We are listening
with empathy today
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to the struggles of those
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who have been
affected by mental illness.
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The title of our
Program today is:
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Losing my Father
to Schizophrenia.
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It's not a happy topic but it's
one that affects many of us,
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let me tell you a
little bit about Schizophrenia.
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Schizophrenia is
a psychotic disorder
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characterized by hallucinations
which can be auditory or visual
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and delusions
which are basically
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bizarre false beliefs
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and social isolation
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sub-types of schizophrenia
include catatonic...
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paranoid and disorganized...
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so there are various
manifestations of this thing.
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The prevalence of schizophrenia
is surprisingly high...
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about one percent of
the population suffers
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from this devastating illness
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but the reality is
that many of those people
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withdraw from Society
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because one of the
symptoms is withdrawal...
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and so often
they end up living...
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they are homeless people
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many homeless are schizophrenic
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and so, there's a lot
of... of that kind of factor.
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Schizophrenia is heritable
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so, we can see it in the
family tree... so to speak,
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evidenced by the fact that
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first order relatives
are more often affected.
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So what about the prognosis
and treatment of schizophrenia?
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Schizophrenia is
not considered curable
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although I've heard
miracle stories, we all have...
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but it is manageable through
anti-psychotic medication
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and sometimes
lifestyle measures can help
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and so, it isn't
a death sentence.
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When an individual is
diagnosed with schizophrenia,
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there can be life
after schizophrenia
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but tragically not always
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and so we want to hear the
story today of Eric Camarillo,
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thank you for
joining us and talking about
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this very
difficult part of your life
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and you have a lot
of courage to show up
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and be willing to open up and
share for the benefit of others
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because many are
affected by this.
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So, welcome Eric.
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Eric is from Orlando...
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he's my homie in
Orlando where I just moved...
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and he runs SALT Ministry
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so hopefully we'll be able
to talk to you a little bit
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on what you're doing with that
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because you have blessed a lot
of people through that ministry.
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And today... on our
Panel of Counselors,
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we also have David Guerrero,
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he's a Biblical
Counselor from Wisconsin,
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we have Licensed
Professional Counselor,
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Christina Cecotto from Georgia
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and Dr. Jean
Wright from my hometown
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before I moved to
Orlando... of Philadelphia...
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so we're so
thankful each one of you
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have come to our Program today
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and let's get right
into the story, Eric...
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when did this begin
when the tragic title:
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Losing my Father
to Schizophrenia...
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he's still
alive but you lost him
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in terms of his
presence in your life
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emotionally...
mentally... when did this begin?
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Yeah, I was... I
was in Second Grade
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I remember waking up one morning
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and walking to the living
room and my youngest brother,
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he was, I think, two at the time
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and he was ripping up a note
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and so, when I...
when I walked up to him,
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I saw there was
writing on the note...
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he pieced it together...
and it was a note from my father
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and he basically
said in that note,
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"I started to hear
voices like my mother...
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and I think I might have
what she has... schizophrenia. "
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Jennifer: So his
mother had... Eric: Yes.
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Christina: How old was he?
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Eric: He was in his late 20s...
I want to say, he was 28...
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28... 29... something like that
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and so, so yeah he...
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so that
happened... I went to my mom
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and told her about
it and she was shocked
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and I didn't know
what to think, you know,
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I was eight years old... but...
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Jennifer: What did he
actually say on the note?
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Eric: He said
something along the lines of...
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"I have what my
mother has, I think,
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I'm starting to hear voices,
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I checked myself
into the hospital... "
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Jennifer: Okay.
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Eric: So that's kind of
the gist of what he said
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and then from
there, he came back
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he tried to battle with
it himself for a little while
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he didn't really fully...
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he wasn't really fully
convinced that he had it,
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maybe he was in denial
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but definitely wasn't consistent
on medication at that time,
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and that's kind of
when everything started.
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So, he's in his late
20s... I think, you said,
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which is kind of
what we call late onset
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because typically
males onset in early 20s
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and the women
onset in late 20s...
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but... so he's late onset...
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he's starting to have a totally
different personality, really,
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and you started having
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a totally different
day-to-day experience with him
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than you ever had
before. Eric: Right.
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Jennifer: So what
are some of the changes?
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Yes, so, we started...
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one big change is, he
became physically abusive
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when we would... he was
in denial about his sickness
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and so what he would do
is, he would hear something
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or maybe see something...
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and he would ask
me and my brothers
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if we heard or
said the same thing
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but his doctor would
tell... would tell us,
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"Hey, don't admit to
hearing or seeing the things
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he's hearing or seeing
because it will make him worse"
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so out of love for him...
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even though he got physically
abusive if we denied it,
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we stuck through
to... you know... to that.
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Jennifer: So, let me
ask you, Dr. Jean Wright,
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would you... what would you
tell a kid in that situation
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would you tell the kid to
agree with the hallucinations?
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What would you do?
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Jean: It's never safe or healthy
to agree with the delusion
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okay, because then you're
feeding in to that delusion
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so the doctor that gave
him that advice was on point...
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the problem is, you're eight...
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Eric: Right.
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Jean: Okay and your
brothers are younger than you...
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you're the oldest...
the eldest of the children
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and so, it's a difficult
thing for children to carry out
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but on the surface,
that was the right advice
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for a doctor to say.
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Jennifer: What would
you do... would you say,
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just remain silent or...
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Jean: I think
what Eric did, I think,
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and you shared with us offline
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that he protected
his younger brothers
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by having them
go out of the room
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and then tried
to protect himself
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as best as you could
at eight... Eric: Right.
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Jean: And that's
really what a child can do
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but if an
adult... your parent-figure
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is asking you directly,
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"Did you see or
hear A, B, C or D?"
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You're really at a disadvantage
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and so, an older person
could have a different answer.
