Living With Schizophrenia

MY name is Matt. I have been ill for 20 years. The doctor diagnosed me with schizophrenia.  

My concentration in my studies and work is affected. I also have difficulty in keeping friends because they couldn’t understand me, and what is happening to me.   

Initially, I didn’t understand myself either. I felt confused all the time because I didn’t have insight into what was happening to me. I also felt isolated.   

At first I thought something physical was wrong with me instead of mentally. I was hospitalised for a physical examination.The doctors found nothing wrong with me physically so they referred me to a psychiatrist. Because I had difficulty concentrating, I discontinued my studies and worked with my mum.   

Even though I was taking medicine, it was still difficult to focus on my work. I worked with my mum for seven years. My mum and her staff were very supportive of me, but my condition got worse, so my doctor referred me to the day care at the hospital.   

I attended the day care centre for one and a half years. Activities there included group therapy, art therapy, relaxation exercises, and craftwork sessions.   

There, I got better, so the doctor-in-charge referred me to another day care centre to do craftwork.  
I attended that centre for three and a half years. Other activities there included baking cookies, line dancing, singing, group sessions, library etc.   

When I was there, I found I could concentrate easier. It was because I could do quite a lot of the craftwork there that my confidence grown.   

Subsequently, the centre referred me to a job working in an exercise centre for slimming and health.  
It feels good to be able to work outside again. Overall, I feel better compared to the past.  

Cassy’s story 

I am Cassy and I am now 36. At age 34, I was diagnosed with schizophrenia.  Two years ago, I gradually retreated from my family members and friends. I stayed in a rented house and locked myself in that house.  
I did not talk to anybody, not even the neighbours. I would only come out of the house when I needed to do my grocery shopping.   

I retreated myself completely from society and spent my time doing my own activities, such as house chores and reading.  

In the beginning, there was a noticeable deterioration in the quality of my personal relationships with people, and that gradually affected my work.   

I experienced perceptual distortions and irrational thoughts. I believed that my uncle controlled everyone around me.
 
I thought that nobody cared about me and that they were always gossiping about me behind my back.  
I was suspicious of relatives and friends and was convinced that I was being watched all the time. Therefore, I retreated into myself and lived in my own world.  

My family members wanted me to see a psychiatrist but I refused. Having no choice, they consulted specialists and healers and brought them to the house.  Unfortunately, none of them could help me get out of my isolation. Soon I was hospitalised against my will.   

During the second hospitalisation period, and after mixing and talking to patients with all kinds of mental disorders, I told myself that I would not want to be admitted again for the third time.   

I took my medication regularly and gradually started to communicate with my mother, family members and friends.  After a few months, I started working again. As a result, I regained my self-confidence and began to resume my normal life. 


Mental illness is not a subject that people can discuss openly and casually.   

For this Oct 10 World Mental Health Day, I hope to encourage those who are, like me, isolating themselves from society, to go and seek help from specialists and reach out to people.   

Mental health is just like diabetes and heart problems, it can be controlled with proper and regular medications. 

(Source: The Star)

Nota Tentang Penyakit Kencing Manis

Lazimnya kaki pengidap kencing manis yang terluka akan bernanah. Kerana bimbangkan kuman berjangkit ke tempat lain, selalu disarankan agar kaki tersebut dipotong. Wajarkah hal ini dibiarkan berterusan?

Bagi saya, ia wajar jika pesakit sendiri memilih cara tersebut. Tetapi bagaimana jika pesakit enggan. Atas desakan pelbagai pihak termasuk anak-anak yang masih muda, dan tidak tahan menanggung sakit, akhirnya dia terpaksa mengalah dan merelakan kakinya dipotong.

