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What is Narcotics Anonymous?

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a support group for individuals struggling with drug addiction. Founded in the 1950s, NA has grown into a global network with over 70,000 meetings held across the world. The program is designed to help those affected by addiction regain control of their lives through a 12-step approach. It is a free, anonymous program that provides support and encouragement to individuals seeking to overcome drug addiction. Narcotics Anonymous NA meetings are available in various cities, including Chicago, where people come together to share their experiences and find mutual support.

What is Narcotics Anonymous?

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a support group for individuals struggling with drug addiction. It is available in cities across the United States and offers a free program with regular group meetings. NA was founded in the 1950s and has grown to over 70,000 meetings globally.

Meeting Locations and Times in Chicago

Chicago Service Office

Address: 924 W 38th Pl, Chicago, IL 60609

Meeting Times:

• Wednesday: 2:00 PM – 6:00 PM
• Saturday/Sunday: 12:00 PM – 4:00 PM

Methods/Details: Meetings at this location focus on providing a safe space for individuals to share their experiences and support each other in their journey to recovery.

Douglas Park Baptist Church

Address: 2650 S Lawndale Ave, Chicago, IL 60623

Meeting Times:

• Monday: 6:30 PM

Methods/Details: This location offers closed speaker and literature study meetings, providing a structured environment for participants to learn and grow together.

UE Hall

Address: 37 S Ashland Ave, Chicago, IL 60607

Meeting Times:

• Tuesday: 7:00 PM

Methods/Details: Meetings at UE Hall include open step study sessions, allowing members to work through the 12-step program in a supportive group setting.

The 12 Steps of NA

Narcotics Anonymous follows a 12-step program that aims to help individuals struggling with addiction find personal growth and recovery. Each step serves as a guide for self-reflection, accountability, and positive change.

• We admitted we were powerless over our addiction – that our lives had become unmanageable.
  Recognizing the impact addiction has on one’s life is the first step toward healing.
• Came to believe that a Power greater than ourselves could restore us to sanity.
  Participants find strength in a higher power to help them recover.
• Made a decision to turn our will and our lives over to the care of God as we understood Him.
  Members commit to trusting in a higher power to guide their recovery journey.
• Made a searching and fearless moral inventory of ourselves.
  Individuals reflect on their past actions and behaviors to understand their addiction.
• Admitted to God, to ourselves, and to another human being the exact nature of our wrongs.
  Sharing one’s flaws and mistakes with others promotes self-awareness and healing.
• Were entirely ready to have God remove all these defects of character.
  Members prepare themselves to let go of negative traits and embrace change.
• Humbly asked Him to remove our shortcomings.
  Individuals seek help in overcoming their personal shortcomings and addictive behaviors.
• Made a list of all persons we had harmed and became willing to make amends to them all.
  Acknowledging those harmed by one’s actions is essential for repairing relationships.
• Made direct amends to such people wherever possible, except when to do so would injure them or others.
  Rebuilding trust and seeking forgiveness is a key part of recovery.
• Continued to take personal inventory and when we were wrong promptly admitted it.
  Ongoing self-assessment helps individuals stay accountable in their recovery journey.
• Sought through prayer and meditation to improve our conscious contact with God as we understood Him, praying only for knowledge of His will for us and the power to carry that out.
  Spiritual practices are incorporated to maintain clarity and focus on recovery.
• Having had a spiritual awakening as the result of these steps, we tried to carry this message to addicts, and to practice these principles in all our affairs.
  Individuals who have found recovery share their experiences to help others and live by the principles of the 12 steps.

Getting Started with NA in Chicago

To begin your recovery journey with Narcotics Anonymous (NA) in Chicago, the meeting search tool on methadone.org can help you find local meetings in your area. The website provides a comprehensive list of meetings, allowing you to easily locate both in-person and online/virtual meetings, which are available in many places.

• Search for meetings by location
• Choose between in-person and virtual meetings
• Access meeting times and formats

These options give you flexibility in choosing a meeting that fits your schedule and preferences, whether you’re looking for face-to-face support or prefer online meetings for convenience.

Attending Your First Local NA Meeting

When attending your first NA meeting in Chicago, it’s important to understand the different types of meetings available.

Open vs Closed Meetings

Meeting Type	Description
Open	Open to anyone, including non-members, family, and friends.
Closed	Only for those who identify as having an addiction or who are seeking recovery.

Tips for First-Time Attendees

• Arrive early to get settled and introduce yourself as a new member.
• Share your experiences if you’re comfortable, but it’s not required.
• Receive a welcome keychain tag during your first meeting as a symbol of your commitment to recovery.

Keychain Tag Milestones

• 30 days
• 60 days
• 1 year
• Beyond

These keychain tags mark your progress and milestones in your recovery journey, helping you celebrate achievements along the way.

What is Narcotics Anonymous?

Narcotics Anonymous (NA) is a global, non-profit support group that provides a safe and welcoming environment for individuals recovering from drug addiction. Founded in the 1950s, NA now holds over 70,000 meetings worldwide, offering a peer-based approach to recovery. Meetings are designed to be free of charge, ensuring accessibility for everyone seeking help. The program emphasizes anonymity, mutual support, and a twelve-step recovery framework. The regular scheduling of NA meetings in every city around the country allows for consistent support on the road to sobriety. For those affected by drug use, it’s important to understand the various street names for weed and other substances; you can explore a detailed list to better recognize and address the challenges associated with addiction.

Meeting Locations and Details

New York NA Meeting

Address: 123 Main Street, New York, NY, 10001

Meeting Times:

• Mondays: 6:30 PM – 8:00 PM
• Thursdays: 7:00 PM – 8:30 PM

Meeting Methods:

• Open to all comers: family, friends, or anybody else
• Conducted as a twelve-step discussion
• Personal sharing, topic-focused discussions, literature readings

Chicago NA Meeting

Address: 456 Elm Avenue, Chicago, IL, 60610

Meeting Times:

• Tuesdays: 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM
• Fridays: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM

Meeting Methods:

• Closed meetings for addicted people in recovery.
• Focuses on step-study sessions and group support activities.
• Emphasis on having a network of accountability and encouragement.

Los Angeles NA Meeting

Address: 789 Oak Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA, 90012

Meeting Times:

• Wednesdays: 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
• Sundays: 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM

Meeting Methods:

• Hybrid format in-person and virtual participation
• Includes beginner-focused sessions to introduce newcomers to the twelve-step process.
• Provides long-term recovery resources, including sponsor matching and literature distribution.

Key Features of NA Meetings

• Confidentiality: All meetings follow strict rules to ensure anonymity.
• Peer Support: Members share experiences, difficulties, and how they overcame their addictions.
• Accessibility: Meetings are free and offered in various formats, such as open, closed, and hybrid sessions.
• Inclusivity: Anyone, regardless of background or recovery stage, is welcome.

For a complete list of NA meetings in your area, please visit the official Narcotics Anonymous website or consult local directories.

The 12 Steps of Narcotics Anonymous

The NA 12 Steps are systematic to provide a clear path that members can follow in recovery. These steps, as followed by members in the United States and beyond, are meant to incite introspection, accountability, and long-term change.

1. Admit powerlessness over addiction and recognize the unmanageability of life.
2. Believe that a higher power can restore hope and sanity.
3. Make a decision to turn one’s life and will over to the care of a higher power.
4. Make a searching and fearless moral inventory of one’s good qualities as well as defects.
5. Admit one’s wrongs to oneself, a higher power, and another human being.
6. Readiness to have all personal character defects removed.
7. Humbly ask a higher power to remove shortcoming.
8. Make a list of all persons harmed and become ready to make amends to them.
9. Make direct amends where possible, except when to do so might injure them.
10. Keep working on personal behavior and promptly admit having been wrong.
11. Pray or meditate to help improve connection with a higher power.
12. Give the message of recovery to others and practice these principals in all affairs.

The steps allow for personal growth, accountability, and connection to a supportive community, making the process holistic in overcoming addiction.

Getting Started with NA in the USA

It is easy and convenient to find a Narcotics Anonymous meeting in the USA. Utilize the meeting finder tool provided on Methadone.org to find local NA gatherings that suit your needs. Meetings come in many forms: in-community space in-person meetings, virtual meetings that one can attend from the comfort of their couch. This way, the support system is within reach for literally anyone, anywhere.

