Daniel's Schizoaffective & Borderline Diagnoses | Dr Syl's Analysis (SBSK)

[@DrSyl]

Link to video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fYabh6CAqL1pY9U

[@asiyaheibhlin7297]

His explanation about logically knowing he's being irrational makes perfect sense to me: I use the terms "logical brain" and "emotional brain" Like if I am about to have a panic attack I feel like the world is literally ending and my life is over- that's my emotional brain I know I am safe. I know the world isn't ending. And that I am worrying over nothing and there are no triggers at times- that's the logical part However my logic and emotional states are so disconnected that I cannot talk myself, or be talked, out of my panic and emotions. My only choice is to ride it out and eventually calm down or crash from the event and then pick up and move on. Well, now that THAT'S over, let's get on with life, shall we? I feel like I am both a big sister and little sister at the same time- or I am my own mother and a child. The little sister/child is my emotions- which have been stunted due to many traumatic situations since childhood The big sister/ mother is my logic- because I am logically very mature and am decently intelligent (VA mandated testing to get done for my IQ when I was claiming disability). It's hard to be intellectually intelligent while also being emotionally immature....

[@MinkasTNR]

Daniel is actually a writer, poet and creator. He is an excellent writer.

[@kristaqualey8302]

During a mental evaluation, what's the puzzles and "games" they have you try to complete in a specific time frame? I've always wondered what that was for

[@asiyaheibhlin7297]

@@kristaqualey8302 I was given: Clinical Interview Mental Staus Examination Test of Memory Malingering Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) Repeatable Battery for the Assesment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale- IV (WAIS-IV)- selected sub-tests Wide Range Achievement Test-4 (WRAT-4)- selective sub-tests Trail-Makin Test (TMT) Verbal Fluency Wechsler Memory Scale-IV (WMS-IV; Logical Memory and Visual Reproduction) This was all to test my cognitive capacity and to decide whether or not I could be repainsible for my VA compensation benefits or if I would need a caretaker for my financial benefits.

[@mblohm7337]

It made sense to me also. I experience what he is describing. He is saying that even though he knows metacognitively that what he is thinking is incorrect, for all practical purposes he acts and thinks like it is.

[@singingsam40]

Daniel Nepveux has his own KZbin channel and I've been following him for a while. He's incredibly articulate, creative and honest. He's well worth checking out on here.

[@shalacarter6658]

And our dear Daniel is doing so poorly!

[@ButSheDid]

he really is an incredible person. i’ve been following for years and it seems like every time he updates the channel, something terrible has happened….it makes me so angry that so much awful shit keeps happening to such a good person. i’m glad he at least knows he’s got internet strangers rooting him on.

[@TipToeZebra]

​@bfran2283 Rooting for him so much! 💞

[@iluvmyhusband-3-]

@@shalacarter6658 fufufuGigi hoops jxi

[@_.WildMoonChild]

​@@shalacarter6658He posted and is doing quite well at the moment! 💜

[@pinheadlarry2921]

Oh my god. When he talked about knowing it’s insane and irrational but still believing it i literally started crying. Me too. It frustrates me so much. so many mental health professionals think the key to getting better is awareness. I can be aware and still sick. maybe this is the difference between schizoaffective and classic schizophrenia, maybe that’s why i feel like this is so overlooked, as schizoaffective is generally less known about.

[@InvertedGoblin]

Me too! I thought I was the only one but am so glad I'm not. It makes total sense to me. I don't know why it doesn't to others.

[@gigahorse1475]

I don’t know if this is a thing that differentiates schizophrenia and schizoaffective. I have what’s best described as mild schizophrenia. I’m extremely analytical and skeptical, so some of my delusions I was completely aware of and yet couldn’t get it out of my head for any reason. Psychosis isn’t something one can “think themselves out of.” You can have differing levels of insight, but no matter what you think the experience is still there and it’s very strong. It’s confusing the way some psychologists talk about it. There are tests that say “do you feel like thoughts are being inserted in your head?” Yes I feel that quite often, but I don’t actually think they are thoughts from other people. And yet they are asking that question about a delusion.

[@pinheadlarry2921]

@@gigahorse1475 I appreciate this! It was just a guess tbh. I honestly think i’m gonna show the original interview to my therapist because she definitely figured it was abnormal that i could recognize my delusions. I might show her these comments too, just to say maybe it’s more common than she figured. Unfortunately most professionals are not well educated on the schizo spectrum at all, and schizo specialists are rare. I relate a lot to the “insert thoughts” question and not being sure how to answer. Weird question but are you an INTP?

[@gigahorse1475]

@@pinheadlarry2921Close. INTJ 😆. I’m also autistic (common for INTJs). Every time I have looked at comments, talked with people, or been in online spaces where there are people diagnosed with schizophrenia or schizoaffective… they often talk about their delusions with a lot of awareness, even while experiencing the delusion. It is very fascinating and seems to be a common experience. The only way to brush this off as a professional is to say all those people are lying. But why would they do that? And I don’t think it’s intellectually honest to call us all liars. A good professional would not do that.

[@klown83]

Yes, so much. I become the universe like clockwork every 6 months or so. Logical me knows it's not real but in that moment, it's very real and it's hard to pull out of it.

[@Christine__D]

I have been following Daniel for some time. He is honest and vulnerable about his illness. He is also an amazingly talented poet.

[@Christine__D]

Is a wartime veteran and if I remember correctly he developed his mental illnesses following combat.

[@nancyneyedly4587]

@@Christine__D Yes, he had a couple head injuires that may have contributed to his difficulties.

[@canislupus7421]

Daniel is also a brilliant poet, truly gifted with words and invoking emotion.

[@cuhweenuh]

SBSK is one of my favorite channels, the amount of compassion and willingness to listen that Chris displays in each and every interview is so amazing to see. I'm so glad he's able to give so many people a platform to tell their story

[@aspidoscelis]

The other side of the boundaries issue is-when someone says they'll try to help you, and then they don't, it destroys trust. Sometimes trust in that person, sometimes trust in other people, generally. And people usually don't follow through. In the moment, they want to; in reality, they have lives and other responsibilities.

