Olanzapine, often sold under the brand name Zyprexa, is an atypical antipsychotic which came into use during the 1990s. It's prescribed for schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. We don't know exactly how it works, but it blocks serotonin and dopamine receptors. Specifically, it targets the dopamine…

Many people would describe Soren Kierkegaard as our first existentialist philosopher. He wrote about the topics of philosophy, Christianity, and psychology. In 1844 he published The Concept of Anxiety, where he used the pseudonym of Vigilius Haufniensis to explain the roots of anxiety. In the book, a…

During my first psychosis, I spent my days trawling around the city chasing clues that would explain my heightened state of consciousness. What was the story of the world that I'd been blind to up until this point? I was convinced that many people already…

I'm reading No one cares about crazy people by Ron Powers. Both his sons developed schizophrenia, and one of them committed suicide in the basement a week before his 21st birthday. Powers's advice is to assume the worst when symptoms occur. Act quickly. It is…

I've been thinking about writing something on schizophrenia for a long time. When you google the topic, there's a lot of generic content that lacks a personal touch. Ten most common signs of schizophrenia. Do you have schizophrenia? There are only snippets of people's lives…