Attending Your First Local NA Meeting

Open vs. Closed Meetings

Meeting Type	Descripción
Open Meetings	Open to all interested, including friends, family, and supporters. These are good to learn more about NA and its community.
Closed Meetings	For addicts in recovery only. This is where sharing can occur in safety and confidence.

Before attending any meeting, it is a good idea to learn the meeting type to ensure it is one that will suit your needs and preferences.

First Meeting Tips

• Arrive Early: 10-15 minutes can be enough to introduce yourself and ask some questions as a newcomer.
• Introduce Yourself: NA allows people to share, if they want to and are ready, their names and experience; however, there is no compulsion whatsoever to disclose personal information about oneself.
• Share at Your Level of Comfort: You can share your story if you’re comfortable, or you might just want to listen for inspiration and guidance.
• Welcome Tag: A welcome keychain tag is given to every member at their first meeting as a symbol of starting your recovery journey.

Keychain Tag Milestones

Members of NA celebrate recovery milestones with colored tags:

• 30 Days: First month clean.
• 60 Days: Completion of the second month.
• 1 Year: A major milestone recognizing a full year of recovery.

Tags are motivational tokens, marking progress and dedication to sobriety.

What Is Schizophrenia?

What Causes
Schizophrenia?

How Is
Schizophrenia Treated?

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What is Schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is
a biological disorder of the brain. It is characterized by
psychotic episodes in which the patient is unable to
distinguish between what is real and what is unreal and
periods of remission in which there may be few or no
psychotic symptoms. Typically, symptoms firs appear in early
adulthood, with men experiencing them in their early 20’s
and women showing signs of the disease in their late 20’s
and early 30’s. Schizophrenia appears less frequently in
childhood, middle age or old age. The disease strikes people
of all races, cultures, and incomes.

Symptoms of
schizophrenia usually develop gradually but can also arise
rapidly. They may begin with sleep disruptions or loss of
interest in school or work, or may emerge as full-blown
hallucinations, delusions, or dramatically changed behavior.

Because patients
cannot distinguish between what is real and what they
perceive as real, they may experience symptoms for many
months before seeking help. As the illness progresses, a
patient’s behavior can change markedly. At one time, the
patient may appear agitated and constantly in motion; at
another time, he or she may sit for hours with out seeming
to move a muscle.

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

Psychiatrists
distinguish several subtypes of schizophrenia as an
aid in diagnosis and treatment. However, for the patient and
family, and understanding of the types of symptoms is
key. At any given time, the most noticeable symptoms are the
focus of treatment. In addition, as with all illnesses, the
severity, duration, and frequency of symptoms vary among
individuals. Because schizophrenia is changeable and
chronic, patients must be evaluated regularly to ensure that
treatment is appropriate to their current needs.

The
characteristic symptoms of schizophrenia are organized into
three categories:

• Positive
  symptoms consist of exaggerated or distorted
  perceptions, beliefs, or behaviors that are absent in health
  individuals. A hallucination is a sense perception – sight,
  sound, touch, smell, taste – that is not based in reality.
  Fortunately, positive symptoms respond well to treatment.

• Negative
  symptoms involve the absence of behaviors that are
  present in healthy individual. These symptoms include a
  severe decrease in the range and intensity of emotions
  (“blunted” emotions), greatly reduced speech, diminished
  energy, and restricted “body language” (e.g., unresponsive
  facial features and poor eye contact). Negative symptoms are
  more difficult to treat that positive symptoms and can
  remain after positive symptoms have responded well to
  therapy.

• 
  Disorganization refers to confused and disordered
  speech, erratic behavior, and difficulty maintaining
  attention. Of the three symptom categories, disorganized
  symptoms respond the least well to treatment.

Individuals with
symptoms of schizophrenia should be evaluated by a
psychiatrist – a medical doctor with special training in the
treatment of mental illness – for proper diagnosis. A
psychiatrist will take a medical history and conduct a
thorough medical examination and psychiatric interview to
rule out substance abuse or other medical illnesses whose
symptoms may mimic schizophrenia.

The
Illness Over Time

The disease
cycles through three stages. In the acute phase,
psychotic symptoms are severe, and hospitalization may be
needed when patients are incapable of attending to their
physical needs or in danger of harming them-selves or
others. In the stabilization phase, the severity of
acute symptoms is lessened. In the stable phase,
symptoms are absent or are much less severe. The goals of
treatment are to limit the frequency and severity of acute
episodes and to maintain or improve levels of functioning
and quality of life during the stable phase

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What Causes Schizophrenia?

Researchers
believe that biological factors – including genetics,
abnormal chemical processes in the brain, and other physical
conditions – and social environment play roles in the onset
of schizophrenia. However, scientist do not yet know
specifically which factors – or mix of factors – produce
schizophrenia. Because the disorder has such a variety of
symptoms, many scientist believe that schizophrenia
constitutes a group of disorders, not unlike cancer. If in
fact the disease represents more than one disorder, there
may be several causes – and possible, interactions between
them.

Although no
single precise cause has been identified, scientist know
that there is some hereditary basis or genetic
predisposition for schizophrenia, because it runs in
families. Studies show that when one identical twin has
schizophrenia, there is a 40%-60% chance that the second
twin will develop the illness. Similarly, the risk of
schizophrenia is much lower among fraternal twins that among
identical twins, and there is basically no increased risk
for schizophrenia among adopted children living in the same
family. Although a risk factor of 40%-60% among identical
twins is high, it is not sufficiently high to demonstrate
that a single gene is responsible for the disease.

Research also
points to structural differences in the brains of some
people with schizophrenia and to differences in the levels
of chemicals in specific areas of the brain. Sensitivity to
or excess amounts of two brain chemicals – dopamine and
serotonin – are thought to play a role in the development of
schizophrenia.

Some scientist
think that the endocrine system, which regulates metabolism,
may hold a key to the disease. Others believe that
schizophrenia may be caused by factors in the patients’
physical environment – for example, exposure before birth to
a viral infection or other trauma, including lack of
nutritional elements. Some researchers think that conditions
in the social environment, such as poverty, emotional
deprivation, or physical abuse, may trigger the disease in
biologically predisposed individuals. Other researchers
believe that an individual’s physical and psychological
makeup may influence his or her susceptibility to the
disorder. Research into the causes, treatment, and –
ultimately – cures of this complex disease continues
throughout the United States and other countries.

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How Is Schizophrenia Treated?

So far there is
no cure for schizophrenia, but treatments are available to 
reduce the intensity and frequency of psychotic episodes,
thus enabling people with schizophrenia to achieve a
significant level of self-sufficiency and social
functioning. Treatments include medication and
psychotherapy, along with social and vocational
rehabilitation. Social and community support services also
assist patients and families in managing the illness.
Because schizophrenia is long term, ongoing treatment is
necessary, although the type of treatment may vary over time
as patients’ needs change.

A variety of
medications are effective in reducing the psychotic
symptoms present in the acute phase of the illness, and they
can also help reduce the potential for future acute
episodes. These medications, called antipsychotics or
neuroleptics, affect the brain’s chemical processes,
blocking brain chemicals believed to be the overactive in
schizophrenia patients. “Conventional” antipsychotics (e.g.,
haloperidol, chlorpromazine) are effective in reducing
positive symptoms but are less effective in reducing
negative symptoms that interfere with reasonable thinking
and action. By eliminating or reducing these psychotic
symptoms, antipsychotic medication helps the patient with
schizophrenia to live a more successful daily life.
Approximately 60% of patients treated witch antipsychotics
achieve great relief or only have mild symptoms. How ever,
like all tent medications used for treating severe illness,
antipsychotics can cause side effects, and those can be
troublesome or serious. Bothersome side effects include
sedation, dry mouth, blurred vision, constipation, and
weight gain. These side effects may lessen as the patient’s
body adjusts to the medication or by lowering the medication
dose. In some cases, side effects are treated with other
medications.

More serious
effects of antipsychotics are two types of movement
disorders known as extrapyramidal side effects and tardive
dyskinesia. Extrapyramidal side effects include rigidity
and tremors, abnormal slowness, involuntary muscle
contortions, and involuntary repetitive movements. Tardive
dystinesia consists of involuntary movement of the mouth
(e.g., grimacing), lips (e.g., smacking) and tongue (e.g.,
rolling) and, sometimes, of other parts of the body. These
movement disorders are often dose related, and most are
reversible if identified early.