[@emberronas617]

At around 8:15 in the conversation, the speaker points out that it's challenging to understand what someone experiencing psychosis goes through unless you've been there yourself. He mentions that when you're losing touch with reality, you often don't even realize it's happening. This is a crucial aspect of his discussion, emphasizing that during such episodes, individuals might not recognize their own detachment from reality. He goes on to explain that he has learned to identify some signs and symptoms of psychosis, which enables him to apply reasoning to determine if he might be slipping into an irrational or psychotic state. He also mentions how things can suddenly shift from normalcy to a state of disconnection from reality, echoing his earlier point about the difficulty of recognizing one's own psychosis. In his discussion, he touches on the common tendency to search for triggers when facing mental health issues. Initially, he denies any specific triggers, but later acknowledges one. He then delves into the presence of delusions during episodes of psychosis and provides examples from his own experiences. He admits that even though he logically understands that these thoughts are not based on reality, they still feel completely real to him, which is something many people can relate to. One powerful insight he shares is the idea that during psychosis, everything one senses or experiences feels undeniably real. Despite being aware of the illogical nature of their thoughts, it doesn't matter - the experiences are real to them. The speaker highlights the profound impact of these moments, where no amount of reasoning can break through the altered perception of reality. Even if you repeatedly tell yourself that it's all in your mind, the memories-- even though he doesn't say he remembers much-- of those experiences remain, making them feel as real as actual events. In summary, the speaker's discussion sheds light on the challenges of comprehending psychosis from an outsider's perspective and the disconcerting nature of losing touch with reality. He shares personal experiences and insights that emphasize the stark contrast between logical understanding and the overwhelming sense of reality during a psychotic episode. Of course, this is all just thought. I suffer strong CPTSD and have breaks from reality and I found it really interesting that you felt that he was changing topics when to me, it sounded like he was directly answering the question in a very artful and well thought out way. I think its just hard to relate to if you've never had it happen.

[@stevebob240]

For how difficult it is for him to describe his experience, he is very articulate. He seems like a resilient guy going through some difficult things.

[@pigeondance687]

9:29 I'm not sure what you mean by saying that it was hard to follow what he was saying because it seemed completely comprehensive to me. he said that psychosis was horrifying, then explained how he can't always tell that it starts, but he's learning to recogize the symptoms more, then said that the first time he experienced it there was a trigger but decided to not go into detail, and then explained one of the symptoms he experiences which is delusions, and how he know logically that they are delusions but his senses try to convince him otherwise. it's clear that he's nervous but i think he explained it quite comprehensively

[@dorukokbay606]

it's clear that the doctor understands what daniel said, as he is able to summarize what he said. he's referring to the disorganized speech, which is definitely present here even though one can understand him. this type of lateral connections and disorganized speech is one of the positive symptoms of schizophrenia.

[@Collan-D]

The most brilliant quote I’ve ever heard from a medical professional “the patient is the textbook. I’m learning from my patients.” Seeing how the patient symptoms manifest and how treatments effect those symptoms is a sign of a caring and knowledgeable doctor!

[@boinkadoinkk]

yes! AND being willing to literally just ask the patient whether they feel you have an accurate understanding of their experience. So many providers will assume that a person has "poor insight" when they disagree with their provider's description of their experience, without ever really allowing the person they're treating the time to share what they believe the actual core of their issues to be. I was misdiagnosed with an eating disorder despite constantly telling my psych that I had a massively suppressed appetite from medication side effects, really poor executive functioning, and digestive issues. In his clinical notes after that discussion (which he accidentally posted to my online portal lol) he wrote that I had "poor insight" after I tried to dispute his diagnosis. Now 4 years later I'm finally being assessed for a genetic connective tissue disorder that among other things also causes digestive issues, fatigue, and loss of appetite.... (my PCP is certain I have some variant of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome but can't know which type without a genetic test)

[@InvertedGoblin]

I completely understood what he meant by logically knowing that it's wrong but still believing something. I feel it's a bit dismissive to just call it a rationalization defense. (I know you didn't mean it to be.) 10:24 It's like living in two worlds and having to choose every day which world you want to believe in based on your actions. It's like having a foot on each train track and deciding which to lean on more today. One says that logically, based on everything you've ever learned and all things rational, it is not real. The other says "Yeah, but..." and won't let go of the idea. Then you have to choose one or the other and based on your mood it's sometimes harder to choose the rational one. I thought I was weird for falling into that space in between which no one ever confirms. Now I know someone else has the same thing!

[@gigahorse1475]

You are so right. I think people who haven’t experienced psychosis have trouble grasping this, even if they are experts. I had good insight but strong psychotic experiences for years, and it pretty much made me feel like I was two people, where one person believed the delusion and the other did not. I was trying so hard to be rational! I don’t think non-psychotic people ever experience this kind of divorce from experience/feelings and your own beliefs.

[@flyingfranky]

i know most people who haven’t experienced it have difficulty understanding, but i truly understood how he described his rationalizing. maybe because i experience ocd, perhaps? intrusive thoughts happen so often that you believe it’s true even though you know rationally it’s not. idk maybe

[@idesireahimbo]

​@flyingfranky good lord, i was reading the original comment going "ive never experienced psychosis, i wonder why relate to this so much" and then i read your comment and i was like "oh yeah i have ocd" 🤦‍♂️ intrusive thoughts are truly one of the most vile things in the world. i think its a similar experience, once youre out on the other side, of having to separate what your brain is telling you from what reality is. and for me, there is almost always that voice there going "yeah, but".

[@boinkadoinkk]

@@gigahorse1475 I honestly think that many people with OCD (especially the 'magical thinking' type) can experience the same feeling of KNOWING their fears/beliefs are completely irrational (e.g. an extreme fear of stepping on a crack in the pavement might lead to their mother being killed in a fatal car accident on the way to work) but still feeling like it's impossible to not engage in compulsions/behaviors (i.e. avoiding the crack, repeatedly calling their mother to make sure she's still ok, etc) to make sure these very implausible things don't happen. It's very interesting to me how this is a recognized thing in anxiety disorders like OCD (having a spectrum of awareness of how true these irrational thoughts/behaviors are) but not in psychosis. Irrational thinking is such a common feature in most other mental illnesses so it's very bizarre to me that mental health professionals have difficulty recognizing that delusions are also something that exist on a spectrum of total lack of awareness to high levels of awareness. Especially once you already know that these beliefs are in fact delusions or implausible.

[@Bruuba]

Daniel is such a sweet man. He’s really struggling.

