A Portrait of Schizophrenia - Lauren
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- čas přidán 14. 02. 2020
- An interview style video touching on various topics concerning my schizoaffective disorder - what it's like living with schizophrenia; advice to those concerned about symptoms they don't understand; what scared me the most when I was first diagnosed; whether I'm afraid of my symptoms getting worse; advice for those who are questioning whether or not they should take their medication; and what I would tell someone who is struggling with this illness and feels alone.
In this video, I discuss managing schizophrenia/schizoaffective disorder with medication and my experiences with it. I talk about benefits as well as drawbacks to taking medications including common side effects. Medication adherence is also touched upon.
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Your videos are a gift to society
Have you ever been locked up against your will and charged thousands of dollars by a psych ward? These videos are supporting/encouraging the psychiatric industrial complex which harms thousands of people every day.
@@bethanyhumphrey9774 I would hope that the educational and communal value of these videos would lead to greater acceptance by both the public in general, those suffering from this illness as well as lead to more and better treatments. Which hopefully would lead to some enlightenment and diminished needs for hospitalisation by what you are calling the psychiatric industrial complex. I wish for you the best.
@@bethanyhumphrey9774 These videos have nothing to do with that.
Bethany Humphrey you’re an idiot
@@bethanyhumphrey9774 - It's the opposite. Lauren's videos are helping to educate the world in general about SZ. Helping to dispel the myth that people with SZ are violent and to be feared and that they need to be locked up because they are a danger to society. Lauren is helping so much to show that people with SZ can lead normal lives, that they need support and people to listen to them and to understand them.
She also only ever speaks from her own perspective as she knows every case is different. She never pushes one drug or another, knowing that every person reacts differently to different meds and that what works for one person doesn't necessarily work for everyone.
That is what I love about this channel, she gives a very balanced view and does not push her views on the viewer but leaves us feeling better informed and entitled to our own opinions.
Your videos contribute a lot to the diminishing of any stigma attached to schizophrenia. And you speak with such dignity.
Her videos are promoting drugs that do more damage - try them then make a comment! Try getting off them! Have you had iatrogenic harm? Have you had Akathisia? You may as well take ICE - same thing! Mind altering DRUGS.
This isn't about "reducing stigma". It's about normalising "mental illness" in order to expand the pharmaceutical market.
@@SydneyDiva precisely. They obviously haven't experienced how damaging these drugs are or stood by for years watching a loved one deteriorate on these poisons.
@Mike Siler1 Lots of people under the influence of these legally prescribed drugs do far worse things and then have no recollection of doing them. You are lucky you remained safe.
Could you do podcasts? I think it would be so amazing to hear you regularly educate us about schizophrenia and mental illness ☺️ I would love to listen to them if you consider this in the future!
Lauren has the most beautiful blue eyes :) I'm always mesmerized by them in every video
No connection I know but my schizophrenic husband also has beautiful blue eyes.
There was an interview with George Harrison of the Beatles and when asked what it was like being a Beatle he looked a little confused and answered "What's it like NOT being a Beatle?" Reminds me of this interview a little. Except you are a beautiful portrait of schizophrenia.
I can relate to your story a lot. Most people I know don’t even know I have schizoaffective disorder. I’ve been pushed around by therapists, saying that I’m fine because I can “get through the day.” I also have a college degree. I have a bachelors in psychology. I worked in health care when I graduated, and now I work in education. I was diagnosed when I was 13 in middle school. I’ve been hospitalized about 5 different times since then. Ive been hospitalized 2 weeks at a time, and other times months at a time. I have to take medicine everyday to maintain my wellbeing. If I don’t take my meds for about 4 days, I don’t even know where I am. I’ve done a lot of things that I didn’t know what I was doing when I don’t take it. I’ve had to take time off from school... but I realize when I take my medicine, I am better. I can even hold conversation better! I can shower! I can feed myself! I can drive! I realize different people are affected by mental illness in different ways. I know I have my own struggles that I can’t share in this comment. Mental illness affects all sorts of people, but I want everyone to know that if even you “seem ok” to people, are educated, are even come from a “good” family, schizoaffective can affect you too! Your problems are not less than just because people think you have it all together. You can still increase your wellbeing wherever you are. Blessings xoxo
Wonderful interview. I don't have a mental illness but I'm very close to turning 70 and am seeing my body changing and experiencing many new health challenges, which frightens me a lot. New medications are now needed and I really don't like taking them. Knowing that things will only get worse despite my determined efforts to improve my diet and exercise schedule is frustrating.
Your inner strength and courage are inspiring and very helpful. Thank you.