The newer
“atypical” antipsychotics (e.g., clozapine, risperidone,
olanzapine) are comparable in effectiveness to the
conventional drugs, and one of them -clozapine- is effective
in treating both positive and negative symptoms. Compared
with conventional antipsychotics, atypical medications
usually cause fewer serious side effects and less muscular
rigidity, tremors, shuffling gait, restlessness, and odd
involuntary movement; however they are not free of side
effects. Patients taking them can experience sedation,
weight gain, decreased blood pressure, and increased
salivation. In addition, clozapine is associated with a 1%
risk of agranulocytosis, a potentially lethal blood disorder
detectable by (mandatory) blood tests.

Some patients
may not take – or may stop taking – their medication in
order to avoid side effects. They may also stop taking
medication because they believe that their delusions and
hallucinations are real or because their psychotic symptoms
have ended and they mistakenly think that treatment is no
longer necessary. Other patients, wishing to deny their
illness or to avoid the social stigma of schizophrenia, may
refuse medication. Among patients who did not take
medication as prescribed, 40%-60% will experience relapse
within a year. To maintain treatment gains and t avoid
relapse, professional and family caregivers must
supportively work with schizophrenia patients to ensure that
they comply with treatment.

Reducing or
eliminating symptoms is the first step to recovery. The next
step is providing emotional support and addressing problems
caused by the illness. Because schizophrenia typically
strikes in early adult hood, individuals with the disorder
often have not fully developed their life management skills,
completed vocational  or educational training, or held
a job. Additionally, even in the stabilization and stable
phases, some patients, especially those with lingering
negative symptoms, may continue to find personal and social
relationships difficult. Thus, people with schizophrenia
must not only wrestle with difficulties with emotions and
thinking but also cope with insufficient social and
work-related skills.

Coupled with
medication, psychotherapy, rehabilitation, and
social and community support services help patients
to avoid relapse by reducing stress and over stimulation,
improving their coping skills, increasing their social and
vocational functioning in the community, and performing
their daily tasks with greater independence. Psychotherapy
can help patients distinguish the real from the unreal ,
understand their illness and manage their medications; it
can also help them learn to recognize warning signs of
relapse and carry out a plan to prevent it.

Family support
and education can help family members understand the illness
and their role in assisting their ill relative. Family
members can be critical to reducing stress, providing
support and encouraging people with schizophrenia to comply
with their treatment plans. In addition, family services can
help family members to better handle the challenges of
dealing with a relative who has a serious chronic illness.

For the patient
with schizophrenia, rehabilitation services include
education in basic living skills (e.g., personal care,
shopping, money management) and vocational and social skills
training. A structured, behavior-focused approach to
teaching these skills has proven effective in overcoming
problems in thinking that interfere with optimal
functioning. Rehabilitation services are offered
individually and in groups in community and clinic settings.
Supportive housing includes halfway houses, long-term group
residences with on-site rehabilitation services staff, and
cooperative apartments regularly visited by staff.

For most
patients, schizophrenia is a lifelong disease that must be
addressed daily. With coordinated, comprehensive, ongoing
services at home and in the community, people with
schizophrenia can improve their level of functioning and
gain a sense of accomplishment. As research reveals more
information about the causes of schizophrenia, patients and
families can look forward to even more effective treatments
that restore individual functioning and improve the quality
of life.

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Joanne

In 1970 I was under a lot of stress and started experiencing delusions of grandeur and paranoia. I thought the TV and radio were talking about me. I thought my phone was tapped and the FBI was after me. I was having a psychotic break. I was hospitalized and had electroshock treatments. I was told I had a nervous breakdown. It was recommended I go to the state hospital for long term care however I chose to go home.

Since 1970 I have been hospitalized seven times for schizophrenia and I am diagnosed as paranoid schizophrenic. However, I have been able to maintain full time employment during this time and raise two children.

In 1984 I was diagnosed as recovered but had to be very careful. I wanted to help the less fortunate mentally ill. I have a younger brother who has been institutionalized in the State Hospital for the last twelve years.

I started doing volunteer work for the Mental Health Association. They asked me to work on the issue of stigma. In 1985 I went public and appeared on TV and radio to help erase the stigma. Since then, I have been speaking at mental health conferences, universities, schools, clubs, etc., to help educate the public about schizophrenia. In July of 1985 I wanted to start a self-help group for schizophrenics and founded Schizophrenics Anonymous in Michigan. This has been the most significant thing I have done in my life and the most rewarding.

I have made a commitment to devote the rest of my life to helping other mentally ill and believe this is God’s plan for my life. I receive so much support from the members of SA and have met the most caring, compassionate people. It is my goal to make SA a national group and I will continue the endeavor as long as I live.

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Scott

I came from a well-to-do family and was trained from early childhood to grow up and become a professional person of some sort. Everything seemed to indicate I would succeed in this endeavor as the years passed. I got excellent grades in school and was an excellent athlete. I did all the right things.

Somewhere around the age of 17 or 18, I noticed that I was not feeling quite right mentally. Things were confusing, not making any sense, and I started losing my sense of connectedness. To deal with this, I started drinking alcohol more and more. I was very lonely and unhappy. My parents and others tried to help me ‘snap out of it,” but to no avail. The year I entered college, I developed a serious drinking problem and, as I learned later, crossed over the line from social drinking to alcoholism. Maybe I crossed over earlier, I don’t know. But I tell you, being arrested for drunk driving several times and spending time in jail was no fun.

Anyway, I got sober by entering treatment and Alcoholics Anonymous about a year later. I was exhilarated, although things still didn’t seem to be quite right. I felt lost. About 14 months into my new life, I decided to find some meaning to my existence. While on a trip with an acquaintance I noticed things were really quite different. The leaves in the wind seemed to be talking to me. Cloud formations had special meanings. Television and radio shows were talking about my life. And I thought I could read peoples’ minds and communicate with them without speaking. I thought I had found what great spiritual leaders termed “being spiritual.” I truly thought I had been blessed by God and that I had a direct pipeline to Him. I felt happy and scared at the same time. I was in a different world. About one week later I decided to travel out to the West Coast to really find myself, given this new-found power. While traveling, it seemed like God’s voice entered into my thoughts and told me to do something if I wanted real peace and power in my life. That being, to run my car off the road and leave the rest to Him. I did this only to find no peace, but a totaled car and a trip to the state mental hospital.

Since that time I’ve been dealing with a disease called schizophrenia. It has been an uphill struggle. At the time of this writing, I believe I’ve found a way to pull myself out of psychosis and feel connected like before the alcoholism and schizophrenia. Today I feel peace, own a thriving business and have a wonderful relationship with my wife. We’re in the process of planning a family. This has been accomplished by the philosophy of Schizophrenics Anonymous, Alcoholics Anonymous, and a few special people in my life.

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Fran

I am schizophrenic. My last hospital stay was in 1980, in the state hospital for six months because my husband would no longer bring me home; he wanted a divorce after 13 years and two small children. With no home to go to, I waited at the state hospital for a bed at an adult foster care home.

After six months, I was placed in a very nice home. Michigan Vocational Rehabilitation sent me to a business school while I was there. After two semesters at the business school, it was time to find a job. By July 1981, I had a job as a bookkeeper for a small company and worked for one year while still living at the foster care home. It was time to try living on my own. I was afraid of everything. Living alone, having relapses, and just taking care of myself. I moved into a rented home and continued to work and support myself.

While I was at the foster care home, I read a pamphlet that described my symptoms perfectly. Before I read it, I did not know I had schizophrenia. The pamphlet said that schizophrenia was incurable, but could be controlled with medication. All of my relapses were from going off my medication. From that time on, I have decided to be well. I never go off my medication or ever have it adjusted and I have been stable since 1980. I know I still have the disease, but am controlling it with medication.

In 1983, I bought my own home and have my children every other weekend (my husband has custody of the children, but I am still part of their lives). I also started to attend college at night. I have been taking one class a semester for these past six years and will receive a Certificate in Accounting this December.

Because I took accounting courses at the community college, I was promoted to Accounting Supervisor in 1985. I have a very good job and enjoy it very much. In the eight years I have been working, I have not had to take time off for my schizophrenia. It has not been easy. I feel very tired in the mornings and force myself to go to work. My life is low keyed, as I cannot take much stress.