[@snaify]

Daniel is a friend of Chris from SBSK, hence the personal commitment from Chris. I’m so grateful to have found your channel! Lots of valuable insight on your learning journey.

[@DelDanny2423]

I have a traumatic brain injury, where I had to re-learn how to walk, talk, read, write, etc) and Daniel’s mannerisms are very similar to mine (stimming, grimace, difficulty with eye contact, overstimulation, and expressive aphasia)

[@Internet_user777]

I love daniel, he’s been through a lot recently, pls send him lots of love

[@mentalitydesignvideo]

The words "Rationalization defense" should never be uttered by a mental health professional. All it means is, "the patient has a clearer view of what is happening to him (or her) than I do and possesses an intellect more powerful than my own, and is having to explain to me in accessible terms (albeit not the professional jargon I'm used to) what he or she experiences. I, the professional, am discomfited and feel diminished, so I will now pathologize it." If that's not an admittance of professional inadequacy, I don't know what is. That poor guy conveyed very precisely how his senses (what we ultimately rely upon to construct the world around us) generate data that does not withstand rational scrutiny. Since by age of maturity we've learned that our seemingly logical conclusions, theories etc often fail in the face of reality (on account of imprecise thinking, insufficient data, biases, etc), we fall back to relying on senses as the ultimate arbiter of what's true and real. Yet, reality is perfectly logical and rational (even though that logic and rationality is often staggeringly complex and obscure), else we'd be living in a nightmare. "The rational is real, and the real is rational." That's Hegel. And so he's damned to live in a conundrum, where sense data (hallucinations), instead of being the ultimate arbiter of what's real, disagree with his rational thinking, the foundation of his self-understanding as a conscious human being. Hell, truly. Yet, I think there's hope for him. His cognition seems intact, his emotional reactions are appropriate to the predicament he fell in, there seems to be an integrated personality (in extreme distress, admittedly), yet a sound, amiable personality behind the veil of affliction.

[@mentalitydesignvideo]

p.s. I also think he's probably not getting the care he needs. I think a lot of what we see are side effects of improperly selected antipsychotics, I doubt his brain injuries are being cared for in any meaningful way (do they put him in the oxy bari chamber? does he receive large doses of nootropics? ETC. If he was a retired American football player with chronic brain injuries, he would likely be cared for along these lines, rather than having a teddy bear to clutch onto.

[@telegramsam]

Agreed. A lot of doctors let their egos get bruised too easily and take it out on the patients. Psychiatric professionals are often the worst offenders in this diminishing and dehumanizing because their patients are the most vulnerable to abuse. You see it in elder care too, especially those with dementia.

[@LauraVervaart]

About the promise of helping him with the treatment: in the US treatment is not affordable at all. So I interpret it more like I’ll help you with the financial burden instead of setting no boundaries. I am fortunate to live in a country where there’s a good health insurance system and good treatment is available. In the US it is just impossible to get good psychotherapy when you’re not rich af.

[@Sandra-o3e]

This is not true. Medicaid pays for psychotherapy in my state .

[@jgnmtz]

@@Sandra-o3epsychotherapy = not authorized to prescribe . You’re actually not helping in this scenario. Calif resident here. 42+ years in seeking mental health . 80’s = impossible without lots of money for psychiatric. 90’s = still impossible. 2000’s = very hard . Flash forward 2024 = you can get half a$$ psychiatry within a 20 mile radius of any major city . But the good ones only take the expensive insurance now . Medicare , you have to jump through hoops , call a dozen , most don’t want you due to 1) insurance doesn’t pay 2) diagnosis requires too much paper 3) the pre auths are hassle 4) the kickback (oops I mean supplemental compensation) from prescriptions are lower under Medicare and harder to scam . Same system m different dysfunctions

[@boinkadoinkk]

@@Sandra-o3e it's very, very hard to get treatment from well-trained specialists on Medicaid. Most psychologists under medicaid only do diagnostic testing or work in programs, and any outpatient treatment is usally done by social workers or LMHCs who usually don't get/can't afford to do the additional training needed to be able to effectively treat people with more complex trauma and cases like Daniel's. It might be free, but the waiting lists to get into DBT programs for example are often like 1-2 years long. There are no EMDR providers in my state right now who are accepting patients on Medicaid. Very few therapists are actually trauma-informed and very few that accept medicaid specialize in anything other than standard CBT, which can be actively detrimental for disorders like CPTSD and BPD. It's difficult enough (virtually impossible) to find any actual psychiatrist that takes medicaid and is accepting any new long-term patients. The only prescribers around that seem to take Medicaid are NPs who, in my experience, are often less informed and kind of reckless with med changes. I've been on Medicaid in multiple states btw, it's the same pretty much everywhere.

[@Aster_Risk]

I really appreciated your take on this. I hope you always keep this respectful and educational tone on your channel. So many mental health professionals on KZbin have let entertainment become the focus, and I can't support that.

[@ariahathaway5517]

Thank you dr Syl for making year videos on schizoaffective disorder. It helps to normalise these things. Also for people to understand that when you have the illness your not a monster but struggling and how they can support best. It also helps me get better insight

[@henk-3098]

I really like this type of videos. It really showes you the full spectrum of humanity. We all experience reality and react to it in many different ways. And it can be difficult to understand it and be empathetic as a bystander, be it a family member or even a medical professional. I'm a nursing student myself and I hope that these videos help me to empathize and care for my future patients.

[@musochickburns8212]

I agree that at the end of the interview he shouldn't have said what he said to Daniel unless he plans to actually be friends with him in real life. And I mean a real friend!

[@boinkadoinkk]

they do keep in touch! Chris has continued to be there for Daniel long after this interview ended (which I learnt from watching Daniel's videos. He's still unbelievably grateful for SBSK and all the support he's received from Chris and people online)

[@Thingwithlegs]

He is a friend of Daniel

[@JulieLorraine1]

So insightful. I thoroughly enjoy your speculations Dr Syl.

[@deborahbasel184]

I follow Daniels channel as well as SBSK channel. Both really good

[@juliannaking4473]

We Love Daniel ...we keep up w/him on his channel

[@thriverprivate3383]

So true and real about “I’ll be your friend” “Give you whatever you need”………..you are not being judgemental you are being absolutely accurate. If you have a history of being super dependent OR whatever under dependent?

