Me, Myself, and Them: A Firsthand Account of One Young Person's Experience with Schizophrenia Book

Foreword     ix
Preface     xiii
A Fragmented Mind: Overview of Schizophrenia     1
My Story     1
Delusions of grandeur     1
The early days     4
The Big Picture     8
So what is schizophrenia?     9
Who gets schizophrenia?     10
Where does schizophrenia come from?     11
What are the early warning signs?     16
First Encounters With Them: Symptoms and Paranoia     19
My Story     19
A change of plan     20
Being watched     21
A new opportunity     23
An unanswered message     26
Too many coincidences     28
Uncertain assumptions     34
An imagination run wild     37
The Big Picture     40
What are positive and negative symptoms of schizophrenia?     41
How important are cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia?     47
Are people with schizophrenia aware of how sick they are?     48
What are the different types of schizophrenia?     48
In the Grip of Them: Losing Touch With Reality     53
My Story     53
Getting away     53
Glasgow, Montana     56
Intrusion     59
Lockdown     63
Returning home     65
The Big Picture     67
How does schizophrenia affect everyday life?     68
When and why is hospitalization helpful?     71
What are the ins and outs of inpatient care?     74
Where can you get help outside the hospital?     77
Naming and Facing the Enemy: Diagnosis and Treatment     79
My Story     79
The delusions intensify     80
Back to the hospital     81
Back to the outside world     82
Giving Them a name     83
The Big Picture     84
How is schizophrenia diagnosed?     84
What conditions often coexist with schizophrenia?     86
Why is professional treatment so important?     89
What medications are used to treat schizophrenia?     90
How does psychological and behavioral therapy help?     96
What is the outlook for the future?     100
Beating the Enemy: Recovery from Schizophrenia     103
My Story     103
Accepting schizophrenia     105
A new direction     106
The Big Picture      109
What are psychosocial rehabilitation programs?     110
What types of training and support are available?     111
How can you cope with schizophrenia at school?     115
How can you deal with schizophrenia at work?     119
What are options for living on your own?     121
What are tips for handling social situations?     126
What are tips for coping with stress and change?     130
Putting the Pieces Back Together: My Life Today     133
Epilogue to My Story     133
Frequently Asked Questions     137
Glossary     143
Resources     149
Bibliography     157
Index     159