Integral/Holistic view & approach to schizophrenia

[Being]

The myth of schizophrenia as a progressive brain disease.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23172002

Abstract

"Schizophrenia has historically been considered to be a deteriorating disease, a view reinforced by recent MRI findings of progressive brain tissue loss over the early years of illness. On the other hand, the notion that recovery from schizophrenia is possible is increasingly embraced by consumer and family groups. This review critically examines the evidence from longitudinal studies of (1) clinical outcomes, (2) MRI brain volumes, and (3) cognitive functioning."

This study says that Schizophrenia is NOT a progressive brain disease.

They say:
1) 25% of people DON'T recover or get better but most of them don't go down hill like people with brain diseases do.
(this means 75% DO recover or get better)
2) There are some measurable changes that can be seen with a MRI when people first have psychosis but that doesn't really mean anything about "brain disease".
3) People's brains sometimes shrink a bit but medication, substance abuse and other secondary factors would account for this.
4) People with "schizophrenia" do have trouble with thinking sometimes, it doesn't seem to get worse which would expect with a "progressive brain disease".
5) Most people get better for most of the time
6) Some of the people who don't get better might not be getting much help , they might have other problems as well and they might be really poor.

If you look to the right, there are other similar articles and studies

[Being]

Understanding Extreme States: An Interview with Lloyd Ross -

https://www.madinamerica.com/2017/02...es-lloyd-ross/

"In this interview, Lloyd Ross of ISEPP and I discuss how to help people experiencing delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, and other problems commonly associated with a diagnosis of “schizophrenia.” We discuss the problems with the biological model of “mental illness” as contrasted with a more psychosocial, contextual model of distress.

As Lloyd says, “What kind of hope do you have if someone tells you you have a brain disease called schizophrenia, and we can only give you this drug that can hold it down but can’t cure it? What kind of hope is that?”

There are better, more hopeful ideas available for supporting people experiencing extreme states, and in this interview we go in search of them."

[Being]

Integrative Mental Health: 27 Non-drug Options that Work

https://www.madinamerica.com/2017/02...ons-that-work/

"Research Says: Non-drug Options Work

After examining over 4000 studies, and hundreds of meta-analyses, I surfaced from my research and was hit with a startling “Aha” moment: non-drug approaches really work.

They generally offer significant symptom reduction, and in some cases, full remission. They have a side effect profile that is dramatically better than drugs: usually none, or quite mild.1 Unlike drugs, many non-drug approaches target known causes and influencers of mental health issues, not just symptoms. And these approaches help people achieve sustainable wellness.

Non-drug approaches, however, are no panacea. Some approaches work better than others. Some have very strong evidence, others suggestive. Some people don’t get any benefit from certain techniques, while others find them life-altering. Such is the nature of our individuality.

But non-drug approaches are also no fad. They are validated by disciplined peer-reviewed studies. They’re also more than theory. A growing number of practitioners embrace and heal with Integrative Mental Health — a discipline that uses the best of conventional psychiatry and non-drug options."

[Being]

The Psychology of Spiritual Awakening with Steve Taylor -

http://caseyplusnatasha.com/2017/02/...-steve-taylor/

"Steve Taylor is the author of several best-selling books on psychology and spirituality, including The Fall and The Calm Center. For the last four years he has been included in Mind, Body, Spirit magazine’s list of the ‘100 most spiritually influential living people.’ His latest book is The Leap: The Psychology of Spiritual Awakening, published as an Eckhart Tolle Edition. Steve is also a senior lecturer in psychology at Leeds Beckett University, UK."

[Being]

The Reason for Suffering by Silver Birch

http://whitecrowbooks.com/books/feat..._silver_birch/

All suffering automatically brings its own reward because it touches the soul and, in doing so, gives it a greater awareness of the higher, deeper and more profound aspects of the universe.” He told the circle on one occasion: “Your world does not understand the function of pain and suffering and difficulty and hardship, but all these play an important part in the evolution of the human spirit. Look back in your own lives and see that often the greatest crises, the most difficult problems, the darkest hours, were the stepping-stones that led to greater understanding

[shivatar]

Holy moly.... 274 replies...

does everybody on SF think they have schizophrenia or something? lol

[Being]

Originally Posted by shivatar

Holy moly.... 274 replies...

does everybody on SF think they have schizophrenia or something? lol

Just me mainly with my ramblings - Have been diagnosed with it for 27 years.

[Being]

Originally Posted by shivatar

Holy moly.... 274 replies...

does everybody on SF think they have schizophrenia or something? lol

There is a question about spirituality & mental health -

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog...-health-hazard

Personally i find this forum far more odd than mental health forums.

[shivatar]

Originally Posted by Being

There is a question about spirituality & mental health -

https://www.psychologytoday.com/blog...-health-hazard

Personally i find this forum far more odd than mental health forums.

It's certainly not the same realm of healing as clinical psychology but it has it's pros and cons.

It seems like clinical psychology is less risky and has more steady and stable rewards. Spirituality is like gambling, sometimes a person gets the ultimate healing or at least enough to change their life, sometimes healing doesn't come for a longggg time.

[Being]

Originally Posted by shivatar

It's certainly not the same realm of healing as clinical psychology but it has it's pros and cons.

It seems like clinical psychology is less risky and has more steady and stable rewards. Spirituality is like gambling, sometimes a person gets the ultimate healing or at least enough to change their life, sometimes healing doesn't come for a longggg time.

There are unanswered questions about the aetiology / causality of mental illnesses. It goes into very complex areas concerning biological, psychogenic, sociological / traumagenic as well as spiritual / transpersonal & integral / multi-factorial areas. No one really has all the answers with it all. Cases are individual & often complex, & there are pros & cons to any potential treatment.