[@asiyaheibhlin7297]

@Dr Syl His explanation about logically knowing he's being irrational makes perfect sense to me: I use the terms "logical brain" and "emotional brain" Like if I am about to have a panic attack I feel like the world is literally ending and my life is over- that's my emotional brain I know I am safe. I know the world isn't ending. And that I am worrying over nothing and there are no triggers at times- that's the logical part However my logic and emotional states are so disconnected that I cannot talk myself, or be talked, out of my panic and emotions. My only choice is to ride it out and eventually calm down or crash from the event and then pick up and move on. Well, now that THAT'S over, let's get on with life, shall we? I feel like I am both a big sister and little sister at the same time- or I am my own mother and a child. The little sister/child is my emotions- which have been stunted due to many traumatic situations since childhood The big sister/ mother is my logic- because I am logically very mature and am decently intelligent (VA mandated testing to get done for my IQ when I was claiming disability). It's hard to be intellectually intelligent while also being emotionally immature....

[@Kaalyn_HOW]

I work with a charity that focuses on helping complex childhood trauma survivors access treatment - and man what we wouldn't give to have someone as clear and differential of symptomology in our arsenal....for awareness and explanation. While I personally think we do a great job, we have so many other tasks as a team that another professional voice goes so far - particularly to diversify internationally as well. If this is you with a hangover, ha, your best is even better! If ya ever wanna lend a charitable hand, feel free to reach out and I'll send ya our way ;)

[@no2402]

"If you weren't seen, you cant develop a self" I was diagnosed with everything under the sun until i hit 33 and flashbacks from childhood I forgot suddenly started coming. Along with the constant dialogues in my head starting to introduce themselves. Losing time, doing stuff and saying things i had no recollection of. Turns out I had a dissociative disorder nearly my entire life 😂 I've been previously diagnosed with bpd cptsd, bipolar, early this year i experienced weed induced psychosis heh. A least ten more, all official diagnoses. The healing started properly in leaps and bounds after 23 years in the system, endless hospitalisations, treatment that only half worked until almost a year ago when a specialist confirmed I had OSDD. I definitely have BPD, although age and awareness has made that very tolerable. Just like with BPD, OSDD means my self of sense was unable to form and instead fractured into lots of personalities to cope with trauma and life and unravelling that to get to who I am is intense but so cathartic. I relate to Daniel a lot ❤

[@BritPopSnob]

Absence of joy is also one of the side affects of taking antipsychotic medications.

[@StoutShako]

As someone who DOESN'T have schizophrenic tendencies at all, but who does have a lot of issues with depression and anxiety, I know exactly what Daniel means when he talks about not trustinghis beliefs, but believing them anyways. I am constantly convinced that people hate me or people are looking at me and judging me or are secretly disgusted by me, but I am also aware of how ridiculous it is that I take up any real estate in a brain that isn't my own. But being aware that something is ridiculous and being able to disregard your feelings because of that are two very different things. I also feel this way about my phobia for spiders and house centipedes. I know most are harmless and want nothing to do with me, but if I see one in my home in an uncontrolled manner (loose and actively wandering) it causes me so much distress that I HAVE to do something about it. I try to rehome them when possible, but sometimes I just can't and have to kill them :(

[@Lipolimtown]

The bottom line Dr. Syl is there are no good treatments in psychiatry for this and you this clear as day. A lot of young people get caught up in stressful situations in school, disturb sleep patterns, smoke a bunch of pot and end up like this guy with their lives shattered and ripped from them. The important thing is to absolutely fast track these new treatments coming out for the hundreds of thousands of people that need them

[@telegramsam]

He suffered multiple head injuries while serving in the military, which is in the follow up video Chris did a year after the initial one. It wasn't drug use that did this.

[@tammyhines1585]

I found this to be very interesting. Thank you for doing these.

[@kimberlypayetta3476]

Daniel is an extremely talented poet.

[@averyrainarts]

Unrelated to schizophrenia, I’m on the spectrum and have ADHD and when i was a kid and got super dysregulated or overwhelmed my parents would push and push and ask and push and it would send me into a complete melt down which led to “temper tantrum” where i would get super agressive and unmanageable. So i can confirm sometimes you need different kinds of interactions or comfort or whatever.

[@xanthus8699]

I see Schizophrenic with BPD and all I can seem to think is "how are you alive?". That is an Everest to climb in terms of symptoms.

[@christriplett4901]

His explanation of psychosis was on point!

[@jgnmtz]

Daniel would likely benefit from specialized therapy validating and soothing his inner child .. using his talents (poetry , flowers , baths etc..) he could love his inner child into expressing healthy love , first for his child, his teen, his young adult and eventually who is his now. If he can develop empathy for who he is and what he is experiencing, he can perhaps develop that ‘third eye’ is what my former therapist used to say. That ability to see from a wholesome , healthy loving ID?

[@Bookiebaby17]

I love your channel....I watched this video years ago, and I really like him, and I think Daniel's channel is cool. I love to hear a professional view on what's going on. Hung over, you are funny. You must have been freezing when you started this video, lol. ❤️🤣

[@madeleinehargrave3503]

This is the earliest I’ve ever been holy cow

[@NickeyVamp]

On the last comment you made.. usually when someone is going through a mental situation I tend to say. " I will help you with what I can when I can." It sets up some boundaries but also lets them know I am there for them.

[@dualityofself]

In reference to your question at the end, I've been diagnosed with schizotypal p.d., avoidant p.d., C-PTSD, and clinical depression. Schizotypal on it's own can be pretty debilitating and disruptive. I guess it depends on what your symptoms are and their severity, but it's still not easy to live with. I can kind of see why you said you'd might pick it if you had to choose, but it's not all fun and whimsical, though again, everyone's experience is different. It's caused me a lot of problems and has gotten me into some bad situations and is one reason why I am unable to work. Some people I know who also have it seem to do ok for the most part, others not so much. And then you throw the other things into the mix, and well, yeah. Fun times...

