Virtual reality has moved beyond gaming and is an emerging technology in the treatment of schizophrenia and potentially in shaping the portrayal of this mental health condition for younger generations. Host Rachel Star Withers, a person living with schizophrenia, and cohost Gabe Howard explore how virtual reality technologies are used to help people with schizophrenia. Deepak Gopalakrishna, the founder and CEO of virtual reality therapy platform Rey, joins to share how Rey is revolutionizing exposure therapy for people with anxiety, PTSD, depression, and schizophrenia. And later in the show, Barry Gene Murphy and May Abdalla, the producers of “Goliath: Playing with Reality,” share the inspiration behind their new award-winning virtual reality movie. “Goliath: Playing with Reality” is the true story of a man’s experience with schizophrenia, and is narrated by Academy Award winner Tilda Swinton. To Learn more or read the transcript, visit the official episode page here. Guest Bios Deepak Gopalakrishna, the founder and CEO of Rey, is a highly accomplished customer-centric innovator. A seasoned entrepreneur with deep expertise in healthcare, AI, blockchain and digital innovation, he has founded and led the growth of seven companies. With an MBA and a doctorate in genetics and Molecular biology, Deepak has the unique ability to merge the rigor of a scientist with the creativity of an entrepreneur. The vision for Rey was born: Take the best mental health clinicians in the world and transfer their methodologies into user-friendly automated digital treatments. You can find out more at www.getrey.com. May Abdalla, the co-director, writer, and executive producer of “Goliath: Playing with Reality,” is an experimental documentary filmmaker who has won numerous awards for her work in the immersive and interactive arts. She founded the production company Anagram in 2013 to explore immersive technologies, especially in the documentary genre. Barry Gene Murphy, the director and writer of “Goliath: Playing with Reality,” is an award-winning filmmaker and artist with over 15 years’ experience in animation, 3D and special effects, and more recently in mixed-reality works. Goliath: Playing with Reality is Available to download for FREE on Oculus now: Oculus: https://www.oculus.com/experiences/quest/3432432656819712/   Website: https://goliathvr.io/  Discord: https://discord.com/channels/864490434927788072/874057550654472213  Inside Schizophrenia Podcast Host Rachel Star Withers creates videos documenting her schizophrenia, ways to manage and let others like her know they are not alone and can still live an amazing life. She has written Lil Broken Star: Understanding Schizophrenia for Kids and a tool for schizophrenics, To See in the Dark: Hallucination and Delusion Journal. Fun Fact: She has wrestled alligators. To learn more about Rachel, please visit her website, RachelStarLive.com. Inside Schizophrenia Co-Host Gabe Howard is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can’t imagine life without. To learn more about Gabe, please visit his website, gabehoward.com.

Inside Schizophrenia

Virtual Reality for the Treatment of Schizophrenia

From smartphones to tablets, apps, and health tracking devices, technology has the ability to change the way schizophrenia is treated and challenge dated thoughts on how people with schizophrenia use technology in our daily lives. In this episode of Inside Schizophrenia, host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard, review the top 4 schizophrenia-related smartphone apps and explore what’s holding technology innovations back in the area of schizophrenia treatment. CNET senior editor, Alison DeNisco Rayome, who leads the series Tech For A Better World, joins to highlight recent advancements in the realm of technology evolution for people with disabilities.  To learn more, visit the official episode page here. Guest Bio Alison DeNisco Rayome is a senior editor at CNET and leads the series Tech For A Better World. CNET’s Tech for A Better World highlights the growing diversity of the technology ecosystem, and the people who are creating products to improve our lives and our communities.   About the Inside Schizophrenia Podcast Host Rachel Star Withers creates videos documenting her schizophrenia, ways to manage, and let others like her know they’re not alone and can still live an amazing life. She has written “Lil Broken Star: Understanding Schizophrenia for Kids” and a tool for schizophrenics, “To See in the Dark: Hallucination and Delusion Journal.” Learn more at RachelStarLive.com. About the Inside Schizophrenia Podcast Co-Host Gabe Howard lives with bipolar disorder and is a nationally recognized speaker and podcast host. He is the author of the book, “Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations,” available from Amazon; signed copies available directly from the author. To learn more about Gabe, please visit gabehoward.com.