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Jennifer: My heart is just
breaking for you in that moment,
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a little eight-year-old boy
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and you're being forced by
your dad... almost to lie...
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and the other
authority figures are saying,
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"Don't lie... "
and you're just...
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you know, you're
going to get hit...
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Jean: All of that lying is
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if he admits to seeing
or hearing the same thing...
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then a follow-up question comes
and you can't continue to...
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Jennifer: Exactly and
you just have to keep...
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you could get swept away.
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Christina: What
about the physical abuse?
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Jean: Well, physical abuse
is addressed by what Eric did,
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I mean, I'm amazed at
your courage at eight years old
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to first think of your brothers
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and your folks younger than you
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and then to, unfortunately,
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have to take the
brunt of it yourself
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so, God bless you for that
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and we're so
glad that you survived
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but that is the thing...
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the physical abuse is
something that is not typical
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of everyone that has
schizophrenia... so...
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Jennifer: Yeah, we don't
want to give the impression
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that they're all just
violent... you know...
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Eric: He was physically
abused as a child as well
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so, I guess, maybe his defense
was down when he got sick
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and he just... it
just triggered everything.
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Christina: Could you describe
what Jean was explaining
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that had happened to you
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and what did you have to do to
protect yourself specifically?
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Eric: So when that would happen,
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I'd have my
brothers go into a room,
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they'd lock the door...
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at least most of the
time, I would try to do that.
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My second youngest
brother, he's autistic
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so... and he also had ADHD...
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so it was hard for my dad to
have patience with him as well
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so there were some issues
in me trying to defend him
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because it was a little harder
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but when it came to
me defending myself,
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I mean, he would start to...
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we could tell when he's
acting a little strange,
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when he's peeking out the window
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or when he just kind
of stared off into space
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then, I would know,
okay, it's about to come...
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so I told my brothers to go hide
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and I'd just hang
out there and do my thing
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and then eventually he would ask
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and that's when...
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Jennifer: And you knew
what was about to happen.
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Eric: Right. Jennifer: Ahhh...
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Eric: Yup.
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Christina: Was your mom aware?
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David: I was just going to ask,
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where were the other adults
in your life... at this time?
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Eric: Yeah, so my mom...
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my mom worked as a nurse...
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so she worked a lot of
shifts and she worked overnight
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so, it was... she wasn't
awake or there a lot of the time
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and so, we would tell her...
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for a while... she denied it...
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but yes, it was
just... us and him.
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Jennifer: We love you Eric,
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thank you for having the
courage to talk about this,
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I know it's hard...
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but it's
helping people out there
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that are struggling
through the same things.
00:09:02.30\00:09:03.67
David: Absolutely, absolutely.
00:09:03.71\00:09:05.04
Jennifer: So, where
did it go from there?
00:09:05.07\00:09:08.88
Eric: So, I... we
dealt with that for a while
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till I was about 14...
15... and that's when I was...
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I actually had
started working out
00:09:18.19\00:09:20.56
and part of that reason was
to be able to defend myself...
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and so, it was about... at 14...
00:09:23.73\00:09:26.83
and I actually
learned how to box
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as a 14-year-old, I'd go
into my friend's basement
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and we would...
we would learn...
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I didn't... I wasn't too
open with a lot of my friends
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about what was going on,
00:09:36.60\00:09:37.94
but... but yeah... when I
learned how to defend myself,
00:09:37.97\00:09:43.48
and actually
around the same time,
00:09:43.55\00:09:45.68
my dad had
fallen down the stairs
00:09:45.71\00:09:47.78
he had a broke...
tore a ligament...
00:09:47.82\00:09:50.09
and so, he was...
he was injured as well
00:09:50.12\00:09:52.35
and... and so, it was...
00:09:52.39\00:09:55.12
it was little easier to
defend myself at that time,
00:09:55.16\00:09:57.56
he started to get
less... less aggressive...
00:09:57.59\00:10:00.83
but when we moved... we
ended up moving to Florida,
00:10:00.86\00:10:04.23
we were at Chicago at that time,
00:10:04.27\00:10:05.60
and we moved to Florida,
00:10:05.63\00:10:06.97
and when we
first moved to Florida,
00:10:07.00\00:10:08.34
it seemed like for a
temporary amount of time,
00:10:08.37\00:10:11.77
there were no symptoms...
00:10:11.81\00:10:13.38
because he was convinced
00:10:13.41\00:10:14.91
it was the
"neighbors" at that time...
00:10:14.94\00:10:16.88
that were doing all this...
00:10:16.95\00:10:18.31
Jennifer: In
Chicago? Eric: In Chicago.
00:10:18.38\00:10:19.71
Jennifer: And then
you moved to Florida,
00:10:19.75\00:10:21.08
and the neighbors were gone.
00:10:21.12\00:10:22.45
Eric: The neighbors were gone...
but then... temporarily...
00:10:22.48\00:10:24.45
until a couple of months later,
00:10:24.49\00:10:26.96
the neighbors again...
00:10:26.99\00:10:28.62
and then it
started all over again.
00:10:28.66\00:10:30.29
Jennifer: Did you
ever have a break,
00:10:30.33\00:10:31.69
like, when he was
on his medication...
00:10:31.73\00:10:33.06
the symptoms were controlled,
were there ever any...?
00:10:33.09\00:10:36.13
Eric: Even... and unfortunately,
00:10:36.16\00:10:38.13
maybe it was just my case,
00:10:38.17\00:10:39.80
but the medicine never really
seemed to make a difference
00:10:39.83\00:10:43.07
in my perspective... there
was always... and who knows
00:10:43.10\00:10:48.51
maybe it would
have been a lot worse
00:10:48.54\00:10:50.05
if there wasn't...
00:10:50.08\00:10:51.61
and I don't know that but...
00:10:51.65\00:10:53.18
Jennifer: Or maybe it
wasn't the right med...
00:10:53.21\00:10:55.05
because this can be controlled.
