Schizophrenia Recovery without Medication—Hearing Voices

[ImTwixtorXD]

Just cause I hear voices doesn't mean I'm shizo!... I agree

[Alchemy0109]

Goes to show you child abuse is the reason for mental problems. Growing up woth unloving parents is like going to Iraq withouta gun.

[swiyyahnm]

Take the meds. I tried to refuse meds and was hospitalized 6 times. I have a similar video on my channel.

[DarkPrinceNH5570]

To continue below. KIM JUNG UNs (spelling) family is like my REAL family. Just trust me...

One of those Asian families in Korea, names mean GOLD!!! Hmmmm I wonder. And this family is at the top of that "SPIRAL"?

[DarkPrinceNH5570]

What was I going to say?

Forgot, *cooking eggs*... yeah I was lied to my entire life by people who I called friends and family that ADOPTED me. Women who thought they could put me in prison to set my life up for failure and murder me. You got another guess coming honey!!!

usa cant do a damn thing.

KIM JUNG UN (N.Korea) kinda did it too (covert). Sweden had no idea. *HIGH FIVE TO KIM*

Yeah... I hate usa too.

[DarkPrinceNH5570]

Im so shizo (fo nizo) that... Im the FAMILY OF DAVID.

[DarkPrinceNH5570]

HAHAHA... schizo... yeah I got it.

MK ULTRA (Manchurian Candidate)... I know this is real. Women are going to prision because society is fucked up?

I know this is real because "HE" (shane parker) told me to stay off the internet. And now "CERTAIN" people want me to stay off internet? How about you give me my MONEY and my GIRL?

Anything you people want to say?

I was LIED to my entire life. I woke up! I guess Im suppose to thank the "CELEBRITIES" (singers)"? LOL

BLOODLINES?

[MVProductions4]

btw im 14 and i never had this problem

[MVProductions4]

last night i woke up to myself talking to someone or something..... i was pleading with this thing saying "please no... i will go to church i promise" i know i heard more of the conversation but i couldnt remember the rest... but when i woke up to these voices it felt like i wasnt control of my own body... i felt like this thing was bad.. its very hard to explain... i dont want to tell anybody cause i might sound crazy... .can someone tell me what is happening please!

[TheGeekGirlGamer]

I find that my medication does stop my voices partially but they STILL struggle to get through. That struggle takes so much of my energy I'd prefer not to take them. I'd rather deal with them, like I have for 11 years, without an anti-psychotics but without meds I am to off the wall.

I get the feeling they still talk but I can't hear them, not that they're gone.

All this video is trying to do is encourage you to address the voices rather than ignore them as that's not right either.

[IParanoidAndroidI]

Who to Blame when you Get voices Just like that but only telling you to kill yourself, I am defnenatly sure i have schizophrenia, I have suffered from these voices telling me to hang my self or kill my self since i was about 15 i have never once attempted to kill my self, but i am sick of them, I want to go to the doctors and try and get something to fix it as i am pretty sure it is just a chemical imbalance and there is medication to cure or at least temperamental each dosage,

[IParanoidAndroidI]

@IParanoidAndroidI but i dont want to be sectioned or be know as a fruit cake i have pretty much hidden these thoughts from everyone up untill now

[dmackler58]

@IParanoidAndroidI i would suggest checking out the HEARING VOICES NETWORK. I think if you google it you will find out more. their stuff is much much better than medications. often the meds don't stop the voices at all, and even more often have rotten, serious side effects.

[Hornilope]

@dmackler58 you realize telling people this is extremly harmful to them?

tons of people find great relief from their illness as a result of medication. if used properly they can (literally) save lives. I know it has for me.

not to mention that schizophrenia has far more symptoms then just hearing voices that are harder to ignore and get insight of.

[dmackler58]

@Hornilope some do get relief from symptoms with meds, but the statistics show that MUCH more recover fully if they never take meds or manage to get safely off their medications -- especially if they get good supportive help, be it professional or not. this message can be scary because it goes against the message that psychiatry pounds into people. and yes, a diagnosis of schizophrenia is more than just hearing voices -- i didn't address that here for reasons of brevity.

[Hornilope]

@dmackler58 The point of pointing out that schizophrenia has more symptoms: Do you have any indicator that this woman has schizophrenia other then her claim of hearing a voice saying one word?

[Hornilope]

@dmackler58

And for the rest: It's not an either or question. All means that can be used to help these people should be used. That means emphasizing the importance on healthy living, using vitamins/nutritions, therapy (the kinds that actually work, not this freudian nonsense), making sure the patient has a good social support network, etc. And off course, medication is necessary as well, especially if people are in a state of acute psychosis/depression/mania/wha­t have you.

