Mental Health
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Living with Schizophrenia

Living with Schizophrenia is not easy.  It is not something that can be wished away.  As we have just celebrated awareness of Schizophrenia in the last few days, we realize that for many people living with Schizophrenia, it’s about accepting, learning how to live with and guiding others about the mental illness which is often greatly misunderstood.

A young lady shares her story:

“I knew something was wrong – I just did not know exactly what.  It felt like I was losing myself.  I felt so out of touch with myself, almost as if I was watching myself doing things but not really feeling anything.  I was so scared that others will notice too, so I started withdrawing from my friends.  Later I did not bother to spend time with my parents or siblings as I preferred staying indoors and preferably in my room all by myself.

I finally went to see my doctor where we ticked all the boxes: showing signs of delusion (I constantly believed someone was out to “get” me); hallucinations (I heard voices and at first it was just mild but it became more prominent over time); disorganized speech (I constantly embarrassed myself in meetings by responding with completely unrelated answers); withdrawal (I became scared of myself as I was not sure what I would respond like in different situations and stayed away from friends, family and colleagues in order not to embarrass myself).  I stopped playing hockey and lost complete interest in playing chess and used a back injury as an excuse not to engage in my favourite sport.

I remember the day I shared with my parents that I sought professional help because I was just not feeling myself.  My mom looked at me in utter shock while my dad pretended that he did not hear me at all. I realised that my relationships will be affected with my diagnosis and that I may need to prepare myself for a lot of explanation and knowledge about what I am going through.

Two years down the line, I am still here.  Some days are better than others, but I have learnt with the necessary support and most importantly taking care of myself is so important.  I see my doctor every month, I use my medication as prescribed.  I have the most amazing Psychologist who helped me through the most difficult time of just accepting my illness and to even explain to my family about Schizophrenia and how it impacts our lives.  I have joined a support group and don’t feel ready yet to play hockey again but I do enjoy a game of chess here and there.  I had to take some time off work once or twice, but I pace myself and it is going much better now that I am using medication suited for me and working from home on the days that I don’t feel so good.  I could laugh and debunk the myth of “people with Schizophrenia are dangerous” when my little niece came with a plastic sword and armour to protect herself from me because she heard from school that people with Schizophrenia can be very dangerous.  I assured her that the only thing I needed was for her to still love me and support me and be understanding of what I may be going through”.

Upon concluding my interaction with this young lady, the best advice she shared was getting support from her doctor, Psychologist, family, friends and those going through a similar experience.  She emphasized how important it is to take her medication regularly so that she can stick to her routine on a daily basis.  She shared that she was never someone who exercised regularly or was too bothered with eating healthy.  This all changed once she learnt that all those healthy habits lifted her mood and gave her courage to get through the day step by step and little by little.  In therapy she learnt how to relax more, how to challenge irrational thoughts and also how to journal if things became just too much for her.

Schizophrenia is a complex mental illness which impacts people’s entire lives.  It has been found that factors like genetics, environmental factors and brain chemistry contributes to the development of Schizophrenia.  The best we can do is to try and understand and support those living with the illness in order to maintain healthy relationships with the individual and provide them with the opportunity to still live a good quality life.

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AM I GROWING?

“Sometimes when you’re in a dark place you think you’ve been buried but you’ve actually been planted.” – Christine Caine

 

The past two years and even recent months, may have been experienced as a roller coaster by many people and as we have now settled into the new year, we rest a bit and take stock of where we are. We may even realign our goals as we plan for the year ahead.

Many questions come up – How much did I spend? How much did I give? How many times have I been used? How many times did I offer? How many times have I lost? How much did I lose?  The list of “how many” and “how much” looks endless, albeit it also appears to be very one-sided as well.

 

This may be one part of the year, where stock-taking and planning ahead is not always such a pleasant event. Similarly, to last year, the impact of the pandemic has perhaps led to the amendment of many dreams, hopes and aspirations.  Some people may even have found themselves in a dark place, feeling like they were buried in a very deep and dark place.  This is also often the time when we forget that the first step to growth in life, is being planted.

Spring had sprung and the first rains fell.  The prospect of renewal had dawned upon us like so many other renewals from before.  Winter is knocking on our doors.  The expectation of growth should be a pleasant one, for being planted is the first step to growth…

Growing is often a painful process, a process where, as human beings, we sometimes try to avoid it at all cost. However, it still finds us.  Only after the process do we step back and have a look at and appreciate the magnificence that was created. So, you may ask…how do I grow?

Here are some tips to help us through the process of growth:

  • Accept that life is full of lessons, and as we learn, we grow…
  • Acknowledge that we do not know everything; that there are situations where we need to call on the help, guidance and insights of others to help us make sense of what is going on in our own lives. In this way we grow…
  • Take time to work with our own healing – on a Biological, Psychological, Social and Spiritual level. Healing takes time, but in this way, we grow…
  • Make responsible decisions – always consider all aspects of a decision and realize the impact it may have on your life. Make decisions that will serve you, for in this way, we grow…
  • Create balance in your life; be aware of overindulgence or deprivation in situations and think about moderation as a guide. Plants only grow with the right amount of sunlight, water and nutrition. In keeping the balance, we grow…
  • Practice one act of self-care every day – taking care of yourself is not selfish. For in this way, we grow…

Suddenly, the realization comes to sit warmly that growing may be a painful experience.  However, when we consider the results and magnificence thereof, we understand and appreciate, like the plants of the earth, we are actually here to grow.

