Inside Schizophrenia
Featuring engaging conversations and insightful interviews covering a wide range of topics including caregiving, family dynamics, and getting help for schizophrenia. Hosted by Rachel Star Withers, who lives with schizophrenia. Inside Schizophrenia brings firsthand experiences from individuals with schizophrenia, family members, caregivers, and medical experts, aiming to foster a deeper understanding of schizophrenia, shed light on its impact, and develop strategies for managing this serious mental illness. Co-hosted by Gabe Howard, new episodes are released on the third Wednesday of every month.
Episodes
July 16, 2025 • 53 mins
Psychosis is a state of impaired reality which may include hallucinations and delusions. Experiencing psychosis can impair your functioning and have a negative effect on various aspects of your daily life, such as work, school, and the ability to maintain relationships. Being in a state of psychosis can be extremely frightening and confusing. Many times, it can be difficult for loved ones, caregivers, and even medical professionals...
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June 18, 2025 • 41 mins
The story of schizophrenia has too often been told through a lens of fear and misunderstanding. But that’s changing. Thanks to relentless advocates, awareness campaigns, and policy reform, stigma is being challenged and access to care is improving. But how do we join this fight? What does real advocacy look like — and where do we even begin?
In this episode, host Rachel Star Withers, who lives with schizophrenia, and co-host Gabe ...
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May 21, 2025 • 52 mins
Up to 70% of people with schizophrenia don’t take their medication as prescribed. This nonadherence is tied to higher risks of psychosis, relapse, ongoing symptoms, and even suicide attempts. So why do so many people with schizophrenia struggle to stay on their meds — despite such serious consequences? And what can actually be done about it?
In this episode of Inside Schizophrenia, host Rachel Star Withers — who lives with schizop...
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April 16, 2025 • 46 mins
Many adults with schizophrenia rely on family members for daily support, often depending on parents in their 50s or 60s. As these parents grow older, they face mounting physical and emotional challenges — along with the pressing question of who will care for their child in the future.
In this episode of Inside Schizophrenia, host Rachel Star Withers, who lives with schizophrenia, and co-host Gabe Howard dive into the unique strugg...
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March 19, 2025 • 41 mins
Schizophrenia is a complex and often misunderstood mental illness, and misinformation and stigma surrounding the condition are still prevalent in our societies. The stereotypes and the myths of schizophrenia create challenges for people with diagnosed schizophrenia, but also for healthcare workers, family members, and caretakers.
Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophrenic, and co-host Gabe Howard break down the top myths s...
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February 19, 2025 • 51 mins
Everyone has felt overwhelmed by loud noises, bright lights, or strong smells — but for people with schizophrenia, sensory overload can be constant and intense. Sensory processing dysfunction can make everyday sights, sounds, and touches feel overwhelming, leading to a phenomenon called “sensory flooding.” It can also make it harder to filter out background noise, identify sensory sources, and focus on tasks — sometimes even contri...
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January 15, 2025 • 44 mins
The average age of onset for schizophrenia is in early adulthood, late teens to early 30s.
This is an intense stage of life for anyone — graduating high school, first time living on your own, entering the workforce, attending college, and figuring out what you want to do with your life and who you want to be.
Now add experiencing psychosis for the first time, hallucinations, delusions and losing touch with reality.
In this episode ...
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December 18, 2024 • 41 mins
Approximately one-fifth of the U.S. population lives in a rural area, and about one-fifth of those living in rural areas, or about 6.5 million individuals, have a mental illness. People living in rural areas have a more difficult time getting proper diagnoses and treatment for serious mental illnesses like schizophrenia. This is due to multiple factors, including a lack of healthcare providers, costs, and social stigmas surrounding...
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November 20, 2024 • 45 mins
Cognitive deficits are a core feature of schizophrenia and account for much of the impaired functioning associated with this disorder. What are the cognitive deficits associated with schizophrenia? When do they start? Do they ever stop? And does cognitive decline continue throughout our lives? And most importantly, how do we treat these cognitive deficits?
In this episode of Inside Schizophrenia, host Rachel Star Withers and co-hos...
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October 16, 2024 • 53 mins
Hope is a crucial element that can significantly influence recovery for people with schizophrenia. It offers a pathway to resilience, empowerment, and a fulfilling life.
