Integration Disorder

schizophrenia ( /ˌskɪtsɵˈfrɛniə/ or /ˌskɪtsɵˈfriːniə/) is a mental disorder characterized by a disintegration of thought processes and of emotional responsiveness.^{(Courtesy of Wikipeida)}

^{Not too long ago, schizophrenia was renamed. Now it is called "integration disorder" in an apparent attempt to deal with the negative stigma.  George Carlin would probably have said, "No matter what you call it, it's still 'fucking crazy'."}

^{During another one of those talks over lunch, this time with families and at a park. Hadn't seen them for a while, not since the new addition.} 

^{We talked about being here, what it means, and how to deal with it. The difference. The difference between the image and the reality.} 

^{The image is of a very advanced and civil society. A doctor had remarked at how some papers had been published that dealt with renaming schizophrenia and how, wow, that place must really be ahead.} 

^{He then said, the same doctor who has never visited Japan, an obviously intelligent and 'qualified' individual, paused...and also couldn't help but notice that, for 'developed countries' (or whatever the current term is), Japan's got an amazingly high rate of polypharmacy, possibly leading the pack by a long, long way.}

^{When I heard this, I wanted to nod and pretend that I understood. But I asked for just a little bit more info.} 

^{To people in the field, the idea of coming up with a more refined term through a very thorough process and then to agree on "integration disorder" is kind of on the bi-polar opposite side of the spectrum from the practice of old-fashioned polypharmacy... a practice where medication is all lumped together without too much consideration given to the side-effects, etc.} 

At least that's how I thought I understood what he was saying. 

^{We'd been talking about crazy. And I'd wanted to reconfirm the chilling story he'd told, kind of out of the blue, last time we'd talked...}

^{Something almost unspeakably dark had happened.} 

^{"Could you tell it to me again?" I asked.} 

^{"Okay...here it is. Do you remember that guy..."} 

^{That's a story that I'm still figuring out how to relay because of what it could mean. Maybe in a few days. Fuck. Maybe...}