00:10:55.08\00:10:56.79
David: Do you know how often
they changed the medication
00:10:56.85\00:10:58.19
or was it always the same?
00:10:58.22\00:10:59.55
Eric: Yeah, they
changed the medication often.
00:10:59.59\00:11:00.92
My mom would
always request, like,
00:11:00.96\00:11:03.19
"Hey, you got to
change this medication
00:11:03.22\00:11:04.56
this is not working... "
00:11:04.59\00:11:05.93
Jean: Did you
ever change the diet
00:11:05.96\00:11:08.53
or... bring in any holistic
remedies or anything like that,
00:11:08.56\00:11:13.57
try anything like that?
00:11:13.60\00:11:14.94
Eric: So, the one thing
that did seem to work in my case
00:11:14.97\00:11:18.84
was what we had
mentioned, we actually...
00:11:18.87\00:11:21.64
I did a lot of
research and in my own research,
00:11:21.68\00:11:25.55
I noticed that
gluten might affect symptoms
00:11:25.58\00:11:29.38
and some... I think it
was a small percentage...
00:11:29.42\00:11:31.75
and I'm sensitive
to gluten so I'm like,
00:11:31.79\00:11:35.22
"Okay, maybe... " and
I had to cut out gluten,
00:11:35.26\00:11:36.83
I noticed a change in
me... and so I'm like,
00:11:36.86\00:11:38.36
"Okay, maybe I
got this from my dad,
00:11:38.39\00:11:39.96
well, let's try
cutting out gluten
00:11:40.00\00:11:41.50
and let me put him
on a plant-based diet. "
00:11:41.53\00:11:43.93
He had his worst
episode at that time,
00:11:43.97\00:11:46.33
I remember... they
had to drag him off...
00:11:46.37\00:11:48.67
I mean, he was... he
thought my mom was a demon...
00:11:48.70\00:11:51.74
he called me Jesus,
00:11:51.77\00:11:54.18
he... he... I mean,
he... and he thought
00:11:54.21\00:11:57.38
everyone was just
demons surrounding him and...
00:11:57.41\00:11:59.41
Jennifer: He had
the worst episode
00:11:59.45\00:12:01.28
when he was off
the gluten or before?
00:12:01.32\00:12:03.05
Eric: No... this was
before... he had this episode
00:12:03.08\00:12:06.59
and he went to the hospital,
they changed his medication
00:12:06.62\00:12:10.13
and when he came
out of the hospital,
00:12:10.19\00:12:12.43
he had some clarity
of mind for a second
00:12:12.46\00:12:14.70
and in that time, he told me,
00:12:14.73\00:12:18.03
he's like, "I want
to lose weight... "
00:12:18.07\00:12:20.24
I'm like, "Okay, I
can help you with that"
00:12:20.27\00:12:22.37
and he was actually willing,
00:12:22.40\00:12:24.97
I've always talked to
him about eating healthier,
00:12:25.01\00:12:26.34
when I became Adventist,
00:12:26.37\00:12:29.04
I started to eat
healthier myself.
00:12:29.11\00:12:30.45
Jennifer: You were now
an Adventist at this point
00:12:30.48\00:12:31.81
so you had learned
about the health message...
00:12:31.85\00:12:33.18
Eric: Exactly...
Jennifer: Okay. Eric: Exactly.
00:12:33.21\00:12:34.55
Jennifer: How old were you
when you became an Adventist?
00:12:34.58\00:12:35.92
Eric: I was 22...
00:12:35.95\00:12:37.29
Jennifer: Okay, and
you're still at home?
00:12:37.32\00:12:38.65
Eric: Ah ha...
yeah. Jennifer: Okay.
00:12:38.69\00:12:40.02
Eric: Well no, I'm
sorry, at that time...
00:12:40.06\00:12:41.82
at that time, I
was at home for a year
00:12:41.86\00:12:43.63
but when this episode happened,
I was... I was moved out...
00:12:43.66\00:12:46.59
Jennifer: Okay.
00:12:46.63\00:12:47.96
Eric: Yeah, so, he had
the episode... he came out,
00:12:48.00\00:12:49.93
he said, "Yes, I
want to lose weight... "
00:12:49.96\00:12:51.47
I'm like, "Okay,
let's change your diet,
00:12:51.50\00:12:53.03
I can help you, I can
teach you how to cook,
00:12:53.07\00:12:54.57
we can go and
take walks, you know,
00:12:54.60\00:12:56.71
sleeping is important...
" so we kind of did all that
00:12:56.74\00:12:59.57
and he continued
on his medication,
00:12:59.61\00:13:03.18
but after
about... within a week,
00:13:03.24\00:13:05.98
the symptoms
were no longer there,
00:13:06.01\00:13:08.72
he didn't hear anything,
he didn't see anything,
00:13:08.75\00:13:11.29
he wasn't paranoid...
00:13:11.32\00:13:12.65
he was focused on
just eating right,
00:13:12.69\00:13:15.22
I mean, my mom
even told me, you know,
00:13:15.26\00:13:17.99
we went out to the
movies and he actually went out
00:13:18.03\00:13:21.23
no issues... we
watched the movie...
00:13:21.26\00:13:23.40
we had a good conversation
00:13:23.43\00:13:24.77
and she felt, for a moment,
that she had her husband back.
00:13:24.80\00:13:27.44
This happened for
about three months,
00:13:27.47\00:13:30.61
two months was... me
going there every two days
00:13:30.64\00:13:33.51
and I cooked four
meals breakfast and dinner
00:13:33.58\00:13:36.41
and then breakfast and dinner
00:13:36.44\00:13:37.78
and then I come
back the third day...
00:13:37.81\00:13:39.68
do the same thing...
00:13:39.71\00:13:41.05
David: And he was
getting his exercise.
