Antipsychotics / Neuroleptics For Mental Disorders - Comments

[cmike1980]

Antipsychotics / Neuroleptics For Mental Disorders - Comments
 
 

 
In terms of antipsychotics / neuroleptics meant for the treatments of mental disorders , clinical evidences actually indicate that those troubled with mental disorders, especially the serious ones, shouldn't just rely solely upon the medications as the one and only means of solution to their mental problems.


 
To put it bluntly, such medications, they are no different from sleeping pills whereby their calming effects just 'come and go' after the lapse of their effective period whilst their potential disastrous side effects can be permanent upon manifestations. In medical sense, such mental disorders, especially the serious ones  is mainly caused by the malfunctionings of the mood regulator neurotransmitter, especially Serotonin in the brain. Next, though the related medications can to a certain extent bring such a severe mental disorder under control by 'artificially' regulating, blocking and controlling the re-uptake of it in the brain of the persons suffering from it, medications alone however, by no means would be able to deal conclusively with the problems due to the fact that the root causes of such a disorder is actually resulting largely from the environmental, circumstantial and other interpersonal factors (or the changes of them) that are deemed to be emotionally and adversely unacceptable to the ones suffering from it to a very great extent. Such negative changes in turn actually account for the negative behavioural changes in them as described
 
 

In short, it remains the truth that most of the antipsychotics / neuroleptics meant for especially the treatment of chronic mental illnesses would tend to work in such a way that they would need to change / alter the chemical balances in the brain of those taking such medications in the process of bringing such disorders under control. In the process of doing so, such a mechanism would unavoidably and eventually antagonize the neurotransmitters of the nervous system, especially the serotonin and dopamine (which is necessary for various neuromuscular functions), and hence disturb and interfere with the normal functionings of the nerves of the human body.

 

Next, though it may take years for such undesirable side effects / scenario to manifest onto the ones taking such medications, I am just in the opinion that in the case of the medications having potentially such unwanted side effects, it would naturally be the duty of the medical personnel / specialists-in-charge to take all the precautionary measures to safeguard the well-being of the patients for the sake of their healthcare and welfare.
 
 

The real-life examples that I have come across so far is such that for the ones relying merely upon medications and nothing else to deal with their mental disorders, they would tend to develop both emotional and psychological dependences upon such medictions over the long-term whilst getting their mental conditions deteriorated from time to time, eg, from neurosis to psychosis and then just acquire all those almost irreversibly disastrous undesirable side effects like Extrapyramidal Symptoms, Tardive Dyskinesia, Dystonia, Akathisia, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome, Parkinsonism disorders etc from such medications in the end.

 

In such a connection, psychotherapy, counselling, emotional and other communication / interactive supports would be needed to complement the use of the related medications to achieve greater curative effects for such patients troubled by chronic mental disorder.

 

As such, medications is one thing, but the mental / cognitive abilities of the patients themselves to eventually change their views and perceptions about their environments / surroundings, circumstances and people they are facing in a more positve way, particularly developed through the help of such counselling supports from the others in order for them to really get better and gradually develop positive behavioural / personality changes, is simply another thing that cannot achieved solely with the help of medications alone.

 

In a nutshell, medications alone by no means can be a substitute for the positive interpersonal experiences that such patients would eventually need for genuine improvement and recovery of their sanity and the use of them should at the same time be complemented by other psychotherapy efforts to achieve the purpose of holistic healing.

 

Lastly, I hope that the information given above will turn out to be useful to its intended readers. Thank you.
 
 
 
Related Reference :

 

Tardive Dyskinesia : -



http://www.healthatoz.com/healthatoz/Atoz/common/standard/transform.jsp?requestURI=/healthatoz/Atoz/ency/tardive_dyskinesia.jsp

[cmike1980]

General Cognitive Behavioural Process
 

 
 
Well, a psychologist has actually explained to me before that any human actions / behaviours are generally dictated by a cognitive mental process summarized such as follows, and it would apply as well to the ones suffering from any mental disorders, but nevertheless are still mentally and cognitively well-aware of their surroundings and other objects / factors around them. Next, I find that such reasonings really make great senses, and hence, I just feel like to share it with the intended readers :-

 

Perceptions (anything we see, we hear, we know, we taste, we touch etc from our surroundings / other people) => Feelings (the way we feel about our surroundings and other people based on anything we see, hear, know, taste, touch etc) => Thoughts (the types of views and opinions that we form in our minds based on the types of feelings we have for anything we perceive) => Actions (how we choose to react in response to those surroundings / other people based on the feelings and thoughts that arise in our minds).

 

In such a regard, the underlying problem faced by the ones with schizophrenia, bipolar disorders and other mental disorders are such that they would tend to treat their perceptions (as mentioned above) in a very much negatively different way, and that in turn results in them forming all those negative feelings, thoughts and then all those negative actions of which others get to label them as negative behavioural / personality changes.

 

For example, a person suffering from schizophrenia may, after 'observing' his surroundings, (Perceptions), just in turn, for certain reasons like past traumatic experiences, anxiety disorders, panic attacks etc, would tend to spontaneously and directly feel very much uncomfortable, anxious, scared and fearful for what they get to see, hear, know, touch etc (Feelings) , and in extreme cases, maybe they may get to hear 'voices' and feel very much threatened by their surroundings then have such false and unreal imaginations of which they subconsciously choose to firmly believe in that someone out there is 'really' / 'actually' threatening his life (Thoughts or in this case, purely false hallucinations), and finally just try his very best based on his own misguided judgements, to subconsciously become violently defensive and hostile against the others in order to save himself, from being killed etc (Actions).

 

Similarly, such an explanation to a certain extent would apply as well to the ones having such disorders like Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, Claustrophobia (a morbid fear of being closed in a confined space) etc whereby a given surrounding, which may appear normal to other people, would nevertheless and otherwise appear to be abnormally unacceptable to them possibly because of past traumatic experiences, anxiety disorders, panic attacks and other reasons. Next, the feelings and thoughts that such people would have based what they perceive for the given surrounding in turn would be largely uncontrollable, if not subconciously involuntary, while their subsequent responses/ reactions / actions based on their such negative feelings and thoughts, would in turn be very much the so-called reflex reactions which are substantially and in most cases, totally beyond their self-control.

 

In this regard, it would be very much helpful for the ones dealing with such persons to understand their basic underlying problems and difficulties and in turn treat them considerately and thoughtfully with care, respects and most importantly, compassion, whilst at the same time, also try to be friendly and amicable to them in such as a way that rather than feeling uncomfortable with a given surrounding and becoming agitated, these persons would on the other hand, feel more mind-easing, emotionally calm, placated, pacified, soothed, comfortable and relaxing with that given 'uneasy' / 'uncomfortable' / 'threatening' surroundings that they perceive. Subsequently, all these efforts will definitely be tremendously conducive to the improvements of the conditions of their disorders and possibly the final recovery in the end.

 

With all due respect, the antipsychotics and other neuroleptics just serve to temporarily block such negative nerve impulses about their such negative perceptions from getting sent to the brain of the ones having such disorders so as to artificially block all those negative feelings, thoughts, and then the actions. Hence, they are simply not a conclusive and permanent solution to such disorders.

 

Well, in such a context, the most direct way of treating schizophrenia and bipolar disorder in the most effective, and maybe largely hypothetical way would be for such persons to totally change their perceptions about their surroundings, environments, the other people in a positive way and to start having positive and realistic thoughts and at the same time, to get rid of those hallucinations, fanciful ideas, little by little gradually and slowly out of their mind and replace them with anything normal, practical, realistic and positive. Theorectically, positive perceptions => positive feelings =>positive thoughts => positive actions.

 

In this sense, a great deal of interpersonal, interactive, communications and emotional supports from the ones genuinely willing to help them would be very much essential in getting this achieved, essentially in changing the ways they perceive, feel and think for anything they deal with so as to enable them to come to a decision on their own to have positive actions.


