The person featured blames cannabis for his psychotic break, during which he almost killed his father. He was hospitalized, took psych meds, and got his life back in order. But more recently he weaned himself off of the meds. He thinks by avoiding cannabis he might be ok. But for how long?
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This strikes me. After 17 years on the Diagnosed forum I have seen many people try to come off their meds, I would say 1% or less succeed. Most people who try to go off their meds are aware of other schizophrenics failures in this regard but they all think they are different and they are the exception who can successfully do it. They learn the hard way that for the majority of schizophrenics that taking medication is a lifelong thing.
They may last a month off meds or 6 months or a year or even longer but the inevitable relapse occurs and they are set back in their recovery for many months. Iāve seen it over and over again despite any claims doctors or other mental health professionals may say otherwise.
I also think itās a myth or extremely rare that someone who is diagnosed with schizophrenia and has psychosis can make a complete recovery. You see statistics about the 1/3 rule in the mental health profession, that 1/3 of schizophrenics make a complete recovery, 1/3 donāt recover completely but their symptoms improve and 1/3 donāt get better at all. I used to see this all the time but I think itās outdated.
I think it depends entirely on your definition of a āfull recoveryā. To me, a full recovery is having zero symptoms, not needing medication and functioning fully, including socially and vocationally and maybe functioning as fully as before you got sick. If you go by my definition Iāve never seen that before either.
Number one, Iāve never seen anyone successfully come off meds, number two, Iāve seen people claim they have zero symptoms but then they qualify it with, āexcept for a few voicesā or negative symptoms. And Iāve never seen anyone diagnosed with schizophrenia go back to their pre-schizophrenia level of functioning. There are high functioning people but even those Iāve seen are limited by their disease. I donāt want to make it seem like all doom and gloom, some schizophrenics accomplish amazing things including full time jobs, college degrees, living independently or starting a family. But the disease of schizophrenia still affects them.
I think by going off his meds the guy in the article is playing with fire especially since having the history he does with attempted murder. I think itās a little irresponsible of him and whatever doctor approved it. Heās hoping it ends well, I hope it does too, itās always good to have hope when youāre schizophrenic but itās also good to be as realistic as possible.
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