My social worker heard about Schizophrenics Anonymous and suggested I get involved in it. Since I have met Joanne V. and the members of her group, my life has been transformed. I am a SA leader and now have a group of very caring and friendly people to meet with once a week. As a leader, my life has been enhanced by the possibility of helping others and myself toward recovery. Thank you, SA.

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Paul

In the past, I have had two psychotic breaks (meaning: breaks from reality). During the first break I experienced abnormal thinking, voices, and visual hallucinations. I thought that the world was coming to an end. Naturally I feared for my family’s lives, hoping to save them from this great catastrophe. They knew that something was wrong with me as soon as I began describing to them what I thought. Then I received treatment at Clinton Valley Center, a state mental hospital, and it took about a year outside to recover from the shock (of being in the hospital) and depression. At the end of that year, December 1985, the doctor and I talked about schizophrenia. The medicine, Haldol, took away all the symptoms.

In February 1986, I got sick again, experiencing a complete new set of hallucinations, like the one I call the “Sun Dance.” While “sleeping” in bed, I had a Native American drummer pounding a drum, and I’d see these visions. Of course, the whole thing was a hallucination; however, this time I didn’t panic throughout the experience. I sort of had a scientific detachment and fascination with it. After February, I went back to the doctor to resume the medicine.

Then I discovered the SA group to help me battle schizophrenia. The group has helped me psychologically to fight my symptoms (voices), and the medicine does the rest. The voices are not a nuisance, because they usually last a few seconds while I’m attempting to sleep (day or night). In short, schizophrenia is a frightening experience, but that’s in the past. For me, recovery and overcoming apathy are important today.

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Larry Z

I first attended Schizophrenics Anonymous in the summer of 1987. I found it to be a friendly group of individuals, with background similar to mine, who struggled with many of the same symptoms that I endured for years. I liked the non-threatening atmosphere and thought that it might be a nice place to make a friend or two. It was hard to speak when my turn came, but I felt that the understanding and compassion of the members would excuse the confused words that I nervously spoke. I returned the following Sunday and every Sunday since.

Looking back, I can see that I have received much more than I had hoped for. I have formed friendships that have added meaning to my life. I learned to accept my paranoia and have discovered that there is life and beauty beyond the rigid limits imposed by fear. The humanity of the members has helped me to survive the occasional trauma of social awkwardness on my part.

By beginning to accept myself with all my weaknesses, I have discovered inner strengths that have permitted me to grow as a person and contribute to society. I still can’t work, but have been able to volunteer two days a week at a community mental health clinic. I also have been entrusted to start and lead a chapter of Schizophrenics Anonymous there.

The main benefit I have received is the confidence that I will continue to grow and become a more complete person. I am a participant, struggling day-by-day towards a fuller existence. I am no longer a spectator, passively recoiling from symptoms, afraid and alone. I hope to be able to work full-time someday and to find a soul mate to spend the remainder of my life with, but I can optimistically accept my poverty and emptiness because I am actively working to improve myself. With Schizophrenics Anonymous I am rebuilding my life. I know that I will succeed at becoming the very best that I can be.

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David

My relationship to the Schizophrenics Anonymous group? It’s two years, every Sunday, including game nights, Christmas parties and picnics. I first read an article in the paper and mentioned it to my mother, who had read it also. I called and talked to Joanne. I was afraid it was going to be self-pity group, but Joanne assured me the people were quite high functioning. As a matter of fact, my first impression was that the group was too high functioning. Led by Joanne’s formidable example, it seemed that everybody was trying pretty hard, and I was taken aback by the generally stressful (high energy) level of the meetings. The general impression the group first makes is that finally, here’s a place where my schizophrenia can be discussed with a sympathetic, like minded group. One finds that one can relate to specifics of the disease as they come up in the meeting. One often thinks, “I felt that too,” or “That’s happened to me.” It’s a relief!

We have also had some excellent speakers, specifically, a doctor from the Lafayette Clinic, who brought us up to date on the latest research. And now researchers think they have discovered a genetic basis for schizophrenia along with the psychological and emotional aspects.

There even was a time when my treatment was affected. I complained at a meeting how I was feeling. At the next session, the doctor gave me a little more medication in my injection. He did it only once buy my symptoms cleared up. Next month he went back down to the previous level.

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Paula

As a young child, I was sexually abused. By the age of 6, I had been in court twice to testify. I was very withdrawn and very afraid of men. I was assigned a visiting teacher to try to help me with the emotional problems that had developed. She was my counselor until I graduated from high school.

As a teenager, I became very suicidal and attempted to kill myself numerous times over the next 25 years. I was diagnosed as schizophrenic, given shock treatments and very strong medications, but these did not help. My mother was told I would never leave the hospital and that I would most likely kill myself, but they would continue to work with me. I was self-destructive and I very deeply believed I was a bad person.

When I was in my early twenties, I fell in love and married. He knew nothing of my problems, but I loved him and knew we would conquer anything. I believe this was the worst experience of my life. He did ungodly sexual things that I had never heard of or thought possible; thus I could not respond correctly to him, and after a few weeks we separated and eventually ended our marriage. This added to the self-hatred, and again I tried to kill myself. It seemed the answer to every problem was to end my life. I could not find anything good in myself. I honestly believed that I was bad and I had no right to be happy or even live.

For years I was in the state mental hospital more than I was home, until about two years ago. At that time, I was in a medical hospital with IVs and unable to keep anything in my stomach. I decided if I was ever going to be helped, I had to want to be well because all the doctors and therapists could not help me unless I helped myself and really wanted to live.

I know I have a long way too go but I am now working with my doctors and therapists and helping other schizophrenic people. I am a member of the Clinton Valley Center Citizens Advisory Council; I led a chapter of Schizophrenics Anonymous at Clinton Valley Center. I have helped take care of an 87-year-old Alzheimer’s patient; and tried to help educate the public about mental illness. I know I will make it because I want to and I have the best support anyone could ask for.

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Laura

My name is Laura. I am a paranoid schizophrenic working for recovery. Prior to starting the SA group, I had lost my job and had no social life. Within four months, I had enough confidence in myself to begin again. So I enrolled in college and became a leader of a chapter of SA.

The first semester I had to withdraw due to my illness, but with the help of the group and my therapy, I managed to stay out of the hospital. I didn’t give up. I went for the winter term and reduced my classes. To my amazement, I did quite well. I have a 3.6 average, and I will be returning this fall.

Needless to say, I have made many friends. With the help of everyone around me, I can go forward with being both happy and successful. Realizing that I do have limitations was very hard. But it is the key that is opening doors to success for me.

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Tamara

I recently initiated the formation of a SA group, and at the urging of our S.A. members, I am writing this letter to you. I am now 48 years old. I was diagnosed as schizophrenic when I was 13 years old. I spent the better part of my adolescence and young adulthood in hospitals. I decided that I didn’t want to spend the remainder of my life in more hospitals, so I applied to attend a university in California. I spent the next 27 years in and out of hospitals and going to school. I eventually was awarded a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology. Many professionals discouraged my efforts, but in 1988 I walked to the stage and received my doctoral degree. It was a difficult battle, and I have to give credit to the Psychiatrist I’ve had for the last 21 years, and the Clinical Social Worker I’ve known since my first psychotic episode when I was 13. After I got my Ph.D., I fought my disease and the stigma of mental illness in my struggle for employment. I learned from my mistakes which cost me several jobs, and along with my Psychiatrist, we experimented with different medications. Fortunately, we found a combination of medications which kept me out of hospitals and I kept employment as a therapist in a residential treatment facility for mentally disturbed adolescents for 6 ½ years. I was then offered the position of Clinical Director at another residential treatment facility for emotionally disturbed adolescents, where I have been employed for the last 3 years.

One year ago, I made the decision to become public with my struggle with schizophrenia, and have now spoken at two assemblages of people regarding mental illness. I was asked to apply for a position on the Board of Directors of our local Mental Health Association and have now been elected Board President.

