When a family member receives a schizophrenia diagnosis, it can dramatically change the dynamics of your family. For example, one-third of people with schizophrenia live with a family member. Families can provide emotional support, financial support, and advocate for better treatment options. Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard explore how schizophrenia can affect family dynamics in this episode of Inside Schizophrenia. Guest Elfy Scott joins. She is the ...
Jan 18, 2023•47 min
Coping techniques used by people with schizophrenia account for a 25% variance in their quality of life. Unfortunately, people who have psychotic disorders tend to use predominantly harmful or ineffective coping techniques. Hosts Rachel Star Withers and Gabe Howard are seeking to change that by sharing coping techniques for managing schizophrenia and help people understand why effective coping techniques can be life changing. Guest Michelle Mariscal joins who blogs about her journey with schizop...
Dec 21, 2022•47 min
Is there a connection between intelligence and schizophrenia? Are people with schizophrenia more likely to have higher or lower IQs than the general population? In today’s episode of Inside Schizophrenia, host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard explore the current views around the connection between intelligence and having schizophrenia. Author Steven Paul Lansky joins to share his new book “The Break,” a memoir about one of his schizophrenic breaks from real...
Nov 16, 2022•51 min
Peer support is an often ignored option in the treatment of schizophrenia. However, connecting with people who have lived similar experiences and are trained to share their knowledge, mention the things that they've gone through, and offer emotional, social and even practical support can be inspiring to someone learning to manage their schizophrenia. Sometimes it is as simple as knowing you are not alone. Hosts Rachel Star Withers and Gabe Howard explore ways that peer support can help people wi...
Oct 19, 2022•45 min
Can art be used in the treatment of schizophrenia? What about martial arts? Yoga? Horses? Therapy options like music therapy and sand play therapy are not meant to be main forms of treatment for schizophrenia. But, they are add-on therapies, also known as adjunctive therapies, that can be incorporated as a part of your treatment strategy. One of these therapies that has become more popular in recent years is eye movement desensitization and reprocessing (EMDR) for post-traumatic stress disorder....
Sep 21, 2022•48 min
Like anyone, people with schizophrenia want to make meaningful and romantic connections — but many have trouble meeting and interacting with people. As a diagnosed schizophrenic who’s single, host Rachel Star Withers has plenty of experience dating with the condition. She shares her top tips on navigating romance with schizophrenia. From harnessing your personal style to treating your condition with humor, she’s got your back. She also throws in her favorite pickup lines that squeeze in the some...
Aug 17, 2022•50 min
News coverage of murders and mass shootings often puts a spotlight on the perpetrator's mental health, claiming they may be mentally ill with something like schizophrenia. Yet, in 2018, the FBI found that only 5% of active shooters had a mental disorder that includes psychosis. In today’s episode host Rachel Star Withers, who has diagnosed schizophrenia, and co-host Gabe Howard have a frank discussion about whether there’s a connection between having schizophrenia, mass shootings, and mass murde...
Jul 20, 2022•49 min
“High functioning schizophrenia” is not a clinical diagnosis, but it is a term that is heard often when describing how someone is managing life with schizophrenia. So what exactly does that mean? What criteria do you have to meet to be considered “high functioning”? Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard delve into these intense subjects in this episode of Inside Schizophrenia. Dr. Matthew Smith joins us who is a Professor of Social Work at the University of...
Jun 15, 2022•50 min
Since May is Mental Health Awareness Month, our hosts decided to dedicate an episode to the frequently asked questions surrounding schizophrenia. Questions include “What is having a hallucination like?” and “Why won’t my loved one get help?” We also welcome photographer Whitney Yeager, creator of The Sammy Project, which highlights stories of people with serious mental health conditions. She began this endeavor after her son was killed while experiencing an episode of psychosis. To learn more --...
May 18, 2022•52 min
Did you know that rocking back and forth isn’t a symptom of schizophrenia — it’s a side effect of the medication used for treatment. It’s called tardive dyskinesia, and it’s a common result of long-term use of antipsychotic medications. The percentage of patients who will experience tardive dyskinesia ranges from 3% to as high as 68% and can have a negative impact on quality of life. Dee Linde, who is a support group leader with the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation, joins and shares her incr...
