Tip : Take Care Of Yourself
Making simple lifestyle changes can have a huge impact on the way you feel as well as your symptoms.
Try to get plenty of sleep. When youre on medication, you most likely need even more sleep than the standard 8 hours. Many people with schizophrenia have trouble with sleep, but getting regular exercise, reducing sugar in your diet, and avoiding caffeine can help.
Avoid alcohol and drugs. It can be tempting to try to self-medicate the symptoms of schizophrenia with drugs and alcohol. But substance abuse complicates schizophrenia treatment and only worsens symptoms. If you have a substance abuse problem, seek help.
Eat a healthy, balanced diet. Eating regular, nutritious meals can help avoid psychosis and other schizophrenia symptoms brought on by substantial changes in blood sugar levels. Minimize sugar and refined carbs, foods that quickly lead to a crash in mood and energy. Boost your intake of omega-3 fatty acids from fatty fish, fish oil, walnuts, and flaxseeds to help improve focus, banish fatigue, and balance your moods.
Homeopathic Remedies For Schizophrenia
There is a vast scope for treating many psychological complaints with homeopathy. Homeopathic medicines are found to be very effective in treating Schizophrenia. Being of natural origin, they are free from any toxic side effects and are safe to use. Apart from safety, homeopathic medicines for schizophrenia are also not habit forming, and one can withdraw their use once recovery ensues.
Homeopathic medicines are deep acting remedies that aim to work on correcting the cause from which the whole disease is initiated so as to bring about remarkable recovery in Schizophrenia. Delusions of varying kinds, hallucinations, and the other attending features of Schizophrenia are treatable with natural homeopathic medicines. With the use of these medicines, the intensity of symptoms is seen to reduce gradually with the regaining of a sense of general wellbeing.
How Norway Is Offering Drug
BBC News
Most people with psychosis take powerful drugs to keep delusions and hallucinations at bay – but the side-effects can be severe. In Norway, a radical approach is now on offer via the national health system for patients who want to live drug-free.
Malin was 21 when her life began to unravel.
She had struggled with severe depression and low self-esteem since she was a teenager.
Then a voice inside her head started telling her she was fat and worthless – and that she should kill herself.
“He became very angry. He kind of isolated me because he got a lot of power. Eventually I also starting seeing things, like tentacles coming out of the walls,” she says.
Malin left her small home town near the fjords of northern Norway and went off to university. But it wasn’t long before she had a complete breakdown that left her unable to get out of bed. Her family came to pick her up and soon she was committed to a psychiatric unit where she stayed for a year. It was the first of several long stays in psychiatric hospital wards where powerful anti-psychotic medication was the only treatment on offer.
“I was so full of drugs, my mind was just a blur. I just sat there passively watching my life go by with no connection to my emotions or feelings.
“And it’s kind of been the same thing over and over. I’ve sought help and what they can give me is medication. And nothing really got any better.
Many of the patients at the unit in Tromso are tapering off drugs, which takes time and care.
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How Schizoaffective Disorder Is Treated
Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.
MICROGEN IMAGES/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Getty Images
Schizoaffective disorder is a condition that causes you to experience symptoms such as mania, delusions, and hallucinations. There is currently no cure for this condition, with symptoms expressing themselves in different ways across the lifespan. However, effective treatment options combine psychotherapy and medication to make living with the condition more manageable. Without treatment, symptoms of this condition tend to worsen in severity and could lead to problems with functioning and an increased risk for suicide.
Medication treatment of schizoaffective disorder commonly involves antipsychotic medication, often in combination with mood stabilizers and antidepressants.
Case Number Two: A Man Comes To Life
The second story is of a 33-year-old single man diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder fourteen years ago. Over the years he had tried SEVENTEEN different psychiatricmedications with limited success, including Clozapine. Weighing 322 pounds, he decided to embark on a ketogenic diet for weight loss.
