The progress so far.

Here is a brief account of all the work I've done for my projects and this blog over the past few days. I will create posts like this throughout the projects I work on, as regularly as possible. I will describe the updates and progress briefly as to not divulge too much information about what is to come, and any memoir type commentary I feel like expressing.

Anyway, onward to the updates.

• Decided which chapters to work on first for my book, "Schizophrenia as I see it."
  
  I have chosen to start with the chapter in which I discuss the description of schizophrenic symptoms as they relate to me personally, using the DSM as a guide as to which symptoms to address. Each symptom will be explained in detail how they manifest for me and how I interpret said symptoms.
  
  I have also chosen to work on the chapter I call "I am not my brain," which is about the archenemy-type relationship of what I consider my self, and what I consider my brain. Both chapters are ready to begin a first draft, although subject to alteration based on the new DSM V. I may have to visit a library to see if they have a copy I can borrow, or at least one I can take photocopies of.



• Brainstormed.
  
  I have expanded and come up with more ideas for projects, including ideas for more chapters in my book on schizophrenia and more ideas for fictional stories and small projects.

A few thoughts...

I had quite nearly forgotten that November is NaNoWriMo, or National Novel Writing Month. I am thinking about taking part in NaNoWriMo and attempt to write some fiction with the many ideas I have. I have several premises for novels, all seem equally fun to write. I'll give it some more thought before I make a decision.

"Schizophrenia as I see it" outline of chapters

I have just finished putting my ideas for chapters in the book in the order I feel most appropriate, although this is subject to change as new chapters are added, or some taken away. Anyway, here is the current order and brief descriptions of each chapter.

1. Introduction
2. Description(s) of schizophrenia - specific symptoms, multiple historical sources, famous psychologist/psychiatrist description, tests to determine diagnosis
3. History of schizophrenia - History from around the world, United States specifically, ancient texts, the development of the psychiatric system.
4. Descriptions of personal symptoms - How schizophrenia manifests in me and how it affects me.
5. Account of first hospitalization - An account of the first time I was hospitalized,
6. Other hospitalizations - A description of the circumstances of and experience of other hospitalizations.
7. Hypochondria - Another mental illness that I have been sorely affected by.
8. Managing personal relationships - How I maintain a marriage, friends, and family despite the difficulty incurred on someone with schizophrenia.
9. The lost years - An account of the blur of life I experienced between the ages of 16 and 19.
10. My educational journey - Describes the impact of, and journey of schooling.
11. Interaction anecdotes - Describes what I have determined on the subject of relating to people based on key conversations and observations.
12. Philosophical changes - Personal crisis on a philosophical level as I make my way through a confusing world.
13. The evolution of delusions - How my paranoia and accompanying symptoms have changed over the years.
14. I am not my brain - My struggle with an idea of a separation between me and brain, with the brain being overly controlling and unstoppable as a single entity.
15. Using logic and mental discipline to quell symptoms - The systems I have developed to assist with the negative symptoms of schizophrenia.
16. Sacrifices made to manage symptoms - The list of things I must sacrifice, including a little bit of humanity, in order to successfully manage symptoms.
17. Schizophrenia as an advantage - How it is possible to use certain aspects of schizophrenia in a positive, and beneficial, way.
18. Understanding mental illness (schizophrenia specifically) using computer analogies - How I see the way schizophrenia affects those afflicted using analogies to computers, specifically programs.

As I have said, these are subject to change over time as the ideas get more and more refined. If you have any specific questions about schizophrenia that would not fit into any chapter I have currently considered, I welcome such things and may be inspired to add a chapter.

On "Schizophrenia as I see it."

I have decided to write my first book on schizophrenia from my personal, first-person experience of the illness. I have chosen this book as my first because it is the easiest book to write with a minimal amount of researching. This book should be able to be written fairly quickly, and I intend to release a digital copy of this book for ereaders.

This book will include many short stories and essays in which I express how it is to live with schizophrenia, as well as the ways I have come to understand and live with the illness. I intend this book to reduce mental health stigma and to be a testimony of a schizophrenic attempting to understand the illness during these modern, pharmaceutical-laden times.

This book will begin by describing my current life situation and how I have come to get there through years of dealing with schizophrenia and life that is involved with such things. I will go into details about the diagnosis of schizophrenia, using both the DSM IV and V, and providing a bit of a history lesson on this historically known diagnosis. I will also include small anecdotes based on my interactions with others that involve schizophrenia or some way of understanding myself and the rest of the human population. Different points in my life and the symptoms and expression of frustration with an illness I do not understand drives me into a few dark years, the memory of which has been all but lost.

I will also cover topics on how I have tried, and perhaps succeeded, to understand myself and my relation to others, illustrated by a description of changes in philosophical standpoints. I will provide a way of understanding myself and how I have had to change behavior and consider new things, as well as make sacrifices, making me able to deal with my illness with as little medication as possible. There are personality symptoms that are associated with schizophrenia, and without psychosis the diagnosis of such is referred to as Schizoid Personality Disorder, and these traits are often an important signature and part of a large, multi-function encompassing illness.

In order to have as much power over my mental illness as I have come to have has gone through stages, each new update being better than the last, but presents certain psychological side effects that accompany these mental states. The discovery of advantages that come with schizophrenia are vast if you just choose to look, which will also be discussed in detail.

And finally, I will discuss the way I see the schizophrenic mind using an analogy involving a computer or program, which includes possible ways of dealing with some of the symptoms without relying on medication as they are viewed as a non-human illness. Perhaps such a point of view can aid in the treatment of other people with schizophrenia.

And, finally, I will create original illustrations for each chapter (or section) of the book, which will be line art so that the illustrations will be able to be included in eBooks of any format.