OVER THE EDGE
November 7-21, 2007

Arts a Culture

21

Fearing Schizophrenia: Is it All in my Mind?
Tabatha Lundholm, Arts Editor and Ads Manager

I don’t want to make fun of schizophrenics, that’s not what
this article is about. It’s more about my fears about slipping
into this disease without being completely aware of it, and not
being able to have control of my mind and my reality. Maybe
I’m crazy to talk about how I’m scared of becoming mentally
unbalanced, or maybe I have grounds to base my dread. Hope-
fully this will all be something more of a personal quest than a
slipping grasp on the world around me, but either way, I want
to better inform myself and others about schizophrenia and
the world they live in. I’m not going to be talking about the
physical, biological, or neurological features, but more on the
specific symptoms, my thoughts, and maybe an interview or
so. I’m talking the social aspect of this disease, so to speak.

Schizophrenia is a common disease, more common than you
think, It is not a split personality disorder or multiple personal-
ity disorder. The main aspect of schizophrenia is auditory hal-
lucinations and something of a distorted or impaired reality. In
most cases the symptoms begin to surface in young adulthood,
the age at which most of us have been sitting at for some time,
and about 0.5% of the population is affected by this disease.
There are many ways to combat schizophrenia, but most of
the population uses antipsychotic medication and social re-
habilitation. Personally, I’ve been struggling with the idea that
I might have this disease and I’m pretty terrified. I don’t fear
being seen as “damaged”, which is something that people with
certain personality disorders or mental disabilities have to deal
with on an hour basis. I’m more terrified because I’ve always
been reassured that my family was unbreakable, but when I
tried to call my mom to confide in her, as soon as I got the
word “schizophrenic” out of my mouth, she told me she didn’t
want to talk about it and she had to go. It’s the idea that every-
thing that I have ever been to people will be dissolved, and
they will see me only as being this “diseased,” “damaged” or
“unstable” person. I don’t want people to think I’m a different
person just because I’ve been diagnosed with something that
I’ve likely had all along. I feel for a lot of people as I’m writ-

Tonic Elixir is the new t al uum by the
northwestern band known as Dr. Fishy,
The band originated in Terrace BC, and
was created by James. Powell and Greg
Linton. Their music often breaks trad-
ition and genre by being a combination
of folk, rock, blue-grass, and indie, with
some jazz thrown in for good measure.

Their all-original music has been
called “Spruce-roots”, and often features
names, places, and themes well known to
those who live in the northwest.

They reference to the Skeena river, or
the Kitselas canyon, or even to the “city
of rainbows” (Prince. Rupert, and yes
there are rainbows, they pop out in be-
tween the rain clouds). :

The band has been featured on CBC
tadio numerous times, across the prov-
ince, and indeed across the entire nation.

Dr, Fishy consists primarily of Greg
Linton, James Powell, Mark Fleming,
Mitch Adams, and Daryl McDicken.
However, the band often invites the tal-

ing this, knowing that people who suffer from HIV or AIDS
get this treatment, but so do people who are autistic, dyslexic,
ADD, OCD and bipolar disorders. The world of “typical”
or “normal” people is dwindling, so should people be more
accepting than they are? I mean, we’ve all heard the phrase
“even Hitler had a mother...” but I just called my mother with

a concern, and she didn’t want to hear about it. If that’s not a_

bad reaction relying on the popular opinion resulting in fear, I
don’t know what is.

Now, a word of warning to all those reading this tear-
jerker: schizophrenia has many symptoms, and even more
causes. Symptoms are disorganized
thoughts, auditory hallucinations,
or even certain degrees of catatonia
or the ability to digress into a state
of oblivious speech patterns and
sometimes requiring physical re-
straint. This is only in rare cases,
though. The auditory hallucinations
and thought disorder are considered
a “manifestation of psychosis,”
which is a positive symptom, unlike
the negative symptoms which can
leave you without speech or mo-
tivation. The peak age for males is 20-28 years of age, and for
females it is 26-32. Now, I’m 21 and starting to get worried.
By the time I hit 26, will I be a full-fledged schizophrenic? Is
it something that I have the ability to worry about? Do I have
any control over anything anymore? Depression is a big factor
in it, as well as emotional instability. Sure, I get depressed,
but it’s university and I’m stressed. I also have two jobs and
no money. Everyone gets stressed and depressed. But as for
emotional instability I’m pretty stable. Or even extra stable.
Sometimes I should be sad about something, and I’m not.
With further research, I found that this is also a symptom of
schizophrenia! Is there no relief? Also, I was talking to a fel-

low student recently, and he informed me that low hygiene is
a symptom. I’m not a total hoboperson, but I don’t bathe daily.
A few times a week does me. Now I’m getting all paranoid
about it, but this is a major concern, a rising concern in our
culture. It’s almost like the ADD fad that swept the nation a
few years back. All of a sudden absolutely everyone had ADD.
Sorry, I’m getting sarcastic. Let’s just call it a defense mech-
anism. And as for causes! Whoa! Marijuana, hallucinogenic
drugs, stimulants, poverty, race, childhood abuse or trauma,
unemployment, migration, stress... the list goes on and on.
Marijuana is a major contributor, though, more common than
anyone would like to admit. Although there are a wide variety
of antipsychotic medications, I’m less than willing to become
a chemical slot machine for tests. Psychotherapy, electrocon-
vulsive therapy, and even psychosurgery are used to combat
this disease in its more intense manifestations. Schizophre-
nia already lowers the average lifespan by about 11 years, so
adding shock-therapy and brain surgery might drag that down
a bit more. But, people who suffer from schizophrenia have
a better life expectancy than those who have heart attacks,
strokes, major substance abuse problems, or even a personal-
ity disorder. The only other thing that brings the life expect-
ancy is the high rate of suicides among schizophrenics. 30%
of people who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia have
attempted suicide at one point in their lives or another.

Now, if you haven’t had enough of my paranoid rhetorical
conversation with myself, I’m just going to remind you of a
little film called A Beautiful Mind which focused on Russell
Crowe’s character suffering from extreme schizophrenia. This
was based on a true story, and the man, John Nash, ended up
winning a Nobel Prize. So let this just remind everyone that
schizophrenia is a disease, yes, but it is nothing to be feared,
hated, or mocked, Thank you.

| (the Queen Charlotte Islands).
©| The list of songs makes heavy refer-

ence to northern life, and to the life o
those who live on the coast. Songs like

| ‘Ferry island faces’, “Shipwreck”, and

| “Catfish blues” all spin tales which

| strike a chord with locals and anyone

| who lives in such places.

Another great song from the new al-
| bum is “I need the rain”, which is a fair-

ly laid-back folk-style song with lyrics
about a man in search of the rain.

He finds himself driving down the
| Skeena, and through Cow Bay going to
| the docks of Prince Rupert.

_ The album has definitely made an im-
pact on me, and has filled my mind with
an urge to return to those places depicted)
in the various songs.

If you’re from the north coast, or if you

want a taste of the experience, I highly

aN NDREW OATES suggest listening to this band.

ents of local artists, such as: Chris An- by Fishy performs at the Tonic Elixer CD Release, held on wed 11th at the Terrace Golf _ [f you want their music, my bet would

drews, Mike Greene, Tyler Lieb; Donnie Club.
Clarke, Jack Stafford, Jaron Freeman
Fox, Geoff Mitchell, Jason Skilton, and John Krisinger.

The new album — is a beautiful listen, having both up-beat elements, and stow 7

tening.

net and find their website, with some free songs fo
‘Now, I’m going to es on listening. a

_ be to travel west until you can find a shop
that sells oe music, or go on the inter-