Dear Dick
articles about wide ranging psychological issues
from "The Local Bulletin" (Brisbane Australia)
by Dick Rigby
©all articles are copyright 2006

May 2002
I really enjoyed the film “A beautiful mind”.  A very sensitive film.  It portrayed that struggle that a schizophrenic has in distinguishing between delusion and reality.  The hero in the film had auditory and visual delusions. He believed that certain people were instructing him about what to do in his life.  He was able to manage these delusions and bring them under control with a combination of medication and reasoning.
Many people can suffer from delusions at some stage in their life, and it can be a very disturbing experience.  I remember the distress that my father felt in the early stages of his dementia.  He was admitted to hospital and he believed that the nurses were trying to poison him.  At one level he knew that it was not true, yet the overwhelming fear would take over and he became quite paranoid.
Modern medicines are really good for stabilizing delusions, but they don’t work perfectly.  I have been treating Jim (not his real name) for several years now.  Jim suffers from schizophrenia.  He has not had any serious psychotic episode for about three and a half years now with the help of his medication.
But he still hears voices.
These voices seem real to him.  He believes that people from an alternative community are talking to him.  The voices tell him what to do and how to feel about himself. Believing in these voices is a form of psychosis.  Psychosis is where a person loses touch with reality and suffers from delusions of some sort. 
Sometimes people can suffer from delusions and lead a normal life.  They never share with anyone about the voices they hear.  They carry this burden throughout their life.
These voices were very confusing to Jim.  Because they appear to come from outside him, he feels that he has no control over what they say or when they say it.  The therapy has been helping Jim to accept that his voices are a part of his illness and therefore delusional. Therefore his voices must be coming from inside.  Once a sufferer knows that the voices are generated from inside,  they are better able to gain control over their voices.
I think that there is too much reliance on medication and not enough done with reasoning for people suffering from delusions.  If a person can be reasoned with, then they can be shown how to manage their delusions.  There is a lot that can be done.
 

Mental illness – the challenge

April 2004
 “One in five Australians currently suffer form some type of mental illness”.  I read this fact in last month’s Local Bulletin.   The Rotary Clubs of Kenmore and Brisbane have been doing something to dispel the myths associated with mental illness.  I think that’s wonderful.  The more information the better, to remove the cloak of shame and secrecy that still surrounds mental illness. 
Most people with mental illnesses will respond well to a combination of medication and psychological treatment. Most sufferers also want to understand what is going on.  They want practical advise on how to cope with the situation.  Family members also want to know what they can do to help. Psychotherapists can help with support, understanding and guidance.
There is much that can be done.  In the case of depression, we should go in search of the causes of the depression.  We should look at what life changes need to be made to remove the causes. Some people believe that depression is caused simply by a chemical imbalance in the brain.  In most cases depression is far more complex than this.  The cause of the chemical imbalance in the brain is usually the result of the interaction between a persons beliefs and the environment.
In the case of Anorexia Nervosa, the underlying issue is poor self esteem.  We need to work on improving the client’s belief in their own self worth.
When I have treated a client with Bipolar Disorder (Manic-Depressive illness), I help them to understand the triggers that might lead to an extreme high or low and how to manage these events.  I also help them with gaining better control over their thinking at the time they are going through an unstable period.
Bringing mental illness into the open and talking about it can be a very healing process.  Many alcoholics will openly admit that they are alcoholics and this admission helps in their recovery process.
The biggest social stigma is usually reserved for people suffering from schizophrenia.  Openness and understanding is most important here.  Contrary to myth, the vast majority of schizophrenics pose no threat to anyone.  But when they have a psychotic episode, they loose touch with reality and can be difficult to manage.  There are ways to help a person having a psychotic episode.
It’s a bit like cardiovascular resuscitation.  If you know what to do, it makes things better.  You can reduce fear and suffering and can even save lives.