Apr 20, 2022•49 min
Did you know the average American can’t withstand an unexpected $1,000 bill? When it comes to paying for schizophrenia, the two biggest costs are medication, followed by hospitalization. For someone who has had psychiatric hospitalization, the average annual cost of mental health treatment is around $37,000. Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and cohost Gabe Howard search out options for managing the financial costs of schizophrenia in this episode of “Inside Schizophrenia.” Gr...
Mar 16, 2022•1 hr 1 min
Over the past few years, there has been a major shift in the ways we talk about mental health. Stories go viral about companies putting mental health first, influencers across social media post about the importance of mental self-care — but serious mental disorders, especially schizophrenia, are still being left out of the conversation. Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard, explore where schizophrenia fits into this new wave of mental health discussions in...
Feb 16, 2022•56 min
What immediately comes to mind when you think of schizophrenia? Most people would say hallucinations. Hallucinations, at least according to pop culture, are the defining feature of schizophrenia. But is that true? Today’s episode discusses how many people living with schizophrenia hallucinate and if hallucinations are all the same. Do people in different countries or from different backgrounds hallucinate differently? Join us to learn the answers to these questions and more! Guest Bio Paul Fitzg...
Jan 19, 2022•57 min
If you live with schizophrenia, then disclosing that diagnosis is a decision you’re going to have to make multiple times throughout your life. But, do you have to? What are the pros and cons of disclosing at work, for example? What do you actually say, and to who, at your place of employment? Will it hurt your career? Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, shares her personal story, thoughts, and tips, and interviews the retired executive director from Disability Rights Ohio and li...
Dec 15, 2021•58 min
Cognitive behavioral therapy is a proven treatment for a wide range of mental health conditions and emotional struggles, but many times is not used for treating schizophrenia. Schizophrenia’s symptoms of hallucinations and psychosis are assumed to be too complex for this type of therapy. Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard, explore the types of CBT that best work for schizophrenia. Rachel breaks down her “Monster Technique” that she uses daily to help her...
Nov 17, 2021•50 min
Virtual reality has moved beyond gaming and is an emerging technology in the treatment of schizophrenia and potentially in shaping the portrayal of this mental health condition for younger generations. Host Rachel Star Withers, a person living with schizophrenia, and cohost Gabe Howard explore how virtual reality technologies are used to help people with schizophrenia. Deepak Gopalakrishna, the founder and CEO of virtual reality therapy platform Rey, joins to share how Rey is revolutionizing exp...
Oct 20, 2021•57 min
From smartphones to tablets, apps, and health tracking devices, technology has the ability to change the way schizophrenia is treated and challenge dated thoughts on how people with schizophrenia use technology in our daily lives. In this episode of Inside Schizophrenia, host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard, review the top 4 schizophrenia-related smartphone apps and explore what’s holding technology innovations back in the area of schizophrenia treatment. ...
Sep 15, 2021•58 min
A psychologist and psychiatrist are both mental health professionals who can treat schizophrenia. But what’s the difference? Both specialities are commonly referred to as doctors and confusion often results. Today’s episode tackles the differences and touches on what a person visiting with each professional can expect. People with schizophrenia commonly wonder: How are they similar? Who should they see first? Do they need to see both? Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-h...
Aug 18, 2021•57 min
Flight delays, crowded airports, hotel reservations, jet lag... Travel is stressful for everyone, but especially people with schizophrenia. Host Rachel Star Withers and co-host Gabe Howard discuss the risks and rewards of traveling while having a serious mental health condition. Laura Motta, editorial director of Lonely Planet , joins to share some tips about staying safe while traveling — and some cool destination ideas. To learn more or view the transcript, please visit the official episode pa...
Jul 21, 2021•53 min
We’ve all been through a lot in the past year. The global pandemic has been rough on everyone, and those living with schizophrenia have had some unique challenges. But necessity is the mother of invention, and all the chaos has led to some innovative solutions. Join us as Rachel and Gabe discuss some of the silver linings of COVID-19 and how we can all move forward in a mentally healthy way. For a transcript or more information, please visit the official episode page. Guest Bio Craig Chepke, MD,...