[@sasukeigarai1993]

I love videos on schizophrenia as I have it myself and recently it was switched to schizoaffective disorder depressive type

[@helentaylor4207]

Not sure if you've read it, but Pete Walker's book, Complex PTSD from surviving to thriving might be really helpful in understanding this man. It seems as though he's read it. When he's talking about his senses telling you one thing but logically knowing that these things aren't true, it seems that, yes, he's intellectualising his condition, but that in itself is a grounding technique. Our memories consist of more than thought processing. For example, smells elicit an emotional response. This is to do with the amygdala in the brain processing, not only the sense of smell, but also emotion. What happens, however, if you are in an environment where a scent elicits an emotional memory when you were a baby? Perhaps your parents were yelling at each other and you could smell the cut grass in the garden. Now every time you smell cut grass, you have an emotional response, but logically you don't understand why. This can happen with all our senses. This would be pretty much impossible to medicate. So the patient has to start to learn that often our emotional states are beyond our understanding or control. Dissociation often happens in these circumstances. Grounding techniques are very important in CPTSD. CPTSD is also not only about childhood trauma, it can be about repeated, ongoing emotional trauma. Not being able to 'learn to love', as far as I'm aware is not a diagnostic criteria for CPTSD and I found that comment offensive. I think people have an inbuilt capacity to love, but it can become fragmented when this ability is not nurtured. Please don't comment on disorders that you don't know much about. It could be very damaging to people who are suffering from them. Sometimes when you don't understand something, it is in fact you and not the patient.

[@lolly5657]

I'm going to say it's because I may have a similar mind set and that is why I understood what he meant by delusions... And also maybe why people don't always understand what I'm saying. And I get so frustrated because I feel I make sense... Anyway, this is how I feel when I'm in a bad emotional state, I have, sensory overloads, Alexithymia, emotional dysregulation, and mirror touch Synesthesia .. Which is not the best and results in a lot of confusion and darkness in my head when it gets too much. Even though I know what I'm feeling isn't logical all of the negative inputs feel important and overwhelming. I thought I was bipolar originally as my aunt is, but never felt safe to look for help... finally did last year and turns out I have ADHD and Autism..... Oh you bring up Alexithymia, very good 🙂 I wrote this comment when you were talking about his delusions.

[@avosquirrel231]

Diagnosed BPD, schizoaffective, and OCD. I am mostly in remission and primarily impacted by sza negative symptoms and ocd.

[@salvadoroliveira6632]

Grretings from Brazil!😊

[@monicaclasener]

Hi, from the Netherlands!

[@tracywhipple4364]

Yes, the interviewer's offer of support comes from a place of empathy, however, right after Daniel spoke of attaching in an unhealthy way to someone, it could lead to major problems. For the layperson, please be so careful about how involved you can be for someone struggling with these issues.

[@katyalexandria3291]

For me, in regards to depression, it’s a hot shower. It feels like a warm, giant hug and snaps me out of feeling sad.

[@AaronHendu]

That isnt depression then...just saying. You can feel sad, or negative, without being depressed. If a simple shower gets you outta depressiom, it wasnt depression. Depression is more than just feelong sad or having a bad day...you do knownthat, right?

[@katyalexandria3291]

@@AaronHendu it doesn’t go away, it lessens it

[@Vardagsvegan1]

Do you have any video of people suffering with ocd with pure o and intrusive thought about taboo theme? So many needs to hear about this!

[@oneun4120]

7:25 to at least 9:32 >> I found Daniel's explanation totally plausible and easier to follow than most of the statements I hear from people around me in everyday life... 😁 Should I worry about that now? 🤔

[@marinacallejas5904]

Could you, please, make a video about histrionic personality disorder? It's not easy to find content about it...

[@nicolasmichetti1485]

What do u think about his concussions having an impact on his “lack of ability to feel happiness”, and a lot of the personality experiences hes been experiencing?

[@Alchemicalprincess]

I'm a diagnosed psychopath with shitzoaffectuve disorder. I want to eat people and make things with dead bodies so I called the police and signed myself in to hospital the Dr said I had aspd and shitzoaffectuve disorder, then said I'm a psychopath and dangerous but I'm on meds and getting therapy as it's such a huge thing to bury and ignore when your being fed this constant craving for eating people

[@Alchemicalprincess]

Is it true Dr's are psychopaths?

[@CYRINTHIA212]

i was diagnosed with Bipolar 1, depression

[@mysmirandam.6618]

I take buproprion it helps a lot

[@clairek-s8918]

I have been diagnosed with schizoaffective disorder and at one time in the past, BPD. There is such a horrible stigma around BPD that this video made me very nervous. What if i am just BPD without the schizoaffective piece? I would be so ashamed.

[@gigahorse1475]

Either way you shouldn’t feel ashamed. Both are serious. Having BPD doesn’t make you a bad person.

[@ellamaria9547]

Bpd is real and debilitating ! I hope you’re okay!!

[@AaronHendu]

I would question your bpd disgnoses...many docotrs use that as a way to tag you as "untreatable nuisance" and wipe their hands of you. I was diagnosed as BPD...turns out i dont even have it and am just autistic, with ocd, adhd, and severe depression / anxiety. Not accepting the bpd diagnoses was the key to being able to properly address my mental health and, without doctors, and stopping all meds...i have been 5 years free of most of the issues i used to struggle with. I self isolated (life full of absusers) and that action was the biggest factor in my ability to "recover". Doctors only wanted to lock me away even though inamma danger to no one but myself. Funny thing about my BPD diahnoses...i dont even like to be aroujd people or be close with them...a prettt key componet to bpd. Docs dont care if all they want is to label you and wash their hands of you...

[@Xxbubbly10]

I thought I had bpd but I think now that I have avoidant personality disorder and maybe a touch of magical thinking

[@Madison.Cruz.Shooter]

Or people like you tell us were wrong and tell us what we're feeling isn't what we are feeling. I completely understand him.

[@Monsternallen]

Hey Dr Syl hope everything is well with you, maybe you don’t reading this.. but thx for your channel and you warm ❤ I have deep down period, so it’s helping me to see your videos, thanks makes me feel that I feel alone 😊 but my question is..would you doing a interview like that?? Take care Syl 🙏💫👋// J 🇸🇪

[@private755]

May not surprise you but to answer your question at the end narcissistic people tend to think it’s a huge advantage over everyone else so when/if they discover they have it they aren’t really surprised and they don’t consider it to be something bad, because the disorder itself means everything they perceive about themselves is better than everyone else anyway. Unfortunately for everyone else.

[@michaelford3391]

hi Doc... could you do a piece on MAIOs? I'd be interested in your views - Tranycypromine is the only AD I have success with these days, and the side effects are negligible (although starting up would probably lead to insomnia) . I also take Lithium in case my Bipolar takes off. It's till an unfashionable drug, and Phenelzine is completely unavailable now.