00:13:41.08\00:13:42.42
Eric: He was
getting his exercise,
00:13:42.45\00:13:43.79
we'd go for walks every
other... every other day...
00:13:43.82\00:13:45.29
Christina: Now you had
described that before...
00:13:45.35\00:13:47.32
that he wasn't
able to watch movies...
00:13:47.36\00:13:49.79
could you describe a
little bit about what...
00:13:49.82\00:13:51.53
when he watched movies
before, what would happen?
00:13:51.56\00:13:53.50
Eric: Oh yeah, when he
watches TV... movies...
00:13:53.53\00:13:54.86
even when my
brothers are playing
00:13:54.90\00:13:56.43
a video game in
the living room...
00:13:56.46\00:13:59.13
anything that has
any kind of sound...
00:13:59.17\00:14:01.44
like... sound
like someone talking...
00:14:01.50\00:14:03.54
Jean: External stimulus.
00:14:03.57\00:14:04.91
Eric: Yeah, he starts
to hear other things...
00:14:04.94\00:14:06.44
and so, but... but...
00:14:06.47\00:14:09.78
Christina: So he
wasn't hearing those things...
00:14:09.81\00:14:11.15
Eric: He wasn't
hearing those things,
00:14:11.18\00:14:12.51
it was just a normal...
like, it was just regular...
00:14:12.55\00:14:14.78
and so, for two
months I did the cooking
00:14:14.82\00:14:17.52
and preparing... food prep...
00:14:17.69\00:14:19.05
and then the next month,
00:14:19.09\00:14:20.42
I figured, he'd
know how to do it himself
00:14:20.46\00:14:22.06
and he did... he
was cooking himself...
00:14:22.09\00:14:24.29
I bought them a
crockpot... a juicer...
00:14:24.33\00:14:26.49
like, all these different things
00:14:26.53\00:14:27.96
and so... but
after that third month,
00:14:28.00\00:14:30.90
he started to
relapse... he ate meat again
00:14:30.93\00:14:33.97
and that... that
escalated more and more
00:14:34.00\00:14:36.94
into him eating more
and more unhealthier food
00:14:36.97\00:14:39.54
and the symptoms came back.
00:14:39.57\00:14:40.94
David: So it
wasn't the meat alone...
00:14:40.98\00:14:42.98
it was eating...
00:14:43.01\00:14:44.81
Eric: It was just
eating unhealthy lifestyle...
00:14:44.85\00:14:47.62
eating too frequently but...
00:14:47.65\00:14:50.12
Jennifer: And he was
quite overweight, you said.
00:14:50.19\00:14:52.15
Eric: He was overweight,
in that period of time...
00:14:52.19\00:14:54.09
in that three-month period,
he lost... if I'm not mistaken,
00:14:54.12\00:14:57.33
between 60 and 70 pounds...
00:14:57.36\00:14:59.83
he no longer had to take
his Type-2 Diabetes medication
00:14:59.86\00:15:03.87
he had Diabetes at that time,
00:15:03.93\00:15:05.27
and his high blood pressure...
00:15:05.30\00:15:06.63
his blood pressure
was normalized and...
00:15:06.67\00:15:08.60
it just... it was a huge change
00:15:08.64\00:15:10.31
because not
only did the symptoms
00:15:10.34\00:15:11.97
go away from schizophrenia
00:15:12.01\00:15:13.34
but, I mean all
those other things as well.
00:15:13.38\00:15:15.58
Jennifer: And so, this is
the thing that we wrestle with
00:15:15.61\00:15:17.75
we'd like
natural methods, I mean,
00:15:17.78\00:15:19.91
we like remedies and
things that we can do at home
00:15:19.95\00:15:23.28
and we like to avoid
medication if possible,
00:15:23.32\00:15:26.65
because it always has
side effects, almost always...
00:15:26.69\00:15:29.59
and yet, with schizophrenia,
00:15:29.62\00:15:32.19
we find, it's a battle to
keep people on the medication
00:15:32.23\00:15:35.56
and so, what
you're saying is that,
00:15:35.60\00:15:38.43
the medication didn't
seem to work very well
00:15:38.47\00:15:40.77
or if it did, it
wasn't working as fully
00:15:40.80\00:15:43.07
as you would have liked it,
00:15:43.10\00:15:44.44
and the lifestyle
measures brought in
00:15:44.47\00:15:46.47
really made a difference
00:15:46.51\00:15:48.38
so, this is how we roll
00:15:48.44\00:15:50.25
as Mental Health
Providers that believe in health
00:15:50.28\00:15:52.35
is that... we think medication
is sometimes necessary
00:15:52.38\00:15:55.18
but we like to supplement it
00:15:55.22\00:15:56.55
with as many
lifestyle measures as possible.
00:15:56.58\00:15:58.35
David: Because if you listen...
well, as I was listening...
00:15:58.39\00:16:00.96
this is what I heard that...
yes, he did the exercise...
00:16:01.02\00:16:03.66
yes, he engaged in
the right diet... rest...
00:16:03.69\00:16:06.39
but he continued to
take his medication.
00:16:06.43\00:16:09.06
Eric: Hmmm... hmmm...
yeah... throughout that time
00:16:09.10\00:16:10.43
he continued to
take his medication.
00:16:10.47\00:16:11.80
David: So that was
part of the regiment here...
00:16:11.83\00:16:13.17
and that's what helped...
00:16:13.20\00:16:14.54
Eric: Yeah, and I know that
00:16:14.57\00:16:15.90
there are schools of
thought out there... that say,
00:16:15.94\00:16:19.64
"Oh, stop the medication
and do this... " but...
00:16:19.67\00:16:22.14
Jennifer: They never lived
with someone with schizophrenia.
00:16:22.18\00:16:23.81
Eric: Yeah, that's one
thing and the other thing is...
00:16:23.85\00:16:27.08
and I don't
know... one thing is...