Jun 16, 2021•52 min
The main three stigmas of schizophrenia are: People with mental illness are violent and need to be feared. They have childlike perceptions of the world that should be marveled. They’re responsible for their illness because they have weak character. Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard, explore the stigma of mental illness and share their personal experiences. Guest expert Brandon Kohrt, MD, PhD, a psychiatrist and anthropologist joins to discuss stigma sur...
May 19, 2021•55 min
A psychiatric service dog is a type of service dog trained to assist its handler with a psychiatric condition such as schizophrenia. These service animals can be trained to help people with schizophrenia identify hallucinations, ground them back in reality, and even remind them to take their medication. In this episode, our hosts explore how service dogs can be part of a person with schizophrenia’s support system. They speak with Shawn Gantkowski of Dog Training Elite Charlotte, who trains servi...
Apr 21, 2021•48 min
Isolation is a symptom of schizophrenia. Being homeless is isolating yourself from society, which is the extreme manifestation of the mental health condition. Host Rachel Star Withers and Cohost Gabe Howard explore how delusions, isolation, and hallucinations can lead to homelessness. Guest Bethany Yeiser shares her 4-year experience being homeless due to her schizophrenia. Learn more about Ms. Yeiser at https://www.bethanyyeiser.com/ Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoice...
Mar 17, 2021•57 min
The U.S. correctional system is responsible for having 10 times more mentally ill patients receiving treatment than any state psychiatric hospital. Host Rachel Star Withers and cohost Gabe Howard examine connections between having schizophrenia and incarceration. Guest Lloyd Hale discusses living with schizophrenia and his time in the correctional system after being convicted of murder. Years later, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Listen Now! Learn more about your ad choices. Visi...
Feb 17, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 3Ep. 18
While schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia both share the prefix “schizo,” they remain two separate diagnoses. Hosts Rachel Star Withers and Gabe Howard divulge their personal experiences with schizophrenia and mental health conditions as they explore the newer-termed condition of schizoaffective disorder. Guest Dr. Michelle Maust from MindPath Care Centers joins to give a medical perspective on the differences in diagnosing these disorders. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphon...
Jan 20, 2021•56 min•Season 3Ep. 17
Schizophrenia has been around since the dawn of time but actually treating it has only been around the past 100 years. In this episode host and schizophrenic Rachel Star Withers takes you through the dark and disturbing evolution of schizophrenia treatments. From systematic euthanasia to hydrotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy to the infamous lobotomy. Were these doctors "mad scientists" torturing the mentally ill or were they the only ones trying to help a population of people seen as a burden?...
Dec 09, 2020•1 hr 8 min•Season 2Ep. 16
A third of all people will be a caregiver at some point in their lives. Caregiving for people with schizophrenia presents challenges that many people are ill-prepared for. Host Rachel Star and Gabe Howard break down the principles of caregiving and creative ways to navigate schizophrenia. Dr. Sarah Kopelovich joins to share schizophrenia caregiver specific training. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Oct 21, 2020•57 min•Season 2Ep. 15
Can people with schizophrenia love? Can they date or get married? Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard review their own past experiences. Andrew and Stephanie Downing, authors of “Marriage and Schizophrenia: Eyes on the Prize” join and share their incredible journey and love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
Sep 16, 2020•54 min•Season 2Ep. 14
Rates of psychosis are more strongly influenced by ethnicity and socioeconomic status than any other mental health condition. In this episode of Inside Schizophrenia host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard discuss the impact of schizophrenia in minority communities. Guest Sakinah “The Muslim Hippie” joins to share her experiences in mental health care. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
Jul 15, 2020•56 min•Season 2Ep. 13
Some of the professionals that work most with helping people with schizophrenia are nurses. There are so many types with different skill sets. Host Rachel Star Withers and Co-host Gabe Howards learn who these often overlooked healthcare workers are. Dr. Tari Dilks, Professor and President of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, joins with insight on what goes into being a psychiatric nurse. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices...
May 20, 2020•49 min•Season 2Ep. 12