Within three weeks, he reported dramatic reduction in auditory hallucinations and delusions, as well as better mood, energy, and concentration. Over the course of a year, he lost a total of 104 pounds. When in ketosis, his PANSS scores improved significantlyfalling from 98 to only 49. His daily function and quality of life also improved dramatically he moved out of his fathers home, began dating, and started taking college courses.
Interestingly, in both cases, each time either of these individuals went off of the ketogenic diet, their symptoms worsened, and when they went back on the diet, their symptoms improved again, suggesting it was the diet and not some other factor that was responsible.
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Dont See Your Condition As A Stigma
There is no shame in suffering from mental illness. In fact, when youre in recovery you should feel proud of your efforts to overcome significant life challenges.
Negative emotions can produce pessimistic mental states. By accepting your mental health diagnosis, and refusing to judge yourself because of it, youll be protecting yourself from the erosive impact of guilt, shame, self-doubt, and other self-sabotaging thoughts and emotions. You dont have to talk about your schizoaffective disorder constantly, but theres no reason to avoid the subject when youre with people who care about you and want to help.
Tip : Understand The Role Of Medication
If youve been diagnosed with schizophrenia, you will almost certainly be offered antipsychotic medication. The two main groups of medications used for the treatment of schizophrenia are the older or typical antipsychotic medications and the newer atypical antipsychotic medications. Its important to understand that medication is just one component of schizophrenia treatment.
Medication is not a cure for schizophrenia and only treats some of the symptoms. Antipsychotic medication reduces psychotic symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, paranoia, and disordered thinking. But is much less helpful for treating symptoms of schizophrenia such as social withdrawal, lack of motivation, and lack of emotional expressiveness.
You should not have to put up with disabling side effects. Schizophrenia medication can have very unpleasanteven disablingside effects such as drowsiness, lack of energy, uncontrollable movements, weight gain, and sexual dysfunction. Your quality of life is important, so talk to your doctor if youre bothered by side effects.
Never reduce or stop medication on your own.
Sudden or unsupervised dosage changes are dangerous, and can trigger a schizophrenia relapse or other complications. If youre having trouble with your medication or feel like you dont need to take it, talk to your doctor or someone else that you trust.
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What Does The Current Research Say
Doctors and scientists can measure ambivalence using a variety of methods. In older studies, experts sometimes used the Schizotypal Ambivalence Scale to assess the degree to which a person was experiencing certain forms of ambivalence. The SAS uses a questionnaire to evaluate ambivalence as a schizotypal symptom or trait.
For instance, a 2008 study found that people with higher SAS scores were more likely to have schizophrenia-like symptoms than the control group members.
However, using different measurement techniques may yield different results. For example, the Revised Schizotypal Ambivalence Scale is a different questionnaire for ambivalence. According to a , there does not appear to be a strong correlation between a higher rSAmb score and schizophrenia symptoms.
A more recent 2020 study evaluated the level of ambivalence that people with schizophrenia showed toward their self-image. The study examined patterns in the participants brain activity using functional MRI and measured ambivalence using the SAS questionnaire. The people with schizophrenia showed a significantly higher level of ambivalence toward actual and ideal self-image in the behavioral task than the control group.
The relationship between ambivalence and schizophrenia is, therefore, unclear. Although people with this condition
Anacardium Orientale For Auditory Hallucinations
Anacardium Orientale is an important medicine for Schizophrenia where a person hears voices. The voices are mostly of spirits or dead people. A few patients narrate that the voices say that they are going to die soon. Some patients say that the spirits call their name and command them to follow them. Some patients state that the voices inside them speak in abusive language.
Other attending features are extreme sadness, absent-mindedness, and suspicion. Forgetfulness, aversion to work, desire to swear and curse are also some characteristic symptoms that may accompany. Another unique feature is the feeling that everything is a dream, and nothing is real.