[arkonastriborg123]

@dmackler58 yea has any psychiatric drug ever cured anything? i don't think so

[MrGodkid]

this is the most disrespectful video of any video I have watched; the fact that it is needed and important to people who are suffering only makes it worse. If I find any other video on any other less important topic, I will just report it (don't thank me for the warning, just heed the warning)

[dmackler58]

@MrGodkid i would be curious to know why you think this video is so disrespectful. rather than hear you make threats, i would prefer to hear your reasoning. all the best, daniel mackler

[MrGodkid]

@dmackler58 I am sorry, but cartoon jokes around the head of a qualified psychologist? Do you think I am some kind of baby? I can't listen to a professional conversation without baby gimmicks intruding? The way you did it gives the impression that you yourself were not listening at all, either, which has nothing to do with whether anyone else who gives this video the time of day wants to listen, though you seem to think so. Purile.

[MrGodkid]

not to mention that he takes himself seriously and you have probably offended him

[dmackler58]

@MrGodkid actually lloyd ross (the therapist in the video) thought it was pretty funny. but i accept that not everyone has the same sense of humor. the intent was not to offend.

[MrGodkid]

@dmackler58 no kidding &******, I have been over-medicated for failing to learn this precise lesson, I suggest you learn it too before they find drugs for you.

[coolblackdead]

i am diagnosed as a schizophrenic. * you can't talk away diabetes *I am afraid right now that i will be traced. there are two things ....

[sarabeth1410]

@coolblackdead please take your meds for real your comment makes no sense

[MomoTheBellyDancer]

If that woman recovered, than she was obviously misdiagnosed. That happens. The mind is a complicated thing. It's just to show that therapists need to be diligent.

[madmanatsea]

The human body works similar to car: if you keep driving your car with Low oil or coolant or gas, IT WILL MESS UP!

You can't expect your brain to stay healthy if you don't keep your b-vitamins, magnesium, omega3, etc., AT OPTIMUM LEVELS,.......The brain will malfunction or some other part like your GI tract just like your car will if you drive while your oil or coolant is low.

[madmanatsea]

Brain malfunction happens when you eat a poor diet due to not consuming sufficient b-vitamins and magnesium, use drugs/alcohol that burn-UP your

b-vitamins and magnesium, are under constant stress and insomnia that burn up your b-vitamins and magnesium.......,..You can't get psychosis if you consume enough b-vitamins and magnesium. and treat the brain with them to get better!

[ctormeyful]

Go Mackler!

[eaavendano]

I have a question. Does anyone believe that the stuff pertaining to the voices has to do with a person's own background? I mean, like if someone is religious more or less, would their voices be religious in nature? And if someone has been raised from very young in things like ancestor worship, or a time consuming hobby, like alien life, that sort of thing, would people experience this sort of things, like related to their own experiences, hobbies, stuff they believe in?

[IronicallyVague]

@eaavendano - If you think of it as an illness then a person will access their memory(as any so called normal person would do) to find something to make sense of their current circumstances..

For example if you awoke one day with an extra arm what would you think?

Personally I'd recall reading an article about Nano technology and remember the A-hole next door who kept taking my parking spot worked at the local research laboratory I

[IronicallyVague]

@IronicallyVague But for me I've never had much of a religious background and I was drop kicked into a world of Demons and Angels

[agreenbeard]

Really good, thanks for that. Again we see that speaking the truth and being a conscious witness for someone else can do wonders + the fact that these symptoms don´t seem to be the cause of the problem but the consequence of un-investigated material from which the person is trying to protect herself or has embraced that way of coping as her best solution for now. thanks for the good work!

[yynnoopp]

is a person that had some times some problems,nobody who has 1 milion dollar`s a year and two gallardo`s well be schizophenic that`s why ne need`s to solve his problems.drug him is not the way to help him.i really think then can be helped without medication is u try to talk to them listed and be there for them when they need,and in the way they need if that is really possible

[yynnoopp]

i`m not skizopheric i don`t have any kind of problem or mental issue` i thinked and this scenario before i`ve seen the video or know anything about "cureing schizofrenia" i just felt this is the right way.if you`re not near the person that need`s help if you can`t listen to him even he sound`s crazy you cannot help him,and if u don`t let him go maybe someone could.giving` him medicine or drug`s will not help him,calm him but not help him.i person that has schizophrenia - continueing

[yynnoopp]

i`m not skizopheric i don`t have any kind of problem or mental issue` i thinked and this scenario before i`ve seen the video or know anything about "cureing schizofrenia" i just felt this is the right way.if you`re not near the person that need`s help if you can`t listen to him even he sound`s crazy you cannot help him,and if u don`t let him go maybe someone could.giving` him medicine or drug`s will not help him,calm him but not help him.i person that has schizophrenia - continuing

[bass109]

This can be healed by power of Jesus christ.

