lauren talks about but do not consider myself to be a schizophrenic person. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

@@ralphloen6901 I have been a mental health clinician for over 30 years. Never heard of Borderline Schizophrenic Disorder. I am not minimizing your experiences with mental health issues. Only trying to say that there is a significant clinical difference between Schizophrenia and Schizotypal PD. I agree Schizotypal has some similarities with Schizophrenia in that is are odd behaviors and beliefs. Be well.

Can you help with the reliable source I would really appreciate it. Many people talk about mushrooms and psychedelics but nobody talks about where to get them. Very hard to get a reliable source here in Australia. Really need!

Yes, dr.sporesss. I have the same experience with anxiety, depression, PTSD and addiction and Mushrooms definitely made a huge huge difference to why am clean today.

I wish they were readily available in my place. Microdosing was my next plan of care for my husband. He is 59 & has so many mental health issues plus probable CTE & a TBI that left him in a coma 8 days. It's too late now I had to get a TPO as he's 6'6 300+ pound homicidal maniac. He's constantly talking about killing someone. He's violent. Anyone reading this Familiar w/ BPD know if it is common for an obsession with violence.

Is he on instagram?

Yes he is. dr.sporesss

The fact that she has such good insight into herself makes her a bad educator, actually. Most schizophrenics have poor self-insight, which makes them completely different to the people around them. I've lived with a paranoid schizophrenic for 12 years and it was hell on earth.

It's much more useful to know what schizophrenia looks like to friends and relatives, and also know what effect it has on the loved ones, especially underage children. This way, relatives of schizophrenics and those responsible for the underage children can recognize the disease and seek help for the schizophrenic and the family. Now THAT would be a real progress for society that would make people's lives better.

@@MargaritaMagdalena how do you realize this being a paranoid schizophrenic. was it therapy that you learn compassion for yourself but the people in your life does not share the same compassion. family said you are the one with the problem. i dont need therapy, you do. i heard that line way too many times. therapy wont help if the stress is not inside us. it comes from somewhere else

Perfectly said!

​@MargaritaMagdalena how can she be a "bad educator" if she is just honestly sharing her own lived experience of schizophrenia? Any honest accounts are good education, in my view

Also I don't want to speak out of term because I am not a psychologist, but 4 years is a hell of a long time to maintain stability when you struggle with a mental illness. So try replace the shame with pride as far as possible.

@@louisepolley9707 She felt guilty i saw and recognise that from her expressions and voice.

randomly came across this video, then randomly came across this comment. You did nothing wrong, it sounds like you went above and beyond for your son. You're a great mother. This illness and other severe mental health disorders unfortunately are fatal sometimes. Your son was so blessed to have a mom that cares as much as you do. I struggle with survivor's guilt from an unrelated incident, and I cant imagine how much harder it is for a mother (I'm not a mom myself yet). Please know you did everything you could do though. You sound like a wonderful person to have as a mother. Sometimes our brains can be our own worst enemy, whether it's via mental illness or just everyday issues. I like to think of it as equal to someone losing their battle with cancer; they just lost their battle with their own illness. Blessings 💜

Thank you!!

what a terrible disease!! 👎👎👎 I'm sorry you have to deal with that.

I’m so happy that you are home with your family💕. Be gentle with yourself , you are such an amazing and strong person….Rob too🙏🏻💙

Does she hear voices?

Me too!

Oh man. I can’t even imagine what you’re both going through. I’m sorry. 😔 💕

I'm sorry.

🙏🏼😢

I'm so sorry

May God bless you for having patience and love for your wife!!!! I hope you have the strength to stay with your wife and have patience with her.❤

When even her own DOCTOR'S knee jerk response for a request for help is to CALL the POLICE and have her HANDCUFFED and transported to a Psych ward only to end up in jail!!!!!!!!!!

I get what you say, but in Rob's situation, with a person on the road who is in psychosis and a very possible danger to everyone around her, police is the only option. There is no other step for stopping somebody in a car on the road, when you don't even know where they are.

