Paranoid schizophrenia is one of the most terrifying psychiatric disorders. Sufferers may not only encounter auditory and visual hallucinations, but they also feel overwhelming waves of terror, the feeling that people are trying to harm them, or that they are going to die or do something terrible.
Frequently, there are stories in the media portraying paranoid schizophrenics as ax murderers, baby killers, uni-bombers, or people with a severe mental illness. However, behavior therapy and medication can help many people with this disorder to blend in with society.
Frederick Frese had his first breakdown at age 25, while working as a Marine Corps captain guarding atomic weapons in Florida. He developed a delusion that enemy nations were trying to take over US weapons, while American leaders stood by -- hypnotized. A year later, Frese believed he could shape-shift into animals and he became extremely nervous that he was inside an atomic bomb that was being loaded and ready to launch.
He became homeless for an entire year before cops found him, threw him in jail and finally diagnosed him with paranoid schizophrenia. How does this story end? Did Frederick Frese become an ax-murderer, a serial rapist, a uni-bomber, or suicidal? In fact, Frederick Frese became a Chief Psychologist at an Ohio mental institution and is now married with four children and a doctorate degree!
The first step for Frese was going on Risperdal, a schizophrenia drug, to control his powerful delusions. Frese defines his paranoid schizophrenia as "inherited vulnerability to breakdown" -- triggered by stress, conflict, substance abuse, death or loss. While undergoing treatment of schizophrenia, he went to school and held several jobs.
He met his future wife, Penny, while in graduate school. Though she was initially unaware of his condition, she wound up making a terrific companion - always eager to learn more about mental health treatment and coping with the medical symptoms. She also says that she trained herself to not feel personally offended if her husband couldn't maintain eye contact or finish a complete thought.
She adds that it's important to avoid making accusations or causing heightened emotions if her husband begins to describe a delusion. Instead of reacting harshly, she will say something like "Tell me more" or ask him if he would like another Risperdal to ease his fears.
As it turns out, a genetic link was found in the family, with Frese's first cousin diagnosed for paranoid schizophrenia as well. None of the four children have been found to have the illness, but they are all currently on anti-depressant medication and their parents are always on the look out for signs of early psychosis.
Frederick Frese says that denial is common and that many sufferers don't understand their emotions, or feels responsible, and as a result, don't get the help they need. "As you get older, you are better able to spot the symptoms and to cut them off," he adds.
Fred Frese stresses that learning to communicate with a loved one suffering from paranoid schizophrenia is paramount to preventing a relapse and assisting their transition to a productive life. "It is my experience that those of us with schizophrenia are indeed very sensitive to hostile criticism and other forms of expressed emotion.
But it is not only in the family context," he writes. "Whenever persons with schizophrenia encounter criticism, insults, or other forms of psychological oppression, we tend to be damaged in a manner that increases the likelihood of our relapsing into psychosis." Instead, he urges friends and family to use a positive tone, open-ended questions, and nonjudgmental statements, and to be careful not to worry over minute details that may lead to unnecessary stress.
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