I’m no doctor or anything, but my understanding is that only people with a genetic predisposition can develop actual schizophrenia. Schizophrenia usually first manifests in a person’s twenties, if it’s going to manifest, but it’s not a sure thing – there are certain precautions you can take to make it less likely that it will develop. For example, I have a friend whose mom is schizophrenic, and he’s really careful to avoid hard drugs and other intensely mind-altering practices. So if you have anyone in your family with a history of schizophrenia, I’d be extra careful with tulpamancy.
On the other hand, there are lots of mental illnesses that don’t seem to require a family history – again, this is way outside of my realm of knowledge, but anecdotally, it seems like just about anyone can develop severe depression, hypomania, or a destructive drug habit, given the right circumstances. So if nothing else, I’d advise you to proceed with a whole lot of caution.
As for the point about getting swept under the rug: I have no familiarity with the discussion that goes on in circles that are interested in tulpamancy, but if it’s primarily self-reports, well, people who are imprisoned, dead, or severely mentally compromised wouldn’t be able to report on their status. I think I might sound like I’m trying to scare you – I guess maybe I am? It just seems really important to me to tread carefully around tulpas.
Ironically, certain psychoactive substances like cannabis (high CBD and low THC) have been shown to be effective in the reduction of stress in schizophrenic people and doesn’t contribute to psychosis even within families who have members with it. Interestingly, some use THC for their schizophrenia symptoms.
However, environmental factors (set and setting) can greatly increase the likelihood of onset of schizophrenia too.
On tulpamancy, I’ve heard of some (myself included) who “hear voices” but they’re not the result of psychosis, but an internal dialogue and hyperphantasia. I was freaking out needlessly for years thinking I had schizophrenia.
There are some instances where the psychosis is benign, and in Western world psychosis seems to present itself much more negatively. This could indicate that upbringing and other environmental factors could contribute to positive negative experiences.
I’m no doctor or anything, but my understanding is that only people with a genetic predisposition can develop actual schizophrenia. Schizophrenia usually first manifests in a person’s twenties, if it’s going to manifest, but it’s not a sure thing – there are certain precautions you can take to make it less likely that it will develop. For example, I have a friend whose mom is schizophrenic, and he’s really careful to avoid hard drugs and other intensely mind-altering practices. So if you have anyone in your family with a history of schizophrenia, I’d be extra careful with tulpamancy.
On the other hand, there are lots of mental illnesses that don’t seem to require a family history – again, this is way outside of my realm of knowledge, but anecdotally, it seems like just about anyone can develop severe depression, hypomania, or a destructive drug habit, given the right circumstances. So if nothing else, I’d advise you to proceed with a whole lot of caution.
As for the point about getting swept under the rug: I have no familiarity with the discussion that goes on in circles that are interested in tulpamancy, but if it’s primarily self-reports, well, people who are imprisoned, dead, or severely mentally compromised wouldn’t be able to report on their status. I think I might sound like I’m trying to scare you – I guess maybe I am? It just seems really important to me to tread carefully around tulpas.
Ironically, certain psychoactive substances like cannabis (high CBD and low THC) have been shown to be effective in the reduction of stress in schizophrenic people and doesn’t contribute to psychosis even within families who have members with it. Interestingly, some use THC for their schizophrenia symptoms.
However, environmental factors (set and setting) can greatly increase the likelihood of onset of schizophrenia too.
On tulpamancy, I’ve heard of some (myself included) who “hear voices” but they’re not the result of psychosis, but an internal dialogue and hyperphantasia. I was freaking out needlessly for years thinking I had schizophrenia.
There are some instances where the psychosis is benign, and in Western world psychosis seems to present itself much more negatively. This could indicate that upbringing and other environmental factors could contribute to positive negative experiences.