 
Nonetheless, above all these external constructive helps from the others, all the self-initiatives, self-controls and self-disciplines that are meant to be exercised, essentially on the parts of the ones suffering from such a disorder, particularly to 'mentally-train' themselves to think realistically, positively, optimistically and to cast out / expel all those weird thoughts, hallucinations, fanciful imaginations and preposterous urges and whims little by little out of their minds and get them replaced with the positive, practical and realistic ones, so as to slowly develop positive behavioural changes in themselves, would in turn actually be the decisive factor in determining whether their conditions will pracitcally improve or not, slowly and gradually in the end.

[cmike1980]

Hallucinations / Delusions, symptoms of Schizophrenia - Brief Analysis
 
 
 

In fact, for the symptoms of hallucinations / delusions etc that might come along with certain mental disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder etc, well, I was actually informed by the psychiatrists and psychologists that all these hallucinations / delusions etc, 'they' are actually 'fed' on such negative feelings as fear, anger, frustrations, suspicions and all other fanciful, illogical, irrational, erratic and unreasonable senses of those suffering from such hallucinational disorders.


 
This is to say, the more and more, and the frequent and frequent that such people having hallucinations / delusions are to entertain / indulge / revel / be engrossed in such negative feelings of fear, anger, frustrations, suspicions and all other fanciful, illogical, irrational, erratic and unreasonable senses, and the stronger and stronger of those senses that such people suffering from schizophrenia / bipolar disorder tend to have, then the worse and worse their delusional and hallucinational conditions would tend to become / deteriorate over time.



Similarly, the same concepts and principles would fairly apply to certain mental diorders like depressions, anxieties, phobias, panic attacks etc whereby the more and more depressed, anxious, distressed, worried, dejected, panicked, desperate, emotionally impulsive, fearful (of certain things, surroundings, situations, people etc) a particular mentally-illed person can get, the more and more serious that such mental disorders would potentially deteriorate over the long-term.



So, one would really need to learn how to control oneself so as not to let their such negative senses running out of control.
 
 
 
In short, in dealing with such problems, just don't 'give' all these hallucinations / delusions etc what 'they' want (in these cases, that will be those negative unrealistic / irrational / wildly fanciful senses etc as described above) so as to prevent the symptoms from deteriorating from bad to worse. Whilst the same approaches would be effective for the other mental disorders too, such as the ones mentioned above. 
 
 
 
So, the ways of overcoming these hallucinations / delusions, other mental disorders etc, on one point, would be to use certain related medications to temporarily bring such a condition under control (temporarily in the sense that medications have their limitations especially in terms of their effective curative period, whilst at the same time, such a 'temporary healing' is actually achieved through the artificial suppressing of negative nerve impulses to block all such negative feelings, thoughts - in this case, mainly the hallucinations, and finally the actions which arise from negative perceptions).
 
 
 
On the other hand, one's self-initiatives and self-efforts to exercise self-controls, self-disciplines, self-rationalisings, self-reasonings etc to overcome all those delusions and hallucinations would be of utmost essential in helping oneself to cope with such mental disorders.
 
 
 
This is to say, in order to overcome all those delusions, hallucinations etc, one would need to exercise all those self-initiatives, self-controls etc to exercise self-reasonings and self-rationalisings, so as to enable oneself to gradually and slowly think positively, rationally, realistically, reasonably, practically and sensibly, as well as, at the same time, to replace all those delusional, hallucinational thoughts, wild imaginations etc, bit by bit, with rational and reasonable thoughts and senses, just like the what the normal healthy people do.
 
 
 
In the meantime, one would reasonably require certain psychotherapy, emotional, interactive, interpersonal and communication supports in getting such goals achieved. In this regard, such other activities as doing sports, playing indoor games (such as chess, card games etc), engagings in one's favourite hobbies, watching comedies, reading something interesting, positively inspiring etc, would all be useful in both distracting one's mind from having delusions, hallucinations etc, whilst at the same time, subconsciously instilling into their minds all those optimistic and positive thoughts that one would need to deal with such disorders.
 
 
 
In short, having hallucinations, which to a certain extent might be associated with certain mental disorders, as well as the mental disorders themselves, well, they may be painful experiences to most people, however, it would take just the right treatments and other related remedial factors to achieve holistic healings for such disorders of hallucinations / delusions, other mental disorders etc.

[cmike1980]

Mental Disorders  / Mental Illnesses - Its Two General Categories : Neurosis & Psychosis - Brief Explanations
 
 
 
 
Generally, mental disorders / mental illnesses can be summarized into the two broad categories of neurosis and psychosis as explained below : -
 
 
 
-  In the case of mental disorders / mental illnesses which mildly disturb the normal functionings of one's cognitive / thinking abilities, functions and processes (of the brains), this would give rise to behavioural problems (that affects only part of the personality), which are quite uncontrollable and involuntary. Next, such scenarios are generally labelled as  neurosis. Its common examples would be depression, panic, anxiety, insecurity, irrational fears, obsessive- compulsive Disorders (OCD), hypochondria / neurasthenia  etc. In this regard, such antidepressants like Prozac etc are actually meant for such mental disorders / mental illnesses.  As such, please refer to the website below for further details :

 

http://www.answers.com/topic/neurosis


http://www.drugs.com/mtm/prozac.html
 
 
 
-  In the very much serious cases of mental disorders / mental illnesses whereby one's cognitive / thinking abilities,  functions and processes (of the brains) are severely disturbed and impaired, this would then cause the much more serious personality disorders which may involve such mentally dissociative states of delusions, hallucinations and in the worst case scenario, insanities. The most common examples would be scizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, schizophreniform disorder, bipolar disorder, paranoia etc - which are generally labelled as psychosis .  In such a connection, such powerful tranquilizers as the antipsychotics / neuroleptics etc will usually be needed to deal with such much more serious mental disorders / mental illnesses.  As such, please refer to the website below for further details :
 


http://www.answers.com/topic/psychosis


http://www.answers.com/topic/antipsychotic-1

[cmike1980]

Additional Information About Modern And Outdated Medications For Mental Disorders



Besides, I would like to add that as far as the harmful and nearly unavoidable muscle spasms (involuntary restless bodily / muscular movements such as rapid purposeless uncontrollable eye-blinking / eyelid-twitching, Hemifacial Spasms, Tardive Dyskinesia, Dystonia etc) and other neurological disorders arising from the harmful neuromuscular / neurological / neuro-degenerative side effects of certain medications are concerned, there have been in fact a great variety of other far better medications with greater curative effects and far lesser harmful side effects getting invented from time to time nowadays by the modern medical science in order to overcome this problem.



Nevertheless, the usual current practice of most medical practitioners nowadays are such that they would prefer to prescribe and dispense the inferior and outdated medications to their patients owing to the far lower costs of these medications, and hence the health cares of the patients are getting unfairly exploited and jeopardized in such a scenario.



For an instance, the medication called chlorpromazine is actually one of the examples of the longly outdated first-generation antipsychotic medications that has long been superseded by the other far better second and third-generation antipsychotics ever since decades ago. However, such inferior and outdated medications are still the commonly preferred choices for prescriptions and dispensing of most medical practitioners nowadays.



Examples of First-generation antipsychotics for treating schizophrenia :


http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/first-generation-antipsychotics-for-treating-schizophrenia



In such a connection, please refer to the website as follows for some overviews of all these first, second and third-generation antipsychotics.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipsychotics 
 

[cmike1980]

Mental Disorders : Brief Analysis and Summary



Actually, one thing to take note here is that the chemical imbalance in the brain (especially mood-regulator, Serotonin) leading to the mental disorder is actually caused by disturbances to one's mood in the very first place that might arise as a result of various emotionally unpleasant / unacceptable factors, scenarios, events, persons, surroundings, etc that are considered upsetting, distressing and even traumatic to certain people (resulting thus in disturbances to the normal functionings of neurotransmitter chemical, Serotonin and then such chemical imbalance in the brain). All in all, the question as to whether a person facing or confronting with such emotionally unpleasant / unacceptable factors, scenarios, events, persons, surroundings, etc will eventually suffer from mental disorder or not, that would largely and mostly depend on how good or how bad one is able to tolerate, put up and adapt oneself to all such emotionally unpleasant / unacceptable adversities without getting emotionally disturbed in the end.



Next, for drugs such as anti-depressants and anti-anxieties (for neurosis - less serious mental disorder) and antipsychotics / neuroleptics (for psychosis- more serious mental disorder characterized by serious hallucinations, and in fact, the powerful mind-altering agents), they are in fact a simplified way of chemical solution to various mental disorders.