00:16:27.12\00:16:29.58
when you're eating a
healthy, high nutrient diet,
00:16:29.62\00:16:33.79
it helps to neutralize the
medication anyway in itself...
00:16:33.86\00:16:38.06
it kind of balances it out...
00:16:38.09\00:16:40.06
and that's my understanding
based on what I've read,
00:16:40.10\00:16:42.33
and I... that might not be...
00:16:42.36\00:16:43.87
but I know particular
psychotic medication...
00:16:43.90\00:16:46.37
anti-psychotic medication
seems to balance each other out
00:16:46.40\00:16:50.24
but that's my...
00:16:50.27\00:16:51.71
Jean: That's absolutely true,
00:16:51.74\00:16:53.07
I think, the good thing about
eating a high nutrient diet
00:16:53.11\00:16:56.58
is that it really
mitigates many other things
00:16:56.61\00:16:59.05
that you've mentioned
00:16:59.08\00:17:00.42
and so it helped
with the schizophrenia
00:17:00.45\00:17:02.05
but as Jennifer
has mentioned as well,
00:17:02.08\00:17:03.52
it helps overall body chemistry
00:17:03.59\00:17:05.45
and overall mental
or mind chemistry...
00:17:05.52\00:17:07.52
the cognitive functioning...
the ability to think...
00:17:07.56\00:17:09.99
the frontal lobe area is
replenished if you will...
00:17:10.03\00:17:12.39
and so, I think
that that is something
00:17:12.43\00:17:14.13
that is really important
00:17:14.16\00:17:15.50
and I know, you've
talked about it many times.
00:17:15.53\00:17:16.87
For me, I mean, I
go down... I get to...
00:17:16.93\00:17:18.83
I have a history of depression
00:17:18.87\00:17:20.50
and I go down...
very seldom these days
00:17:20.54\00:17:22.87
but when I go
down... I go down hard
00:17:22.90\00:17:24.87
and I feel like
I'm losing my mind
00:17:24.91\00:17:26.81
but I know... because
of years of experience
00:17:26.84\00:17:29.38
that in about three days,
00:17:29.41\00:17:31.15
my brain chemistry will
kick in and correct itself,
00:17:31.21\00:17:34.12
but during that
three-day period,
00:17:34.15\00:17:35.85
I'm exercising... I'm
reaching out for help...
00:17:35.88\00:17:37.85
I'm connecting with people,
I'm reading uplifting literature
00:17:37.89\00:17:40.89
I'm eating extra healthy,
00:17:40.92\00:17:42.76
you know, all the things
that are going to minister
00:17:42.79\00:17:45.36
to that recovery process
00:17:45.39\00:17:46.73
but typically what
people do when they go down
00:17:46.76\00:17:48.90
or they start
suffering or being in distress
00:17:48.96\00:17:51.10
is they start junk-food eating
or watching... binge watching...
00:17:51.13\00:17:53.84
crummy media or
isolating from people.
00:17:53.87\00:17:57.97
What have you done to
kind of make sure that...
00:17:58.01\00:18:00.98
I'm sure there is some
kind of element of fear there
00:18:01.01\00:18:03.71
that it can
potentially happen to you,
00:18:03.75\00:18:05.88
have you done anything to...
00:18:05.91\00:18:07.25
to make sure that doesn't happen
00:18:07.28\00:18:08.72
or have you researched that?
00:18:08.75\00:18:10.09
Eric: Yeah, so, I actually
researched it when I was 14...
00:18:10.12\00:18:13.59
I just started high
school and I realized,
00:18:13.66\00:18:16.49
like, "Hey, this
could happen to me
00:18:16.52\00:18:18.76
and not only to me
but to my brother... "
00:18:18.79\00:18:21.93
so, I need to know
how to... because my...
00:18:21.96\00:18:23.73
my... he has
it... my aunt has it...
00:18:23.77\00:18:26.74
another uncle has it...
00:18:26.80\00:18:28.57
you know, so it's...
and his mother had it...
00:18:28.60\00:18:32.11
so it's there and
so... as... 14-year-old...
00:18:32.14\00:18:34.98
I wasn't a
Christian at that time either,
00:18:35.01\00:18:37.31
I'm just like,
"Okay, what can I do?"
00:18:37.35\00:18:39.58
And so, I researched and found
that the three major triggers...
00:18:39.61\00:18:43.79
and again, you guys can
correct me if I'm wrong,
00:18:43.85\00:18:46.22
but the three
major triggers are:
00:18:46.25\00:18:47.79
one drug abuse...
any mind-altering drug...
00:18:47.82\00:18:50.79
one is isolation...
and another one is a...
00:18:50.83\00:18:53.76
is a... a highly stressful event
00:18:53.80\00:18:56.30
and when all three
of those are combined,
00:18:56.60\00:18:58.83
the percentage is... is just...
00:18:58.93\00:19:00.67
is very high... if
it runs in your family.
00:19:00.70\00:19:02.77
If it's just one...
it's a little low...
00:19:02.80\00:19:04.74
two... it's higher
00:19:04.77\00:19:06.11
but with all three... it's...
00:19:06.14\00:19:07.48
I mean, you're almost there.
00:19:07.51\00:19:08.84
Jennifer: And is it... aren't...
00:19:08.88\00:19:10.35
you know, street-drug use
00:19:10.41\00:19:11.81
does not that often trigger
the first psychotic episode,
00:19:11.85\00:19:14.35
like that's the onset...
00:19:14.38\00:19:15.72
as when someone
took LSD or... yeah...
00:19:15.75\00:19:18.02
Jean: Yeah, a specific type of
illicit drug is really important
00:19:18.05\00:19:21.02
you mentioned LSD... any
type of hallucinogen period
00:19:21.06\00:19:24.03
obviously would be...
00:19:24.06\00:19:25.39
Jennifer: And Pot... right...
I mean, isn't there some...
