[Universal Credit]

With Rethink being a carers orientated organisation which emerged before the modern communicatons era and the prevalence of open and candid information sharing there are reasons some elements in the 'old guard' may want to hold onto a more naive paradigm. It is comfortable by tradition to hold onto the purely medical model and there are all kinds of advantages to the simplicity of that. But the fact is that simplistic model is known to be deeply flawed now and unnecesserily damaging to many service users,and I don't believe history will view the absence of internal change by Rethink itself lightly. It is time to change...it is time for change to begin at home.

[Universal Credit]

My suspicion regarding the nominal genetic markers for sz is that they are basicaly picking up the markers for reflective introversion - and are overlooking the fact sexual predators will obviously target the quiet kids who won't tell. Then when the trauma of abuse translates into breakdown later this is often labeled Sz.

Occams Razor works best when it is used properly. The razor asserts that one should proceed to simpler theories until simplicity can be traded for greater explanatory power.

[Aladinsane]

Here, here, being affected by this myself obviously this is something I feel strongly about and I have friends who are similarly affected and we all have a lot of psychotic features.

[keeping positive]

mias, on 13 September 2011 - 12:16 PM, said:

Hello Natasha,


Did the survey look at all the different trauma's the 7,500 had experienced or not as the case maybe?

It would be interesting to see the complete results found during a survey like this.

To see whether someone could develop psychosis with no trauma, no drug use, no unhappy school days, no bad memories or unhappy childhoods, no stressful jobs, no crisis, injury, illness or loss in their lives. No nothing exceptionally rotten to speak of at all.

Mind you, then I guess the answer would be, it was in their Genes.

But still interesting to see the statistics.

I spent/spend much time wondering what exactly it was that happened to my brother, what was the last straw so to speak, and came to the conclusion (with advice from friends on Rethink) that it wasn't any one thing but a build up of many and that the 'many' things he experienced would effect and be dealt with differently by different people, as we all cope and feel so differently about everything.

I have to agree with Mias on this one!

My partner was a little bit fed up with being out of work and his best friend dying suddenly, then two years later he got very drunk (after not drinking at all for 4 months) and the following morning after being very ill through the night had, what I can only call an hallucination, I say this becuase what he says he saw me doing was complete and utter rubbish. After that things went down hill very quickly, he was hallucinating about seeing spritits who talked to him, about having nails in his feet and he was actually trying to pull them out... the delusions of grandeur he suffers with are horrendous at times and all the other symptoms associated with it. He actually still tells people that he has stigmata.

Everyone has got really really drunk at some point in their lives and this just leaves you writing off the folowing day whilst you get over the horrible hangover feeling. Is it in the genes then? I find myself looking at my daughter and watching for any symptoms, it's making me a little paranoid now that she may develop what her dad has.

[mias]

Hello KP. Had to just remind myself of what I said here as a little while ago now.I do think it is a case of 'how we are, our genes, our make up AND our upbringing too and then just about every thing else on top.Hope you are OK. Sorry not been as chatty lately but got a lot going on at the moment. I will be back more during the Summer hols.Always nice to see you though. x

[Can't be bothered]

I hate to say this but I was sexually, physically and mentally abused as a child by my father, I hate that 'person' (being polite here) with a passion. I was beaten virtually everyday, just for the fun of it as far as I can recall, with fists, a walking stick, coat hangers and what was known back then, a copper stick, it was something used for doing laundry. I was sexually assaulted from the age of 12 after my mother left home and disappeared, don't get me wrong my mother had nowhere to go, it was after I saw my father in bed with my girlfriend also aged 12, she was older than me, I, of course told my mother and all hell broke loose. I wasn't able to tell anyone anything, except my wife, until the day he died 10 years ago, I have lived with this all my life, now I suffer from PTSD depression and anxiety attacks. He was reported at the time to the NSPCC by a neighbour, but my father was born with the gift of the gab and all the NSPCC said was for him to go out more, he did this and came home drunk every night, I can't go into any more

[CaptSpaceBat]

It must have been truly awful; you did not deserve any of this and it's quite some credit to you to have come through such harrowing experiences at all.

To have the perpetrator get away scot-free is unimaginably galling and does nothing to help self-regard or image.

It is totally understandable how badly such repeated appalling treatment could affect you - it would be more surprising if it didn't.

There are supportive organisations who may be able to help; I found Survivors UK helped most directly through one-to-one sessions; they have a number of services, see their site http://survivorsuk.org/ for more details. Their resources page may also be useful.

Talking to anyone sounds like a big ask and, from my experience, may feel almost impossible at this point. Everything needs to go at a pace with which you are comfortable - it may take quite a few meetings before you feel able to even consider approaching the issues.

Despite how hard it may feel to be able to believe it right now, things can get better and - with appropriate help - not be quite so crippling in their impact.

Please let me know if there's anything I can do …

[mias]

Rick, I don't know what I can say. Reading what you went through is awful. One day, you could be just the person to help others that have been through similar trauma in their lives.