Technology and Managing Schizophrenia

A psychologist and psychiatrist are both mental health professionals who can treat schizophrenia. But what’s the difference? Both specialities are commonly referred to as doctors and confusion often results. Today’s episode tackles the differences and touches on what a person visiting with each professional can expect.  People with schizophrenia commonly wonder: How are they similar? Who should they see first? Do they need to see both? Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard, share their medical health journeys in treatment with numerous doctors and how both psychologists and psychiatrists have played an important part.  Guest John Grohol, PsyD, founder of PsychCentral.com and a psychologist, joins to help people understand the differences between the two. To read the transcript or learn more, please visit the the official episode page here. Guest Bio Dr. John Grohol is the founder of Psych Central. He’s an author, researcher, and expert in mental health online, and has been writing about online behavior, mental health, and psychology issues since 1995. Grohol has a Master’s degree and a doctorate in clinical psychology from Nova Southeastern University. He sits on the editorial board of the journal Computers in Human Behavior and is a founding board member of the Society for Participatory Medicine.   About the Inside Schizophrenia Podcast Host Rachel Star Withers creates videos documenting her schizophrenia, ways to manage, and let others like her know they’re not alone and can still live an amazing life. She has written “Lil Broken Star: Understanding Schizophrenia for Kids” and a tool for schizophrenics, “To See in the Dark: Hallucination and Delusion Journal.” Learn more at RachelStarLive.com. About the Inside Schizophrenia Podcast Co-Host Gabe Howard lives with bipolar disorder and is a nationally recognized speaker and podcast host. He is the author of the book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies available directly from the author. To learn more about Gabe, please visit gabehoward.com.

The Role Psychologists and Psychiatrists Play In Treating Schizophrenia

Flight delays, crowded airports, hotel reservations, jet lag... Travel is stressful for everyone, but especially people with schizophrenia. Host Rachel Star Withers and co-host Gabe Howard discuss the risks and rewards of traveling while having a serious mental health condition. Laura Motta, editorial director of Lonely Planet, joins to share some tips about staying safe while traveling — and some cool destination ideas. To learn more or view the transcript, please visit the official episode page. Guest Bio Laura Motta is the editorial director of LonelyPlanet.com. Previously, she was leading content teams at ShermansTravel for nine years. Before that, she held positions at Travelzoo, iVillage, and EverydayHealth, and lived in Paris. Follow her travels on Instagram. About the Inside Schizophrenia Podcast Host Rachel Star Withers creates videos documenting her schizophrenia, ways to manage, and let others like her know they’re not alone and can still live an amazing life. She has written “Lil Broken Star: Understanding Schizophrenia for Kids” and a tool for schizophrenics, “To See in the Dark: Hallucination and Delusion Journal.” Learn more at RachelStarLive.com. About the Inside Schizophrenia Podcast Co-Host Gabe Howard lives with bipolar disorder and is a nationally recognized speaker and podcast host. He is the author of the book, Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations, available from Amazon; signed copies available directly from the author. To learn more about Gabe, please visit gabehoward.com.