Sebenarnya ada beberapa pandangan di segi perubatan Islam bagi pengidap kencing manis tahap sederhana. Mari kita ajukan beberapa soalan:

• Mengapa jadi bernanah bila terluka?
• Mengapa jadi bengkak?
• Bagaimana hendak mengatasi luka dan bengkak tersebut?
• Apakah kemudaratan bila bahagian yang sakit dipotong?
• Apakah alternatif untuk pengidap kencing manis tahap sederhana?

Sebelum menjawab kelima-lima soalan, mari kita insafi bahawa Allah menjadikan setiap sesuatu dengan sistem yang telah ditetapkan-Nya. Inilah yang dinamakan syariat. Bila sistem itu terkeluar daripada syariat, hidup menjadi kacau-bilau. 

Allah menjadikan setiap sel darah dan urat saraf serta tulang belulang dalam badan secara berpasang-pasangan sebagaimana yang dinyatakan-Nya dalam surah Yassin ayat 89. Bayangkan apa berlaku bila setiap sel darah dan urat saraf serta tulang belulang dalam badan secara berasang-pasangan ini dipotong. Pasangan-pasangan itu akan putus. Apa akan berlaku ketika itu?

Perkataan kencing manis menerangkan satu kumpulan sistem dalam badan yang berkait antara satu sama lain dan telah dikuasai oleh racun. Akibatnya sistem tersebut tidak dapat berfungsi seperti sepatutnya. Yang dikatakan racun di sini ialah sifat manis gula berlebihan yang ada dalam badan pesakit.

Racun ini menyumbat perjalanan darah, lendir, angin dan cecair sehingga tidak dapat mengalir lancar. Sebahagiannya muncul di permukaan kulit dan dinamakan nanah. Dalam kata lain, nanah adalah tentera tawanan yang kalah dan tunduk kepada musuh.

Wajarkah tentera ini dibunuh? Jawabnya, tidak. Ia perlu dibebaskan. Usaha pembaikan secara keseluruhan perlu dilakukan.

Ada banyak testimoni menyebut bahawa kulit batang pokok jambu golok, atau putat atau sekurang-kurangnya buah manjakali yang berciri pahit boleh meneutralkan sifat jahat yang ada pada gula berlebihan.

Kesimpulan di sini ialah manis lawannya rasa pahit yang bersangatan tajamnya. Bahan ini direbus sehingga menggelegak lama supaya air yang panas itu dapat menarik rasa pahit dengan kadar yang banyak. Air ini digunakan untuk menjirus kaki yang bengkak dan bernanah. Bacakan Al Fatihah, ayat Syifa, Selawat Syifa dan berdoa memohon kesembuhan daripada Allah. Bacaan ini penting. Jangan sekali-kali dilupakan.

Sekendi air rebusan itu dibiarkan suam sebelum dijirus pada kaki. Ini mesti dilakukan pada waktu pagi. Bila kaki menerima jirusan air pahit itu, racun tadi menjadi lemah, sekaligus tentera yang tertawan seolah-olah mendapat bantuan untuk memerangi semula musuhnya. Lakukan ia beberapa lama.

Ada pesakit beramal tiga bulan berselang-seli, akhirnya nanah kering dan tempat yang berkulat tadi ditumbuhi daging semula. Nanah memang sukakan kelembapan. Ada juga pesakit tidak kronik mengamalkannya seminggu sahaja. Itu semua penyembuhan dari Allah jua.

Ubat kencing manis berupa herba ciptaan Allah ada berbagai-bagai. Mana yang serasi dengan pengidap hanya Allah yang tahu. Di antara ubat yang dikatakan mujarab ialah misai kucing dan pokok letup-letup. Minum airnya. Ada juga yang minum rebusan daun tebu dan air rendaman taugeh. Tebu gajah yang pahit juga banyak memberi manfaat kepada pengidap kencing manis di beberapa kampung di Terengganu. 

Cubalah mana-mana satu selagi tidak mudarat. Jika ada yang serasi, Alhamdulillah.

(Sumber: schanizan.blogspot.com)

لا حول ولا قوة إلا بالله العلى العظيم