In such a connection, their chemical mechanism is such that they would serve to artificially block the negative nerve impulses (negative thoughts, feelings, emotions etc) from getting sent to the brain, and thus temporarily stop a person from getting upset, distressed, depressed etc throughout the effective period of the each drug dosage (that may last for mere hours). In the process of doing so and given the fact that the entire mechanism is purely artificial by drug interception rather than natural, the synaptic activities of the neurons and the neurotrasmitters chemicals especially Serotonin and Dopamine (the neurotransmitter chemical responsible for human bodily movements) etc of the nervous systems would unavoidably be interferred and antagonized in the end.



Subsequently, such a phenomenon would then eventually lead to certain neurological / neuromuscular and in the worst case scenario, the neuro-degenerative symptoms getting developed as the side effects of these drugs for mental disorders. And hence, modern medical science actually tries to overcome such these problems by inventing the more and more advanced versions of the newer and better drugs with ever-decreasing harmful side effects from time to time for the sake of the health cares and well-beings of the ones using them.



At the same time, another thing to take note as well is such that since the human bodies would gradually develop tolerances for any medications, including the ones for mental disorders, and especially the ones that are fed to them repeatedly over the long-term, such medications for mental disorders would hence become addictive themselves whereby larger and larger dosages would gradually be required from time to time to achieve the similar therapeutical effects, and then eventually, they would lose their intended artificial curative effects particularly when they are over-relied upon to the point of sheer abuse whilst no other non-medicational efforts are taken to deal with such mental disorders.



As such, given the ultimately inevitable risks of side effects of such drugs, my opinions are such that the more practical and realistic solution to mental disorders is such that whilst taking the related drugs to curb and bring down the uncontrollable symptoms of mental disorders, such as feelings of deep depressions, deep hallucinations, violent emotional outbursts etc, as well as making the necessary efforts to benefit oneself to the best possible extent from the newer and better drugs with ever-decreasing harmful neurological side effects for such mental disorders which are invented from time to time by the modern medical science, such medications should be used wisely with all the precautionary measures. Whilst at the same time, other non-medicational efforts of emotional and communication supports from the others etc to cheer and brighten up one's mood and spirit as well as the related self-control efforts (to control one's mood and tempers) should thus also be taken at the same time to deal with such mental disorders more effectively towards the goals of gradual improvements as well as final and full recoveries.

[cmike1980]

As a summary,



I'm suggesting the following as a solution to mental disorders :



1/3 of medicational helps + 1/3 of psychotherapies, interactive, interpersonal, emotional, communication, conselling supports from the others + 1/3 of self-determinations, self-initiatives, self-controls, self-wills and self-disciplines to think positively, rationally, realistically and practically as well as to lead a normal and healthy life



These are actually the advices I have obtained from many neurologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists and psychologists as well as the very conclusions I have experienced myself.



Next, I must admit that it's quite arbitrary for me to do so in the first place. However, given the fact that there are more and more people nowadays, especially the ones having the mental disorders who would tend to rely heavlily, and if not completely, but at the same time, rather ignorantly upon medications as their sole and only means of dealing with their mental disorders, hence, by assigning the numerical proportion of '1/3' to each of those 3 variables for that 'equation' I'm just trying to convey a message to the intended readers that such factors as external psychotherapies, interactive / interpersonal, emotional / moral supports from the others as well as self-controls / self-efforts to think positively, they are just fairly as important as the medications when it comes to dealing with mental disorders.



Lastly, I hope that the information given will be relevant and useful to the intended readers. Thank you.
 
 
 

[cmike1980]

Mental Disorders - Further Explanations
 
 
 

Actually, in terms of mental disorders which may come along with hallucinations / delusions, all those external aides of medications, psychotherapies, interactive, interpersonal and emotional supports etc, they are all meant for the same ultimate goal of bringing such disorders under control and there is simply no doubt for that.
 

 
Next, since it's the ones having mental disorders are the ones who are actually suffering from such illnesses, which arise from negative perceptions, negative feelings and negative thoughts formed in their own brains / minds (instead of other people's brains / minds), it would eventually necessitate they themselves to put in their very own self- efforts, having received both external medicational and interpersonal helps from the others, to exercise self-controls and self-disciplines on their own to direct their own brains for self-reasonings, self-introspections and self-rationalisings.
 
 
 
This is to say, for the self-cognition / thinkings psychological part of the ones having mental diorders to form those positive feelings and positive thoughts in their own minds on their very own, and then to naturally develop postitive behavioural / personality changes, such a cognitive thought / thinking process actually can hardly be 'dictated' by anyone else other than they themselves. In such connection, as to the cognitive / thinking abilities / processes of different individuals, one of the simplest examples will be the process of learning a knowledge or something else whereby a person can get the best text materials, teachers, lecturers, tutors etc to assist one in his / her learnings, however, it would still ultimately depend on the very cognitive ability / process pertaining to that particular person which is then the key decisive factor in determining whether the knowledge is successfully acquired in the end or not.
 
 
 
In short, those self-efforts (related to self-cognitions), in the very end, will eventually be very much essential, or rather the decisive factor in determining whether the persons having mental disorders will achieve improvements / recoveries for their mental conditions or not.



In such a connection, I would like to add that in terms of all those self-determinations, self-initiatives, self-controls, self-wills and self-disciplines to think positively, rationally, realistically and practically as well as to lead a normal and healthy life, great patience maybe would take a long way in trying to achieve that. However, once such goals are achieved, it would also mean that the people trouble with mental disorders are just achieving leaps and bounds further and further towards the ever-improving mental conditions and then to the final complete recovery of their very mental disorders in the end.



Lastly, such goals, instead of being just sheer fantasies, they are actually the very realistic ones which in fact have been achieved by lots of people, especially the ones with tremendous patience.

[hypnodrama]

Severe mental disorders, such as schizophrenia, seem to be part hereditary and often triggered by social environs. Once elevated dopamine levels have been stabilized through treatment with anti-psychotics, it is then fundamental through therapy to get the client to understand the exact mechanics of the illness. Working with psychotherapist, hypnotherapists have made great strides in helping here. Schizophrenia sufferers are 3 times more likely to smoke. The nicotine acts on the dopamine receptors and interferes with the drugs, making it necessary for higher dosages. Hypnotherapy has been proven over and over an effective therapy for quitting smoking. If this can be achieved, then less medication could be possible. Also, by implanting suggestion into the subconscious mind how important it is to have a strict medication format, by taking the correct dosage, at the correct times, will greatly reduce the odds of a psychotic break, due to the fact the sufferers of this mental disorder suddenly stop taking medication because they feel better and believe they no longer need the drugs.

[cmike1980]

Hypnotherapy has been proven over and over an effective therapy for quitting smoking. If this can be achieved, then less medication could be possible. Also, by implanting suggestion into the subconscious mind how important it is to have a strict medication format, by taking the correct dosage, at the correct times, will greatly reduce the odds of a psychotic break, due to the fact the sufferers of this mental disorder suddenly stop taking medication because they feel better and believe they no longer need the drugs.


Well, that sounds quite plausible and reasonable to me.


Actually, the part of the non-medicational efforts (one the 3 elements of suggested holistic approach) for the treatment of mental disorders as quoted below from my prior posts can take many forms ranging from formal psychotherapy sessions to other non-formal normal emotional and moral supports from the ones (that they feel comfortable to get along with) who really care and concern about them, and that would even include certain interactive personally-conducted activities like watching comedies, reading something inspiring / interesting, engaging in some healthy hobbies like drawings, indoor games etc (for the more introvert ones etc). Whilst the purpose of such non-medicational efforts are intended to let the ones having mental disorders to both emotionally and in a natural way, feel brightened up, cheerful and upbeat.


As a summary,



I'm suggesting the following as a solution to mental disorders :



1/3 of medicational helps + 1/3 of psychotherapies, interactive, interpersonal, emotional, communication, conselling supports from the others + 1/3 of self-determinations, self-initiatives, self-controls, self-wills and self-disciplines to think positively, rationally, realistically and practically as well as to lead a normal and healthy life



Also, by implanting suggestion into the subconscious mind how important it is to have a strict medication format, by taking the correct dosage, at the correct times, will greatly reduce the odds of a psychotic break, due to the fact the sufferers of this mental disorder suddenly stop taking medication because they feel better and believe they no longer need the drugs.



