Mental Health Recovery: Schizophrenia - Essay Example

"Mental Health Recovery: Schizophrenia" is an outstanding example of a paper on the disorder.

The Quiet Room: A Journey out of the Torment of Madness by Lori Schiller and Amanda Bennett (2008), is Lori Schiller’s account of her struggle and recovery from schizophrenia. The book offers a lot of information, insights, and awareness about the terrifying disease, the patient's experiences, and the struggles and roles of their families and friends. Schiller’s courageous journey with the mental illness prompts feelings of fear, anguish, and compassion, but also hope at the end when Schiller triumphs over it. Notably, the author's accounts prove that although medical science plays a crucial role in discovering drugs that help patients recover from schizophrenia, their attitudes and behaviors, family support, and therapy are also invaluable elements in the process's success.

Fundamentally, schizophrenia is life-changing. As Schiller narrates, the mental illness took over her life and snatched her tranquility, dreams, possibilities, and sleep before she accepted treatment. For instance, it was heartbreaking to read about how young Schiller kept her illness a secret to avoid disappointing her parents even though she did not know what it was. In the end, she triumphed even though the voices are still part of her life. As such, mental illness is a forever thing. As implied in the text, the best treatment for schizophrenia outcomes is empowering the patient to cope with the voices, delusions, and hallucinations.

The memoir also underscores that mental illness has a significant effect on family and friends. For example, Lori’s father blamed himself for his daughter’s misfortune. On the other hand, the author’s mother questioned if she had done enough to protect her child. Furthermore, the rest of the family and friends lost the person they loved because Schaller became a different person. Nevertheless, the book emphasizes the critical role of social and family support in a patient's recovery. In Schiller's case, the family played a vital function in seeing her through the traumatic experience and recovery. Additionally, the social environment for recovery mental patients should be controlled considering their vulnerability. Ultimately, everyone needs a sense of purpose to feel valuable, and positive reinforcements in social settings can facilitate positive results.

Stigmatization in psychological patients is also a prominent theme in the text. The current society enjoys better views about mental illness. Much of this tolerance and positivity emanate from celebrities and prominent people openly talking about their psychological problems. However, when "The Quiet Room" was written, that was not the case. For instance, despite being a psychologist, Loris’s father was worried about the stigmatization that would befall his family if people discovered his daughter's condition.

On the other hand, Schiller herself saw her mental disorder as a failure on her part. One of her medical records entries stated, “Patient admitted to feeling ashamed and hopeless" (Schiller, 1996, p. 58). In this regard, ignorance is a significant factor in the stigmatization and discrimination of mental disorder patients. Interestingly, movies are a common source of information on schizophrenia and other mental ailments. In most instances, the films' knowledge is often inaccurate and perpetrates fear and stigmatization.

The most exciting and valuable thing about Schiller’s story in the hope it offers people battling schizophrenia. In this regard, it is a strong illustration of light at the end of the tunnel. To achieve this, the book represents Schiller's struggles, including accepting the disease, disclosing it to family, hospital confinements, and medications. Notably, the author's road to recovery takes a firm root when she embraces the ‘Voices’ in her head and confronts them proactively by deciding to take an experimental drug called clozapine. In sum, Schiller’s memoir intimately represents the difficulties that schizophrenic patients go through in the quest for recovery or some sense of normalcy, with a happy ending.