00:19:25.43\00:19:27.30
Jean: Yeah, it
could be a hallucinogen...
00:19:27.33\00:19:28.66
Jennifer: It's kind of
a hallucinogen... yeah...
00:19:28.70\00:19:30.03
Jean: I think the
stress aspect is one
00:19:30.07\00:19:31.77
that if you would
explore a little more with us
00:19:31.80\00:19:34.00
because, we live in
a world of stress...
00:19:34.04\00:19:36.20
and I often tell people that
00:19:36.24\00:19:38.17
there are three
main areas of stress...
00:19:38.21\00:19:39.54
people, places and things...
00:19:39.57\00:19:41.11
so, where do we go... right?
00:19:41.14\00:19:42.78
and so, having
that predisposition
00:19:42.81\00:19:44.98
from a genetic
standpoint is one thing
00:19:45.01\00:19:46.82
but I think you
hit on some things...
00:19:46.85\00:19:48.32
if you could
share with our audience
00:19:48.35\00:19:50.19
how you helped
your dad at the time
00:19:50.25\00:19:51.79
and yourself...
and your brothers...
00:19:51.82\00:19:53.32
mitigate some of the
stress that you're dealing with.
00:19:53.36\00:19:55.62
Eric: So, I'm the only
Christian in my family...
00:19:55.66\00:19:59.36
and so... but I
believe strongly that
00:19:59.39\00:20:02.76
when I became a Christian,
00:20:02.80\00:20:04.30
those three factors
were no longer relevant...
00:20:04.33\00:20:06.03
they were no longer
a risk if you will...
00:20:06.10\00:20:09.44
Jennifer: But, wait a minute...
00:20:09.47\00:20:10.81
don't Christians
experience stress?
00:20:10.84\00:20:12.31
Eric: Yes, yeah, yeah,
I'm glad you pointed that out.
00:20:12.34\00:20:14.68
Jennifer: But you're
handling it a different way.
00:20:14.71\00:20:16.98
Eric: And so, here's... here's
where the stress comes in.
00:20:17.01\00:20:19.18
Jennifer: You're
stressing me out right now...
00:20:19.21\00:20:20.55
Eric: Here's where
the stress comes in
00:20:20.58\00:20:21.98
is... is... believing in
God and believing that...
00:20:22.02\00:20:26.09
and putting my faith in Him...
00:20:26.15\00:20:28.82
in 2nd Corinthians
chapter 1 verses 3 and 4...
00:20:28.86\00:20:36.83
God is described as
a God of all comfort
00:20:36.87\00:20:38.73
and He can comfort us
from all our tribulations
00:20:38.77\00:20:42.67
and so, I reach out for
that comfort when I'm stressed
00:20:42.70\00:20:47.11
and I'm able to...
00:20:47.14\00:20:48.48
to be comforted knowing
that, "Hey, Romans 8:28 says,
00:20:48.51\00:20:52.61
'For all things that happen
00:20:52.65\00:20:53.98
are for the good of
those who love God. '"
00:20:54.02\00:20:55.42
Christina: And now
look where you are.
00:20:55.45\00:20:57.05
Eric: Right... and
so... it's... it's been...
00:20:57.09\00:21:00.46
it's been a journey but yeah,
00:21:00.49\00:21:02.76
as far as stress goes, that's...
00:21:02.79\00:21:04.99
and now, for my
family, that's another thing.
00:21:05.03\00:21:07.06
I mean, my brother, for example,
00:21:07.10\00:21:08.93
my youngest brother, I'm
worried about him the most
00:21:08.96\00:21:11.00
and the reason
why I'm worried is
00:21:11.03\00:21:14.34
because he's in isolation...
00:21:14.37\00:21:16.17
he does things
that alter the mind...
00:21:16.20\00:21:19.81
he's always stressed
out... being around my dad
00:21:19.84\00:21:23.98
and being... you
know... and so...
00:21:24.05\00:21:25.38
there was a time
where he was 21 years old...
00:21:25.41\00:21:27.78
he was in the house...
and he wasn't doing anything,
00:21:27.82\00:21:31.25
I mean, all he would
do was play video games
00:21:31.32\00:21:32.65
and that... that would be it,
00:21:32.69\00:21:34.02
and so, I remember,
00:21:34.06\00:21:35.69
I remember one day
telling him, "Look... "
00:21:35.72\00:21:38.79
because he was
depressed and I'm like,
00:21:38.83\00:21:41.33
"Look, come to my
house for a week...
00:21:41.36\00:21:43.47
stay with me for a week...
we'll apply for three jobs a day
00:21:43.50\00:21:47.17
and if we do not
find a job in that time,
00:21:47.20\00:21:49.50
then you can keep doing
whatever you're doing. "
00:21:49.54\00:21:51.01
The first job we applied for...
the first day... he got...
00:21:51.04\00:21:53.68
he worked at a Golden
Corral as a dishwasher...
00:21:53.71\00:21:56.48
and... and now
I got him a job...
00:21:56.51\00:21:58.41
I worked at
Wholefoods for a while,
00:21:58.45\00:22:00.28
I got him a job at Wholefoods,
he got a 3-dollar-50-cent raise
00:22:00.32\00:22:03.02
and so now... he's...
he's... he's working...
00:22:03.05\00:22:06.45
he's feeling confident... he's
building his self-confidence
00:22:06.49\00:22:08.72
and he's around
people now... so it's helping
00:22:08.79\00:22:12.29
but I can only do so much...
it really depends on them.
00:22:12.33\00:22:14.93
Jennifer: You are an
awesome big brother...
00:22:14.96\00:22:16.30
don't you guys think
that? You're an awesome son.
00:22:16.33\00:22:18.27
Jean: Yes, absolutely.
00:22:18.30\00:22:19.63
David: Praise the Lord.
00:22:19.67\00:22:21.00
Eric: I can be better.
David: I think we all can.