[@too_tired_for_this]

Is CPTSD a diagnosis in Australia? Here in the US it’s still in limbo.

[@katieeasley3945]

Having insight has to be a better thing than not? Stepping stones to work from? Very interesting video - the "I'll be your best buddy" part at the end was very cringey though!

[@monicaclasener]

Yes, it is a sort of reward for Daniel sharing his thoughts, but it seemed to make him uncomfortable.

[@netty9534]

Fascinating.

[@rachelk2457]

Yeah I shared it with one of my old coworkers. 😊 great video, borderline pd I heard is hard to treat. I suspect that my mom has it but she hates labels so will deny it or get angry.😅

[@Maverick_Mad_Moiselle]

Was pre-diagnosed with schizotypal and while I have many of the SPD symptoms, I don't have the uncommon beliefs associated with it. So yeah, I don't believe in magic or otherwordly entities etc and I would genuinely hate to lose my ability to think rationally. I already hate giving in into the magic thinking of OCD. It does happen that I sometimes worry that people can read my mind event if an ocean separates us. But I also don't actually believe it, I just notice a coincidence in the topic and I have a mild feeling of worry that they know what I've done or thought somehow. It's not something that I'm absolutely convinced of, I know as I worry that it is irrational. I struggle a lot with illusions and sensory issues/overload. Sometimes get hallucinations, very rare. I have that unhealthy kind of love Daniel has, I hate being like that. It's absolutely miserable. It's my only reason to live, the only thing keeping me alive but also driving me insane. Btw aren't SPD supposed to be creative? I'm absolutely terrible at that lol. During my ADOS interview, the psychologist told me to describe the book and I proceeded to describe the pictures individually, listing the things I see on them, not realising I was supposed to tell the story 😂 I would have sucked at that too if I knew I was supposed to tell the story.

[@sophcw]

I'm interested in the distinction between illusion and hallucination. Say if you are on LSD, most of the hallucinations you see are in fact based on real world stimuli, such as the floor moving or patterns on an object moving or changing. Does that mean these are not actually hallucinations but illusions?

[@thesaxophoneboy]

A lot of it depends on whether you have insight into your changed perception; are you aware that the floor isn't actually moving, or is it real to you and you have no insight into it?

[@ayyyy_lmao]

you can have both, I am diagnosed with BPD and 'refractory' schizophrenia and they give me clozapine.

[@Mack2244]

Most of my psychotic episodes were triggered by smoking weed. Unfortunately I worked as a budtender and let it be an everyday routine for me.

[@sierraforever2954]

I wish that people in general would not be so judgemental. You don't get to pick what you believe. It's programmed into you. Not all realities are the same.

[@mysmirandam.6618]

I have bipolar 2 CPTSD and MS masking is getting more and more difficult as I age I'm 45 because I'm so tired I'm sooooo tired. Trying to get on disability 😢

[@donnaburden.dip.d.analysis2148]

Hi, can you cover sleep deprivation and what happens to the brain under long-term sleep deprivation? Thanks.

[@bethgraham76]

I would feel incredibly uncomfortable, to say the least, if I had someone sitting that close to me and staring directly at me like that. It would cause me to shut down and have an extremely difficult time communicating. Is he like this in all videos? It seems like he is.

[@InvertedGoblin]

Yeah, he sits like that in all the videos. Someone (I can't remember who) said that it's to show that it's ok to be near people with mental health issues and you don't have to avoid them.

[@Viky-l1r]

It would make me uncomfortable too. If I am in the middle of psychosis especially. I cannot normal. Do not expect me to think and speak normal. I cannot tell you how irritated I get when people do this. I cannot explain logically to you why space magic exists and why I now feel the need to turn myself into the authorities because I have killed people with my mind powers.

[@Aster_Risk]

It's not like this in every video. There are videos where he sits far apart or isn't sitting with someone at all. I assume this is a discussion had with each subject beforehand.

[@ChaiLatte13]

oh my gosh. Yes every time Dr Syl has reacted to one of the videos, I just did not understand it at all. It's so awkward. My doctor doesn't come up next to me on the exam table to ask me questions or to try to show he is listening or trying to help. lol I'd be wondering if they were trying to hit on me. haha

[@vamvam7690]

I think the interviewer (Chris) tries to tailor how he acts/responds during the interview to each individual person he speaks to…that’s kind of the whole premise of his channel, trying to show the value in all people despite their disabilities, mental health conditions or the different ways they may communicate I think he gets it wrong at times but his intention is always to treat the person as an individual and treat them the way he believes is most suited to them personally…which can obviously be a hard task when it’s the first time he’s meeting a stranger I think Chris always tries his best but does get it wrong occasionally as we all do at times

[@RosalindCosta-vj1zq]

I found this video (the interview, specifically) really difficult to follow. Mental health is indeed a complex subject, and I struggle to understand all of the complexities. My current diagnosis is Schizoaffective disorder (with bipolar disorder components). I have found this diagnosis very difficult to swallow, and have disputed it, at times. I found the bipolar disorder diagnosis more believable and easy to swallow (that was some thirty years ago) - perhaps I have become too seated in that definition of my mental health status? At the time of the bipolar diagnosis, I was also diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, which I have heard used to be known as Emotionally Unstable Personality Disorder. Is it true that you cannot have both of these diagnoses at the same time?? Is it also true that it is very difficult to differentiate between the two disorders?? In the past, I have ALSO been diagnosed with Complex PTSD. Is it really possible to have a diagnosis of Schizoaffective, Bipolar, Borderline and CPTSD, all at the same time?? I would be fascinated to know, and at this point in time, I wouldn't be at all surprised. During my very short (15-20 minute) appointments with psychiatrists, it is very challenging to receive answers to such questions, and usually the dialogue is dominated by a conversation about reducing the dreaded medications, which produce significant weight gain, anhedonia and such. How I wish I didn't have these diagnoses to live with!

[@honeyartstudios]

What headphones are those? I see them often and they’re quite colorful

[@Kanggaxx]

Hey just so you know, KZbin doesn't like words like s*xual *buse anymore. You have to say stuff like SA. Or bleep/mute out the words.