I like how you can put all of the answers into words I can understand. You are very articulate and compassionate, and your ability to work with people who are struggling really comes through. Good video.
I thought I would end up standing in the corner crying all day with a diaper on when I was first diagnosed. It took a while for me to accept because it was all so real to me. I became so scared because it felt like I couldn't explain things the correct way because I just knew I was right... It's a struggle a hell of a struggle to live with. Its embarrassing because the average person doesn't understand. People think bad like your on drugs and that hurts your feelings so you just withdraw yourself from the public as much as possible. It becomes so exhausting just trying to find a comfortable piece of mind. Thank you for sharing your stories and videos they help me and to share with others to help explain things
I know you didn't intend for it to be funny but I got a chuckle out of the diaper comment. When I was in the hospital I was afraid of being given shock treatment and they even seemed to threaten me with it. So we all have our different worries. Wish you the best with your recovery.
I'm glad you said this because with the huge drug epidemic going on, I might never consider that someone has schizophrenia and not a drug addiction. Makes you think twice.
Don't ever withdraw yourself. Don't you dare run from being uncomfortable, but run towards it. It you want to take yourself back from Schizophrenia then that's the direction you need to go in. This is tough for some to understand, but in the fire is where your true self is being held captive, and that's where you're needed. Your comfort zone is in isolation, and that's darkness. We're the type of plants that needs light. Isolation will only aid the illness in further robbing you of your identity. Don't let it win. I just wrapped up a video talking about the trap of the comfort zone, and ties into a previous video I made called "Schizophrenia, and the power of isolation." I began to find myself in the things that made me uncomfortable and afraid. The recent isn't posted yet but should be in a few days. I know you didn't ask for any advice, but I can't sit back and see the illness cover another plant in darkness without even trying to reach out. I've been there, and all it leaves you is as a shell of your former self. Isolation is the natural response, and I understand the desire for it all too well. Hope you make a full recovery. I know it's possible, and I hope you and others who are suffering at the hands of Schizophrenia will one day come to see it too.
@@makeitbetterx33 spiritually it's the same. it's just demons. ppl w schizophrenia more receptive to other dimensions/energies. w drug addiction you open demon portals. why do you think drug addiction is worse though. drug addiction is a mental health problem too, they need help too. some ppl are more guilty than others. yes drugs can be dangerous but so can be other stuff in life too, not taking care of yourself, being toxic to others etc.
@Alex Evans u could just try and start going to church regularly. just a suggestion, do as you like.
Hi Lauren, I live in Australia and was recently diagnosed with Schizoaffective Disorder, after spending years being diagnosed with MDD. My life makes a lot more sense to me now. Thanks so much for making these videos, it really helps me and I'm sure it helps others too. Also wanted to compliment you on how beautiful you look, especially in this video.
She's helping me with my youngest who is going through so much with her own symptoms as well. We are Aussies too, it helps that people are talking each other and teaching by experience like Lauren.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart. I no longer feel like a freak. I am 52 years old and also went thru a similar story like yours regarding your diagnosis. I was diagnosed 1 year ago. I went thru 25 yrs of a miss diagnosis. Actually I remember symptoms from 3 yes old. However I could not verbalize it. At school I did a great job of hiding it and thus really hurting myself in the long run. I suffered a lot.
I am so glad more people are "coming out" I suffer from this but it's also a societal problem not everyone is weaponed for.
As someone who has Psychosis and has hallucinations daily, this video helped me to not feel alone. Thank you so much!
Wonderful, it’s nice to know brother isn’t alone and this gives me comfort to learn about this so I can better understand my brother.
You help me understand what my loving deceased mother was going through with this illness. I will always applaud your efforts, your strength, your character and your willingness to catalog and share your personal challenges with the illness as you navigate your life. Your efforts will positively impact millions around the world. Thanks for the continued education. Much appreciative. All the tthe best to you!
You really help me to not feel alone and encourage me to love and take good care of myself. I don’t blame myself for not being able to, by sheer will alone, control my emotions. I reminded that having a mental illness is not my fault.
I have Schizoaffective disorder. I am nearly 40 now & was first diagnosed at 17. I would have to agree with you about getting better with age. I don't think my illness has lessened much but I would put forward that as I mature, the way I perceive it & having a more rational way of dealing with it can become easier. It still can kick my butt I have much a better mechanism for dealing with the symptoms, having a plan in place helps a lot too. And I think it goes without saying having a strong relationship with my Doctor & always looking at the Meds & seeing if any adjustments need to be made. This can turn things around as I find the earlier I can address a problem then it can stop it from being a full-on episode whereas I may still have symptoms it is far less severe I can avoid Psychosis for the most part.
