I was diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia in October 2015; this was in my Junior year of college.

A major concussion from a bike fall [without a helmet, onto a cement curb] plus marijuana use took away the last of my ear strength and I started hearing voices on a lonely October night. Even though my brain was being bombarded with thoughts and voices, I tried my best to finish that year of school. My grades were mediocre but passing. I somehow even managed to pick up a part-time job. It was by Jesus’s grace I was functioning.

Fortunately, I mustered the boldness to phone my mom and tell her I was hearing things that were not in front of me. My father and her arranged for me to come home from Richmond back to Virginia Beach. The psychiatrist I was sent to back home put me on 80 milligrams Zyprexa followed by Latuda. Throughout this time I fasted and prayed, on and off my medication, until the Lord miraculously had me stumble upon a post from Laurna Tallman at a website I researched. In Laurna’s comment on that website she spoke on the healing power of ear training through focused listening. On her website, she mentioned some of the great composers I should listen to. Through the composers’ brilliant violin music and clearing my life of useless even occultic objects I have just about achieved a sound mind. The battle wages on, but I am assured through his promises that I am healed.

Laurna’s Note: The last time I talked to Ian late in 2017, the voices in his head had subsided to thoughts he could laugh at and ignore. He had a strong sense of his left, rational brain’s ability to dominate those thoughts. He had learned to sing or hum to additionally distract his rational thought processes from those intrusive thoughts. He had a scientific view of those intrusive thoughts rather than a paranoid fear of Satanic possession. Ian’s mother was concerned about side effects from his medication. At his mother’s suggestion, Ian had taken himself off medication entirely before he contacted me. He started Focused Listening, which he has done faithfully for about a year. His integration was not quite as fast as it could be. His left-brain still perceived his right-brain thoughts as voices different from his own voice, but no longer as loud, overpowering, malevolent, or distantly “other.” His religious thoughts have become normal within his tradition. He is no longer paranoid. His writing has become clear, grammatical, insightful, and optimistic.

Ian learned that cannabis, alcohol, and some medications and other things could have a negative impact on his ear. He changed his behavior accordingly. He learned that emotional stresses, both positive and negative, would intensify the interior dialogue: the voices would become stronger. He learned to take action to improve these stresses. For instance, he quit his job as a building superintendent in a dangerous neighborhood where murders were frequent and found less risky employment in a government position. His second job also placed him out of doors getting exercise, which would support the recovery of his damaged ear. Ian has been employed steadily for at least 10 months. He has coped very well with the emotional ups and downs of an intense romantic relationship that came to an end. He is now living independently. His ties with his family and his church are strong. He intends to continue to use Focused Listening daily to support full recovery and afterward a few times a week to keep his ear functioning well.

Reported January, 2018