Traveling with Schizophrenia

We’ve all been through a lot in the past year. The global pandemic has been rough on everyone, and those living with schizophrenia have had some unique challenges. But necessity is the mother of invention, and all the chaos has led to some innovative solutions. Join us as Rachel and Gabe discuss some of the silver linings of COVID-19 and how we can all move forward in a mentally healthy way.  For a transcript or more information, please visit the official episode page. Guest Bio Craig Chepke, MD, FAPA, is a board certified psychiatrist in Huntersville, North Carolina with over 16 years of experience in the medical field. He works with adults and the aging population in all diagnostic categories, but has special interests in neuropsychiatric conditions, treatment-resistant/severe-persistent mental illness, and movement disorders.  His approach to treatment is personalized to each individual person, from the newest leading-edge medications to older underutilized treatments. He strongly emphasizes psychotherapeutic interventions and physical health and wellness through exercise, dietary modification, and supplementation. Chepke has also been named a Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association and is a board member of the CURESZ Foundation.  About the Inside Schizophrenia Podcast Host Rachel Star Withers creates videos documenting her schizophrenia, ways to manage, and let others like her know they’re not alone and can still live an amazing life. She has written “Lil Broken Star: Understanding Schizophrenia for Kids” and a tool for schizophrenics, “To See in the Dark: Hallucination and Delusion Journal.” Learn more at RachelStarLive.com. About the Inside Schizophrenia Podcast Co-Host Gabe Howard lives with bipolar disorder and is a nationally recognized speaker and podcast host. He’s the author of the book, “Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations,” available from Amazon; signed copies available directly from the author. To learn more about Gabe, please visit gabehoward.com.

Transitioning Out of Pandemic Mode

The main three stigmas of schizophrenia are: People with mental illness are violent and need to be feared. They have childlike perceptions of the world that should be marveled. They’re responsible for their illness because they have weak character. Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard, explore the stigma of mental illness and share their personal experiences. Guest expert Brandon Kohrt, MD, PhD, a psychiatrist and anthropologist joins to discuss stigma surrounding mental illness around the world and ways different countries have approached solutions.  Guest Bio Brandon Kohrt, MD, PhD, is a psychiatrist and anthropologist who has worked for 25 years to improve mental health services in countries affected by war and political violence, disasters, and other forms of adversity. Kohrt is the director of the Global Mental Health Equity Lab at George Washington University. Kohrt has sought to combat the stigma associated with mental illness through work with The Carter Center Mental Health Program, the World Health Organization, UNICEF, and more. Kohrt developed the “RESHAPE mental health” intervention to reduce mental illness stigma among healthcare providers. About the Inside Schizophrenia Podcast Host Rachel Star Withers creates videos documenting her schizophrenia, ways to manage, and let others like her know they’re not alone and can still live an amazing life. She has written “Lil Broken Star: Understanding Schizophrenia for Kids” and a tool for schizophrenics, “To See in the Dark: Hallucination and Delusion Journal.” Learn more at RachelStarLive.com. About the Inside Schizophrenia Podcast Co-Host Gabe Howard lives with bipolar disorder and is a nationally recognized speaker and podcast host. He is the author of the book, “Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations,” available from Amazon; signed copies available directly from the author. To learn more about Gabe, please visit gabehoward.com.

Unpacking the Stigma of Schizophrenia

A psychiatric service dog is a type of service dog trained to assist its handler with a psychiatric condition such as schizophrenia. These service animals can be trained to help people with schizophrenia identify hallucinations, ground them back in reality, and even remind them to take their medication. In this episode, our hosts explore how service dogs can be part of a person with schizophrenia’s support system. They speak with Shawn Gantkowski of Dog Training Elite Charlotte, who trains service dogs and shares what goes into training a psychiatric service animal. Listen Now! Learn more by visiting the official episode webpage here. Guest Bio Shawn Gantkowski, Dog Training Elite  Dog Training Elite Charlotte has developed a highly successful and unique positive dog training program that empowers dog owners and their canines to work together, creating strong bonds and sustained obedience. Training takes time, commitment, and balance. Dog Training Elite Charlotte is different from other training programs. We’ll be there every step of the way to help you and your dog achieve sustained, deep-rooted obedience. Our dog training services in Charlotte are personalized and designed to teach owners how to train their dog alongside a professional dog trainer in their home environment, as well as in small group settings. We strongly believe that the key to sustained obedience and training is to empower owners to be an integral part of the training experience. Most training programs require minimal to no involvement from owners and once the dog returns to their home environment, almost all progress is undone and owners feel just as helpless as they did before. Our passion for dogs and service sets us apart. All our local dog trainers are trustworthy, willing to be there for our clients, and love what they do. We want to build a community for our clients that love their dogs just as much as we do, and once you begin the training process with us, you become a part of the Dog Training Elite Charlotte family. Find out more at https://dogtrainingelite.com/charlotte