Case Number One: A Woman Finds Natural Relief
The first story is of a 31-year-old woman who was diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder eight years ago. Trials of TWELVE different medications, including Clozapine, a powerful antipsychotic agent considered by many psychiatrists to be the medication of last resort due to its risk of serious side effects, were unsatisfactory. She had also undergone 23 rounds of electroconvulsive therapy , yet remained troubled by serious symptoms. She decided to try a ketogenic diet with the hope of losing some weight. After four weeks on the diet, her delusions had resolved and shed lost ten pounds. At four months time, shed lost 30 pounds and her score on a clinical questionnaire called the PANSS , which ranks symptoms on a scale from 30 to 210 , had come down from 107 to 70.
Causes And Risk Factors
Like all mental illnesses, the schizophrenia spectrum has a combination of causes and risk factors that can only be somewhat defined. However, there are several physiological signs and risk factors associated with schizophrenia. Known causes and/or risk factors for schizophrenia include:
- Childhood sexual abuse
- History of traumatic brain injury
- Birth complications
Ayurvedic Herbal Treatment For Schizophrenia
Planet Ayurveda is a leading private limited company. This company manufactures their own herbal products and provides medicine not only in India but also to other parts of the world. It is a GMP certified company. All the medicines are made from 100% pure herbs without any preservatives, additives and chemicals. Each herbal medicine is made under the supervision of an MD Ayurvedic physician and also clinically tested with ancient time tested formulas.
Complementary And Alternative Therapies For Schizophrenia
Several supplements have been shown to help reduce symptoms of schizophrenia. Still, these may affect each person differently. Its best to talk with your doctor before starting a new supplement.
Its also important to keep in mind that research on these supplements is often very limited. Having results from only a few studies makes it difficult to draw clear conclusions about the supplements effectiveness for easing schizophrenia symptoms.
Other Potential Natural Remedies For Schizophrenia
Below are a few more remedies and therapies that some have considered for this illness. These lack conclusive evidence and require further studies before they can be recommended with any sort of confidence. These are just some natural therapies that warrant further research that you may want to consider.
What Is Schizoaffective Disorder
Schizoaffective disorder is a psychotic disorder characterized by a combination of symptoms, which include delusions or hallucinations, symptoms of a mood disorder, mania, and depression. The symptoms are similar to schizophrenia, but there are some key differences.
Due to its sharing symptoms of schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, doctors commonly misdiagnose the condition. Schizoaffective disorder is not well studied, and many interventions and treatment techniques are borrowed from bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.
According to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th Edition , schizoaffective disorder is seen in only 0.3 percent of the population. There is some conflicting information, but the majority of reports agree that the condition is more prevalent in women than men.
Those who leave the condition untreated will have trouble functioning at school, work, or in social situations. Individuals with schizoaffective disorder may have a difficult time holding down a job or attending school. It can cause the person to isolate, which can lead to loneliness.
Ketogenic Diet Has Shown Promising Results In Reducing Schizophrenia Symptoms Some Natural Herbs Like Ginseng And Ashwagandha Have Also Been Found To Be Beneficial In Controlling The Symptoms Read On To Know More
Written by Editorial Team | Published : January 7, 2020 7:49 PM IST
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental disorder that is accompanied by abnormal behaviour. The symptoms of schizophrenia are categorised as negative or positive: Social withdrawal, poverty of speech and difficulty showing emotions are termed as negative symptoms, while positive symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, and other disturbances in thinking. Negative symptoms are harder to treat than the positive ones.
Lachesis For High Degree Of Suspiciousness
Lachesis Muta is a highly reputed medicine for Schizophrenia treatment. Paranoid delusions are mainly indicative of the use of Lachesis Muta. These delusions include high suspicion of being poisoned, of being harmed and of being followed by enemies. There is suspicion in an extreme degree towards everything. A sensation of being under some superhuman power is yet another unique feature in persons needing Lachesis Muta. A wish to isolate themselves, aversion to work, and a marked loquacity are also present among such subjects. In loquacity, the prominent symptom is continuously talking with quick jumps from one subject to another unrelated subject. Repetition of the same words over and over again is also present in speech.