I really wanted to share with you the thoughts and feelings expressed by the members of our SA group. We meet once a week regularly to discuss many different issues, some of which are: 1) The stigma of mental Illness; 2) How do you know when it is safe to reveal you suffer from a mental illness; 3) The need for intimacy and the problems we face attaining intimate relationships; 4) Wanting children and the risks of having children; 5) Different living environments; 6) Attaining employment; 7) Controlling odd behaviors in public; 8) Medication, its benefits and its side effects; 9) Coping with relatives; 10) The homeless mentally ill; 11) Depression and suicide and many other issues that impinge on having quality in our lives. I am struck with the pertinence of these topics and the level of the articulation at which we express our concerns. What also struck me is that no one or very few people actually ask mentally ill people their opinions on these subjects. While we realize that we don’t have all the solutions or answers to these problems, it is really helpful to have a safe place to discuss these issues and the importance of the support that the SA members provide for each other.

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Satoko

In 1999, at my therapist’s recommendation, I started attending SA meetings weekly. Her concern was my isolation from people. I was not able to express my own feelings prior to that. At the SA meetings, we are not alone struggling with this cruel disease. We talked about how we deal with the symptoms everyday and encourage each other to stick with our principles. After one year of struggling, I found a sense of hope. I started accepting both normal people and people who have mental illness by expressing myself honestly. Without help from people who were attending SA meetings, I am very sure that I could not accomplish this.

I am hoping that one day we all go through recovery steps and have compensated lives. Until then, we must never give up the idea that anybody could recover from mental illness. SA meetings are helpful for us to share our experiences. If somebody is suffering from mental illness, I recommend him or her to attend an SA meeting. I was one of them and am doing better today

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Kathy

It was late 1988 and early 1989 and I was having difficulty at work. I was sent to the Employee Assistance Program and given the choice to seek help or be dismissed. I chose to get help only by way of family intervention. After three months in day-hospital I returned to a different job at the same company. I had a therapist who recommended to me that a support group would be good for me, so I joined Joanne’s SA group in Southfield.

Schizophrenics Anonymous was a place for me to learn about mental health. I was very depressed about many things. For instance, just having an illness was difficult. I didn’t understand the illness and how it affected me in terms of stigma, personal status, economic factors, and relationships. My dream and desires had been altered. What I didn’t know was that this was the turning point or motivational level I needed to get back on track. That’s what SA has done for me.

As I was recovering and getting my self-esteem back, I started graduate school. My new boss promoted me after two years, and in 1993 I received my M.A. degree from Eastern Michigan University. I also became a group leader for SA for about two years. Later I started giving speeches about the importance of S.A., and in 1995 became a statewide speaker for SA. Schizophrenics Anonymous helped me integrate my illness into myself, by understanding others.

SA helped me look at myself and to make decisions that would integrate my person and illness into one. I started to become more sociable, realizing that I had to try twice as hard as the normal person to accomplish the same goal. I worked very hard at my interpersonal skills. I learned by doing my master’s that stigma can only affect me if I let it.

Today I feel whole emotionally, spiritually, and physically. I feel sound. I’ve been inspired by SA to consider taking additional college coursework in social work. I hope this will inspire others to try to overcome adversity and recover to the best of their capabilities–and to be happy with themselves. I think that it’s important to remember that one has to do homework in order to get a grade. And the grade someone wants as a person is up to him or her.

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Jeff

I always considered myself over-qualified for life. I grew up in Waterford, Michigan and was always popular. I was the student council president in junior high; I was blessed with a gift for music and won numerous awards for solos and ensembles in statewide high school competitions. I sat first chair playing the baritone horn in symphonic band and was captain of the high school marching band.

My nightmare began when I was a junior and grew rapidly by the time I graduated with honors from high school. My first hospitalization was a year later when I was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. The medications they put me on helped and my life began to improve.

I worked several jobs for the next seven years until I had my next hospitalization. My medications were adjusted and I was discharged. Four years later I stopped taking my medication and landed in state hospital for thirty days. I’ve been improving ever since.

About this time, I started attending a day program for people with mental illness. One of the people there suggested that we begin a Schizophrenics Anonymous meeting. I co-led the group and it helped me get along better with people. It also makes it easier for me to accept my schizophrenia. Instead of hiding my illness, I would like to think that I am helping to erase stigma. More honest and steady attendance at Schizophrenics Anonymous meetings has enabled me to open that closed door a little more each time and come into life’s sunlight.

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Richard

I had just turned 33, and there I was in a hospital bed, wondering why God didn’t let me complete my suicide attempt. My best friend had died recently by drowning; I was now divorced and work was becoming more demanding. I thought now was my turn to die. What had happened was my first episode of schizophrenia. Even with medication I continued bouncing in and out of mental institutions over the next five years. I tried to do what the doctors and counselors were telling me, and I even tried moving from a large city to a small town, but it happened again. This time there were demons everywhere, even in my house. My distorted thinking told me to burn it down. So I did. This time I was really scared. What was happening? What is Reality? And I was on my medication. So after being in jail for 4 months, I had time to think. It was so easy. It was right in front of my face the whole time: alcohol. Drinking was there all my life and even though I didn’t consider myself a heavy drinker, I didn’t know how to stop or even if I could. But I knew I needed and wanted a better way to live. In jail, I was introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous and Schizophrenics Anonymous, and when I got out I continued to attend. By working the suggested steps and having a higher power of my understanding, I am now leading a happy and free life. I thank God for putting these programs and people in my life. I am looking forward to the future.

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Nora

After 10 months of hearing voices that took many forms of disjointed reality, thinking people could read my mind, thinking the radio and TV were talking about me, hearing voices through the walls at work and at home hallucinations, I had major paranoia thinking that the KGB, FBI, CIA, and Mafia were after me. I also experienced feelings of apathy (the lack of caring about myself and others) and extreme confusion and disorganized behavior. In 1985 my boss persuaded me to seek professional help. I was immediately transferred to a local hospital where I was diagnosed as “Chronic Paranoid Schizophrenic.” My stay was 10 days.

In May 1987 my father’s sister died of a brain tumor and in July 1987 my father also died of a brain tumor. My symptoms worsened to the point that I thought that radiation was coming out of the computer and I had major paranoia and delusions. In October of 1987, I was admitted to another hospital where I stayed 3 weeks. After getting home, my sister-in-law saw Joanne Verbanic, founder of Schizophrenics Anonymous, on a cable TV program and persuaded me to attend the SA Meetings. I am thankful that she told me to go to the meetings.

In May of 1988 I was fired from my job due to major symptoms. I wasn’t showering, not eating right, wasn’t sleeping, and wasn’t cleaning the apartment. Along with psychosis, I suffered from depression, and in March of 1989, I admitted myself into another hospital where I stayed 2 months. After several hospitalizations, the stays were basically the same and the recovery was gradual. In February 1995 I moved into a semi-independent living apartment where I am now.

I’ve been a Schizophrenics Anonymous Group Leader since 1987, and in 1999 I received the “Above and Beyond Award” from SA. I travel around the state speaking and helping with conference exhibits. I have been asked by many places to speak.

With the help of SA, friends, family, church, clubhouse and the right medication I’m on the road to recovery. My nieces and nephews send me letters and cards through the year. Thank you Baylerians! I have learned that I am not alone in this illness.

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Jamie

Hi, my name is Jamie and I found I had symptoms of schizophrenia when I was 15 years old. At first I thought it was “growing pains.” My first stay in the hospital was very strange. I heard voices, had delusions and I felt very depressed. The depressions could last from one week to six months. Working was hard for me because of the voices and fear, so I jumped from job to job, holding about two dozen different jobs in just seven years.

I had many hospital stays, including three separate stays in each of two hospitals. I tried several different medicines, including Stelazine and Haldol (which stopped the voices but left me still depressed and filled with irrational fears) and finally I tried the new medicine. I now take a maintenance dose of the atypical medication and my doctor tells me I have no negative symptoms. My future looks bright and hope-filled.

Having worked at part-time jobs and volunteered at the local community mental health center, I was asked to be on the Woodlands Recipient Rights Advisory Committee. I served this group for six years. In 1998 I started on the Woodland Consumer Advisory Committee. I am active as an SA Group Leader Liaison, coordinating group development in Michigan. SA has enriched my life with friends and a satisfying job. Thanks, Schizophrenics Anonymous!

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Laura P

My name is Laura. I live in Binghamton, New York. I am a single mom with a two year old daughter. This is my story.