As for the remark above, I would like to add that the question as to whether a person suffering from mental disorders (neurosis / pyschosis - please refer to my related prior post) has made full and once-and-for-all recovery or not from their related illnesses, and hence could just stop taking the related medications, well, that would very much depend on whether the related symptoms of neurosis  / psychosis would manifest again / relapse over a certain period of time, and hence, objective, close and unbiased observations of one's personality / behavioral changes from the related third parties would be very much essential. And I would like to add that based on my experiences from numerous observations as a social worker working for the healthcares of the ones having mental disorders, the ones achieving gradual recoveries from their mental disorders would in a completely natural way, and from time to time, show such qualities of getting more and more cheerful, optimistic, spiritually and mentally sound, sane and strong,  being more progressive, promising, etc and having more and more senses of self-confidences in themselves for anything they plan and attempt to achieve for their own well-beings and futures.



In short, the ones suffering from mental disorders making such improvements for their conditions would naturally and gradually display the personalities that are typical of the ones and persons who are mentally sound.

[cmike1980]

Mental Disorders / Cognitive Behavioural Process - Perceptions => Feelings => Thoughts => Behavioural / Personality Changes / Reactions / Actions / Responses



Actually, given the underlying fact that mental disorders are actually something that arise from such psychological and cognitive factors of how one perceives one's surroundings etc, the feelings they have in response to those perceptions, then the various thoughts they form in their minds based on such perceptions and feelings for anything they perceive, and finally, how they choose to react to such perceptions, feelings and thoughts, they are thus very much different from the other physiological / bodily / metabolism-related somatic diseases like diabetes, heart attacks, kidney failures etc.



In short, mental illnesses which are defined by one's behavioural / personality changes, appropriateness of their behaviours, personalities, actions, reactions, responses as perceived and judged by the others, who in turn would label them as a variety of related mental disorder symptoms, they are actually caused by the various negative, abnormal, preposterous thoughts and various urges which are formed in one's mind in response to what they see, sense and feel about their surroundings etc.



As such, in addition to the medicational efforts put in to bring the hardly controllable symptoms of mental disorders such as deep feelings of depressions, nervous breakdown, violent emotional outbursts etc effectively under control temporarily throughout the effective period of each dosage of the medications , such non-medicational efforts of psychotherapy, seeking emotional and psychological comforts as well as interactive, interpersonal, communication supports from the ones close to such people would also be quite indispensable in dealing with various mental disorders.



Apart from that, given that negative behavioural changes caused by mental disorders are actually caused by such negative feelings and negative thoughts formed by negative sensory perceptions of anything around one's surroundings, one should thus try to control oneself when coming across and dealing with all those scenarios so as to try one's best not to have too strong emotional attachment / feelings for all those negative surroundings etc as well as try not to over-react to them. In short, one should apply one's reasonable senses and judgements and rationalities when dealing with anything unpleasant to them.



Theorectically, since one's reactions / responses / behaviourial changes actually arise from one's thoughts, such reactions / responses / behavioural changes would thus not occur at all if one could choose to ignore all those unpleasant phenomena totally and not form any negative thoughts in their minds at all. However, that would sound to be easier said than done.



As a summary,


I'm suggesting the following as a solution to mental disorders :


1/3 of medicational helps + 1/3 of psychotherapies, interactive, interpersonal, emotional, communication, conselling supports from the others + 1/3 of self-determinations, self-initiatives, self-controls, self-wills and self-disciplines to think positively, rationally, realistically and practically as well as to lead a normal and healthy life



These are actually the advices I have obtained from many neurologists, psychiatrists, psychotherapists and psychologists as well as the very conclusions I have experienced myself.



Next, I must admit that it's quite arbitrary for me to do so in the first place. However, given the fact that there are more and more people nowadays, especially the ones having the mental disorders who would tend to rely heavlily, and if not completely, but at the same time, rather ignorantly upon medications as their sole and only means of dealing with their mental disorders, hence, by assigning the numerical proportion of '1/3' to each of those 3 variables for that 'equation' I'm just trying to convey a message to the intended readers that such factors as external psychotherapies, interactive / interpersonal, emotional / moral supports from the others as well as self-controls / self-efforts to think positively, they are just fairly as important as the medications when it comes to dealing with mental disorders.

[cmike1980]

Why Non-medicational Interpersonal Or (And) Impersonal Emotional Comforts, Reliefs, Supports etc Are So Essential As A Part of The Holistic Approach For Mental Disorders ?




Well, I have suggested in my previous posts about the following as the holistic approach for mental disorders :


1/3 of medicational helps + 1/3 of psychotherapies, interactive, interpersonal, emotional, communication, conselling supports from the others + 1/3 of self-determinations, self-initiatives, self-controls, self-wills and self-disciplines to think positively, rationally, realistically and practically as well as to lead a normal and healthy life ;


As such, I would like to emphasize once again that the non-medicational emotional comforts, reliefs, supports etc either in interpersonal or impersonal forms (and a combination of both depending on different mental conditions of different mentally-ill people), are in fact, very essential and indispensable in enabling the ones troubled with mental disorders to make real, genuine, long-lasting and sustainable improvements for their mental conditions towards the path of full recoveries in the end.


Well, based on what I have learnt so far from the psychologists is that, everyone of us naturally are born with the innate urges to get upset, angry and even mad especially when we face certain surroundings, incidences, people that are considered unpleasant to us.


Next, in terms of normal people who are not troubled by any mental illnesses, they normally have the mental abilities derived from their sensible minds and sanities to at least try to resist and overcome such urges to get upset, angry, mad etc whenever they feel like doing so by trying on their very own to calm themselves down.


Whilst in terms of the ones troubled with mental disorders, well, given that their mind powers are weaker, they thus have lesser abilities to do so, and hence would tend to more easily get upset, angry, mad etc at things that are considered to be unpleasant to them.


As a matter of fact, in terms of psychological reasoning, the mental abilities of the normal healthy mentally-sound people to at least try to resist such urges to get upset, angry, mad etc, such as what I have mentioned above, well, such mental abilities actually come from the "calming forces" nurtured, developed and accumulated into their respective minds on an ongoing way, normally and spontaneously without even them noticing it, through such events, incidences, activities, surroundings, people etc in their everyday life that would naturally make them feel happy, joyous, serene etc.


Whilst for the ones troubled with mental disorders, since they do not have enough / are very much lacking in such "calming forces" in their conscious / subconscious minds, they thus face certain difficulties in trying to control their moods and mental conditions in the effective ways like the normal healthy people who are mentally sound.


For example, given a distressing incidence, different people would tend to react differently to it. Whilst the persons who are mentally sound could just at least try their best not to get upset too easily by such an unpleasant incidence, the ones troubled with mental diorders such as depression etc, may just turn out to be emotionally weaker and could not resist the urges to get depressed etc. In short, there are just not enough "calming forces" in their own minds to enable them to resist such urges to do so.


As such, non-medicational emotional comforts and reliefs are thus very important and essential in nurturing, developing and accumulating such "calming forces" in the minds of the ones troubled with mental disorders in such a way that when they have gathered enough and sufficient "calming forces" in their own minds, they would then be able to consciously stabilize their mental conditions and exercise certain self-controls on their own so as to at least try to resist the urges and refrain themselves to get upset, angry, mad at others etc especially when facing certain unpleasant incidences.


