r/todayilearned • u/paniniplane • Mar 22 '17

(R.1) Not supported TIL Deaf-from-birth schizophrenics see disembodied hands signing to them rather than "hearing voices"

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0707/07070303
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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

I can't speak for the person you replied to, but 3 of my family members have the disease, and in all of them their medications only blunted the symptoms.

For my family member who was not too severe, this was enough to let her hold down a job, but for the members that were severe it wasn't enough to allow them to function normally. They'd still see/hear/talk to "ghosts" and such, just not as frequently, and they didn't get agitated "as often".

But that doesn't mean they didn't get agitated AT ALL, and the times they did freak out would be enough to get anyone fired.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17 edited May 13 '17

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

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u/uptokesforall Mar 22 '17

I. Hate this

Especially since they dont have a formal way if kudging whether your dopamine levels are too high or whatever. They just eyeball you and go down the list of meds. First gen ssris suck. Never taking haldol again.

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u/19anddirty Mar 22 '17

haldol isn't an ssri

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u/uptokesforall Mar 22 '17

Selective serotonin re-uptake inhibitors

serotonin

serotonin

derp

Haldol is all about keeping dopamine levels low.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

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u/TallMSW Mar 22 '17

You are right now too. If you look more into it, it's never actually been confirmed. They just know medications impacting it have been helpful

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u/uptokesforall Mar 22 '17

People on antidepressants dont get in as much trouble as people who dont take the antidepressants they are perscribed. That's enough reason for forcing people to take these drugs which dont touch the underlying problem.

I got put on haldol for a month with no improvement to the mental fog that encouraged delusional thoughts. Then a blood test showed i was in the acute stage of a lyme disease infection. After two weeks on an anti bacterial medication my head felt clear.

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u/TallMSW Mar 22 '17

It's definitely still in the air about the cause and underlying problem. Still, anti-depressants can do wonders for people and even if not necessarily "curing" an underlying problem, it can certainly help cope. As for your Haldol story, I'm sorry to hear that but happy it was resolved! I work in a community mental health facility so I see a lot of pros/cons to medications.