[Aladinsane]

Hi Ric it was the same for me too, I still find it very hard to talk about, I think you are a kind, courageous and sensitive person, I feel you have a lot to offer.

[Can't be bothered]

CaptSpaceBat, on 01 June 2012 - 05:06 PM, said:

It must have been truly awful; you did not deserve any of this and it's quite some credit to you to have come through such harrowing experiences at all.

To have the perpetrator get away scot-free is unimaginably galling and does nothing to help self-regard or image.

It is totally understandable how badly such repeated appalling treatment could affect you - it would be more surprising if it didn't.

There are supportive organisations who may be able to help; I found Survivors UK helped most directly through one-to-one sessions; they have a number of services, see their site http://survivorsuk.org/ for more details. Their resources page may also be useful.

Talking to anyone sounds like a big ask and, from my experience, may feel almost impossible at this point. Everything needs to go at a pace with which you are comfortable - it may take quite a few meetings before you feel able to even consider approaching the issues.

Despite how hard it may feel to be able to believe it right now, things can get better and - with appropriate help - not be quite so crippling in their impact.

Please let me know if there's anything I can do …

Heya Capt

I have never 'come through it' I still have nightmares about it now and worst still, flashbacks, I have to add also that he never got away scot-free, he died a very painful death with septicemia, I have never forgot my mother's words, she told me, "God pays debts without money" and she was right, although I can't say now I believe in God, but those words gave me strength somehow. You gave an address there, I have had counselling but there is nothing that will get rid of those memories, the only peace I will get is if they could cut out that part of the brain. Now as a father I can honestly say that my girls won't remember me like I remember my father, as I said I hate him with a passion even now, just writing this I can feel my emotions rising inside.
Parents don't realize how much influence they have on their children, it's only when I look back I can see, and feel, my pain, my anguish in my life, I can feel the hatred, I know that is a strong word, but it is the truth, I also know that a person should not hate, but I do feel hatred.


Mias Hey there .. I actually got in touch with the NSPCC a couple of years ago, because I got so damn upset with all the 'Full Stop' adverts, I gave them a piece of my mind, I didn't expect any answer but one day I got a letter from one of the directors of the NSPCC asking me to contact them. I told them about the way I was treated, they instigated a massive investigation into it even though it was in the mid/late 60's I got loads of apologies etc etc then I asked if there was any jobs to help out children, but all I got was the brush off saying you need this qualification that qualification, I thought what happened to me was qualification enough.


Hey Alad, I have accepted your friend request, Thank you so much for your kind words I wouldn't agree with the courageous bit, I might be 6'5" tall but I am now such a coward, I even jump at the slightest thing, I supposed it's all to do with the PTSD, I hate being alone, I can't even go to bed at night without the side light on, Jeez I am 55 and I don't like to admit that, bet you think I am a right dork. I am extremely sensitive and I try to be kind, many years ago I was in care, I was put into protective custody by the police after I got into trouble, they asked why I done what I done and I told them about my father, I was about 13 1/2 years old, They also asked if I wanted to bring charges against him, I couldn't, I wish I had but I couldn't, I was **** scared of him, guess I still am, want a laugh? I saw his ghost a couple of weeks ago, even that **** me up, so you see I am a certified nut.

[CaptSpaceBat]

I know my words could never undo what has happened and so I'm sorry if they came across as a bit glib. Having tried all manner of dealing with and avoiding issues of my own, certain that nothing could overcome the experiences and their crippling effects, a combination approach has helped somewhat. The memories are still there - just as clear - but not as powerful as once they were, which has been empowering in turn.

What happened to you is enough to inspire abiding hatred in anyone; there may be a way through with more appropriate help. That might require a massive leap of faith or trust, which understandably may seem too much to ask. As with everything, there are no guarantees, except that you've almost certainly been through the worst.

I hope that this makes a bit more sense of what I was trying to say before and that you find some way through.

[Can't be bothered]

CaptSpaceBat, on 03 June 2012 - 10:09 PM, said:

I know my words could never undo what has happened and so I'm sorry if they came across as a bit glib. Having tried all manner of dealing with and avoiding issues of my own, certain that nothing could overcome the experiences and their crippling effects, a combination approach has helped somewhat. The memories are still there - just as clear - but not as powerful as once they were, which has been empowering in turn.

What happened to you is enough to inspire abiding hatred in anyone; there may be a way through with more appropriate help. That might require a massive leap of faith or trust, which understandably may seem too much to ask. As with everything, there are no guarantees, except that you've almost certainly been through the worst.

I hope that this makes a bit more sense of what I was trying to say before and that you find some way through.

Hey Capt

I know what you meant but I had to say what I did just in case others reading my answer thought that it was easy to forget the 'episodes' in my life. As for the massive leap of faith or trust, well I have to say I have no faith in anyone, as for trust, there I only trust people that I have known for a long time now, I have tried to trust people in the past but always get a kick in the teeth, so I am afraid trust as well as faith is a big no no for me.
Capt you paid me some real nice compliments in your previous message and I feel by your writings here that you and I are on the same level with our 'feelings' so I thank you once more and hope this helps you understanding me also.

Rick