@@fuchsfarben yes of course I understand the urgency of the operation of heavy dangerous machinery... However there are opportunities (I am not picking on these folks' situation, it is just one of many examples) to have people/steps in place PRIOR to police enforcement to help. Maybe trusted people, a point person that is not necessarily family, but a GUIDE of some sort to walk with and through with the person experiencing the episode. Like she said, family can be a paranoia trigger and also adds shame of what you "are putting your family through" which doesn't help. Hmmm... a psychosis guide - like a guardian angel....

⁠@@thedavesiknow4598es, they should have trained intervention people who would be able to say the right words to someone in psychosis who could deescalate the situation. I suppose, there could be too much of a risk and things could escalate quickly. It just seems so unfair. I mean Rob is a safe person, yet while in a state of psychosis she is even afraid of him. She understands and knows this once the episode is over. Since she isn’t at the moment able to think rationally, anyone could become “the enemy”. Just so hard. Having to “endure” the “checkin” process would be sheer torture for someone in psychosis! My heart breaks for her, and yet she is so passionate about using her painful experiences to help others! An amazing person! The pain in her eyes as she relays this episode is so obviously there! She so much wants to be free of this!

Locally they try to call the health service mental health crisis team, rather than general police now. If possible.

@@thedavesiknow4598 that's a good idea and could be part of someone's Wellness Action Plan. Here they've tried to improve things, with each police station and A&E department having a mental health professional available 24/7. Also the health service mental health Crisis Team or Direct Brief Intervention Team are usually called. And if someone is only intermittently losing reality and not too disjointed in their thinking, it CAN be possible to de-escalate by listening and putting yourself in their shoes. Avoiding clumsy 'threatening' behaviours.

Yeah I'm sensing something that makes me uncomfortable too. A bit worried for her, and not because of the schizophrenia.

Yes this is what I feel too. Even though they are married and he is supporting her. The phrase I trust u to have these ... Would piss anyone off. Kinda like he is the one who decides, and the probing questions of "tell them how u hurt me," or when she was like I knew u were at the hotel because he broke into her private account. Then at the end to record her and make her have no choice but to return to the hospital.... Man I appreciate the monitoring but this could also be gaslighting, and if one was to remove her issues this would be a controlling partner, and if u take someone's keys from them that kidnapping... I wonder if he gives her space enough just to be pist and have a cool down, without threatening police and hospitalization. I get the impaired driving, But I have to take a break from my husband and kid when I'm mad. I wish he would have just stayed at the hotel with her until a bed was available. I went once with an assessed tooth, which they didn't prioritize either, it made it 100% worse and super embarrassing because the pain was so bad I was crying and angry. Hey Rob please don't slap her in the face with this video when she's vulnerable like that! if at all possible Join her and wait for a break to talk things out. She's clearly interested in being healthy. And let her just be pist sometimes. Ur not always perfect. Everybody is an A-Hole sometimes. Thanks so much both of you. This was an incredible video

I am so glad I’m not the only one who felt this. This video made me so uncomfortable - there have been occasions in a few videos that have been red flags for me. The statement ‘tell them how you hurt me’ - her vulnerability seems to be used against her. She’s always looking to him for approval/validation. She is an amazing strength in herself but I’m getting a bad feeling. I wish her well.

Imagine making the type of judgments your making based off the amount of information you have. How many of you are partners with a person suffering like this. Stop

Spot on! It’s unsettling how he abandoned her at her most fragile state and the. Sit behind camera and points out everything she did wrong. I’m telling you this dude is brainwashing her and making no her feel like she’s crazier than what she really is. And he has her kids and family brainwashed. He has the control.

My mother hid her mental illness from me until I was about 14 and when she told me it felt like my whole world shifted and nothing ever felt the same again… I wish she had just explained it with age appropriate language as I grew up. Especially because I grew up to have a panic disorder not dissimilar to hers

I totally agree. I do understand that those who do not have it in their life and are helped by seeing it would want more exposure. Sometimes things are not understood until you see the worst. That being said, it should not be demanded or expected or made to feel like a spectacle. It is also sometimes cathartic to others who struggle to see it with someone else and sometimes can provide insight into something you were unaware of in yourself or someone who you love who has similar struggles. Again with respect and free will and not demanded. But there are also those who have a more malice view sadly. Who want to feel superior but this would be my understanding of those who have better intentions.