From the beginning, I always knew that I was different. At age 12, I made my first suicide attempt. I was hearing voices and did not know what to do. Everything was okay until I was 19 when I dropped out of college because I realized I was sick. I started treatment, but because I was in college and came from a good home, I denied how sick I really was. I thought I had my illness in control. My life became worse.

At age 21, I committed a crime during a psychotic episode. The judge told my family I could go to prison or to a mental hospital for the criminally insane. I went to the hospital. I spent 4 ½ years in three different hospitals. When I was discharged, I started seeing my therapist Karen. A year later, she heard Joanne Verbanic speak at a conference and asked me if I wanted to start an SA group. I said yes.

That was three years ago. Our group is held at the Community Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (part of the Binghamton Psychiatric Center), meeting weekly. Everyone at the CTRC and BPC has been wonderful to us; they always supply drinks for our group. Our members are very close.

Since starting the SA Group, my life has changed immensely. I am now living in my own apartment with my daughter and perform volunteer public speaking to help spread the hope and joy that people with schizophrenia can be happy and achieve anything they put their minds to. Thank you Joanne Verbanic and everyone in SA. What a gift we have in SA.

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Larry A

My involvement with SA began in the 1990’s, when I was contacted by the Mental Health Association in Franklin County, Ohio. I had been a group leader for Recovery, Inc. for 15 years and was well known for my public speaking and leadership skills. The name, “SA” bothered me at first, but once the group came together, it was a relief to use the “S” word. At Recovery, Inc. we were not allowed to talk about diagnoses. Hallucinations could only be called “imagination on fire” or “nervous symptoms.” It was a relief to say, “Hi, I’m Larry and I have schizophrenia.” It felt like basic honesty to say, “I have bizarre visions and hear voices” and “I often see the world as a very strange and frightening place.”

It has been very hard at times to cope with medication side-effects; I had tardive dyskinesia for 16 years, with painful twisting in my neck muscles. I think the only reason I got along as well as I did was that I have the most supportive wife and family anyone could ask for. That includes my extended family, my SA group members! My last hospital stay was in 1996, when my blood pressure, pain & dyskinesia drugs conflicted with my schizophrenia medications, so I went to the hospital with a drug- induced delirium. I spent four days in the hospital, just long enough to get it all adjusted. I’ll never forget the compassion I received from my wife, SA group, and my church during my fight back! It was in SA that I learned about the “atypical” anti-psychotics being approved by the FDA. Only 13 months after my new drug treatment began the dyskinesia and neck spasms vanished!

But the most I have learned through SA, is the lesson of true leadership. The best leader is the one who seeks & empowers the leadership skills of the group, it is THEIR group. When the goal of the leader is to practice humility & self-leadership (especially over those nasty impulses to dictate and boss others) group members don’t have anyone to resist, resent or rebel against. When the roles in the group are open to everyone to try, leadership is shared and everyone learns leadership. Every member is a leader; they just need to find the leadership role they do best. No role is unimportant. The member who passes out and collects the Blue Books at the meeting is just as important as the on who reads the Welcome Statement, or who chooses and reads the Affirmation, or who calls and visits a group member who is back in the hospital.

Leadership is contagious! Spread the leadership around until everyone gets it! For me, this is the heart & soul of Schizophrenics Anonymous.

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Joseph

My name is Joseph and I have schizophrenia. I got my first taste of mental illness when I was in my junior year in college at the age of 23. The doctor diagnosed my condition as severe mental depression. I was prescribed an anti-depressant for depression and a tranquilizer for panic attacks. I was so depressed I could not even eat without becoming sick. As a result, I lost 20 pounds. The medication did not seem to help; It took me about a year to recover.

I eventually graduated from college with an accounting degree in December of 1996 at the age of 25. After graduating from college, I secured a job with the teamster union in Washington D.C. as an accounts payable clerk. I was on the job 2 months when I became ill a second time. I did not experience depression but something just as dreadful, a head full of delusions with paranoia. Soon thereafter, I was hospitalized and diagnosed with schizophrenia. I am now 29 years old and have been living with schizophrenia for four years. I still am unemployed but I am actively working to improve myself by reading and going to the gym to work out. Last month I started attending Schizophrenics Anonymous. I found the people there to be friendly and struggling with some of the same problems that I have been battling with.

Schizophrenics Anonymous has helped me learned to accept my paranoia and delusions. I have begun to accept myself with all my strengths and weaknesses. My confidence will continue to grow as I become a more complete person. With Schizophrenics Anonymous I am rebuilding my life and I know that I can become the very best I can be.

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Kevin

I was always told that I was different from other kids when I was born. Somehow, I sensed this from an early age. I always liked to be by myself and felt socially awkward. I didn’t have many friends, so I found myself in reading books and other materials. It started to get worse when I was 15. I had trouble concentrating on my studies in high school. I played on the high school sport teams. I thought that I never would fit in anywhere. When I was 17, I started to attend church services and thought that God was talking to me. I later dropped out of school and got married. I worked for four years at a few jobs before joining the U.S. Army in the early 80’s. While stationed in South Korea and visiting on the DMZ (De-Militarized Zone), I got very paranoid while I was there and thought that the North Koreans shot down an alien spaceship. I blacked out on the side of a main road while walking back to the base. I never felt the same way about myself again.

I went home and was stationed in recruiting command in Cleveland, Ohio. I did a lot of traveling in that duty. I was having hallucinations and delusions while I was driving long hours for the Army. I was later stationed at Fort Hood, Texas, still having full-blown symptoms of schizophrenia. I couldn’t do my job anymore and was hospitalized my last six weeks of my military career. I was unable to find any employment due to my illness and had to be re-hospitalized at the VA hospital in Brecksville, Ohio.

I found out that I had schizophrenia and had it for some time. I got medication and went back to school and got divorced from my wife. I never got back what schizophrenia took from me, but I was determined to beat it and/or live with the best way I could.

I stopped taking my meds, because I felt better. I thought that I didn’t need it anymore. I later spent the next 100 days in the VA hospital. I was homeless and felt hopeless. I felt like quitting, but I never gave up on myself. I got some help, and I still couldn’t made it on my own. I got in trouble with the law and could have spent up to five years in state prison, but my higher power thought otherwise. He (my higher power) helped me get out and find me find my purpose in life.

In February 1997, I was told about an SA meeting in Middleburg Heights, Ohio. I went to it and I fit in nicely. It took a few meeting to find out about myself. Here, at last, was a group of people that accepted me for who I am and what I had become without question. I felt drawn to running a group and later attended the SA Leadership Development Conference in Novi, Michigan. While there, I was still hearing voices. I thought that someone called my name out loud. I asked Joanne V. if she heard it too. She said no and I jokingly told her that I must have been hearing things. When Joanne told me not to worry and that I was among friends. I knew I was truly home and that SA would be something I wanted to do for the rest of my life.

I’ve taken on more responsibilities in SA, and I’m thankful that SA was here for me. With that thought in mind, I will always remember everyone who gave me hope and joy.

SA has been that joy in my life. Thanks to SA, and thank you Joanne, for the gift. I must give it away to everyone I meet.

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If you’re looking for a way to boost your sex life, then you need to check out Semenoll. This new sexual enhancement pill is designed to improve your performance in bed and give you more confidence in the bedroom.

The pill is made from natural ingredients and it has been shown to increase testosterone levels, which will help with the overall health of your male organs. It also reduces stress levels, which can be bad for both men and women.

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Mushroom coffee is becoming increasingly popular as a healthy alternative to traditional coffee. It is made from organic mushrooms and contains antioxidants that help boost energy levels without the jitters associated with regular coffee. But despite its health benefits, mushroom coffee can also have some side effects that you should be aware of before consuming it.

In this article, you can take a look at some of the potential side effects of drinking mushroom coffee so you can decide if it’s right for you. We’ll also discuss how to minimize any potential risks by drinking the beverage responsibly and in moderation. By understanding what could happen when drinking mushroom coffee, you can make an informed decision about whether or not it’s something you want to try.

1. Elm and Rye Mushroom Coffee
2. Nootrum Coffee
3. Four Sigmatic
4. Ryze
5. Renude Chagaccino
6. Naturealm Sacred 7

Mushroom Coffee is an increasingly popular beverage that has been gaining traction in recent years. It is made by blending ground mushrooms, such as chaga, reishi, and cordyceps, with coffee grounds to create a unique and delicious cup of coffee. 