[@InvertedGoblin]

Unless tou get the YT certification that you're a real doctor

[@shaynaharris3861]

I was able to follow him but I feel like we r kind of on the same wave length 😅

[@LorenzMotors]

8:18 you said you couldn't follow what he was saying because it was tangential, so let me break it down for you. The question was "what is it like to experience psychosis" He starts off by saying he doesn't know what it is. This should tell you right off that bat that his thoughts are going to be like a rough draft. Asking someone to describe psychosis is like trying to explain color to a blind person. The first question he asks himself is "why does psychosis happen?" He knows there is a trigger, but can't seem to place it. Instead of trying to grasp an idea he doesn't have, he talks about his delusions, which is the belief that he is being spied on. Come to think of it psychiatry is filled with gaslighting questions that ultimately lead to the conclusion that there's something wrong with the interviewee. Next time you diagnose someone for tangential thinking, try to think about how the question might be framed in such a way that makes it impossible to answer honestly. Try explaining color to a blind guy and you'll have tangential thoughts, too

[@Story_player]

I’m absolutely loving your content, thank you, and I believe Daniel has many cognitive distortions that he’s holding on to, if he was to speak to a cognitive behavioral therapists it would do him well.

[@johnromano3427]

Really THAT cold in AUS? We're in South America and our winter down here is warm as heck

[@DodderingOldMan]

Ha, well, depends on what part of Australia you're in... some parts of the country have had nearly record low temperatures lately. Got down to -10 degrees C not too far from where I live the other day. Where in South America are you from?

[@johnromano3427]

@@DodderingOldMan Sht -10?? wow. I'm in Lima, Peru...El Niño is making it feel like spring, not even fall; let alone winter

[@DodderingOldMan]

@@johnromano3427 Ah, Lima, interesting. I had a look at Lima's climate on Wikipedia, I have to admit I had no idea you had such small variation in temperature. It's easy to forget Lima is basically in a desert, but also right on the ocean. Well, easy for someone who's never been outside of Australia to forget, I bet you tend to remember :P

[@johnromano3427]

@@bob60087 omg 8C, now that's cold, or at least it would be where I am due to the extreme humidity that makes the cold seep into your bones, and yeah that's rough, I know all about keeping that light bill in check

[@johnromano3427]

@@DodderingOldMan lol yeah it's a wet dessert, the humidity is nuts and the microclimates from one part of the city to another keeps you on your toes. But we're def not supposed to have a winter in the 20s-C

[@paulsapp5573]

I’m a nurse and mental health fascinates me but it’s easily the patient population I am the most uncomfortable with.

[@pinheadlarry2921]

i wish nurses were more educated with it to avoid this :/ as someone with schizoaffective i’ve definitely felt that the staff at the hospital were afraid of me tbh

[@paulsapp5573]

@@pinheadlarry2921 I am really sorry you’ve felt this or experienced this. My uncomfortableness is never fear of the patient. Like you said more education is needed, it’s a very quick section of nurses education. I also typically feel bad about how badly this patient population is managed in hospital systems. I’ve often seen like one tele health referral and then turn patients loose without any real resources.

[@gigahorse1475]

@@pinheadlarry2921I work in a lab that studies schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. My PI is an expert on those disorders and says they are a wonderful patient population to work with. In my experience everyone I have met with is really sweet! And I have heard this from other sources as well. There’s too much stigma around schizophrenia. Working with people who have psychosis helps me accept myself because I also have psychosis. Familiarity means less fear. I said this to you rather than to the OP because I hope this is encouraging.

[@AaronHendu]

Keep these comments to yourself...it is a you issue you are weaponizing against the vulnerable. You are the reason people have teouble seeking help and if we werwnt so hard up for nurses, i would confidently tell you to pick a job more suited to your person. You are doing harm.

[@paulsapp5573]

@@AaronHendu truly sorry if my words hurt, wasn’t my intention. I just meant it’s a patient population I have little experience with, nursing school focuses little time with it, and I am a cardiac nurse. I never meant to say I look down on that population or that I think lesser of them. I meant to say I just don’t feel like I can connect or be as good as a nurse to them as I should be. Again maybe that’s wrong of me to say, or perhaps I need to learn more about that patient population. But I’d never judge, or deny a patient care or compassion or empathy because of it. Sorry if I offended you. Wasn’t my intent, just meant to offer my weaknesses as a nurse and try to find common ground.

[@chilangopacheco420]

Sounds not too different from an acid trip gone wrong or even eating too much cannabis edibles of course with those it is only temporary

[@rebeccaryancross]

I knew what he meant by you know it’s not real but it consumes you so much that logic is bull shit. It’s a very tug of war with your thoughts. Your intrusive thoughts take over. That’s what I got from it. I’m bi polar with ptsd adhd and anxiety disorder and sometimes your intrusive thoughts are so awful you fight with herself about not thinking that way because it’s crazy but the thoughts are still so strong that you second guess your logic that it’s not real. It’s really hard to explain. 😂😂😂

[@dyrefate]

I didn't see any indication that Daniel was responding to internal stimuli. Many people with psychotic disorders find it uncomfortable to look people in the eye so that's probably why he was looking all around. Anhedonia (loss of pleasure) can also be caused by the psychiatric drugs used to treat psychosis. When you said it was hard to follow what he was saying, I didn't think so at all. He's just describing having insight (knowing that what you're experiencing is a symptom of your illness but still having emotional conviction in it). It's not technically correct to say that if you're experiencing a "psychotic delusion" you don't know it's a delusion. You can learn to recognize those ideas and identify them when they occur. I don't understand your claim that if you have insight that suggests a personality issue. At times it seemed like you were referring to CPTSD as a personality disorder which is confusing. The way that you are describing hallucinations is also incorrect. You can have hallucinations that you know other people can't perceive. You also don't have to be in a psychotic state (which usually involves a dramatic loss of insight) to have hallucinations. They can occur at your baseline as well. Also hallucinations can be either internal or external. Honestly there was so much misinformation in your commentary that it really made me mad to watch.

[@lyndamodeste7902]

Its not delusion, just because you don't see it doesn't mean its not there, it's spiritual. You psychologist rule out God and the bible and focus on what you can see but its way deeper than you know. Jesus Christ can deliver any illness i know it I've seen it.

[@mshaw6836]

Believe that👍

[@gigahorse1475]

Like a few other people here I disagree with Dr. Syl’s take on the “rationalization defense.” I think Daniel explained very well what it’s like to have your senses and experience contradict the reality we commonly take for granted. Although irrational thinking is part of schizophrenia, I strongly believe that if you take the most rational person in the world and give them the mere feeling that they are being watched, they will eventually start to believe they are being watched. From my own experience, I don’t think much irrationality is required for delusions. A lot of people experience both delusions and at least some level of awareness at the same time.