Besides, in terms of general cognitive behavioural process of Perceptions (anything we see, we hear, we know, we taste, we touch etc from our surroundings / other people) => Feelings (the way we feel about our surroundings and other people based on anything we see, hear, know, taste, touch etc) => Thoughts (the types of views and opinions that we form in our minds based on the types of feelings we have for anything we perceive) => Actions (how we choose to react in response to those surroundings / other people based on the feelings and thoughts that arise in our minds),


psychologically, the entire process can actually be explained in such a way that when the particular surroundings, environments, people's behaviours / attitudes etc (Perceptions) just through some effectively positive means / efforts of non-medicational emotional comforts / reliefs etc, appear to be pleasant, peaceful and friendly to certain people troubled with mental disorders, they would thus get to become calmer and calmer in a natural way in the long-run especially when they are continually exposed to such pleasant surroundings, environments, people's friendly behaviours / attitudes etc on a permanently ongoing basis (Feelings), and when such "calming forces" are accumulated sufficiently in their very own minds, this would then enable them to at least try to resist any thoughts / urges to feel upset, angry, mad etc at certain incidences, especially the ones that they have never expected and that are considered unpleasant to them (Thoughts). Finally and ideally, such an ongoing scenario would thus result in gradually step by step improvements in their mental conditions especially in terms of positive behavioural changes for the better and better conditions (Actions).


Similarly, the same explanations would apply as well to other scenarios that anyone, including the ones who are mentally-sound, face in their everyday life.


For instance, when the mentally-sound healthy persons are exposed, especially unwillingly to certain hostile, harsh and unfriendly surroundings / environments / people (Perceptions) for a certain long period of time, and no matter how tolerant they may initially get to be, they may just lose their patience at one particular point of time in that they might couldn't help themselves but to feel annoyed, angry, upset, mad etc in the end (Feelings). Next, the accumulated calming forces they possess would then start depleting gradually initially, and then substantially as times go by, in that they may just start forming negative thoughts about the hostile, harsh and unfriendly surroundings / environments / people they face in their everyday life, even without them noticing such a change in the negative ways they think (Thoughts). In the end, such thoughts may just give rise to certain negative behavioural changes in them by becoming enervative / dejected, acting angrily, furiously etc (Actions).


And, let me just give you all one example, and please bear in mind that it is just for references purpose only. Well, I have dealt with a patient having such a symptom that he couldn't help himself at all but simply has the irresistable urges to appear himself to be violently mad to others (without any intentions to harm anyone at all) whenever he talks to any other people. Whilst such urges in him to automatically get "mad" at others when talking to them, have just become so overwhelming and involuntarily uncontrollable that it has become habitual, even beyond his very own free wills, subconsciousness and consciousness in that, he simply could not realize what he is doing when he unintentionally get mad at the others. In short, his sensibilities, mind powers, self-wills and sanities largely could not overcome and resist such urges at such a stage.


And upon knowing that the particular patient likes to gaze at the sea during sunset and having observed that the patient's mood tends to get better whenever and after he does so, I would, without the patient knowing anything, make the arrangements accordingly for the particular patient to get to the seaside to gaze at the sea during sunset as frequently as possible so let he could get naturally calmer and calmer as time goes by.


Next, when the particular patient is confident and comfortable enough to relate to other people, and is able to summon enough courages to confide in me, I would then request that patient to take me along to his favourite seaside to admire both the beautiful surroundings of the seaside and the marvellous views of the sunset.


Subsequently, I will try my best to talk about anything in inductive, subtle, indirect, subliminal and friendly communicational manners that are acceptable to him and could make him feel happy, joyous, serene, confident and sensible just like his good friend (from his very own perspective), rather than as a social worker trying to improve his mental conditions or to cure him.


All in all, my very purpose of doing so is primarily, and indirectly without him knowing anything at all (so as to avoid any unnecessary stress that may potentially arise on his part), to cultivate and nurture bit by bit such "calming forces" into his mind in such a way that when such "calming forces" are accumulated sufficiently in him, that would give him the very ability to be conscious and mentally stronger enough to at least to try to resist such urges to get mad automatically at the others without him being totally unable to resist such urges at all.


In addition, such a way of indirect counselling would actually serve to indirectly induce, inspire and encourage the ones troubled with mental disorders to gradually step-by-step, think positively, sensibly and rationally on their very own in such a way that they could slowly and on an ongoing basis, regain their consciousness and sanities bit by bit from time to time.


Besides, in terms of the principles of general cognitive behavioral process of Perceptions => Feelings => Thoughts => Actions, this is also the very basic concept that we, as voluntary social workers, apply in figuring out various inductive, subtle, indirect, subliminal and friendly ways and means to effectively help the mentally-ill people troubled with different mental problems of different causes, symptoms and degrees of severities, so as to bring about positive personality changes in them gradually step-by-step.


Apart from that, essentially a great deal of patience, considerations and tolerances would be required especially from the ones who really care about and want to help the persons troubled with mental disorders so as to genuinely improve their mental conditions gradually and slowly step by step towards full recoveries.





Next, for the medications intended for and are particularly very effective in bringing down especially the uncontrollable symptoms of mental disorders, I would like to add that :


Whilst in terms of medications for mental disorders, especially the antipsychotics / neuroleptics for psychosis disorders, well, they invariably would work in such a way that they would artificially intercept with the synaptic activities of the neurotransmitters chemical serotonin, dopamine etc so as to artificially block any negative nerve impulses from getting sent to the brains, and in this way, the related patients would get to calm down and be pacified substantially throughout the effective period of each dosage of such medications. And that's particularly the reason why they are labelled as powerful tranquilizers and mind-altering drugs that work by changing the effects of chemicals in the brain.


Nevertheless, in terms of such drug treatments, since the whole mechanisms are totally artificial and given the fact that the interceptions of the neurotransmitters chemicals and the blockings of negative nerve impulses by the therapeutical / curative effects of such antipsychotics / neuroleptics are actually no different from false / artificially forced suppressions of those nerve impulses, rather than a natural process by themselves, various neurological disorders would thus arise when such powerful antipsychotics / neuroleptics are over-relied upon to the point of sheer abuse in the long-term especially when the normal functionings of neurotransmitters chemicals are disturbed and disrupted in the end. Next, given the fact that the various nervous systems work with our brains to maintain the normal functionings of the human bodies, the brains would then get affected too in the worst case scenario in the end, and that would include structural changes of the brains.


In reality, what would really happen is such that the artificial therapeutical mechanisms of "forced suppressions" of negative nerve impulses and artificial interferences with the synaptic activities of the neurotransmitters, neurons, nervous systems and brains through taking such related medications would actually numbed the cognitive senses of the ones taking them. And that's the main reason why certain people taking such medications, would just appear like a zombie to the others over the effective period of each dosage of the related medications.


And as a matter of fact, all the antipsychotics / neuroleptics and any medications for mental disorders, well, no matter how advanced they are, there is simply no way for such medications to deliver any of the actual healing effects that are equivalent to the interpersonal counselling therapies / emotional supports from the close ones etc, that the mentally-ill people need for further genuine improvements of their mental conditions and their final recoveries in the end.


Besides, given their subsequent potentially disastrous neurological / neuromuscular, and in the worst-case scenario, neuro-degenerative side effects such as Parkinsonism, Dementia, Alzheimers etc which involve damages and losses of brain cells, neurons etc, certain efforts and precautions thus would be necessary to avoid the manifestations of all these undesirable side effects of such medications.


All in all, I am not saying that antipsychotics / neuroleptics and other related medications meant for the treatments of various mental disorders are bad for the ones taking them. Well, such medications, in my opinion, actually work like double-edged swords whereby on one part, they are very effective in bringing the undesirable symptoms of mental disorders under control, whilst the downsides of them are such that their subsequent hazardous neurological / neuromuscular and neuro-degenerative side effects are definitely undesirable for anyone taking them. As such, careful precautions would need to be exercised closely to guard against the eventual manifestations of the hazardously undesirable side effects of such medications for mental disorders.


Besides, In terms of psychological mental disorders which are totally different from other physiological / bodily / somatic / disorders such as heart attacks, diabetes, kidney failures etc, taking such medications for mental disorders are in fact, not the conclusive cure / solution to such disorders.


Next, as a matter of fact, other non-medicational efforts such as what I have mentioned above, should also be put in and taken at the same time to complement all the inadequacies and shortcomings of such medications as well as to achieve a holistic approach for the treatments of various mental disorders.


In short, the non-medicational "calming forces" that could be cultivated, nurtured, developed and accumulated and instilled little by little indirectly into the minds of the ones troubled with mental disorders through such efforts of non-medicational emotional comforts and reliefs are thus essential and indispensable in enabling them to at least be able to try to control their own moods and emotions especially when facing anything unpleasant to them, as well as helping them to achieve genuine, long-lasting and sustainable improvements for their mental conditions towards the path of final recoveries.