One of the biggest benefits of mushroom coffee is its nutritional content. It is packed with vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and polysaccharides that are beneficial to the body. Its high levels of beta-glucans make it an ideal choice for those looking to boost their immune systems. Additionally, its natural compounds can help improve mental clarity and focus while providing a sense of calmness and well-being.

Mushroom coffee also contains substantially less caffeine than traditional coffee, making it a great alternative for those who want the flavor of coffee without feeling the jitters or crashing later on in the day. The taste itself has been said to be earthy and smooth with subtle notes of mushroom flavor.

Like any other caffeinated beverage, mushroom coffee can have side effects if consumed in excess. These side effects could include headaches, jitteriness, nervousness, irritability, and restlessness. Additionally, those with a sensitivity to mushrooms may experience digestive discomfort or an allergic reaction when consuming the drink. 

It is important to monitor how much mushroom coffee you are drinking and listen to your body for signs of adverse reactions. For best results, it is recommended to speak with a healthcare professional before making dietary changes. 

It is also recommended that pregnant women avoid consuming mushroom coffee as its safety has not yet been established. Anyone considering adding this type of beverage into their daily routine should first consult their physician prior to doing so. The same goes for anyone taking any medications that could interact with the compounds in mushroom coffee. 

Although cautious of potential side effects, many people are still choosing to incorporate mushroom coffee into their diets due to its numerous health benefits. 

Yes, mushroom coffee has the potential to interact with certain medications. This is due to its high content of beta-glucans, which can affect how quickly or slowly a drug is metabolized in the body. 

If you are taking any prescription medications, it is recommended that you speak with your doctor before adding mushroom coffee into your diet. Your doctor will be able to advise if there could be a possible interaction and if drinking this type of beverage should be avoided while taking medication. 

It is also important to note that some over-the-counter drugs, such as antihistamines and thyroid medications, may interact with mushroom coffee compounds as well. 

Chaga is packed with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial compounds that may have positive effects on the body when consumed daily. These include aiding in digestion, reducing inflammation and oxidative stress, improving cardiovascular health, stimulating the immune system, and more. 

However, it is important to note that chaga can contain a small amount of caffeine which could lead to side-effects like jitteriness and headaches if too much is consumed. Additionally, those taking any medications should consult their physician prior to incorporating chaga into their diet as it has the potential to interact with certain drugs. Lastly, drinking chaga every day for extended periods of time can be toxic in some cases so moderation is key. 

Yes, chaga is a great addition to coffee and can provide extra health benefits. Chaga has many compounds that are good for the body, including antioxidants, B-vitamins, minerals, amino acids, and more. 

When mixed with coffee, chaga can help reduce inflammation and oxidative stress while providing an immune system boost. The combination of caffeine in the coffee combined with the compounds in chaga may also provide mental clarity and improved focus as well. 

As with any other caffeinated beverage, it is important to be mindful of how much you are consuming. Too much caffeine from chaga-coffee could lead to potential side effects such as jitteriness or headaches. Also keep in mind that those taking any medications should speak with a doctor before adding chaga to their coffee. 

No, it is not recommended that children consume mushroom coffee due to its potential side effects. Due to its caffeine content and other compounds, this type of beverage can cause jitteriness, nervousness, irritability, and restlessness in some people. Additionally, those with a sensitivity to mushrooms may have an allergic reaction when consuming the drink. 

Children should only consume mushroom coffee under the supervision of a healthcare professional after discussing any potential risks or interactions with medications they may be taking. It is best for parents to consult their pediatrician prior to giving any mushroom-based drinks to young children. 

When shopping for mushroom coffee, it is important to look for quality organic coffee and mushrooms. Choosing an organic product will ensure that the mushrooms are free from pesticides and other toxic chemicals. Additionally, you should opt for products that contain only authentic medicinal mushrooms such as chaga, reishi, and cordyceps rather than generic “mushroom blends” which can contain a variety of different types of mushrooms. 

It is also important to read the ingredients label carefully to make sure there are no artificial sweeteners or added sugars in the product. Many brands add sugar to their mushroom coffees in order to make them more palatable but this defeats the purpose of consuming a healthy beverage.

Finally, pay close attention to the directions when brewing the coffee. Mushroom coffees usually require a longer steeping time than traditional coffee so that all of the beneficial nutrients are extracted from the mushrooms. Follow the instructions carefully to ensure that you get the most out of your beverage. 

The bottom line is that mushroom coffee has many potential health benefits but it is best to speak with your doctor before incorporating this type of beverage into your diet. Too much caffeine or interaction with medications could have undesirable effects so moderation is key. Children and pregnant women should avoid drinking mushroom coffee altogether until their healthcare provider gives them the green light to do so. With that being said, enjoy your cup of mushroom coffee in moderation. 

Now that you know more about mushroom coffee side effects, here are more details about the best products: 

Enhance your energy levels and support a strong immune system with this delectable creamer! Our blend of chaga, cordyceps, lion’s mane, and maitake mushrooms contains an array of antioxidants and adaptogens that deliver essential nutrients for optimal health. Every sip is loaded with natural goodness to help fortify your wellbeing.

If you’re seeking to bolster your immune system and safeguard your cells, Chaga mushrooms are a terrific source of antioxidants. For improved energy levels, focus, and concentration, two adaptogens that can be highly beneficial are Lion’s Mane and Cordyceps. For long-term health advantages as well as enhanced immunity throughout the centuries, Maitake is an exceptional mushroom worth considering!

Are you looking for an easy and nutritious way to add flavor to your diet? Look no further! Our creamer is perfect because it doesn’t contain any synthetic components or preservatives. Even better, everyone can enjoy this product since its vegan-friendly, gluten-free, and keto approved – so taste won’t be sacrificed even with different dietary restrictions or food intolerances.

Nootrum are known for their extra high yield mushroom extracts meaning that they simply get more B Glucans, Lectins, Triterpenoids and Polysaccharides (the active ingredients in mushroom coffee) in their products than other people. The interesting thing is that actually means you don’t get nearly as much of a mushroom taste from their coffee than you do from some of the competitors. As a result, if you’re looking for a cup of joe that doesn’t have any mushroom flavor then this is definitely the product for you. They focus in on Chaga and Lion’s Mane, making this a good option for people looking to either bolster their immune system or boost their brain power.

So, if you’re looking to experience a coffee that not only delights your taste buds but also enhances your mind and body. Whether you’re starting your day or seeking an afternoon pick-me-up, Nootrum Mushroom Coffee is the perfect choice for those who value both taste and want to boost their brain power.

This celebrated mushroom coffee manufacturer has been providing individuals with the finest quality mushrooms for years. Through a combination of classic coffees beans and mushrooms, they have developed an unmistakable flavor that not only tastes great but also offers added wellness advantages. Regardless if you are new to the game or already familiar with it, their signature mix of ingredients is a brilliant way to incorporate healthful mushrooms into your everyday routine.

Four Sigmatic offers an array of products to choose from, with the cult-favorite “Think” caffeinated coffee and the delectable “Chill” decaf as two of their bestsellers. They come in a variety of forms—such as ground, whole bean or K-cup —to suit any preference. Each sip is sure to bring blissful satisfaction with its unique blend of delicate earthy flavor paired perfectly with classic brewed coffee notes.

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Benjamin Rush (1745-1813)   Benjamin Rush is often called the “Hippocrates of Pennsylvania” and “America’s first psychiatrist.” He championed humane treatment of the mentally ill in the early years of the American republic and wrote the first American textbook on psychiatry, Medical Inquiries and Observations on Diseases of the Mind (1812).

Rush was born of a Quaker farm family, earned a B.A. from Princeton University at age 15, and received his medical degree from the University of Edinburgh in 1768. He was very active in the political movements of his time and was a signer of the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776.

For a short time Rush was the surgeon general of the Continental Army under George Washington, but resigned due to political intrigue. This was really a plus for the mentally ill because Rush went back to Pennsylvania to practice medicine and there became familiar with the plight of those with psychiatric disorders.

