Speed
I am on quite a few online lists. One of them has to do with schizophrenia. I've been in contact for nearly ten years with one James Booth (I know! LOL!) who lives on the Cape in MA. We've never met in person, but I've grown to like him a lot. He includes me in the group of friends he E-mails with his musings. I told him he should get a LiveJournal. I also told him I hope he never cuts his long silver hair. Anyway, I just wanted to share something he wrote.
"The relationship between speed and psychosis is definitely not one to one. Specifically, some people take speed without terrible results, and some people who have taken practically nothing in the way of substances do develop psychosis.
I'm of the opinion that, in general, speed is dangerous to an individual prone to schizophrenia.
I take speed. I mean, in addition to great amounts of Caffeine, I take a stimulant prescribed by a doctor. I take a drug called Provigil, also known as Modafin. I understand that the US Military is a great user of this stimulant. And, I use it for approximately the same reason as the Military. Which is to say, I have had some difficulty with concentration while driving. This drug makes me clear headed, alert, and self-confident!
We all know that, in schizophrenia, there are things present which are not wanted. These things are called positive symptoms. Positive symptoms include such things as hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorder.
We know that in schizophrenia there are things desired that are missing. Things that we wish the personality had but which are missing are called negative symptoms. Negative symptoms include such things as lack of curiosity, lack of motivation, and lack of interest in sex.
There is a real argument that stimulants sometimes give schizophrenics back some of the things they are missing.
On the WWW, I have more than once seen a schizophrenic with a prescription for Dexadrine. Even one Parent, a father with a an MD in cardiology, spoke of a prescription for Dexadrine for his schizophrenic son.
There is a real argument that Provigil helps with the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, and does so without a great deal of danger.
Can speed be addictive? Pretty clearly some people will become completely given over to the desire for speed above the desire of anything else life has to offer.
Good wishes,
Jay
PS It is pretty clear that speed kills!"
X-posted to schizofriends
"The relationship between speed and psychosis is definitely not one to one. Specifically, some people take speed without terrible results, and some people who have taken practically nothing in the way of substances do develop psychosis.
I'm of the opinion that, in general, speed is dangerous to an individual prone to schizophrenia.
I take speed. I mean, in addition to great amounts of Caffeine, I take a stimulant prescribed by a doctor. I take a drug called Provigil, also known as Modafin. I understand that the US Military is a great user of this stimulant. And, I use it for approximately the same reason as the Military. Which is to say, I have had some difficulty with concentration while driving. This drug makes me clear headed, alert, and self-confident!
We all know that, in schizophrenia, there are things present which are not wanted. These things are called positive symptoms. Positive symptoms include such things as hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorder.
We know that in schizophrenia there are things desired that are missing. Things that we wish the personality had but which are missing are called negative symptoms. Negative symptoms include such things as lack of curiosity, lack of motivation, and lack of interest in sex.
There is a real argument that stimulants sometimes give schizophrenics back some of the things they are missing.
On the WWW, I have more than once seen a schizophrenic with a prescription for Dexadrine. Even one Parent, a father with a an MD in cardiology, spoke of a prescription for Dexadrine for his schizophrenic son.
There is a real argument that Provigil helps with the negative symptoms of schizophrenia, and does so without a great deal of danger.
Can speed be addictive? Pretty clearly some people will become completely given over to the desire for speed above the desire of anything else life has to offer.
Good wishes,
Jay
PS It is pretty clear that speed kills!"
X-posted to schizofriends