00:22:21.04\00:22:23.04
Jennifer: So tell us...
we don't have a lot of time
00:22:23.10\00:22:25.41
but you have
really made major lemonade
00:22:25.44\00:22:27.44
out of a lemon here...
00:22:27.48\00:22:28.81
and started a
ministry of your own
00:22:28.84\00:22:30.18
to, you know, a population...
00:22:30.21\00:22:32.48
I mean, I just served
with a homeless ministry
00:22:32.51\00:22:34.88
and a lot of that population
is people with mental illness
00:22:34.92\00:22:38.79
so, you've really ministered
to people out of your pains...
00:22:38.85\00:22:42.69
tell us just briefly
about SALT Ministries.
00:22:42.72\00:22:44.69
Eric: Yeah, so, SALT Outreach...
00:22:44.73\00:22:46.96
it's an acronym for
Service and Love Together
00:22:47.00\00:22:49.53
and just briefly... the
reason why we started was
00:22:49.56\00:22:52.07
because we saw lack of...
00:22:52.13\00:22:53.74
in Orlando, there are
so many Adventist Churches
00:22:53.77\00:22:56.27
and we saw a lack
of unity and purpose...
00:22:56.30\00:22:58.84
and purpose as far as...
00:22:58.87\00:23:01.01
each church kind of
doing their own thing...
00:23:01.04\00:23:02.64
the other thing was...
00:23:02.68\00:23:04.25
we saw a lack of
outreach projects going on
00:23:04.28\00:23:06.45
and if we did see outreach...
00:23:06.48\00:23:07.82
like, practical
outreach projects going on,
00:23:07.85\00:23:09.65
we didn't see
relationships being built,
00:23:09.68\00:23:11.55
it wasn't consistent
00:23:11.59\00:23:12.92
so, at SALT, we
wanted to be able to...
00:23:12.95\00:23:14.92
we created a
network of Outreach Projects
00:23:14.99\00:23:17.23
that are led by young adults,
00:23:17.26\00:23:18.69
they have a network of growth
groups, led by young adults,
00:23:18.73\00:23:20.76
and this... the
umbrella of SALT,
00:23:20.80\00:23:23.50
we are able to provide
volunteer management resources,
00:23:23.53\00:23:25.80
fundraising resources...
00:23:25.83\00:23:27.40
different things to
support our Outreach Projects
00:23:27.44\00:23:29.90
so that the Leaders...
00:23:29.94\00:23:31.27
the Leaders themselves...
the young adults...
00:23:31.31\00:23:33.31
they don't have to worry
about volunteer management,
00:23:33.34\00:23:35.08
we can help with... with that...
00:23:35.11\00:23:36.68
so that's kind of...
00:23:36.71\00:23:38.21
and one of our
projects as you mentioned
00:23:38.25\00:23:39.58
is with the homeless population,
00:23:39.61\00:23:40.98
we work with a Section-8 Complex
with the kids and their families
00:23:41.05\00:23:43.85
and also at the hospital.
00:23:43.89\00:23:45.32
Jennifer: It was just
last Sabbath I was with you...
00:23:45.35\00:23:47.46
Jennifer: It was incredible...
00:23:47.49\00:23:48.92
like a 100 or so
homeless people...
00:23:48.96\00:23:51.03
we gave them breakfast and
then we gave them a lunch...
00:23:51.09\00:23:53.93
and they were so
happy and so pleased
00:23:53.96\00:23:56.26
and there were so
many volunteers there
00:23:56.33\00:23:58.57
and there was such a
great spirit... you know...
00:23:58.60\00:24:00.00
Eric: Right.
00:24:00.04\00:24:01.37
David: It is amazing
because Eric... earlier on...
00:24:01.40\00:24:04.21
you said that you wanted
to do whatever you could do
00:24:04.24\00:24:07.11
to avoid from getting into the
same situation as your father,
00:24:07.14\00:24:11.01
and what's powerful is that
in Ellen White's writings...
00:24:11.05\00:24:14.72
in Ministry of Healing...
00:24:14.75\00:24:16.08
in the chapter of Mind Cure...
00:24:16.12\00:24:17.45
she said that there are
some things that we should do,
00:24:17.49\00:24:19.42
but one thing that she
talks about is service...
00:24:19.45\00:24:21.62
she said... we should
look to serving others
00:24:21.66\00:24:24.09
and God has worked
through your experience
00:24:24.13\00:24:26.16
that in your
pain... you made a choice...
00:24:26.19\00:24:28.30
and you said, "I'm
going to serve others... "
00:24:28.33\00:24:30.37
you served your father...
00:24:30.43\00:24:31.77
you served your brother...
you served your mother...
00:24:31.80\00:24:33.27
now you're serving the
community and the world...
00:24:33.30\00:24:35.00
and through that the Holy
Spirit is working through you
00:24:35.04\00:24:37.71
and He's keeping
your mind in Christ...
00:24:37.74\00:24:40.64
and that's beautiful...
00:24:40.68\00:24:42.01
Jean: Praise God.
00:24:42.04\00:24:43.38
Eric: Yeah...
it's definitely Him...
00:24:43.41\00:24:44.75
because if I hadn't entered
that relationship with Him,
00:24:44.78\00:24:47.78
I don't know where
I'd be right now...
00:24:47.82\00:24:49.85
to be honest...
00:24:49.88\00:24:51.22
I might have had
it... I don't know...
00:24:51.25\00:24:52.59
Jennifer: We don't know either.
00:24:52.62\00:24:53.96
David: So all things
work together for the good
00:24:53.99\00:24:55.32
and as you're serving God...
as you're serving Christ...
00:24:55.36\00:24:58.19
He's keeping your mind in Him...
00:24:58.23\00:25:01.36
Eric: I believe that.
00:25:01.40\00:25:02.73
Jennifer: What
would you say to someone
00:25:02.76\00:25:04.47
who's got a first-order
relative with schizophrenia?