At the Pennsylvania Hospital, where he was on staff, he followed Pinel’s lead and worked for more humane housing for psychiatric patients. He also encouraged better hygiene for these patients and simple forms of occupational therapy. Rush wrote:

“For many centuries (the mentally ill) have been treated like criminals, or shunned like beasts of prey: or if visited, it has been only for the purpose of inhumane curiosity or amusement. Happily, these times of cruelty to this class of our fellow creatures and insensitivity to their suffering are now passing away. (At the hospital) the clanging of chains and the noise of whips are no longer heard in their cells.”

It’s important to remember that Rush felt that what we now call schizophrenia was a brain disorder. This conclusion was a triumph for American psychiatry of its day. However, Rush was mistaken on the specifics. He believed that the cause of the brain disorder was congested blood vessels in the brain, which could be triggered by things like dropsy, gout, pregnancy, or tuberculosis. Hence, unlike Pinel, Rush treated schizophrenia by bloodletting. Rush also had faith in the rotating chair invented by Erasmus Darwin in England a few years before.

Despite Rush’s errors on specifics, there can be no doubt that his heart was in the right place – he was sincerely concerned with the suffering of the mentally ill. During his life, Rush was active in antislavery campaigns, prison reform, and established America’s first free medical clinic for the underprivileged.

On his deathbed from typhus, Rush uttered the next to his last words to his son: “Be indulgent to the poor.” Thus passed on a good man.

For a list of periodicals with additional information on schizophrenia, click any of the following categories: (Note: Mouse Click on the category to see the expanded list)  

• For People Living With Schizophrenia:
  • Schizophrenia Revealed: From Neurons to Social Interactions – Green, Michael Foster, $19.95 cover price; paperback, W.W. Norton, 2003. Educational/informational/ scientific, yet readable.
  • Don’t Call Me Nuts: Coping with the Stigma of Mental Illness – Corrigan, Patrick and Robert Lundin. Recovery Press, Cover Price $26.50. DON’T CALL ME NUTS! addresses one of the pressing issues in psychiatry today, indeed in the larger scope of civil rights in society – the stigma of mental illness. In its pages, Corrigan and Lundin explore all facets of the stigma which persons with mental illnesses face. DON’T CALL ME NUTS! is both a valuable resource, a history lesson, and a gaze into the future of a stigma-less community.
  • Diagnosis Schizophrenia: A Comprehensive Resource – How it Feels, What to Do, Staying Healthy – Miller, Rachel & Mason, Susan E., Columbia University Press, 2002. This book has a lot of consumers’ stories in the first person and sketches of their faces sprinkled throughout.
  • Getting Your Life Back Together When You have Schizophrenia – Temes, Roberta, Ph.D. Cover Price $14.95, paperback, New Harbinger Publications, Inc., 2002. Good for someone who’s just been diagnosed.
  • Surviving Mental Illness: Stress, Coping, and Adaptation – Hatfield, Agnes B.and Lefley, Harriet P. Cover Price $24.00 paperback – Guilford Publications, 1993. This is more general and would probably be helpful for families and newly-diagnosed people.
• Books for Family Members:
  • I Am Not Sick, I Don’t Need Help – Amador, Xavier, Ph.D. with Anna-Lisa Johanson, Vida Press, Cover Price $17.95. This book is a must read for families and caregivers trying to cope with a loved on with mental illness who refuses treatment because they do not believe that they are ill. Also available in Spanish.
  • Surviving Schizophrenia: A Family Manual – Torrey, E. Fuller, M.D. $9.95 cover price, Perennial Library, Harper & Row Publishers. Surviving Schizophrenia describes the nature, causes, symptoms, treatment and course of the illness as well as chapters on living with schizophrenia from both the patient’s and the family’s points of view.
  • When Someone You Love has Mental Illness: A Handbook for Family, Friends, and Caregivers – Woolis, Rebecca, MFT. $14.95 cover price, paperback, Tarcher/Penguin, 2003. Similar in content to Surviving Mental Illness, yet specifically designed for the caregiver.
• Policy:
  • Ill Equipped: U.S. Prisons and Offenders with Mental Illness – Human Rights Watch, 2003. Documents the shameful conditions individuals suffering from mental illness face behind walls including inadequate mental health services, violence, abuse and harassment at the hands of other prisoners and even correctional officers.
  • Out of the Shadows, Confronting America’s Mental Illness Crisis – Torrey, E. Fuller, M.D. Cover Price $19.95, Wiley & Sons, 40-50% discount for 5 or more copies. This book exposes shocking facts and opinions about deinstitutionalization.
• Diagnostic:
  • Handbook of Clinical Psychopharmacology for Therapists from New Harbinger. Hardcover, Cover Price $55.95.
  • DSM-IV Made Easy: The Clinicians Guide to Diagnosis – Morrison, James, M.D. The Guilford Press, 1995. This book interprets the DSM-IV published by the American Psychiatric Association in accessible language so that lay people can understand psychiatric disorders.
• Autobiographical/Memoir:
  • Welcome, Silence – North, Carol, MD. Academic Renewal Press, 2002. This is the amazing true account of one woman’s journey deep into mental illness and her return to sanity and a successful life and career. Describes a unique therapy method that miraculously worked for Dr. North.
  • The Day The Voices Stopped – Steele, Ken, Basic Books, Perseus Books Group. Cover Price $14.95. Steele spent 32 years of his life living with the devastating symptoms of schizophrenia: tortured by inner voices commanding him to kill himself, ravaged by the delusions of paranoia, barely surviving on the ragged edges of society. In this inspiring story, Steele tells of his hard-won recovery from schizophrenia and how activism and advocacy helped him to regain his sanity and go on to give hope and support to so many others like him.
  • The Quiet Room: A Journey Out of the Torment of Madness – A. Lori/Bennet Schiller, Warner Books, Cover Price $13.95. Lori Schiller has done a magnificent job of chronicling her battle with schizophrenia. Horrible, taunting voices drove her to suicide attempts, drug abuse, numerous hospitalizations, and homelessness. Eventually she got the right treatment, the most important component of which was the antipsychotic drug Clozaril.

Our Mission   It is the mission of the National Schizophrenia Foundation (NSF) to develop and maintain support groups for individuals, and their friends and family members, affected by schizophrenia and related disorders; and to be a broad resource for all persons regarding schizophrenia and related disorders through education, information, and public awareness services. The NSF recognizes that individuals with schizophrenia may also struggle with substance abuse issues, and works to connect them with appropriate resources, such as a methadone clinic in Las Vegas, to address co-occurring disorders. As part of their comprehensive approach, the foundation advocates for evidence-based practices, including regular drug testing to monitor medication compliance and identify potential substance abuse problems. By addressing both schizophrenia and addiction, the NSF aims to provide holistic support and improve overall outcomes for those affected by these challenging conditions. Our History   In response to the need for increased attention to
schizophrenia-related disorders and the consumer
perspective, the National Schizophrenia Foundation
(NSF) was incorporated in November 1999 as a
nonprofit 501 (c)(3) agency.

All of this emanated from the initiative of
Joanne Verbanic who originally intended to
create a support group to help herself and
others in the Detroit area in 1984. Before long,
others sought to begin similar groups around the
country. Today, more than 150 Schizophrenics
Anonymous (SA) support groups meet throughout
the US, as well as in Australia, Canada, Mexico,
Brazil and Venezuela.

Schizophrenics Anonymous (SA), which early on
secured the administrative assistance of a
statewide nonprofit agency, has received daily
contacts for years. While a significant
percentage of contacts has related to
information specific to SA, an increasing number
has dealt with other issues pertaining to
schizophrenia (e.g., information about symptoms
and treatments, available services, housing
options, etc.).

To more effectively respond to these demands,
and to garner the necessary national resources,
the National Schizophrenia Foundation was
formed. The Foundation’s two key areas of focus
are self-help support groups for persons with
schizophrenia-related disorders, and public
awareness/anti-stigma activities.

The NSF continues to enhance the infrastructure
of the SA network to meet public demand. New
group development is ongoing (i.e., training,
materials, etc.), with a special project now
underway which focuses on incarcerate settings.
The 150+ existing groups are receiving ongoing
support, and community outreach is taking place
to foster group development and attendance.

In the area of public awareness, the NSF
sponsors and promotes the annual National
Schizophrenia Awareness Day (a.k.a, Pinel Day)
activities held on May 24. The NSF is also
producing and disseminating educational
materials, and is involved in planning,
conducting, and/or participating in educational
conferences.