However, schizophrenia is a disabling psychiatric condition that impacts 1% of people worldwide and ranks among the top ten global causes of disability. It can be difficult to remain hopeful with statistics like that.
Host Rachel Star Withers, a diagnosed schizophr...
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September 18, 2024 • 44 mins
A common symptom of schizophrenia is anosognosia. Anosognosia is when a person is unaware that they have mental health condition or cannot perceive their condition accurately. It is believed that between 50% to 98% of people with schizophrenia have some form of anosognosia.
Is anosognosia that common? Could it be confused with denial? And how can caregivers, family, and loved ones of people with schizophrenia help them gain awarene...
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August 21, 2024 • 39 mins
Since the 1950s, the go-to treatment for schizophrenia has been oral antipsychotics. However, the landscape of schizophrenia treatment is changing and evolving, from advancements in antipsychotic long-acting injections to promising new treatments targeting muscarinic receptors to different types of neuromodulation stimuli of the brain, and even new theories connecting schizophrenia to other diseases like chronic traumatic encephalo...
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July 17, 2024 • 49 mins
“Schizoposting” is a growing internet trend that involves posting violent images, videos, text posts, and memes as if the creator is having a mental breakdown. It has become associated with hate movements, and people are using schizoposting as a medium to desensitize and encourage others to violent impulses and unpredictable behavior.
In this episode of Inside Schizophrenia, host Rachel Star Withers, who has been diagnosed with sch...
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June 19, 2024 • 44 mins
How do you refer to a person who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia?
“Person with schizophrenia” or “schizophrenic?” What about other words, for example, “crazy, insane, psycho, or schizo?” The words we use carry meaning and stigma but also information and identity.
Hosts Rachel Star Withers and Gabe Howard explore person-first language versus condition-first language when discussing people with schizophrenia.
NAMI’s (National A...
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May 15, 2024 • 54 mins
People with schizophrenia are at a greater risk of developing type 2 diabetes than the general population. Diabetes is seen in 1 in 5 people with schizophrenia. Metabolic syndrome occurs in 1 in 3 people with schizophrenia.
What is causing these physical illnesses in people with schizophrenia? Is this just due to our lifestyle factors? How significant a role does medication for schizophrenia play in developing these illnesses? And ...
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April 17, 2024 • 51 mins
Treatment for schizophrenia is a tough journey for people with the illness but also for caregivers and loved ones. Due to cognitive symptoms, hallucinations, and delusions, a person with schizophrenia may not be able to make decisions on treatment or take care of themselves.
When should caregivers step in to legally take control over a person with schizophrenia?
What are the types of involuntary treatment?
What are the other option...
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March 20, 2024 • 54 mins
People with schizophrenia have a 10% rate of suicide compared with the general population population’s 1.3% rate of suicide.
Suicide is the biggest reason for the decreased life expectancy of people with schizophrenia.
Around 40–79% of people with schizophrenia have reported having suicidal thoughts.
Why is the rate of suicide higher among people with schizophrenia?
Are there specific risk factors that have been identified for our ...
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February 21, 2024 • 39 mins
There is a huge gap in how people with schizophrenia are expected to recover and then integrate back into society. Many of us are in active treatment and managing symptoms. Now what? How do we function in life? How do we fit into society? We all want friends, to have a purpose, to belong.
These desires fall under community involvement. Integration into the community is recognized as an important component of recovery for those with...
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January 17, 2024 • 53 mins
Impulsive thoughts to harm yourself or others, confusing delusional thoughts, thoughts commanding you to do things — all of these are terrifying to experience. A breakdown in the thought process is a hallmark of schizophrenia. When does an intrusive thought become delusional and something a person might act upon? If a person has disturbing violent thoughts, are they dangerous?
Host Rachel Star Withers, who has schizophrenia, share...
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December 20, 2023 • 47 mins
Living with a diagnosis of schizophrenia means that you and those around you will experience multiple losses as you navigate the disorder. It can take away relationships, employment, education, performance, independence, and sense of self.
Will I keep getting worse?
What happens if I have another psychotic episode?
What will my life look like in 10 years?
What if I can’t take care of myself?
It’s normal to grieve the life yo...
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