5-24-15 Post: Victim to genetics?

Question/Comment: Schizophrenia runs in my family and I am very afraid of getting it. The latest research shows genetic abnormalities cause differences in the brain structure and brain chemistry for people with schizophrenia.  I feel doomed.

Response: You are not doomed. There are many useful medications for schizophrenia and new medications in the pipeline. Consult a psychiatrist right away. You may or may not have any symptom but it is important to check in with a professional periodically. 

Equally important is your belief system.  If you tell yourself that you are doomed, if you live in fear of the illness, if you tell yourself over and over that you will become ill, that is what you will create for yourself.  Begin to talk to yourself about mental health, think about what is right with your mind and your brain. Picture yourself healthy. Eat health promoting foods and avoid putting things in your body that make it more difficult for your brain to function at its best (such as sugar, alcohol and drugs).

Find relaxing, healthy activities such as Yoga or walking to engage in. Develop a network of family or friends as well as mental health professionals that you can rely on to give you opinions about your physical and mental behavior.  Managing risk factors for any potential illness or promoting factors for health is the same. Focus on what you do want and not on what you do not want. If you need medication or medical assistance follow through consistently.

Each person faces challenges in life, it is how we react to those challenges that makes or breaks us. The choices are ours. Many types of mental health challenges are associated with certain differences in the brain structure or brain chemistry, not just schizophrenia. You are not alone. You may be able to find a support group either in the area or on line. Be careful to find a positive group. It will not help you at all to hear horror stories, fears or miseries from others.

When considering a psychiatrist, self help group, medical team, therapies, nutritionist and support network, it is very important to be selfish. These people must provide you with positive, helpful advise and services. This is not a time for you to consider how you are serving others. On this issue, the focus needs to be on whether these people are helping you. Later, you may be strong enough in your health to assist others, but your focus always needs to be on your health first.  

One very important thing for you to do now is to understand that confused thinking and paranoia can be part of schizophrenia. You don’t mention if these symptoms come into play with your family members. Begin to build in safe guards now. Focus on positive affirmations about your food being healthy for you, about any needed medication being important and helpful for you, about you support network wanting the best for you. Build as many positive thought pathways in your brain as possible by consistently and as frequently as practically possible practicing positive affirmations in writing, by typing and saying them out loud. When possible look into your own eyes in the mirror, tell yourself that you deeply love and appreciate yourself and say your affirmations.  If you are able to go to a tapping practitioner that may be very useful for you.