My thoughts exactly

Some people with schizophrenia don't really see themselves in her. Think about what the main problem with schizophrenia is- loss of cognitive function. Yet here is a woman who has a degree and a family and a job. 90% of schizophrenics are unemployed. It's the disability with the highest unemployment rate.

On RU-vid and other places on the internet there's this push to make disability palatable for mass consumption. I don't think it's on purpose in a lot of cases or it is a coping strategy for others but when you show up perfectly coifed with a clean house, supportive family, and are presenting as very functional it feels disingenuous to the vast majority whose lives are not like that. When I was in peer support groups the vast majority did not have half of those things. Lots of people had been living in half way houses, on tiny disability checks, unable to work, coping poorly on meds that didn't work for them prescribed by doctors who weren't very interested in helping beyond the bare minimum. Lots of people were estranged from their families or stuck in toxic relationships. There was a lack of education and lack of resources. People struggled so hard to survive. Some people had even been arrested for being symptomatic in public. It's much harder to be a schizophrenic black man, for example. I think Lauren is extremely lucky to be where she is. I don't say that to put her down but to point out that the reality is much starker for many people so I can see why they resent this presentation.

Because people don't understand schizophrenia they Want to see what the 'bad' part is, or what goes on in someone's head during psychosis. They want to know the whole story so they can understand fully. // Not sharing that kind of info makes this a channel more of a support for people and families already dealing with schizophrenia, than for people who are trying to learn more about it.

That’s such a great movie!

@@elcapitan24 it might be, but I wouldn't post it. It's like posting naked pictures of yourself, but two steps beyond. It's not just me at my most vulnerable, it's reliving it with each comment, good or bad. The sympathetic comments would be tough to read. Anything about it being staged or not that bad would just feel devastating.

Exactly! I’m going to recommend that my psychiatrist watch this last suite of videos. There are so many unseized opportunities to include lived experience voices in mental health training.

I agree 100%

couldn’t agree more

For all doctors and nurses..not just specializing in psychiatric patients.

ABSOLUTELY !

seems kinda like he is publicly shaming her

@@thehypercasual385 the word "gaslighting" came to mind, when I's watching this. And then there's him, telling her kids _"of course in an age appropriate way"_ that mommy is mentally ill, which, when he tells her that here, seems to totally surprise (and shock) her. Why is: _"mommy is ill and she's staying there so the doctors can make her well again"_ not enough information? If Rob's wife had cancer, would he also ask her to elaborate on how her illness is hurting him?

​@@thehypercasual385totally :/

I 10000% agree.

People do blame diabetics often for their blood sugars going high ,fever and other issues do interfere with their illnes

Been there done that. Reading your words shocked me then I realised I've been there too. Why is a relapse in mental illness not treated better? It's not a first episode. Bad system.

I feel you

What auto immune system do you have of you don't mind me asking

It's a grief process. You miss the person you once were, the things you no longer can do. I feel you. I also have an auto-immune disease, as well as bipolar disorder. It can clash in terrible ways. But even if you don't have a previous experience with mental illness, chronic illness can play a role on your mental well-being.

My daughter who lives with me has a very complex autoimmune disease. I know stress on her body from the disease creates emotional stress which again affects her body. It is a terrible cycle My heart goes out to you.

Yes. There is grieving also for the life you thought you would have. My daughter was in her early 20's when her disease really excelerated.

Starting over from previous comment. As a retired social worker/mental health worker I havevthe utmost respect admiration for you, and all of the numerous viedos you put out. If only I knew you and your struggles 30 years ago I could have been a greater help to my clients!!! You put a face on mental health diagnosis specifically psychosis. Please, please consider sharing your experiences with individuals who are training as MD's or anyone considering working in medical and/ or mental health. Your sharing can't compare to book learning!!!!! Consider contacting medical schools near where uou live, or even far away...you are a GEM!!! And whatvthe hell....sitting in the er for 5 hours with no medication????? That wouldn't happen if you were diabetic! Speaking of diabetes if you were to look at your psychosis as diabetes maybe you can take some comfort. Soneone with diabtets does all the right things... eating a good diet, exercise, taking medications, and keeping a healthy weight, but yet their blood sugar rises or lowers at a dangerous level...they need to see the doc or be hospitalized to adjust their medications. It's the same with you. You do everything in yiur power to function to enjiy life and stay out of the hospital, but as with diabetes yiu needed an adjustment in yiur medications. And while I'm at it, who in the heck is bothered by your appearance??? You look to good, have make up on or perhaps you should look more disheveled....please, pkease you don't need to apologize to anyone. You my dear are my hero. Love to you, Rob and your kids. The world needs to hear more from you!!!