Mental health during Covid-19
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Peace in this valley called HOME

It is Monday morning.  It is the month of October.  The year is 2019.  With much resistance, I have dragged myself out of my very snuggly and warm bed to get ready for work.  I check my messages on my phone.  Lift-club is not happening this week, so I have to drive myself to work.  Someone has a tummy bug, so we better all be cautious, just in case… We finally leave the house; I drop off big and small living in my house for them to start the day. Then I join the river of cars in one of Johannesburg’s busiest roads which leads to the hub of the business centre.  As I watch the car ahead of me, hypnotizing me with its brake lights, and Bruno Mars singing a fading “When I see your face…”, as the news bulleting commences on the radio station, I start praying.  I find myself praying for the traffic – for it to stop – and go away – so that I can have a break – so that I can sleep late and have coffee in bed – so that I can wear my slippers all day and not comb my hair – so that I can have a sandwich on my couch and tea in my favourite cup by midday – so that I can pull my best friend called the laptop closer and start working at 14h00 – so that by 17h00 when daddy dearest arrive with all our offspring he can start supper while I take a pre-nocturnal nap – so that later I am fresh and ready to catch up and Binge a little on Netflix – AMEN!  Please put up your hand if you can relate to my urgent outcry for deliverance as in my prayer above.  Yes, I see your hand.  I appreciate your honesty – thank you so much.

Now I had a very special Grandma. She said things the way they were. Many a time in my life, from her wise mouth I heard: “Be careful what you wish for dear. It may just come true”.  I’ll give you one opportunity to guess where all South Africans (like myself) found ourselves on the 27th March 2020 after the big announcement from our president earlier that week?  Yes, you are right.  We all woke up to a VERY silent South Africa because the national lockdown regulations of the Covid Pandemic determined that for a few weeks in this country, no one will be going anywhere.  If anyone were to go anywhere, they would be few in numbers and only really if it was essential.  I could not believe my ears! It was like a dream come true – the very “traffic prayer” was answered!

With great excitement and disbelief, I joined the bandwagon of eager shoppers to stock up on groceries and other essentials in the house.  My heart was racing as I chose item after item while trying to gauge how long each will last. Suddenly I had to cater for everyone’s individual needs. I also had to make sure that all the snacks and sweeties were exactly that which were requested.  Eventually, the long-awaited day dawned.  The national lockdown has begun.  No walking in the streets allowed, no driving around, no visiting friends and family, no schooling and only working from home will be allowed unless you are an essential worker.  This was too good to be true!  The long-awaited break I was praying for – it is being answered! My dream of staying at home and having a break – it is actually coming true!  Or so I thought…

Week one at home with my true love daddy dearest was awesome.  I even shed a tear or two (of joy) when I watched him play with our little ones as he explained that as a family, we will now spend time together at home doing schoolwork and working because no-one in South Africa is allowed to move around as per usual.  Week two was a little bit more challenging.  My time seemed not to be my own. I just made too many sandwiches per day. By week three, the demands from father and children became unbearable. Please let me add little doggy who also had its own requirements suddenly because walking in the park was now prohibited. I could actually not believe that there was a week four and more…

Just as the experts predicted and observed, working from home as the “new normal” is like expecting people to change form like in the movie Transformers.  Although time and other stressors like travelling to the office suddenly seemed much easier, the isolation and social interaction could in effect lead to depression and anxiety for many people.  The new culture of working from home could lead to a struggle of maintaining healthy boundaries and poor family relations.  It is found that people work much harder, take less breaks and work into the wee hours of the morning and even over weekends.  It has become common for colleagues to contact each other after 6pm at night or even later because the perception has been created that everyone is and will be available if needed.

The following are some useful tips to manage the telecommuting situation and create a healthy balance between work and home life:

  • Plan a schedule – have designated tasks and times for everyone in the household; create routine (children enjoy routine)
  • Designate spaces – if possible, keep work space separate from sleep space and relaxation space
  • In the morning, dress as if you are going into your workspace or office – then later, get back into comfortable “home clothes”
  • Take regular breaks – enjoy a tea break and have lunch
  • Minimize social media distractions – only log in periodically in order to remain focussed on home and office tasks
  • Set and maintain boundaries – disable mobile e-mail apps on your phone, and set an alarm to remind you to switch off computers when the workday is over. Include your work hours in e-mail signatures and update status with away/not available messages for those unexpected calls after 6pm.