00:25:04.50\00:25:08.37
Eric: Ummm...
David: Hmmm... hmmm...
00:25:08.40\00:25:11.77
Eric: I would
say, "Keep trying...
00:25:11.81\00:25:15.54
keep trying
to... keep praying...
00:25:15.58\00:25:19.15
keep... keep
that relationship...
00:25:19.18\00:25:21.52
it's hard... you have
to have so much patience.
00:25:21.55\00:25:23.79
My mom has dealt with my dad...
00:25:23.82\00:25:25.15
I mean, they...
they never divorced,
00:25:25.22\00:25:26.76
my mom stuck there
throughout the whole time
00:25:26.82\00:25:28.82
and so... "
00:25:28.86\00:25:30.19
Jennifer: He's still alive.
00:25:30.23\00:25:31.56
Eric: Yeah, he's still
alive... my mom is still...
00:25:31.59\00:25:33.60
is... is still with
him... living with him...
00:25:33.63\00:25:36.16
and it's stressful for her
00:25:36.20\00:25:37.53
and she has to deal with
his episodes all the time...
00:25:37.57\00:25:42.54
and so... but I would
say, "Don't give up... "
00:25:42.57\00:25:45.97
if we gave up, my dad
would be homeless right now
00:25:46.01\00:25:48.94
but... but to have
him around and to still...
00:25:48.98\00:25:52.25
it still gives us hope
that... that... maybe...
00:25:52.28\00:25:55.52
maybe one
day... he'll get better
00:25:55.55\00:25:59.42
but at the end of the
day... if he doesn't...
00:25:59.45\00:26:01.72
in heaven... he'll
pass the red mark...
00:26:01.76\00:26:04.56
David: Amen. Eric:
He'll have the red mark...
00:26:04.59\00:26:06.43
he'll be the dad that I knew
before Second Grade and before
00:26:06.46\00:26:08.96
and I look
forward to that day...
00:26:09.00\00:26:10.83
that's the thing
I look forward to.
00:26:10.87\00:26:12.67
David: Praise the Lord.
00:26:12.70\00:26:14.04
Christina: And you
have said that you also...
00:26:14.07\00:26:15.90
for those who could potentially
also develop schizophrenia
00:26:15.94\00:26:19.01
that you had done a few things,
00:26:19.04\00:26:20.38
I know you already
mentioned some of them
00:26:20.41\00:26:21.74
but one of the
things you had mentioned
00:26:21.78\00:26:23.24
that we were
talking about off set
00:26:23.28\00:26:24.61
was the caffeine and
the effects on the brain...
00:26:24.65\00:26:26.61
I don't know if you
already talked about that
00:26:26.65\00:26:28.78
but what you had said
really impressed me...
00:26:28.82\00:26:30.69
would you mind sharing
a little bit about that?
00:26:30.72\00:26:32.55
Eric: Yeah, just very quickly,
00:26:32.62\00:26:33.96
yeah, caffeine is definitely
a mind-altering drug as well...
00:26:33.99\00:26:38.59
I consider that a drug...
00:26:38.63\00:26:40.26
it cuts off blood
flow to the brain...
00:26:40.30\00:26:42.73
constricts the
blood vessels... so...
00:26:42.76\00:26:45.13
definitely that is...
00:26:45.17\00:26:48.64
Jennifer: Which is why
it works for headaches...
00:26:48.67\00:26:50.97
Eric: Right... yeah.
00:26:51.01\00:26:52.51
Jennifer: Because the headaches
are too much blood in the brain.
00:26:52.57\00:26:54.08
Eric: Ah ha... exactly...
so... anyway, that right there
00:26:54.14\00:26:57.58
is... is something
that I cut out right away...
00:26:57.61\00:27:00.32
I had to go through
withdrawal from that
00:27:00.35\00:27:02.38
but I was drinking
like, five cups a day...
00:27:02.42\00:27:04.42
Jennifer: And it
affects dopamine levels...
00:27:04.45\00:27:06.39
schizophrenia is
dopamine related so...
00:27:06.42\00:27:08.26
it feels real good I
think a wise choice...
00:27:08.29\00:27:10.09
I think particularly for
people with mental illness
00:27:10.13\00:27:11.76
they need to be
very... you know...
00:27:11.79\00:27:13.50
people without that issue
00:27:13.53\00:27:15.16
may be able to take a little
bit of caffeine once in a while
00:27:15.20\00:27:17.80
but it quickly
becomes an addiction...
00:27:17.83\00:27:19.63
I wish everybody would avoid it
00:27:19.67\00:27:21.27
but particularly
people with mental illness.
00:27:21.30\00:27:22.64
Eric: Right.
00:27:22.67\00:27:24.01
Well, this has been fascinating
and very, very helpful, Eric
00:27:24.04\00:27:28.31
thank you so much...
00:27:28.34\00:27:29.68
and thank you... each
one of the Panel members.
00:27:29.71\00:27:32.05
He's the God of all
comfort and He comforts us
00:27:32.08\00:27:34.62
so that we can comfort
others with the same comfort
00:27:34.65\00:27:37.85
wherewith we
were comforted of God
00:27:37.89\00:27:39.92
and we've heard a
story today from a young man
00:27:39.95\00:27:41.76
who took a tragic situation
00:27:41.79\00:27:43.76
with his father...
with schizophrenia...
00:27:43.79\00:27:45.96
and he is serving out of
that pain and difficulty...
00:27:45.99\00:27:49.70
serving others...
00:27:49.73\00:27:51.07
many of the same
population as his father
00:27:51.10\00:27:53.84
and so we're so grateful to
see an example of love in action
00:27:53.87\00:27:57.44
and what God can do
00:27:57.47\00:27:58.81
with a life
fully dedicated to Him.
00:27:58.84\00:28:00.91