I really appreciate your vids & I love the way you explain it properly while still maintaining a very human side. I am so glad I found your channel. Rob seems like a cool & supportive person. I know how hard it can be to maintain a healthy relationship when things are bad so good on yous :)
Keep on keeping on, Peace
So pleased to read that it gets better with age and that you can gain strategies to help as my 18 year old daughter has only been recently diagnosed as is not wanting to live. Gives me hope. Thank you.
I feel for you. I have ocd and schizoaffective disorder depressive type. You are very brave. Stay strong and keep being yourself. 👍
That was....incredible!😢😢😊💙💙💙💙💙💙🌷💖💖💖💖💖💖👍
You are so brave. Thank you for your channel🙏
Excellent insights into a mental illness that's not well understood. She's very articulate and those clear blue eyes are captivating. Kudos to her for having the courage to put herself in the spotlight and to show that some people can still have a functioning life and not be relegated to a psychiatric hospital.
Your videos are so helpful! I don’t have schizophrenia but you answer many questions that I have had. I had a good friend with schizophrenia and questions I asked him would turn into one-sided tangential conversations. He was very against taking medication so his schizophrenia was very much a part of the person I knew when I met him. Thank you for sharing!
That describes my husband as well.
A doctor recently suggested that he thinks my husband has the illness and after watching a few of these videos I'm 100% convinced that he is schizophrenic.
I couldn't understand some of his behaviors until now.
Its been a few days since we saw the Doctor and I still haven't had a good conversation with my husband about it the possibility of him having schizophrenia. I don't know if I can persuade him to get a diagnosis and treatment. I feel like he will either be in denial or try to downplay the illness and sweep it under a rug.
He recently stopped taking his depression meds too and I haven't been able to convince him to get back on them. Our marriage has been very challenged since he stopped taking them. I don't know what to do or who to turn to.
@@melindamorrison1 I very much hope your situation improves. The friend I was describing had his wife in the position where she felt bad for wanting him medicated, like she was suppressing him or trying to change him. From the outside, I felt bad for her because he seemed to get progressively worse over time. If you can get your husband to go, couples therapy can be a good way to express to him how his behavior is affecting you and making you feel. You can find free therapists through religious organizations, me and my wife have personally done that in the past. Just the fact of having a third party present changes the tone of the conversation. More calm, more mindful. Bear in mind nothing may change on his end, but if you can’t say what you want to say to him you’re going to be miserable.
My sister was recently diagnosed with Schizophrenia. We are from Poland and this illness is complete mystery here and your channel helps me a lot to understand her. You are beautiful, wise and strong person. Thank you for all you do.
This video is a success in how it induces the right frame of mind when approaching a person with schizophrenia. Empathy, patience and soft direction go a long way. What we learn from people with schizophrenia is to become that cool steady stream of water that carves through the mountain.
Awesome channel. Thank you.
Another great video! I love the new format! Thank you for all you do!
Thank you so much I am really struggling and you guys really help me not feel so hopeless. I share your fears of worsening symptoms, this video really helps reinforce my mantra to keep trusting my meds and my doctor, my family is very supportive but it's powerful ans affirming to hear these things from someone who is doing so well. Thank you guys and take care
Beautiful video, Lauren. Thank you.
Beautiful video. Thank you.
This is such an important video, and it’s sooo well crafted! Lovely!
Thank you for sharing and educating myself and others
Beautifully done. You are truly a healer.
you both are helping so many people. thank you for posting this, and all you do.
You are doing such good work with your channel. Thank you 🙏
Thank you SO much for this video. I have schizoaffective too and don't know many people with mental illness, so this was great to hear. Well done editing, music, everything. And I love your smile!
I follow your channel for some time . Thank you ....
Thank you for opening up about your illness and helped me be more understanding about mental illnesses. It is still a taboo for the majority of people but we all can help to make them be more sympathetic. Thank you for your work
Your honesty and generosity of spirit are much appreciated. Thank you!
I appreciate your work with educating people on this topic. 🙏🏻
Thank you so much for a realistic portrait of our illness! I'm right there with you, we're not alone!
Thank you, Lauren, for this video. Be strong and never forget, you're not alone in your struggle 💖
This is so powerful. Sending you so much love, Lauren. ♥️♥️♥️
Thank you so very much for sharing such a personal journey. Please don't stop! Your story, experiences and overall truth versus the societal stigmas associated with mental disease (a disease like all other "diseases" that are accepted), they are reaching many with issues, as well as those that are not ill but just want to better understand. In your times of distress always know that you now have a support group of 40.6K people (subscribers) that all are there caring for your continued success and well-being just as you encourage ours. Safe travels always...