Expectations on the home and work front have increased and this has led to many people feeling incompetent and unsupported. Our general well-being as humans have been challenged like ships sailing unchartered waters.  All the stress, depression, fatigue, quality of life, strain and happiness has been thrown into one pot – and then we watched as it all cooked together and expected the perfect tasting dish ever found on earth.

Mental Health experts advise that the awareness of setting the bar too high for ourselves, is key to the maintenance of mental health during these challenging times.  We should know our limits to adaptability in order to cope with the “newness” created by the Corona Pandemic.  Telecommuting is here to stay, and although there are many benefits to it, personal care and our own mental health comes first.  Most importantly, the peace in the valley called home is the foundation and key determiner of our arrival after the storm caused by the Corona Pandemic.

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How to deal with a heavy workload

Work stress is one of those things we simply can’t escape, but are you overdoing it?

I found this interesting info-graphic designed by Catherine Adenle based on some American stats. It holds a few interesting facts and tips to help you cope with a very heavy workload.

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The Brain game: Facts and myths about the brain.

The thing I find most interesting about the human body is, by far, the brain. The brain is comprised of trillions of neurons, brain structures, and networks. What is even more fascinating is how these networks communicate with each other and how they, in turn, make us function.

New research in neurology has found that the secrets of our brains don’t lie in one specific structure, but rather in how these structures form pathways, which form networks, which make us walk and talk and think and breathe and, well, make us do all the things we are able to do! Continue “The Brain game: Facts and myths about the brain.”

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How to Keep Yourself Motivated During the Winter Months

Whether your New Year’s resolutions were to lose some weight or to adopt a healthier lifestyle, nothing threatens our hard work quite like the cold winter weather does. Don’t allow the weather to get the better of you or derail your goals! Here are a few tips to keep yourself motivated during winter, or if you don’t particularly like the winter – just how to get through it!

 

  1. Embrace the winter

The winter is here and there is pretty much nothing we can do to change it, so instead of fighting it, embrace it! The winter months may hold some great opportunities for your exercise and diet programme. Healthy soups and herbal teas are great ways to keep your dietary plans on par. Do some effort to research indoor exercise facilities in your area or better yet, Google some fun home exercise regiments. Take a walk; the winter months make afternoon walks with pets more enjoyable, because the weather is not as hot as it would have been in the summer months.

Continue “How to Keep Yourself Motivated During the Winter Months”

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Fighting the winter blues.

Most of us hate winter and the changing of the season, but as the leaves start falling and we feel the bite in the air, there is no more running and no more hiding; we have to face it… Winter is coming!

For many, the changing of the season also means a change in their mood, and as they layer on the clothes, they also start to develop a layer of depression and anxiety. Here are some tips to beat the winter blues:

  1. Don’t sleep in

You may be very tempted to just lay in a little while longer now that the morning air is a bit cooler, but keeping to your normal, regular sleeping pattern may help with the transition into winter.

Continue “Fighting the winter blues.”

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Truth above emotion

Gold Reef City.  I have been there only twice in my life and I must say it’s not fun for me.  All the different rides – up, down, turning, twirling, or a sudden fall – and most of the rides last only a few seconds.  These rides make me think of all the different kinds of emotion we experience every day.  There’s the Anaconda ride that is like the ‘wild’ side of you that says: ‘Let’s go wild and think about the consequence later!’ The bumper cars can be related to anger, when you pick a fight just because you want to take it out on someone.  What about the ‘Sudden Death Drop?’  The nervous feeling of waiting your turn and then the doubt of: ‘Did I do the right thing getting on?’

Continue “Truth above emotion”

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How to Develop Emotional Regulation

When I was younger, I watched the television program “Desperate Housewives”.

Now the reason I am telling you this is not to discuss my poor taste in entertainment; I have a point, I promise!

In one of the episodes, some of the characters were extremely upset about something that had happened, but one of the other characters seemed to be the embodiment of calmness. When she was asked how she can possibly be this calm, she replied by saying that it is not proper for a lady to show her emotions. She said that one should imagine putting them away in a box, on a high shelf in a cupboard, and only deal with them when appropriate. Now my question is: is this even possible? Can we merely switch off our emotions, ignore them, or hide them away in some subconscious cupboard?

Continue “How to Develop Emotional Regulation”

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Emotion dysregulation and 5 signs thereof.

Today we are taking some time to talk about emotion regulation, or more accurately, dysregulation. According to Google, emotion regulation is: “the ability to respond to an experience with a range of emotions in a manner that is socially acceptable and flexible enough to permit spontaneous reactions, as well as the ability to delay spontaneous reactions as needed.” What it comes down to is: it is the ability to experience and express your emotions in a way that is not threatening to the self or causes social distress. The problem is that this is not easy for everyone to do.

We all experience emotions, both negative and positive, on a daily basis. However, for some, these emotions can become very overpowering and can cause them to react in a way that may result in personal harm or upset to their social environments and relationships. Emotion regulation is the skill people possess that generally describes that person’s ability to effectively manage and respond to an emotional experience, without the aforementioned personal and social disturbances.

Continue “Emotion dysregulation and 5 signs thereof.”