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Mindfulness, a friend to people struggling with schizophrenia | MyPR.co.za

MyPR: Mindfulness, a friend to people struggling with schizophrenia:

Schizophrenia is a complicated disorder to treat, largely because of the varying symptoms. Pharmaceutical companies continue to research and develop treatment options that effectively manage symptoms. To compliment treatment, healthcare professionals are exploring the benefits of mindfulness-based interventions.1

Some of the benefits of mindfulness techniques include,2
– Healthier sleep due to the mind and body receiving better rest.
– Decreases the frequency of depression and anxiety, which is a contributing factor to increased symptoms of schizophrenia.
– -Improvement of a person’s brain functions that include learning and memory processes, emotional regulation, self-referential processing and perspective taking.
– A better coping process toward situations that induce stress, fear and anxiety.

Types of mindfulness-based interventions
The following techniques can be used to positively impact the lives of people living with schizophrenia,

1.Meditation1
Scientists have found meditation improves psychosocial functions and leads to positive emotions as a person feels at ease after a session of meditation. Meditation gives a person living with schizophrenia a deeper insight and acceptance of their symptoms, including hallucinations and delusional behaviour.1

2.Yoga3

Yoga has demonstrated success in improving cognitive function, decreasing the possibility of obesity and improving the
ability to focus better. Additionally, some yoga sequences assist in managing symptoms of schizophrenia.4

As research into mindfulness-based intervention continues, it’s important to remember that schizophrenia must be
diagnosed by a healthcare professional and treated with medication. Either a daily, oral medication or a monthly injectable
will be prescribed. The injectable effectively manages symptoms of schizophrenia for longer periods and reduces the burden
on a person living with the disorder.

If you’re a caregiver or a person diagnosed with schizophrenia, it’s crucial to learn all there is to know about the disorder. Information is power and will prepare you for anything the disorder might throw at you. Visit schizophrenia24x7.co.za or the online Facebook community, Our Mental Health for resources and information, and to be part of a caring and informed community.

References:
1.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6436583/#:~:text=Mindfulness%20meditation%20alleviates%20symptoms%20of,5%20and%20reduced%20negative%20symptoms
2.https://www.psychologytoday.com/za/blog/balanced/201907/meditation-and-mental-health
3.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3410202/#:~:text=Yoga%20as%20a%20therapy%20in%20psychosis%2C%20specifically%20schizophrenia%2C%20has%20been,asanas%20and%20pranayama%2C%20avoiding%20meditation
4.https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6517037/
5.https://academic.oup.com/schizophreniabulletin/article/39/5/962/1926273

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Did you know this about Johannesburg? While Johannesburg has a reputation as one of the most dangerous cities in the world, it takes an average of only 60 seconds for police to respond to a crime scene in the central business district (CBD). There is a CCTV system that covers every street corner and scanning vehicle licence plates.

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Ponte City: Transformation

As the “white flight” of the 1980s and 90s drained the inner city of capital, Ponte City underwent a dramatic and terrifying transformation. By the late 1990s, the building had become a “vertical slum” and a symbol of urban decay. It was famously “hijacked” by gangs; the retail levels were stripped, and the building became a fortress for drug dealing and human trafficking. The most haunting image from this era was the central core. Originally designed to be a light-filled courtyard, it became a literal trash heap. Residents on the upper floors would throw their refuse into the center of the building rather than taking it down. At its worst point, the trash in the core reached five stories high—a mountain of rotting debris, discarded furniture, and even, legend has it, the remains of those who had fallen or jumped.

During this period, the reputation of Ponte was so toxic that there was a serious proposal in 1998 to turn the entire skyscraper into a vertical prison. The plan was eventually scrapped, but the building remained a “no-go zone” for nearly a decade. The turnaround began in the mid-2000s when developers New Metro Property Group and later Dlala Nje began a massive, painstaking refurbishment. They cleared out the tons of trash from the core, restored the lifts (which had often been out of order, forcing residents to climb 50 flights of stairs), and implemented strict security protocols.