Hyoscyamus Niger For Delusion Of Being Poisoned
Hyoscyamus Niger is useful in cases where the patient thinks someone is going to poison them. In most cases, as a result they avoid eating or drinking. There is also a suspicion that family members are keeping a watch over them all the time. Sometimes the patient does things that appear foolish. Laughing loudly at everything is also markedly present. An impulse to strike and bite others may also arise along with delusions. Unintelligible chattering can also appear.
Improving Brain Function And Dementia
- Birks, J. & Grimley Evans, J. Gingko Biloba for Cognitive Impairment and Dementia. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews 2009, Issue 1. Art. No.: CD003120. DOI: 10.1002/14651858. CD003120. Pub3.
- Bjelakovic, G., Nikolovba, D., Gluud L.L., Sominetti, R.G., Gluud, C. Mortality in Randomized Trials od Antioxidant Supplements for Primary and Secondary Prevention: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis, JAMA, 297, 842-857.
- McDonald, R.J. Hydergine: a review of 26 clinical studies. Pharmakopsychiatr Neuropsychopharmakol, 12, 407-22.
- Olin, J., Schneider, L., Novit, A. et al Hydergine for dementia . In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 4, 2003. Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Tabet, N., Birks, J., Grimley Evans, J. Vitamin E for Alzheimer’s disease. In: The Cochrane Library, Issue 1, Chichester, UK: John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
- Vogeler, B.K., Pittler, M.H., Ernst, E. The efficacy of ginseng. A systematic review of randomized controlled trials. European Jounral of Clinical Pharmacology, 55, 567-575.
- No author listed . Haemorrhage due to Gingki Biloba. Prescrire Int, 93,19.
Can Schizoaffective Disorder Be Treated Without Medication
You may have heard of schizophrenia, but the term schizoaffective disorder may not ring a bell. While the condition only affects a small portion of our society, experts are still learning more about this severe ailment.
The term schizoaffective psychosis was introduced to the public in 1933 by a Russian psychiatrist known by Jacob Kasanin. It was defined as a subgroup of psychosis where affective and schizophrenic symptoms appear simultaneously. It could be within a few days of another or within the same episode of illness.
Other concepts, like mixed psychosis and intermediate psychosis, were used to describe the differences between affective and schizophrenic disorders. Kasanins terminology, however, persisted and gave rise to the subgroup we know today as schizoaffective disorder. The specific causes remain unknown, but two types of the condition have been established.
One of those is bipolar disorder, which is mood disturbances that are manic or mixed . The other is a depressive condition, where mood disturbances include severe depressive symptoms.
Schizoaffective disorder is debilitating and requires treatment. Unfortunately, individuals must use medication along with psychotherapy to manage their symptoms. All cases will differ, and the only way to determine what is right for you is to speak with a medical professional. Lets take a look an in-depth look at schizoaffective disorder and see how its treated.
Tip : Get Involved In Treatment And Self
The earlier you catch schizophrenia and begin treatment with an experienced mental health professional, the better your chances of getting and staying well. So, if you suspect you or a loved one is exhibiting schizophrenia symptoms, seek help right away.
Successful schizophrenia treatment depends on a combination of factors. Medication alone is not enough. Its important to also educate yourself about the illness, communicate with your doctors and therapists, build a strong support system, take self-help measures, and stick to your treatment plan. Pursuing self-help strategies such as changing your diet, relieving stress, and seeking social support may not seem like effective tools to manage such a challenging disorder as schizophrenia, but they can have a profound effect on the frequency and severity of symptoms, improve the way you feel, and increase your self-esteem. And the more you help yourself, the less hopeless and helpless youll feel, and the more likely your doctor will be able to reduce your medication.
While schizophrenia treatment should be individualized to your specific needs, you should always have a voice in the treatment process and your needs and concerns should be respected. Treatment works best when you, your family, and your medical team all work together.
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