Great video Lauren and beautifully filmed Rob, really professional.
Am so glad to see your channel growing as you both deserve it so much. You are doing such a great job dispelling the myths that people with SZ cannot function in society. Keep up the good work you are helping so many people.
Thank You - You're an insightful person!
I also love how honest you are God bless you
You are so beautiful inside and out! I struggle with alot of mental health symptoms and when I get manic I have symptoms very similar to what you've described. Stay strong love, keep fighting
You are so courageous to talk about this aspect of your life on an open platform. It helps me to feel less lonely. Wt
The vulnerable of which I include myself, have more similarities than we have differences. Wishing you, double the good days then the negative days, With each week bringing you peace of heart & mind.
I adore both your message and your makeup in this video. Keep up the good work!!!
You're so beautiful inside and out. Thank you for your bravery in sharing your story.
Thank you Lauren...... This is a godsend for me.❤️
Thank you for sharing
You are so strong and brave. Thank you for sharing.
Lauren, you are the best. Thank u so much for these videos, keep on going girrrl💪🏼❤️
Your strength and your message of positive reassurance to others is only matched by your beauty. Much respect and stay awesome,
Love this channel, its authenticity and insight, its compassion- and I know no one with schizophrenia, all of the issues covered apply to the human condition! Hopefully we can wake up to the compassion of the views presented here, video after video. Amazing!
love yah girl.... hold your head up.... i have schizoaffective disorder and still hear voices ... i no longer see stuff anymore. but i do see flashes of blue light still... it will get better. thank you for making these videos... they help me
Ow wow flashes of blue light I see those all the time too... interesting
I get flashes of white light and seldomly whole body elec shocks just before going to sleep....its fucking annoying
Halo - are the shocks because your body is stuck in stress flight mode or is it a withdrawal symptom?
@@shl945 I keep getting told its because of stress but I don't feel "stressed"
Halo This body shock occurred to my family member when sleep deprived and stressed about being in hospital. I didn’t know if it was from stress. He was put on respiradone but they switched him to a different medication. Eventually they went away but I wondered if it was stress, sleep deprivation, or the medication. Probably stress as he was worried about sleeping in the room with some challenging roommates there. But 6 weeks later when he was weaned off meds and maybe too quickly he got stress tics. I’ve seen people talk about an electric feeling before a tic. Though he doesn’t have an electric feeling before the tics. So we are just confused about all of it. What medication are you on?
I keep sharing my videos with my family and my brother to better understand living with schizophrenia. My brother was diagnosed a few years ago. Thank you so much for sharing ❤️
Your videos not my
Thank You, Lauren.
Thank you and God bless/keep you 😊
Was just diagnosed with scitzophrenia. This video is very helpful and I showed it to my family. Thank you for sharing! From Ontario Canada
Thank you for sharing.
This video really touched my heart
Thank you Lauren for exposing the face of schizophrenia. You have done some amazing work with your channel which I have been following for some time now. God bless you. 💕
Weldon Lauren,you are indeed on your way to full recovery with your realistic and positive attitude/mindset.
Thanks for educating us.
❤ from South Australia
You have the most amazing eyes but more importantly your vids are really inspiring. Especially for me who is a schizophrenic 15 year old.
Thank you so much Lauren for your videos they are so very helpful. 😊
This is a very interesting video. Also you look very natural and poised.
You are my hero Lauren
.Send You a lot of love
Great work, Me and her have alot of the same symptoms and when you look handsome or pretty people expect you to somehow not have Schizophrenia it's weird. Some times people don't believe you are Schizophrenic because you are Attractive and Smart a very dangerous attitude for society to have.
I know, I find this one of the most frustrating forms of Stigma. When people see & hear me speak when I am well they often say you don't have Schizophrenia, you are fine. It is like yeah I'm fine now because of lifestyle, meds, having a plan & all the other things I work hard at to stay well. If they don't see at my worst then they don't believe I have a diagnosis. I find it so frustrating as it says all the struggle in life with my mind & having to be committed to a Mental hospital & everything else that goes with it, is somehow not real because I seem fine when I am well.
koffinkat666 yes. If you are a ‘high functioning sufferer,’ of this or some other affliction, at some point, you are seen as a threat, as you challenge the ‘conventional wisdom,’ of those who don’t suffer from those with the affliction, as a matter of maintaining ‘control,’ or ‘the status quo.’ In some regard, I don’t know if that can or will ever be able to be changed, however there are things like AA, or being deaf, etc today, so to me there is hope of eventual ‘normalization’ in terms of the view of people along the continuum, but society isn’t there yet, at least here in the USA.
