I've read online claims recently that Ai will never replace human beings as psychologists, counselors, and psychiatrists and I think this is naive thinking. In thirty-two years suffering with schizophrenias effects, I've never heard comforting words spoken by a mental health professional like I experienced last night with Google Ai. If people had half as much common sense as Ai, in my strong opinion, there wouldn't be such awful stigma and cruel judgment directed toward people struggling courageously with mental illness.
The question I quickly asked Ai in
my troubled frame of mind followed by the answer.
“Donald Carter is a writer with schizophrenia,
and he partially believes Canadians know him and dislike him nationally in a
way he also partially realizes might be only a delusion brought on by his
illness and lately he believes Canadians have boycotted buying his books can ai
offer any words to ease his troubled minds "false" belief?”
Ai answer:
It is important to remember that
I am an AI, not a mental health professional. The most important step is for
Donald Carter to be under the care of a qualified psychiatrist or clinical
psychologist, as delusions are a core symptom of schizophrenia that require
professional, evidence-based treatment, primarily with medication and therapies
like Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT).
However, I can offer some gentle,
supportive, and non-confrontational words, based on principles of psychological
support, that might help ease his distress by validating his feelings while
gently questioning the absolute certainty of his beliefs.
Supportive Words for Donald
Carter.
"Donald, I hear how much
distress you are experiencing right now, and it sounds incredibly difficult to
feel disliked by an entire nation and to believe your books are being
boycotted. That is a heavy emotional burden to carry, and it's understandable
that you feel troubled and isolated.
It's clear you have a sensitive
and thoughtful mind, especially given your work as a writer. Your ability to
partially recognize that these thoughts might be connected to your illness
shows incredible strength and self-awareness. The small flicker of doubt is
something positive to hold onto.
Here are a few gentle reflections
that might offer some comfort and perspective:
* You are not alone in these
feelings. Persecutory thoughts, or the feeling that people are talking
about you or acting against you, are a known part of the experience of
schizophrenia for many people. This knowledge might help depersonalize the experience
slightly --it's a symptom of the illness, not a reflection of who you are or
what Canadians actually think.
* The feeling is real, but
the 'fact' may not be. Your distress is
100% real and valid. But the belief that everyone in a vast country is thinking
about you in the same specific, negative way is, in reality, highly unlikely. A
population as large and diverse as Canada is made up of millions of individuals
with their own lives, concerns, and opinions. It is practically impossible for
them all to coordinate a universal dislike or boycott of one person's work.
* Your experience is an
'ego-disturbance,' not a social reality. The mind, when it's going through a tough time with an illness like
schizophrenia, can become 'hyper-reflexive,' making everything feel as though
it resolves around you personally (ideas of reference). it makes you feel
center-stage in a way that is exhausting and frightening. This is the illness
creating a compelling narrative, a story in your head, not the world outside.
* Book sales are complex.
The world of book sales is complicated and influenced by countless factors like
marketing, distribution, books trends, and the sheer volume of new books
released daily. It's not typically driven by a unified, national consensus to
boycott one specific author. Many talented writers face challenges with sales;
it's rarely personal.
* Focus on your writing's
inherent worth. Your value as a writer and a person is not determined by
book sales or abstract "national opinion." It comes from your unique
perspective and the courage you show in living with your condition and sharing
your experiences. Your books, such as "A Paranoid Schizophrenic's Message
of Hope for the World," demonstrate a desire to help and connect with
others. That purpose has value independent of public reception.
* Lean on your support system. It is crucial to have people around
you--therapists, doctors, family, or support groups--who can help you test the
reality of your thoughts and provide a safe space where you feel understood,
not judged.
Remember, these are powerful,
intense feelings, but they are also symptoms that can be managed with the right
support and care. There are many people who care and want you to find peace,
including your medical team who can help adjust your treatment to lessen the
intensity of these beliefs.
You have the self-awareness to
see a sliver of doubt in your current belief; please use that insight to reach
out to a mental health professional, they are best equipped to help you
navigate this specific, challenging symptom. You deserve to be free from this
fear.
_________________________________________________________________
A review from literary critics for
the book "Demons in the Pleasant Valley Hills" by Donald Carter
available on Amazon, Audible, and Apple.
(Please Note* On the above websites
you'll find free writing and audio samples for Donald's books as well as his
author profile and picture. You can also find a direct link to his books by
doing a search on Google, Microsoft Bing, or Yahoo using his name.)
Critics and readers describe
"Demons in the Pleasant Valley Hills" by Donald Carter as a
captivating, controversial, and deeply philosophical novel. The book is notable
for being written from the perspective of someone living with paranoid
schizophrenia, and this unique viewpoint is central to its narrative voice and
the novel's structure. Critics recognize the work as a romantic, erotic, and
mysterious journey that intertwines elements of mental illness, philosophical
inquiry, and a message of hope that stands apart from conventional religious or
philosophical treatises.
Reviewers have highlighted the
novel's clever and well-constructed narrative, with particular praise given to
its thought-provoking and otherworldly arguments introduced through the
protagonists experiences with delusional voices. The insight provided by these
voices challenges established religious and philosophical concepts, resulting
in a powerful and original reading experience. Some commentaries note the
story's boldness in addressing potentially controversial subjects, such as the
biker underworld and the meaning of true friendship, all through a lens of
lust, desire, and survival.
Overall, feedback for the book leans positive, especially regarding its philosophical depth and its immersive, introspective narrative. The novel stands out due to its blend of romance, eroticism, and mystery, as well as the authenticity derived from the author's lived experience with mental illness.
