SABDA NEWSLETTERS
OFFICE : Tel: 011 326 0661
Fax:
086 509 6706
OFFICE HOURS: Wednesday and Thursday from 0930 - 1230
OFFICE EMAIL: <office@supportsabda.co.za>
BANK ACCOUNT DETAILS
SABDA (Friends of Tara)
Standard Bank Randburg
Branch Code 018005
Account No 420092390
Please fax deposit slip to Sheila at 011 886 0560 or 086 509 6706. Please print CLEARLY.
MEETINGS: Last Thursday of every month (except December), 1730 for 1800 at SABDA Centre, Tara Hospital.
For further information about the next meeting call Sheila (011 886 0560), or the office (011 326 0661).
SAMPLE NEWSLETTER
A sample newsletter is provided below. For the latest newsletter, or to be added to our newsletter mailing list, contact <steven@supportsabda.co.za>.
NEXT MEETING: THURSDAY, 31st July
SPEAKER: Dr EUGENE ALLERS
Dr Allers is a psychiatrist in practice on the East Rand. This will be an interactive meeting, so have your questions ready. Dr Allers is a past president of the SA Society of Psychiatrists.
TALK BY DR COLINDA LINDE
This was a well attended evening with some really valuable input from Colinda on how to improve social skills. She gave good advice on how to behave in a group situation when one is an outsider. Very interesting. She admitted to being an introvert who uses these skills. Hard to believe this, as she is such an accomplished speaker herself.
MEMBERS NEWS
Do hope you are feeling better after the flu Norma!
AUGUST MEETING ON THE 28TH
The first part of this meeting will be the Annual General Meeting (fairly
brief) followed by short talks by:
Garth Gibson
Steven Swart
Guilio Linda
These three gentlemen will be talking about living with schizophrenia
and giving a measure of hope for stability in the illness.
Should be very interesting
ALON HOUSE
Welcome back Liz. Do hope you enjoyed your trip to the coast.
TIDBITS
. Love is the only thing that can be divided without being diminished.
- Author unknown.
One may go wrong in many different ways, but right in only one.
- Aristotle.
We never know the worth of water till the well is dry.
- Thomas Fuller.
Time is but a stream I go a-fishing in.
- H D Thoreau.
Like a field of flowers unfolding in the morning sun, may your day unfold
into happiness.
- Mary C Hastings.
Nobody cares if you can't dance. Just get up and dance.
- Dave Barry
SABDA WEST RAND
Norma attended the first meeting of this new support group on the 12th of July. It was well attended and participants came away with great enthusiasm. Three Psychology Interns will be involved in running the group. Well done! We wish Mae and her team every success.
RESEARCH DOCUMENT
SABDA has been approached by Richard Parry who is currently completing his Honours Degree at Wits. He needs 12 pairs to participate. It will involve about an hour of your time, on Sat 26/07/08. I am attaching Richard's letter for you to read. I do hope that some of you will be able to give an hour of your time. Please contact Norma [011] 463-9901 or Beryl on [011] 883-9542 if you are willing to participate.
Schizophrenia - Dealing with a Crisis
Publications of the World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders
Pamphlet No 15.
Sooner or later, when a family member has schizophrenia or a major affective
disorder, a serious crisis will occur. When this happens there are some
actions you can take to reduce or avoid the potential for disaster. Ideally,
you need to reverse any worsening of the psychotic symptoms (psychotic
means out of touch with reality) and provide immediate protection and
support to the ill person.
Seldom, if ever, will a person suddenly lose total control of thoughts,
feelings and behaviour. Family members or close friends will generally
become aware of a variety of behaviour which gives rise to mounting concern:
sleeplessness, ritualistic preoccupation with certain activities, being
suspicious unpredictable outbursts etc.
During these early stages a full blown crisis can sometimes be averted.
Often the person has ceased taking medication. If you suspect this, try
to encourage a visit to the physician. If this is not successful (and
the more psychotic the person the less likely it is to be so) you should
contact the physician to get advice.
You must also learn to trust your intuitive feelings. If you are truly
frightened, the situation calls for immediate action. Remember, your primary
task is to help the patient regain control. Do nothing to further agitate
the scene.
It may help you to know that the person is probably terrified by his/her
own feelings of loss of thoughts and feelings. Further, the "voices" may
be giving life-threatening commands. In the person's mind messages may
be coming from light fixtures; the room may be filled with poisonous fumes;
snakes may be crawling on the window. (or being watched through the TV
etc).
Accept the fact that the person is in an "altered reality state". In extreme
situations the person may "act out" the hallucinations, e.g. shatter the
window to destroy the snakes. It is imperative that you remain calm. It
is also imperative that your relative get medical treatment.
While waiting for medical help to arrive (or before attempting to take
your relative to the hospital) the following suggestions may prove helpful:-
. Remember that you cannot reason with acute psychosis.
. Do not express irritation or anger.
. Don't threaten. This may be interpreted as a power play and increase
assaultive behaviour by the person.
. Don't shout. If the psychotic person seems not to be listening, it is'nt
because he or she is hard of hearing. "Voices" or deluded thoughts are
interfering.
. Don't criticize. It will only make matters worse; it cannot possibly
make things better.
. Don't squabble with other family members over "best strategies" or allocations
o blame. This is no time to prove a point.
. Don't bait the person into acting out wild threats; the consequences
could be tragic.
. Don't stand over the person if he/she is seated. Instead, seat yourself.
. Avoid direct, continuous eye contact or touching the person.
. Comply with requests that are neither endangering nor beyond reason.
This provides the person with an opportunity to feel somewhat "in control".
. Don't block the doorway. However, do try to keep yourself between your
relative and an exit.
. Decrease other distractions immediately - turn off the TV, radio.
. Express understanding for what your relative is experiencing.
(I believe we as carers CANNOT really understand - so maybe just express
concern and sympathy - Editor)
. Speak firmly, quietly and simply.
Should the psychotic episode involve violence, there may be no time for
all the above strategies. Do not be hesitant to call the police. Tell
them that your relative has schizophrenia. Explain what you are experiencing
and that you need the help of the police to obtain medical treatment and
to control the violent behaviour. Instruct the police not to brandish
any weapon. If you are alone, be sure to contact someone to come and stay
with you until the police arrive. The doctor who has been involved with
the care of your relative should be advised of the situation as soon as
possible.
Because a crisis often comes without warning, a plan should be made before
it happens. Call your local police station and advise them that your relative
has schizophrenia and can act in bizarre ways at times. Let close friends
or neighbours know that you may call upon them for help if things get
difficult. Then keep a list of the names, addresses and telephone numbers
of these special people handy. If a crisis arises, you will be prepared.
(You will not have to worry about your pets, the other children etc).
When you have weathered one crisis, your family may try to find the reasons
it happened. It is normal for people to want explanations. It is important
that the family does not blame itself or anyone else for the ill person's
behaviour. Very little is understood about why crises occur and why violence
can be so unpredictable. One factor is important: continuous taking
of medication considerably reduces the risk of relapse and possible crisis.
Many thanks to: World Fellowship for Schizophrenia and Allied Disorders.
For further information: www.world-schizophrenia.org
. Really practical and sensible advice for Carers with a newly diagnosed
loved one, facing their first major crisis. Editor.