[dmackler58]

@ChristyKat77 Rock on, Christykat. You just summed it up, in a nutshell. From what I've seen (and experienced personally), people who get labeled with the ugly diagnoses are so often terribly wounded. Wounds take time to heal -- time and lots of common-sense nurturing...from within and from others. All the best to you, and thank you----Daniel

[imGoinGhetto]

this has also happened to me before when i had a very loud industrial fan on. i kept thinking my phone was ringing 

[dmackler58]

@imGoinGhetto i personally would never tell someone they had schizophrenia, and i was a therapist. i find it an offensive diagnosis, especially considering most in the mental health field believe recovery is impossible. the only reason i put the word schizophrenia in the title of this video is to DISPROVE the idea that people labeled with it never get well. lots of people have odd experiences that don't fit into the norm - it's up to each person to decide if the experiences are troubling or not.

[MissEmilyS1]

@imGoinGhetto OMG!!! The same exact thing happens to me too. It happens when I have the blow dryer on.

[imGoinGhetto]

i dont really believe i have Schizophrenia, but when there is a constant noise, such as being in an airplane and hearing the engine, i often start hearing things. I once was in a plane, and the loud engine roar was somewhat irritating me. Because of the loud noise my mind kept imagining like the bell dinging when the pilot is bout to speak. It wasnt really dinging but in kept hearing it over and over for the entire 5 hour flight.

[drashokn]

some schizophrenics require short course of anti psychotics,and they get better.some require life long medication.Are their any double blind studies to prove your claim that schizophrenia does not require anti psychotics,and all schizophrenias will be cured without medicines.

is the psychiatry the only branch of medicine using only medicines.

An honest reply requested

[dmackler58]

@drashokn PART 1: hi drashokn --- i don't think you're correct to say that "some schizophrenics require short course" of meds, as require is a strong word, though some good studies that i respect suggest that a certain percentage of people diagnosed with first-break psychosis get well after a short short and lose dose of antipsychotics, whereas a higher percentage get well with no antipsychotics at all. (these are the finnish open dialogue studies.)

[dmackler58]

@drashokn PART 2: there are no studies that show 100% recovery without meds, but there are also no studies WITH meds (or with any form of treatment) that show 100% recovery!! the studies, however, with the best recovery rates are the ones that show little or no use of meds. see: Soteria House studies, Finnish Open Diaogue studies, WHO schizophrenia studies, Harrow & Jobe studies, Courtenay Harding's Vermont long-term follow-up studies. these are some of the best statistical studies out there

[london2z]

From what I've read, there are POSSIBLY three causes of any mental illness: 1. Physical 2. Psychological, or 3. Inherited. In the case of physically-caused mental illnesses: I believe that it is LIKELY, BUT NOT CERTAIN, that the best treatment would be holistic remedies, as common sense would SEEM to say that good nutrition and exercise, etc., could be the most effective.

[london2z]

As for psychological-caused: emotional support and psychotherapy MOST LIKELY would work best, (without meds). And as for inherited causes: I would THINK that either holistic remedies or psychotherapy, etc. MIGHT work best, depending on whether the person THEORETICALLY inherited a physically-caused psychological abnormality, or a psychologically-caused psychological abnormality.

[jaspergirl56able]

voices are real first time I heard one it was back in 1985 apparently the apartment complex where I lived had what I thought was a ghost now I know it's a computerized system known as the web. Very devious but virtual. Schizophrenia is bullshit no such thing. If you hear voices your anything but nuts. Besides, this disease is acted out with several different personalities. Voices is not part of it. Never taken meds in my life. I have a high I.Q. and saw too much especially from doctors

[bernieowen2]

After suffering nearly twenty years of schizophrenia 7 spent in instutions.I was told i had made a full recovery from schizophrenia on NOv 1.Check out my channel for all the info Bernie Owen Damaged Minds Recovered schizophrenic

[marcelmiller1989]

its allmost 6 months since im not hearing voices anymore and i did the same trick, i stopped taking medications because of their side effects after that i analized carefully my voices and i came up that my voices arent real... finally i began to "projact them outside"

[madkat1981]

interesting video indeed. but i would be more inclined to believe there was a misdiagnosis of her condition in the first place as schizophrenia, along with other mental health condition cannot be "cured"

[dmackler58]

@madkat1981 people often claim that recovered people were misdiagnosed. it's the easiest excuse for many psychiatrists. i've seen them do it commonly. first they INSIST the person DOES have schizophrenia, and then when the people get well they INSIST they were misdiagnosed. it's all because they start with the assumption that schizophrenia cannot be cured. (also makes it convenient to keep prescribing heavy medications....)