[@minimushrooom]

Yeah I agree. I think he missed the nuances of what a delusion actually is here. Daniel is clearly questioning if what he believes is real, most probably because others have questioned it and told him he is unwell. He is trying to convince himself he doesn't believe in it to get better, but he clearly still very much believes his delusions are true.

[@zippy10256]

With OCD I feel delusional but I can be aware of it somehow at the same time.

[@harrisonlopes7003]

I had the opportunity to work with Daniel, and we became friends. He is one of the kindest people I have ever met!

[@sarahlamoureux1454]

From what I've read, the issue of insight in psychosis is more complicated. And, just speaking from my personal experience (diagnosed with unspecified psychosis), it is possible to experience something like paranoia -- thinking people are monitoring me through devices, talking about me, lying to me, giving covert signs to one another about me -- while being aware it's not based in reality. It's distressing: it feels like I'm fighting my own mind. Fortunately, it's been a while since I've had bad symptoms like that.

[@zippy10256]

Iv had episodes of "OCD" where I was fairly certain I was experiencing a delusion but I couldn't stop thinking about whatever I was thinking about because It became a compulsion and it made the fear feel very real. For example I felt the TV was talking to me, so I avoided TV. I became obsessed with the fear that I was going crazy, would google symptoms and ruminate, but because OCD is all about doubt, I knew somewhere I'm not experiencing thoughts based in reality but it didn't make the thoughts feel less real.. very strange space to be in

[@mishi144]

I didn't find him talking about how he understands logically he is experiencing psychosis but for him it is a very real experience hard to follow at all. I understood what he was saying quite clearly.

[@justinwebb3117]

I agree, I did think it was actually a really clear description for the question he had been asked about psychosis, it was super clear to me anyway! ❤

[@emublockmaster3081]

Yeah I agree. It was pretty succinct, to be honest. No one can be expected to perfectly formulate their thoughts on the spot...

[@neomancr]

He was being evasive and had no actual awareness of what it's like to go through psychosis, only second hand opinions like "it was horrible". No one who goes through a psychosis can block out the entire experience and only remember "flashes" of lucidity like being in the hospital but literally nothing of the actual psychosis. Even his delusions are generic hackneyed "people are spying on me" or like Dr Syl establishes never true hallucinations but what you'd imagine from movies is what a hallucination is like ie paraidolia and "my shadow was talking to me". These are not at all now psychosis or hallucinations manifest. The term "voice inside your head" never literally sounds like it's coming from inside your head. That would be a logical impossibility. It is always mistaken for coming from either everywhere at once or an ambient background sound that the patient could not differentiate from what everyone else would be able to hear. How would it be possible for a patient to "know the voices are coming from his head" auditory hallucinations aren't a static phenomenon and do not comprise of merely voices but background noises and even blips that sound like the sound of machines or chimes analog or digital. Eg I can hear the radio. Then someone comes in and turns on the radio. And you realize only then that you weren't actually listening to the radio.. From the way he describes his symptoms they would be cake to manage versus actual schizoaffective disorder. But schizoaffective disorder also has remission its not even as bad when it's on remission as he is pretending. He would either not be on remission or going through a state of psychosis during the video. He can't be both.

[@juliannaking4473]

We are VERY Protective of Daniel . He has a piece of our Hearts

[@luckyduckydaisyflower2344]

How do you know him? Who are you speaking for? Lol

[@mistymac9345]

Following Daniel I find him so likeable. It must be told that he is a Veteran and has had many serious head injuries. He suffers from PTSD , he wouldn't access any VA services because he didn't feel worthy, he thinks his illness is minor compared to ex military who have lost limbs, sight etc.

[@franktherabbit42]

I have Schizoaffective disorder. I've had 3 hospital visits in the last year. It's pretty rough at times. Thanks for the videos Dr Syl.

[@haloedge2829]

I've followed Daniel ever since this interview and it has been emotiona,l to say the least. He still doesn't have the help he needs and deserves. He's tried and tried again. The facilities that take him in after are particularly terrible episode only increases his sense of hopelessness. He deserves so much. He deserves to have light again. To laugh and sing again.

[@dominicaaaaa5547]

Yes I watch Daniels videos too I really hope that one day he can get to a good and more balanced place because he seems like a great guy 🙂

[@angeliaparish]

Daniel's first brain injury was in military when his parachute had an issue. He said it in one of the interviews. In a video a few days ago, he seemed better.

[@glasslilacs]

I've followed Daniel Nepveux on KZbin ever since I saw this interview, and his journey has been incredible. He's a really talented writer and makes vlogs about the things he goes through. Big trigger warning on his vlogs, he talks about very heavy things, but he's so incredibly sympathetic and wonderful as a person. I'd really recommend following him. The video Syl is watching was recorded about 3 years ago at this point. A lot has happened since then.

[@jgnmtz]

I think the reason you found his answer to psychosis hard to follow is your practicing on a hangover . You’re literally experiencing what I experience on a daily under the influence of 1000 mg of depakote to treat bipolar. Cloudy , slow , unable to experience in real time .. not quite sharp . That’s depakote . That’s also your hangover . He explained his psychosis so well . He knows it’s insane but when his senses , his brain if you will, are giving him the actual signals that represent ‘this is reality ! This is what you need to believe !’ Even though he can later recognize ‘it’s insane ‘. That was the best description of psychosis I’ve ever said or heard . Dude ! Don’t come on hung . You dropped the ball . Hope you’re not treating people in this condition. It’s like being mentally ill . Welcome to the team

[@tirzah9929]

‘He’s just being nice, and I’m being jugdemental’ Me all the time

[@jean2479]

My son has schizophrenia and this video is heart wrenching.

[@sharonthompson672]

I'm so sorry for this man. My brain has always been my refuge, an active, entertaining "inner life", this poor man appears to be tortured by what should be his refuge. 😔❤️ But the insight he has into his illness gives me hope he can be helped. He's working terribly hard to understand his illness. Also, I've had one concussion, this poor man has had at least eight???!!! Feeling yourself at death's door eight times? Nightmare.

[@justb4769]

There is an old video of Daniel before his disorder and he was a complete different person. I wish he could find happiness again. Its so sad