It's important that those of us who are mentally ill in this capacity to take responsibility when we mistreat those we care about. It's one, validating to your partner so that they don't feel as though they CAUSED the psychosis or did something to trigger it. But two, it helps us to acknowledge our actions when these things are getting bad. To identify the pattern. We cannot use our mental illness as a plain excuse or we will never really improve. So yes, I believe people should be understanding, BUT it's counterproductive to just pretend that the emotional/mental abuse didn't occur and brush it off. It also just let's them know we care and that we aren't proud of those actions and would do anything not to repeat them such as going inpatient. No one who is truly mentally ill likes to go to the hospital, they do it to be Progressive. Just a small take from a Bipolar Type 2 😊

​@@SamiVortexI think it's important to recognise the symptoms but not carry shame and guilt, since it's not possible for the person experiencing mental disturbance to choose not to do it. I think she wouldn't tell another person they are responsible or should feel guilt and shame, which is a good way to ascertain whether it's a useful or healthy response. Acknowledgement and recognition, absolutely. Adding to a palate of stress and stigma, nope.

@meretriciousinsolent I mean I get what you're saying but if you allow yourself to mentally abuse those around your and never take accountability and apologize or feel bad for it, quite literally that's sociopathic behavior. Idk about you, but even being extremely mentally ill I feel bad when I treat people bad. It's the last thing I want. And that's a HUMAN emotion. Just saying "Yeah I mean you don't have to feel bad that you did that because you're mentally ill" is not helpful in the process of helping the people you love to overcome those symptoms. You're just giving them a scapegoat for the next time they treat someone bad, and they have gotten used to "oh honey it's because you're mentally ill" that will be the excuse every time. They won't feel the need to work on it in therapy because that's what they are being told by others. Then when those behaviors become to much and those people leave to shelter their own mental health, they are going to be confused as to what they did wrong. They have always been told by that person that the behaviors presented were justified by their condition. So it will lead to distrust, and shame. I'm afraid that by me telling my ex that it was okay for him to treat me and other people the way he did when he was feeling how he was, because he was undiagnosed and didn't understand what was going on, that led him to the idea that he'd never have to face a single consequence for any of his actions. Now I have a Protective Order against him and have to face him in court for the charges filed against him. Because when I finally told him "You know what, you can't just treat people the way you do without doing any work on your end to try to prevent it." Because anyone diagnosed Bipolar knows, we can prevent with certain therapeutic methods and working directly with an outpatient psych that we can learn how to control our behaviors. Its a little tougher with people with Schizophrenia or Schizoaffective disorder, but still can be controlled a little closer with the right treatments and such. I work in mental health, I'm in school to become a psych nurse. ANY licensed psychiatrist or therapist will tell you that anyone who wants to do better, can. There are many educational types of programs other there for all sorts of mental illnesses. Telling people about these isn't adding to the stigma, it's giving them resources to live a better life more in control of the things that are holding them back. You wouldn't ask someone with cancer not to take radiation because it would stigmatize cancer. So don't ask a mentally ill person not to seek the therapies that are designed to help them grow and achieve. No it doesn't make it go away, but it shows them a better way.

@@SamiVortex as the wife of a man suffering with psychotic mental health challenges, your saying this is extremely comforting for me to hear. as your loved ones, we take the brunt of it when we know you are not being your true selves. it truly helps us when you're able to acknowledge the hurt we may feel in the process.