[gajdacs1]

@dmackler58 Perhaps you are familiar with Silvano Arieti's excellent and comprehensive book, "Interpretation of Schizophrenia". I recommend this book to anyone interested in or affected by schizophrenia. Arieti makes a distinction between insidious and sudden onset, which makes a huge difference. Sudden-onset schizophrenia appears to be more responsive to psychotherapy.

[dmackler58]

@gajdacs1 arieti's work is great. i've read some of it---quite good stuff. thanks for the reminder.---daniel

[tyrone199]

The editors are fucking ridiculous. It undignifies the entire thing.

[dmackler58]

@tyrone199 heaven forbid "the editors" (that is, me, daniel mackler) use humor to make a point. incidentally, i have heard many times from people who have recovered from that thing labelled as schizophrenia that humor itself (in the allies of the diagnosed person) was a crucial part of their recovery process.

[necrofagg0t]

In the summer I had a panic attack that lasted for like three days. My main fear those three days was that I was going insane because I smoked a synthetic marijuana. I had severe anxiety the whole summer. At one point, I was anxious about hallucinating flies and saw a large black circle on the wall. After my anxiety had ebbed, I was severely depressed and heard a voice whisper "die". But, after that I've actually been feeling quite well for the past month, but am still worried about losing it.

[azar24701]

im scared, my older sister just a week ago started to get this disorder... :'( and im really worried about her. I don't want her on drugs cuz idk if its gonna hurt her more then she is now..she is right now in her room talking to her self and doing bizzare things..what should i do?? I worried myself sick and now im not feeling real good. Does anyone have any good advice, please...

[Ironkettle]

@azar24701 To give you an idea, my sister and I are dx with this illness. The difference is that I am trying to figure things out and explain to myself a broader cause and effect. Truly listen to your sister's conclusions and really have her explain them (her own way). Let her know that these conclusions are valid (large implications behind them) but need refinement. Medications will help for awhile and work with you guys. As she gets more aware have her research about this.

[Ironkettle]

@azar24701 The more firmly you guys start to understand this, the better. I feel it's hugely an emotional corruption and it needs rational explaining. You have to be there with them and show that they aren't "crazy". Also, suggesting therapy. If money is tight, try to find multiple people with experience with it and incorporate some of their success. It's a lot of insight and knowledge and enjoy the challenge. It will help build your bonds and develop both you for stronger humans. Hobbies help.

[ronunger1]

Yes, it is wrong to automatically blame the parents. Some parents do a pretty good job, and their kids still end up with these kinds of problems. But there is lots of evidence that people who get diagnosed with schizophrenia are much more likely than the average person to have been exposed to serious trauma of some sort. And even when this hasn't happened, it still may be possible to figure out what "normal" part of life the person is struggling with, and to help them cope better.

[shadeofteal]

@ronunger1 1. I think that for an individual to develop what is called "sz" it needs that the individual experiences a profound insecurity at a very early age. Too early an age for others than the primary caregivers (often the parents/mother) to be the source of the insecurity. I agree that parents shouldn't be attacked, accused of having harmed their kids on purpose. Most haven't. But they should be held responsible.

[shadeofteal]

@ronunger1 2. Parents are responsible for what they do to others just like everybody else is. Unfortunately, many parents will react defensive when held responsible, especially when their kid's reaction to their actions reflects a degree of dysfunctionality as extreme as "sz" does. "Sz" is the most extreme reaction human beings are capable of, thus reflecting the most extreme dysfunctionality human beings are capable of.

[shadeofteal]

@ronunger1 3. So, it doesn't exactly flatter one's parental skills, if one's kid reacts in an "sz"-way to them. Anyhow, it also is one's responsibility as a human being, and thus as a parent, to face one's shortcomings, and no one is helped by letting parents off the hook. Pretty good is simply not good enough, if the reaction to it is "sz".