In addition, generally and basically, all the non-medicational efforts of psychotherapies, interactive, interpersonal, emotional, communication, conselling supports etc from the others who really care about the ones troubled with mental illnesses, such as what I have mentioned above, are thus very important in building up such "calming forces" in them.


Next, in terms of all such non-medicational efforts to provide emotional comforts, reliefs, supports etc to the ones troubled with mental problems, there are simply no hard and fast / fixed rules / ways for them to be conducted in that such efforts to produce such "calming forces" in them can be flexibly anything positive that are emotionally comfortable and acceptable to the related persons troubled with mental disorders. In short, such non-medicational mental comforts, reliefs, supports etc can come in any forms (either interpersonally or impersonally and a combination of these two efforts depending on the different mental conditions of different people) that appeal / are naturally mentally-comforting to the ones troubled with mental disorders, such as the example mentioned above.


All in all, all these non-medicational efforts that could be interpersonal as well as impersonal or a combination of these two efforts depending on the different mental conditions of different people, they are all directed to the very purpose of giving ongoing emotional comforts, reliefs and supports to the ones troubled with mental disorders so that they could gather and accumulate enough as well as sufficient "calming forces" into their minds to straighten out their thoughts, to clear out the confusions and disturbances troubling their minds, to let they themselves become more and more emotionally stronger and mentally sounder, and most importantly, to enable them make genuine, sustainable, long-lasting improvements for their mental conditions as well as to help them slowly regain their sanities from time to time towards the very goal of their final recoveries from mental disorders.


In short, the entire psychological process can be summarized as follows :


Non-medicational interpersonal or (and) impersonal emotional comforts, reliefs, supports and "calming forces" cultivated, nurtured and accumulated gradually, continually and sufficiently into the minds of the of the ones troubled with mental problems


=> (will bring about)


More and more self-confidences, higher and higher levels of self-consciousnesses and greater and greater sanities that would enable these persons to at least try to calm themselves down, to stabilize their mental conditions on their own, to think lucidly and reasonably and to act / respond rationally to what they deal with in their everyday life.

[cmike1980]

The Ugly Realities of The Modern Day Medical Professions



Included below is an excerpt of a conversation between me and the others about the ugly realities of the modern day medical professions.



Remarks made by the other person :

"The doctors you posed the questions to, such as your psy. or opthamologist could only give you a answer for something they are trained in. They cannot give you a all encompassing diagnoses, of which you seeked at the time of asking. To even think they could, predicts their answer before you even pose the question to them."



My Replies :

With all due respect, what you have said is completely misleading and sophistical. Well, the medical professionals, in regard to their professional accreditations, they should at least have the necessary professional awarenesses and abilities so as to be able to judge, realise and recognise what have actually happened to their patients, especially in terms of the undisputedly clear-cut side effects of the related medications dispensed and prescribed by the related medical professionals.



For example, when all the or certain completely undisputed side effects of certain medications dispensed by certain doctors, medical specialists, personnel etc have just obviously and explicitly manifested onto their patients, and then, if the particular doctors, medical specialists, personnel etc, upon being questioned by the related patients about such serious matters, and then such "doctors" just simply reply capriciously and cavalierly that "I don't know what have happened to you", and hence, what simply would that be or mean then ?



And of course the insightful others would straightaway recognise and realise that the particular "doctors" are trying to fool their patients around as well as to shirk and avoid their medical professional obligations and responsibilities. So, would that be really fair and acceptable to the patients, especially the ones earnestly seeking treatments from such "doctors".



Besides, in certain cases, being unable to give a correct diagnosis for certain illnesses also would not in any ways justify and warrant any doctors and other medical professionals to give arbitrary diagnosis based on "what they know within their areas of medical expertises", especially when such diagnosis are simply and haphazardly given in peremptory, solely and yet misleadingly self-opinionted manners, such as the examples given about the so-called "professional behaviours" of those "opthamologists" mentioned in my prior post above.



All in all, all such unethical medical "professional behaviours" would undisputedly to the very least extent, give rise to gross professional negligences in the context of professional medical code of ethics.



For full conversation and further information, please refer to the follows :


http://forum.neurologychannel.com/hc-forum/undiagnosed-conditions_peer-to-peer_f1226/non-stop-persistent-eyelid-twi_t41045.html?hilit=&start=50

[duldej]

taking anti-psychotic pills if you're crazy will make it easier to be with other people so psychotherapist or not you'll have better chances at more fruitful social interactions and probably have better luck with your life.  if you want something more than you want to be drug-free, then you ought to probably do that.

I think you're meaning that you need both medicine and psychotherapy (someone to talk to) when you're treating a psychotic disorder, in which case I'll agree, but not necessarily with the point that psychotherapists are important any more than say a significant other in a treatment regimen that includes a psychiatrist that prescribes anti-psychotic pills.

with all of the side effects that anti-psychotics have, such as extrapyramidal side effects and tardive diskinesia and even diabetes (risperdal) if you're needing to get into society then the pill might be useful to you, but if you don't experience any sort of major stressors and seem to be doing ok, then the pill and the psychotherapy probably are not important.

so much is my educated opinion (bachelor's degree in psych) of what I think you're trying to say.

[cmike1980]

"taking anti-psychotic pills if you're crazy will make it easier to be with other people so psychotherapist or not you'll have better chances at more fruitful social interactions and probably have better luck with your life.  if you want something more than you want to be drug-free, then you ought to probably do that."



Well, objectively the point is that all such medications for mental disorders, including the antipsychotics / neuroleptics are important and extremely much more useful than anything else in serving the primary purpose of bringing down and suppress all the hardly controllable and involuntary symptoms of the mental disorders such as violent emotional outbursts, purposeless abrupt traumatic reactions, various phobia behaviours, miscellaneous involuntary and uncontrollable deep hallucinations / delusions etc. This is the case especially and particularly when no other interpersonal efforts from other persons could achieve such a purpose.



However, when it comes to genuinely treating the mentally-ill people so as to enable their mental conditions to get practically and realistically better and better from time to time, that would be another different story. This is due to the very undisputed fact that all the antipsychotics / neuroleptics and any medications for mental disorders, well, no matter how advanced they are, there is simply no way for such medications to deliver any of the actual healing effects that are equivalent to the interpersonal counselling therapies / emotional supports from the close ones etc, that the mentally-ill people need for further genuine improvements of their mental conditions (so as to enable them so slowly and graudally regain their actual sanities and cognitive / mental abilities from time to time) and their final recoveries in the end.



All in all, such constructive impersonal and (or) interpersonal efforts and emotional supports are very much important in reinforcing and strengthening the confidences, self-wills, determinations and sanities of the mentally-ill people in helping them to recover from their mental illnesses gradually step-by-step.

[cmike1980]

Dopamine & Mental Disorders



Dopamine is actually one of the main neurotransmitters chemicals secreted and released by the countless of neurons (nerve cells) and brain cells of our miscellaneous bodily nervous systems and brains. Whilst the other main neurotransmitters chemicals would be Serotonin which plays the important role in "determining" how we feel based on whatever we see / perceive.



And well, the main function of the fluidly neurotransmitters chemical dopamine, which exist everywhere and anywhere in our human bodies and within the miscellaneous nervous systems, and "work" closely, mechanically and spontaneously with one another, is actually to control and co-ordinate our human bodily movements through their synaptic activities.



Basically, the synaptic activities is all about sending and receiving the various nerve and sensory impulses (originating from our sensory perceptions, feelings and thoughts) to the brains along the miscellaneous bodily nervous systems so that all the human bodily movements can be conducted freely at will by any normal human beings.



Nevertheless, the synaptic activities of the neurotransmitters chemical dopamine, in certain cases, can be interrupted and disrupted by the artificial curative mechanisms of certain medications, especially the mind-altering drugs such as antipsychotics / neuroleptics that serve to numb the cognitive senses of the brains by preventing the "neuro-traffics" of such nerve and sensory impulses from getting sent to / from the brains, resulting thus in miscellaneous neurological and neuromuscular disorders which are caused by interruptions to the synaptic activities of the neurotransmitters chemical, dopamine.