Psychiatric Service Dogs for Schizophrenia

Isolation is a symptom of schizophrenia. Being homeless is isolating yourself from society, which is the extreme manifestation of the mental health condition. Host Rachel Star Withers and Cohost Gabe Howard explore how delusions, isolation, and hallucinations can lead to homelessness. Guest Bethany Yeiser shares her 4-year experience being homeless due to her schizophrenia. Learn more about Ms. Yeiser at https://www.bethanyyeiser.com/

Homelessness - a Symptom of Schizophrenia

The U.S. correctional system is responsible for having 10 times more mentally ill patients receiving treatment than any state psychiatric hospital. Host Rachel Star Withers and cohost Gabe Howard examine connections between having schizophrenia and incarceration. Guest Lloyd Hale discusses living with schizophrenia and his time in the correctional system after being convicted of murder. Years later, he was found not guilty by reason of insanity. Listen Now!

Incarceration and Schizophrenia

While schizoaffective disorder and schizophrenia both share the prefix “schizo,” they remain two separate diagnoses. Hosts Rachel Star Withers and Gabe Howard divulge their personal experiences with schizophrenia and mental health conditions as they explore the newer-termed condition of schizoaffective disorder. Guest Dr. Michelle Maust from MindPath Care Centers joins to give a medical perspective on the differences in diagnosing these disorders.

Schizoaffective Disorder vs Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia has been around since the dawn of time but actually treating it has only been around the past 100 years. In this episode host and schizophrenic Rachel Star Withers takes you through the dark and disturbing evolution of schizophrenia treatments. From systematic euthanasia to hydrotherapy, electroconvulsive therapy to the infamous lobotomy. Were these doctors "mad scientists" torturing the mentally ill or were they the only ones trying to help a population of people seen as a burden? 

Evolution of Schizophrenia Treatment

A third of all people will be a caregiver at some point in their lives. Caregiving for people with schizophrenia presents challenges that many people are ill-prepared for.  Host Rachel Star and Gabe Howard break down the principles of caregiving and creative ways to navigate schizophrenia.  Dr. Sarah Kopelovich joins to share schizophrenia caregiver specific training. 

Caregiving for Schizophrenia

Can people with schizophrenia love? Can they date or get married?  Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard review their own past experiences.  Andrew and Stephanie Downing, authors of “Marriage and Schizophrenia: Eyes on the Prize” join and share their incredible journey and love.

Love, Dating, and Marriage with Schizophrenia

Rates of psychosis are more strongly influenced by ethnicity and socioeconomic status than any other mental health condition. In this episode of Inside Schizophrenia host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard discuss the impact of schizophrenia in minority communities. Guest Sakinah “The Muslim Hippie” joins to share her experiences in mental health care.

Impact of Schizophrenia in the Minority Communities

Some of the professionals that work most with helping people with schizophrenia are nurses. There are so many types with different skill sets. Host Rachel Star Withers and Co-host Gabe Howards learn who these often overlooked healthcare workers are. Dr. Tari Dilks, Professor and President of the American Psychiatric Nurses Association, joins with insight on what goes into being a psychiatric nurse. 

The Role Nurses Play in Schizophrenia Treatment

Inside Schizophrenia is a podcast by people with mental illness for people with mental illness. Each episode looks at life through the unique lens of people living schizophrenia and psychosis. New episodes once a month on your favorite podcast player or by visiting psychcentral.com/is. The podcast is hosted by Rachel Star Withers with Gabe Howard.

hubhopper

Inside Schizophrenia

hubhopper