[Posse264]

For schizopherics have you noticed they give people all these medicines but they don't work for anyone. But the natural medicines (like herbs) are used by sick people and are much better and healthier for them. And make us pay taxes for these prescribe drugs, for what. We just sick of the prescribed drugs.

[ilovegoth]

Some Schizoprenics have great parents-it seems wrong to blame the parents. In fact it used to be common to blame autistic children's Moms. It is a return to the past which I don't accept. So what do you do about the 80-90% of Schizophrenics whose parents are blameless? Schiz is also genetic so that disproves the nurture theory too.

[shadeofteal]

@ilovegoth Show me the genes, and show me one single human being on this earth who is "blameless". Where do you have these 80-90% from? Do you know every single parent of people labelled "sz"? And are they all gods?

[ilovegoth]

I have some problems with this video. The voice saying "kill" gives it a comic tone and yet it seems t be mase as a professional video-take them out if you want to be taken seriously. Schizophrenia is a disease that sometimes needs to be treated with meds-it is kind of cruel to give people a hope that may or may not be in their future.

[shadeofteal]

@ilovegoth So, it's cruel to give people hope, and it's ok to have them give up before they even tried, and leave them in hope- and helpless dependency for the rest of their life, when there's no scientific evidence to support the "it's a chronic brain disease"-bs?? Strange point of view.

[Vpopov81]

its dumb to tell schizophrenic i thought about wrapping my hands around your mothers neck.

[Nu13th]

To those who've recovered: Did healthy foods, rest, exercise have anything to do with recovery? I hear about so many different pathways to cure. But hearing it from those who've recovered really matters. In this video it was just an awakening. This is so baffling to have to helplessly watch someone you love suffer and not know what to do.

[shadeofteal]

@Nu13th Healthy foods, rest, exercise - it all helps. For me the most important thing was to have someone to talk to, and who'd listen, respectfully and unconditionally. Often sz is about repressed traumas that surface and overwhelm you in what is called "psychosis". It's important to understand what caused the trauma, come to terms with it, so that you then can let go of it. And we understand ourselves and the world through communication with others.

[Nu13th]

@shadeofteal Thanks shadeofteal.  I appreciate hearing from people who have themselves recovered.

[northernlightning]

I have two sons diagnosed with schizohrenia at the age of sixteen, son number one is medication free for five years. He was recently diagnosed by a doctor in the same hospital he was first diagnosed in and now told he is no longer ill. Son number two was placed in the hospital recently against his will and showed no signs of illness. It seems like where I moved you're just a phone call away from being taken in for no reason. Just because someone thinks you should be, because you have a history.

[Nu13th]

I have a son in his early twenties. He has been diagnosed with Schizophrenia. We have been told he won't recover. But I believe he will. These testimonies help strengthen my belief. My son won't use drugs. So I feel he has a head start on recovery because he doesn't have to withdraw. My hope is that one day he'll discover the source of his anger and fear and he'll conquer. Thanks for this video and the positive comments.

[sharonjc8]

yep i got over schizophrenia without drugs once i realised i wasnt being watched truthfully to myself have been good for a couple of years doctors said i would have an illness for the rest of my life im glad i was brave enough to listen to my instincts and not psychiatrists cos i would have been on risperedone for the rest of my life psychiatrists lack a lot of insight and dont really care about people they surely are stupid or unwilling to have respect for peoples wishes and hopes

[crippled82]

I disagree the voices are hallucinations. I know them to be spirits and even demons.

[DrenieDrene]

True! I went to see a doctor and immediately in our first session, she decided to prescribe me. It is hard. It takes unbelieveable amounts of will power to do it on your own. That I have, there have been countless amounts of times that I felt like literally blowing my brains out, if I wasn't as strong as I am, I would of done it!

[DrenieDrene]

everybody with the illness can do the same. i've done it and feel better off. it's crazy that i saw this after the fact.

[dmackler58]

Thanks DrenieDrene. i agree that ultimately everyone can do it---the problem is, though, sadly, that 1) some people lack much support at all, 2) some people are still in the psychologically crushing systems that caused the problems in the first place, and 3) some people get VERY messed up by the psych medications that backward mental health professionals prescribe to supposedly "control" the problem, and it can be very difficult to withdraw from these medications.---Daniel M.

[BEX371]

Powerful and moving description of the power of real empathy and modelling!- Wish it were always so easy though...

[dmackler58]

Thank you BEX371. I agree---it's a powerful little vignette, and shows what can be possible... I also wish it were always so easy---but maybe it could be easy much more often given certain external circumstances, and more enlightenment in our screwed up mental health community.