As such, please consider the excerpts below :

"All antipsychotic drugs tend to block D2 receptors in the dopamine pathways of the brain. This means that dopamine released in these pathways has less effect. Excess release of dopamine in the mesolimbic pathway has been linked to psychotic experiences. It is the blockade of dopamine receptors in this pathway that is thought to control psychotic experiences"

which are quoted from : http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipsychotics



In such a connection, the neurological and neuromuscular disorders caused by interruptions to the neurotransmitters chemical dopamine would be especially the movement disorders of Extrapyramidal Symptoms (EPS) , Tardive Dyskinesia, Dystonia, Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome (NMS), Parkinsonism etc.


Hence, please consider the excerpts below :

"Dyskinesias are movement disorders and can include any of a number of repetitive, involuntary, and purposeless body or facial movements.
They can include:

Tongue movements, such as "tongue thrusts" or "fly-catching" movements
Lip smacking
Finger movements
Eye blinking
Movements of the arms or legs.

An individual may or may not be aware of these movements. These movements are usually quite recognizable, and many people fear that others will know they are taking an antipsychotic medication due to these unusual movements.

Tardive dyskinesia is a dyskinesia that occurs after long-term treatment with an antipsychotic medication. Sometimes, this condition may become permanent."

which are quoted from :

http://schizophrenia.emedtv.com/extrapyramidal-symptoms/extrapyramidal-symptoms.html



Other Related Information :


Tardive Dyskinesia (TD) :

http://schizophrenia.emedtv.com/tardive-dyskinesia/tardive-dyskinesia.html



Antipsychotics :

http://schizophrenia.emedtv.com/antipsychotics/antipsychotics.html




Related Information About Synaptic Activities Disorders of Neurotransmitters Dopamine & The Related Cures For Them :



http://www.curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1631689#i

http://www.curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1428915#i

http://www.curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1428920#i

http://www.curezone.com/forums/fm.asp?i=1233341#i

[ELADA]

I used to take 5-HTP capsules when i would be depressed and they seemed to help.

Now i have depression again but im not taking any unnecessary pills (except antibiotics for an infection or my allergy meds)

Can you please explain how 5-HTP works and what ways i can relieve depression without drugs. I've gone into complete apathy, i havent left the house in 2 weeks and i feel like theres no point in anything anymore anyways.

[cmike1980]

I used to take 5-HTP capsules when i would be depressed and they seemed to help.
Now i have depression again but im not taking any unnecessary pills (except antibiotics for an infection or my allergy meds)

Can you please explain how 5-HTP works and what ways i can relieve depression without drugs. I've gone into complete apathy, i havent left the house in 2 weeks and i feel like theres no point in anything anymore anyways.

"Can you please explain how 5-HTP works"



Well, the 5-HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan)  is actually a natural alternative to drugs like Prozac. These drugs work by increasing the serotonin level in the brain. A natural method for producing this same result was sought and found in 5HTP (5-Hydroxytryptophan). 5-HTP may very well revolutionize the treatment of serotonin-related emotional and physical conditions. . In recent clinical studies, therapeutic administration of 5-HTP was confirmed effective in treating depression, fibromyalgia, binge eating, chronic headaches, and insomnia.*



Serotonin is a neurotransmitter chemical released by the neuron (nerve cells), brain cells etc of our miscellaneous nervous systems that is absolutely essential for your brain and body to function properly. A neurotransmitter is a chemical that carries vital signals between cells. A lack of serotonin will cause these signals to not transmit properly. Serotonin is an especially important neurotransmitter in that it governs the activities of many other important brain compounds. Low levels of serotonin can have dramatic adverse effects and has been implicated in maladies ranging from depression to fibromyalgia and insomnia.



5-HTP is actually the immediate precursor to serotonin, this drug works by effectively getting the neurotransmitters chemical serotonin to be absorbed into the bloodstream and readily passes the blood-brain barrier, to promote optimal serotonin balance in the brain.* 5-HTP was found to be superior to L-Tryptophan in this respect due to its being a step closer chemically to serotonin.



"what ways i can relieve depression without drugs. I've gone into complete apathy, i havent left the house in 2 weeks and i feel like theres no point in anything anymore anyways."



In regard to your depression problems and disorders, such non-medicational efforts of emotional supports and comforts from the others who you really like to relate to and who really care about you, as well as all the efforts on your parts to think and do something positively, sensibly and meaningfully would be helpful in improving your conditions. All in all, just slowly try to be optimistic, happy-go-lucky, carefree, and easygoing with others and slowly that you will feel that everything you come into contact with will slowly and gradually turn out to be positively pleasant for you.



As such, perhaps going through my prior posts above may give you some guidelines in helping you improve your conditions.

[ELADA]

That was very helpful. Thank you very much!

[cmike1980]

Miscellaneous Nervous Systems & Neurotransmitters



Well, apart from the well-known central nervous system, there are other nervous systems such as peripheral nervous system, somatic nervous system, autonomic nervous system, enteric nervous system, sympathetic nervous system,  parasympathetic nervous systems etc in our human bodies that co-ordinate with one another through the ubiquitous neuron networks to maintain the all the normal functionings of our human bodies.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_Nervous_System - Central nervous system (CNS)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peripheral_nervous_system - Peripheral nervous system (PNS)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Autonomic_nervous_system - Autonomic nervous system (ANS)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Somatic_nervous_system - Somatic nervous system (SNS)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Enteric_nervous_system - Enteric nervous system (ENS)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sympathetic_nervous_system - Sympathetic nervous system (SNS)


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Parasympathetic_nervous_system - parasympathetic nervous system (PSNS)



As for the different types of neurotransmitters, they would include dopamine, serotonin, Amino acids, glutamate, aspartate, serine, ?-aminobutyric acid (GABA), glycine, Monoamines, norepinephrine (noradrenaline; NE, NA), epinephrine (adrenaline), histamine, melatonin, acetylcholine (ACh), adenosine, anandamide, nitric oxide, etc which are secreted and released by neurons (nerve cells) and brain cells in the human bodies of these miscellaneous nervous systems as mentioned above along with the ubiquitous neuron networks of our human bodies to maintain the normal functioningis of our human bodies.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neurotransmitter - Neurotransmitters



Next, if the synaptic activities of these neurons (nerve cells), brain cells, miscellaneous nervous systems and the ubiquitous neuron networks are interrupted and disrupted by the disastrous side effects of medications, the resulting medical consequences would in totally inconceivable and unimaginable such as what I have explained earlier on in my prior posts above.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chemical_synapse - Chemical synapse / Synaptic activities

[cmike1980]

Included below is a conversation between me and the other third party about mental disorders & illnesses, the advantageous, disadvantageous of the medications for such illnesses and disorders as well as how such medications actually work in reality and what purposes they are supposed to serve along with several flaws, defects and demerits of the modern mainstream medical science and system. Next I hope that the information provided will be useful and helpful to the intended readers.



Remarks from the other person :

"Speaking of neurotransmitters, much is made by the medical community about their alleged central role in depression and anxiety. However, this is largely unproven."




My replies :

Well, it's totally undeniable that human bodies depend on the neurological mechanisms of neuron, brains, neuron networks, miscellaneous nervous systems, the many types of neurotransmitters chemical for all our bodily functionings which include cognitive and movement abilities etc. And that's the reason why the people with Parkinsonism, Dementia, Alzheimers etc whose brain cells and neurons have been substantially destroyed (and hence no neurotransmitter chemicals can be released / secreted out of them) could not think, act and behave properly at all.



