Published in the Westchester Guardian, July 2013
Hearing that word, that diagnosis, strikesa deep feeling of dread into our hearts – the same feeling of hopelessness thata cancer diagnosis entails. We associateit ,through false cultural bias in those individuals, usually seen disheveled,unkempt, talking and wandering, seemingly aimlessly on the streets. Even itsGreek origin mis-defines the condition as “to split’ skhizein and phren“mind”, falsely implying a split or multi-personality issues. Its term howeverreally means a “splitting of mental functions.” Historical stereotyping,ignorance has led public perception to view those suffering as being violentresulting in social out casting and discrimination, intolerance and injustice.(Is this similar to some cancer diagnosis a generation or so ago?) This biashas left treatment and proper facilities to be in short supply, with many beingjailed and imprisoned without treatment and therefore without justice.
“Adults with schizophrenia are not attractive in the way thatan abandoned baby or an abused dog is.”
PaulaSellmeyer.
Impairing relationships, decision makingabilities, and the thinking process, schizophrenia psychosis causes, entailshallucinations and delusions. About 2.4million Americans adults over 18 are afflicted. Multiple causes linked to schizophrenia caninclude brain chemistry, genetics, social and environmental issues. Also, about50% suffer from anosognosia, a lack of awareness or insight that they are ill.
With every case being distinctive, nosingle cause, treatment and action exist, but with proper treatment a life withmeaning and success can be obtained. At one time, considered incurable, thereis now a success rate of nearly 50%, successfully ministered with the rightmedication, therapy, social and vocational treatment.
“When it comes to the treatment of patients with chronicschizophrenia, the glass is only half-full.” Dr. Jeffrey Lieberman, professorand researcher.
I used internet sources and confirmed through multiple sitelistings, but there is the possibility of mislabeling and overlapping ofvarious diagnosis. Historical sources may only be obtainable from observationsand records of others and mental health , knowledge, care and treatment carewere absolutely primitive. Hopefully there would be further advances making oursystem primitive by comparison as well.
“Mygreatest fear is this brain of mine….The worst thing imaginable is to beterrified of one’s own mind, the very matter that controls all that we are and allthat we do and feel.”
“You must use your malfunctioning brain toassess the malfunction of your brain.”
Anonymous quotes from patients inE. Fuller Torrey’s, M.D. book Surviving Schizophrenia: A Manualfor Families, Patients and Providers.
Here is a small,incomplete, growing list of those who have suffered. Some of whom have giventhe inflicted, their families and caregivers hope by living useful and helpfullives in their own special ways. And some whom we could learn from theirmistakes and trials:
Musicians: Tom Harrell –Superstar jazz trumpet musician and composer. Entertainment Weekly called him “thepremier trumpeter of his generation.” Newsweekhailed him a genius. Now in his 60s, Mr. Harrell has struggled withschizophrenia for decades and openly speaks about his struggles hoping to helpothers cope. He credits music and medication with helping him persevere. Roger“Roky” Erickson singer and songwriter for the psychedelic 13th Floor Elevatorsin the 60’s. Sidetracked by drugs, hospitalization, and schizophrenia, his fansnever forgot him and he continued to make music periodically. In 2005, adocumentary about his life, called You’re Gonna Miss Me, was released. PeterGreen, musician and songwriter, is considered one of the best blues guitariststo ever come out of England. As the original leader of Fleetwood Mac, he wroteclassic songs such as “Black Magic Woman.” Then drugs andschizophrenia intervened. Green left the group in 1970, but he continued torecord sporadically. In 1998, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall ofFame as part of Fleetwood Mac. Syd Barrett, founding member of Pink Floyd. Alexander “Skip” Spence andBob Mosley both members of Moby Grape. Mosley later rejoined his band in the90’s. Jim Gordon drummer and a Grammy winner.
“My mind has been both my best friend and my worst enemy,”says Elyn Saks.
Artistand Actors: MeeraPopkin, Broadwayactress who starred in Cats and Miss Saigon. Went from Broadway to waitingtables at Wendy’s. Popkin has hebephrenic, a disorganized subtype ofschizophrenia. This is a thought disorder and it is most recognized in the waya person speaks – they do not completely finish thoughts before going intoexplaining another and they tend to be more emotional and may take things moreto heart and openly express their pain without rationalizing it. Now a motherof 2, she’s collaborating on a script of her life. Darrell Hammond, comedian,actor with the longest running stretch on Saturday Night Live. Ash Lieb,Artist, comedian and writer. Others some from the past when proper diagnosisand treatment was unavailable include Louis Wain, Parveen Babi, Gene Tierney,Veronica Lake, Vincent Van Gogh, (with schizophreniaand/or bipolar), Clara Bow, Camille Claudel.
“We children of schizophrenics are the great secret keepers,the ones who don’t want you to think that anything is wrong.” Mira Bartok,author and daughter of a schizophrenic.
Others: Lionel Aldrige and Andy Goram, bothprofessional football players, one American, the other Scottish. Aldrige untilhis death in 1998 performed advocacy work included serving as a board memberfor the Mental Health Association of Milwaukee and working as a speaker for theNAMI. Elyn Saks, professor and an expert on mental health law is a well knownlegal scholar, who suffered silently (and alone?). In 2007 her memoir, TheCenter Cannot Hold: My Journey through Madness, revealed that she had beenbattling schizophrenia for decades. Saks received a $500,000 MacArthurFoundation “genius grant” in 2009. Will Elliot, Australian author,whose first novel was published in 2006, a horror novel earning internationalacclaim. A new novel will be published in 2013. John Nash, Nobel Prize winner,subject of the book and movie, ABeautiful Mind.
“We think that bothour genetic rodent model as well as a new learning and memory test we developedmay provide valuable tools in the investigation of schizophrenia.” Dr. Robert Greene.
“Theever quickening advances of science made possible by the success of the HumanGenome Project will also soon let us see the essences of mental disease.” JamesD. Watson.
Remember, today you may never have to bealone, spiritually or otherwise. The human understanding of this disease andother ailments has finally grown/matured slightly, it’s a slow start, but it’sa start.
Please see sites such NAMI.org for further information.
#1091
Glenn Slaby Blog