@stkate1093 that's exactly why I say it too! It's already hard for us to hold stable relationships. If you find the person willing to stick around and you justify abusive behaviors with "Well I'm mentally ill, so you have to deal with it." Instead of "I'm so sorry, you're loved, appreciated, and what I did to you while in that state of mind wasn't okay. Thank you for not giving up on me." Then you're just pushing them away too. It's not harmful to realize when your behaviors are harmful. I stick by that 100%

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My heart goes out to you! It's amazing you've made it this far given the circumstances of the times, the lack of effective medication, needing to get ECT. My 75yo dad has also had to deal with all that, he even had to be sedated for 16 years and "reduced" to the bare minimum of what life is (all his activities were eat, sleep, medicate, watch tv, go out to buy bread), but he's been well for almost 6 years now w/o needing to be hospitalized. I've nevet got to see him this well & stable until recently, all this thanks to his health team and new generation medication. Also, this is SE Europe we're talking about. There's so much hope! Take care & be gentle on yourself.

Rob is an intelligent, educated, enlightened, cool person. For all the people trying to imagine that Rob is the problem. Raspberries

100%, Rob is exactly the kind of partner someone with chronic mental illness needs. Rob haters WTF???

@@jacquelineleitch7050intelligent enough to feed her a self-deprecating picture of who she is while he controls her every move like an abusive parent instead of partner

@@alienatedd Do you want me to argue with you or are you just correct?

@@alienatedd you sound like you may be projecting. Have you recently started watching this channel?

Exactly

same here

I agree. I feel like people don't realize that this is HER channel and HER life...and they end up treating her like a product/spectacle. It's not her responsibility to share everything she experiences.

Well her “partner” manipulates her into filming when she’s in a vulnerable place. It’s mentioned in the beginning of the video that she’s doesn’t want to be doing this but Rob wants her to. She will NEVER heal in this environment because he will always be manipulating her thoughts and actions, which is NOT helpful for someone struggling to have two firm feet planted in reality. Abuse causes paranoia, it doesn’t create an environment to take it away.

​@@alienateddShe wouldn't have parinoia about people mind controling her if her whole life wasn't controlled by Rob

When I listen to you and Rob, I understand my 35 yo sons experiences with his schizoaffective disorder so much more clearly. Thank you both from the bottom of my heart💕

And it was. Bullying is a full on skill taught social workers and nurses dealing with mental illness. Psychs who graduated at the lowest half of the class who are the ones you get in psych wards just use overdosing to bully you with.

Mine wasn't so great, either. My husband is not able to have his truck right now and he doesn't fit well in the car with his prosthetic leg. So when they wanted to admit me, I had to drive him home. That means I left "against medical advice" and had to come right back and wait in line again. It was pretty awful. They also didn't want to pay my hospital bill at first either but that got figured out pretty easily.

I’m so sorry. There definitely has to be better systems put in place to prevent those in “power” from abusing those who are vulnerable and in need - in any situation. God bless you and protect you and anyone else in these situations in Jesus’s Holy Name. I am committed to making more loving environments for people in need! 🙏💖

This has to stop. Blasting medical professionals is counterproductive. We are there to help ppl. All pts! We do not discriminate. You are privileged to have a safe place to go to. What would you have us do when you are in psychosis ? We are stretched to the limits as is with beds etc. Have more respect for medical staff!

​@@JulieLorraine1How are things going to improve if people don't point these things out?

When someone is sick of cancer or fever it is ok they always go back and forth to hospital but if it is illness of psychosis etc. the society will always looks at it with a different outlook. Why cant they be like any other illness? Maybe because we do not accept it as illness of any kind. I hope one day the society will accept it as normal illness we send them to hospital like any other illness is sent to hospital and no more expectations

That's a lie. It's to cause you to fear.

Oh wow that's scary

It's true, there can be residual symptoms after the episode and they can increase. I've worked with 40+ year old patients who have gone without treatment for 20+ years and have a lot of difficulties even with meds now.

I think that your doctor is right, my father went off his medication for several months and now, even back on his medication, he has more psychotic and mixed manic episodes than before, he has become resistant to his medication to an extent unfortunately.

I gues I got lucky, was unmedicated/undiagnosed for 12 years. I‘m doing quite well on meds since 3 months ^_^

Well said