S.A. eLetter (2-18-12)
John P.
Greetings S.A. Family on the Internet,
The Michigan State University study of Schizophrenics
Anonymous shows that S.A. helps its members in a number of ways: in
managing symptoms, in learning more about schizophrenia, in reducing
loneliness, and in making friends and improving social life.
Another part of the study compared how S.A.'s role in these
means of helpfulness compares with similar roles provided by mental
health professionals. According to the Michigan State University
researchers:
"SA plays a unique role in the lives of its participants. They view
the helping roles of SA and professionals quite differently. SA
participants tend to view professionals as the best equipped to help
them with medication and symptom management. Fellow SA participants,
on the other hand, are viewed as best equipped to help when they are
feeling lonely or want to talk to someone who understands what it is
like to have schizophrenia."
Furthermore the data in the study show that many S.A. members feel
that fellow S.A. members are more helpful in helping reduce their
loneliness than are their family and friends. It appears from the
study that S.A. is an important factor in providing fellowship to its
members, and providing such fellowship is one of the stated purposes
of S.A.
SOURCE: Michigan State University final report, April 20, 2000
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--Stress Management, part #63
Stress and Introversion
People generally know the difference between introverts and extroverts. There is also a middle ground called ambiverts. Researchers report that introverts make up about 30 percent of the population, the remaining 70 percent of the temperament spectrum are extroverts and ambiverts. So a minority of people are really deeply inward.
It turns out that introverts tend to be highly reactive to events around them. It's much easier for them to seek quiet environments. Stressful stuff seem to bother them more. Also it appears the the introvert temperament appears to be inborn or inherited.
An interesting study came out of Harvard in 1989, by researcher Jerome Kagan. Some 500 infants about 4 months old were exposed to loud noises, the smell of alcohol, bright colors, and so on. About 20 percent of the infants reacted strongly to the stimuli--crying and pumping their arms. About 40 percent of the infants were pretty quiet, and the other 40 percent fell in between. Those who had the strong reaction were categorized as "highly reactive." Kagan brought these study subjects back into the lab many years later and discovered that the highly reactive babies largely turned into more inhibited, introverted teenagers.
One expert has suggested that introverts tend to have a lower threshold for stimulation. Many respond by limiting their exposure. Some call it "shutting down." Whereas, the extroverts often seek out excitement and more stimuli--some are almost addicted to commotion.
The original highly reactive subjects in the Harvard study were later given brain imaging experiments, where they were shown pictures of unfamiliar faces. When contrasted to the extroverts, the introverts had brain images in which their amygdale lit up. The amygdale is part of the brain that processes fearful feelings. This might suggest that the brain is involved in an introvert reaction of caution and guarded response.
One can easily speculate that introverts just want less stress. Inversely, extroverts often run towards unstable situations. An introvert might really like books, while an extrovert might be bored to death at even the thought of a book. Different reactions to stress?
SOURCE: Time magazine, Feb. 6, 1012
Stress Management Series Prior Editions
Below are links to the first 40 parts of the Stress Management Series to date. The more recent parts are at the S.A. eLetter site at Google.
Stress Management Series I (Parts #1 to #16):
http://groups.google.com/group/choose-life-project/browse_thread/thread/584aa4af7b45c502
Stress Management Series II (Parts #17 to #29):
http://groups.google.com/group/choose-life-project/browse_thread/thread/f240f7bad9902a81#
Stress Management Series III (Parts #30 to #40):
http://groups.google.com/group/choose-life-project/browse_thread/thread/e0f98e3ce6dafc7f
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--Our Suffering in Perspective
The suffering of schizophrenia patients is real. And other people
suffer too. We wish to also recognize the struggles of other
suffering people. For instance:
Population
Population of the world is increasing, and so is poverty. In 2011, world population reached the 7 billion mark. Of these people:
-1 in 8 is undernourished;
-1 in 3 lacks a hygienic toilet, and
-1 in 3 city dwellers lives in slums.
We do not suffer alone.
SOURCES: Time magazine, Oct. 31, 2011
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--Website of the Week
The Website of Pete Early
Author of several books including "Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness" was one of two finalists for the 2007 Pulitzer Prize in nonfiction. Since its publication, Pete has visited 42 states speaking about mental illness.
Its website--
For other helpful links to websites related to mental illness, check out our SARDAA webpage at this address:
http://www.sardaa.org/resources/
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--Quote of the Week
This is sort of a funny quote from an English scientist in the 19th century who developed some intro work in creation of a computer.
"On two occasions I have been asked, "Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?" I am not able rightly to apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question."
-Charles Babbage (1791-1871), English mathematician and computer scientist
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Bye for now, and everyone have a great couple of weeks.
--John P., member of S.A.
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For more information about
Schizophrenics Anonymous.:
The new S.A. website is at:
http://www.sardaa.org
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For the Google information group for S.A.:
http://groups.google.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous
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For the Yahoo discussion group for S.A.:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/schizophrenics-anonymous
NOTE: Earlier editions of the S.A. eLettter and the Schizophrenia News
Links are posted at the Google information group for S.A. (link given
above). Also, the S.A. eLetter will come
to your e-mail inbox when published by signing up at the S.A.
Information Group at Google.
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Fact Sheet Information about Schizophrenia and Schizoaffective
Disorder--
* National Institute of Mental Health--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml
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* Mental Health America ( formerly the National Mental Health
Association):
--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/go/schizophrenia
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* National Alliance for the Mentally Il
--description of schizophrenia:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedP...
--description of schizoaffective disorder:
http://www.nami.org/Template.cfm?Section=By_Illness&Template=/TaggedP...
(Organization now called National Alliance on Mental Illness)