Nicely worded.
You look so great. Happy for you ❤️
Thanks for doing what you do. As a fellow schizophrenic it's really nice seeing someone like you talk about the disease publicly which helps people realize that not all schizophrenics are dangerous wack jobs. Keep up the good job!
You are an inspiration!
You are amazing!
Thank you for sharing. I had psychosis NOS in 2014 and then was diagnosed with shizophrenia and had a psychotic break in 2016 I always love to find people with strength and get inspired by them. I love writing poetry and things like that it takes a lot of though though for me. I wrote a small book too but that's another story. I appreciate your journey & struggle and schizophrenia has been very very very hard on me over the past 3 years and the five years of other mental health stuff like the psychosis and I also had anxiety and depression.
The truth is it's easy to feel alone and it's hard to open up because no one has the same beliefs as you and it's hard to open up and share what you believe but I've come to realize that with my faith and spirituality and honesty I make better friends just being "me" :) I find it hard to set boundaries though and yeah.
It's so hard to go to the hospital when you do but looking back seeing so many people that care about you it's heartwarming when the hospital staff are cheerful and friendly it's a breath of fresh air.and of course talking to the patients is humbling and mind blowing how talented some people really are.
Thank you for being an inspiration to me :) -Joshua Hitching.
My heart goes out to anyone who’s dealing with this ❤️
A very good informative video but what strikes me is how much love there is in the filming itself. I can't describe it any better than that. Beautiful!
I think that's what makes it even more powerful because Rob, Laurens partner is doing the filming which means Lauren feels safe, loved and protected, meaning she can ooen up even more. They are such a great team.
You are a beautiful and perfect spokesperson for Schizophrenia. Thank you. 🙏🏼
Me too. I have to deal with hatred because of my disability against myself. I don’t really have hallucinations, but I have disorganized speech and decreased motivation. I eat a lot. Probably my medication.
If this is Rob, he’s a good partner
I have a horrible psychiatrist currently right now, it's crippling when such people treat you extremely bad. Thank god we these days are not dependent on them anymore and these type of video's are 1000% more helpful.
I like all of your videos you are doing a very good job
My Uncle has Schizophrenia and I have BiPolar Rapid Cycling. Thanks for making these videos, keep doing what you do Lauren!
Such beautiful eyes...love from Chile 🇨🇱
Great video
♥️ thank you
And i now am going to find a small apartment fot myself , small and cosy. I have money to pay the rent, and savings, so i can finaly make a fresh start. Thank you very much for the videos you make!
You Are Such An Admirable Person👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Thanks for Sharing Your Journey.. It’s Really Uplifting Enlightening and Inspiring... Not Only are u Stunningly Beautiful You Are also Super Brave and Courageous for Facing that Condition Head On And Telling Your Audience About It👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Much Love from ALL of US Truly Amazing Woman👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 Stay Positive Life IS Beautiful!!!! .... Ohh I forgot ..: Those Eyes omg 😍😍😍😍
Great Production
Lauren should be on 60 minutes here in the states, she could do alot in the fight against stigma being heard on TV.✌
Thank you Lauren. Me and my wife watch y’all a good bit together. I have just started 45 day treatment for SZ with mixed bipolar. Possibly catatonic SZ. Could you do a video on that version please. Scared and hopeful at the same time!
Thank you Lauren. Thought the video interview was professional quality and gave the right personal touch. The setting was just right allowing for Lauren's affect to beautifully come across. Thank you.
Great video
Thank you
This is very informative. Thank you for your ongoing transparency Lauren!
Great video. 😄
I love watching your video I have panic attacks and bipolar and O.C.D
Thank you.
I Enjoy your videos it takes guts to do what you
Thank you !
Thank you, thank you, thank you 🙏
Both my parents were Schizophrenic. I grew up watching them constantly fight over imaginary things.... my mom would believe that someone was burning her clothes and furniture with a lighter and hear voices that wasn't there etc. My old man also heard voices and was extremely paranoid. Half the time they were very doped up on Thorazine and Seraquil, sleeping alot in the daytime. Who knows what else the doctors gave them. There were so many pill bottles all over the place. Imagine dealing with that shit as a teenager... Not fun. I'm glad I didn't inherit any metal illnesses... at least not yet. Scary to think about.
Everyday is a challenge ! I know . Keep going . You are stronger than that. Do it for yourself and the people who love you