Remarks from the other person :

"There is, for instance, no lab test that can be done to show that depression or anxiety sufferers do indeed suffer from low serotonin levels. And even if depression and anxiety sufferers indeed DO tend to suffer from low serotonin levels, this does NOT establish a causal relationship between low serotonin and depression/anxiety. Low serotonin may simply be a RESULT of suffering from anxiety disorder. Also, more than likely, serotonin is probably low only in specific parts of the brain (but normal or even above normal in other parts of the brain). All of this certainly explains why globally increasing serotonin levels with drugs like SSRIs typically does not give entirely satisfactory results. "



My replies :

In fact, the drugs like Prozac etc could only temporarily and artificially restore the chemical balance of the brains of the mentally-ill people by re-uptaking and maintaing the proper balance of dopamine and serotonin neurotransmitter chemicals of their brains. However, since such an artificial medical mechanism is all by way of "forced suppression" so as to artificially blocking any nerve and sensory impulses from getting sent and receive to and from the brains, and hence, artificially blocking the "neuron network traffics" the mental conditions of the related mentally-ill people would then suffer a greater relapse of their mental illnesses when the therapeutical effects of such "forced suppressions" of each dosage of the related medications just lapse completely, while the previously medication-forced- suppressed nerve and sensory impulses would just turn violent and out-of-control (when they are no longer artificially suppressed by medications anymore) and manifest in far worse uncontrollable and involuntary behavioural and personality changes in the related mentally-ill people. Hence, that's why in such cases, the cures are worse than the diseases themselves .



So, that's why I have said that other non-medicational efforts such as what I have mentioned and explained earlier on in my previous posts are primarily important in genuinely and permanently restoring the sanities of the mentally-ill people bit by bit and step by step.


Remarks from the other person : 

"As for antipsychotics and dopamine, once again, dopamine levels may be out of balance in people suffering from psychosis. But it is impossible to say whether this is the actual cause. And since, like antidepressants, antipsychotics generally do not produce entirely satisfactory results, I would suspect that there is probably MUCH more to psychosis than a simple chemical imbalance."



My replies :

As a matter of fact, everything has its shortcomings, flaws and defects. For example, in the case of people suffering from Tardive Dyskinesia, Dystonia and other movement disorders due to interruptions and disruptions to the synaptic activities of the neurotransmitter chemical dopamine, well, given that such fluidly and nearly totally transparent neurotransmitter chemical secreted by countless neurons and brain cells are hardly observable and distinguishable by any medical examinations such as MRI, CT-scannings etc whereby the people with Tardive Dyskinesia, Dystonia etc would obviously show their involuntary and uncontrollable movement disorders to the related doctors, nevertheless, no conclusive medical examinations, observations, diagnosis supported by any hard evidences can be given at the same time. So, that's why under such scenarios and phenomena, such movement disorders are labelled as "undiagnosed diseases".



Next, I suffer from Tardive Dyskinesia before and my efforts of seeking the mainstream treatments from the western medical science just turn out to be totally futile such as the scenarios and phenomena explained above. And the fact that my Tardive Dyskinesia movement disorders are totally cured once-and-for-all about 6 years ago through a totally needle-free acupuncture / acupressure technique, which has fully cured countless of people having the same problem as mine so far, and well, the flaw and defect of this acupuncture / acupressure technique is such that, regardless of the ongoing ample empirical evidences about its obviously evident and prompt efficacies, the mainstream western medical science still would not recognise the validity of it simply for the mere reason that the healing mechanisms of such a totally needle-free acupuncture / acupressure technique are not be able to be observed, explored and studied by them, regardless of its obviously evident, prompt and 100 % healing efficacies as supported by more and more countless empirical evidences.



In such a connection, what I wish to say is that for anything that we do not know or have not yet known, it doesn't mean that they are phoney, fallacious or non-existent.



All in all, under any circumstances, I firmly and reasonably believe that for any patients / people seeking treatments for any of their illnesses, especially the desperate ones, I reckon that they would want the best and most effective treatments for themselves under any circumstances and situations. Anyhow, for anyone seeking treatments for their illnesses, their sole and only purpose is to get their illnesses and disorders totally cured, and preferably, once and for all.


Further Details :

http://www.anxietyforum.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=6974&highlight=

[NataEames]

mike, they prescribed sedatives for my ocd.

Ive stopped taking them because they dont let me function at all and trigger my migraines.

Do you know why they would prescribe such a thing as sedatives, i dont have trouble sleeping?

And if maybe i could suggest them to prescribe me something else?

[cmike1980]

mike, they prescribed sedatives for my ocd.

Ive stopped taking them because they dont let me function at all and trigger my migraines.

Do you know why they would prescribe such a thing as sedatives, i dont have trouble sleeping?

And if maybe i could suggest them to prescribe me something else?

In terms of Obsessive-compulsive Disorder (OCD), well, what will you need to do is to think rationally, logically and sensibly, that is, by using your very own calmly rational thoughts and thinkings to overcome all the basesless fears associated with certain particular totally harmless things that you are afraid to do etc based on totally groundless fears and illusional emotional sentiments alone. Next, try to summon up your courages to overcome all these baseless fears and once you have achieved the first step, it would be easier for you to proceed on. And then you will find that everything about your very own OCD is actually and totally no big deal or meaning nothing at all. In addition, the emotionally comforting helps and advices of talking senses into your mind by your close ones who you would feel comfortable and intimate with as well as the ones who really care about you would be of great helps to you too in overcoming your OCD.

[NataEames]

Thanks, my ocd has gotten much better over the past year. I barely have obsessions or compulsions anymore. Except when i get upset, i still need to work on that one LOL

[cmike1980]

Disastrous Side Effects of Certain Hazardous Medications and Medical Care for Tender-aged Children / Kids & Senile and Fragile Old People - An Important Point To Take Note



Well, regarding the various medications for mental disorers, especially the longly-outdated first-generation ones such as chlorpromazine, fluphenazine (Prolixin),  haloperidol (Haldol), perphenazine, thioridazine, trifluoperazine (Stelazine) etc, actually one very obvious flaw / defect about the prior and existing drugs / medications approval systems and procedures before and nowadays is such that, for all / most of the drugs / medications, especially the ones with potentially and largely unknown disastrous side effects approved by such accredited medical professional bodies such as FDA etc, whilst in these cases, medications for mental disorders especially the serious psychosis disorders (in contrast to the mild neurosis disorders), the usability and viability of them in most cases, are officially established and endorsed virtually through their repeated testings and experimentations on the voluntarily willing / and in most cases, recruited paid and contract-bound candidates, or rather guinea pigs who are invariably all the fully grown adults, especially the ones with stronger physiques who have been regularly and frequently recruited for and exposed to such drugs / medications testings and experimentations from time to time, and hence naturally such candidates would have reasonably developed and possessed stronger-than-usual immune systems over time compared to other normal healthy people, as well as substantially greater tolerances to the adverse (neurological / neuromuscular / neuro-degenerative) side effects of such tested / experimented drugs and medications, especially after they have gone through so many drugs / medications testings and experimentations.



Hence, regardless of the official positive results produced, verified and announced through the drugs / medications testings and experimentations conducted in such a questionable way, given that there is such an explicit discrepancy in terms of the standards and yardsticks applied by such professional medical organisations in the process of approving such drugs / medications, especially the ones with serious side effects, the usability and viability of the related drugs and medications officially approved as such, are thus reasonably and very much open to questions particularly when they are being prescribed, dispensed, used and taken by the end users whose immune systems are not as great and strong as the drug / medications testings candidates or rather, guinea pigs as described above.



As such, reasonably, regardless of the very undeniable facts that constructive positive changes and improvements to such long-standing rigid practices and procedures which are fraught with many technical drawbacks and discrepancies (and hence, are medically unfavourable to the normal healthy end users) are practically, logistically and realistically unenforceable, infeasible, or rather, nearly impossible due to a variety of unfavourable factors and restrictive limitations that can hardly be overcome, I nevertheless would like to take this opportunity to inspire a greater awareness and emphasize that well-informed, careful and discreet precautions should reasonably be taken by the related end users of the related drugs / medications, especially in line with the topic above, for the sake of medical health cares and well-beings of the small tender-aged kids / children and the senile & fragile old people whose immune systems are either far more less developed or seriously deteriorating in the latter cases (compared to those guinea pigs as described above) , particularly when it comes to taking any medications with any potentially disastrous side effects so as to prevent the eventual unwanted, undesirable, and quite often, unexpected manifestations of such disastrous side effects of the related drugs / medications.


Related Information :

Examples of First-generation antipsychotics for treating schizophrenia :


http://www.webmd.com/schizophrenia/first-generation-antipsychotics-for-treating-schizophrenia



In such a connection, please refer to the website as follows for some overviews of all these first, second and third-generation antipsychotics.

 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antipsychotics