Schizophrenia - General Discussion

copperhound99 said:Yeah, right. Like there aren't like 90 percent of people just trying to get through downtown without being bothered. As if everyone actually has eyes on her...😕

I’m not even talking about the rush hour crowd... or those massive crowds gathered in one spot. I’m talking about your actual neighborhood, the folks on the bus, or just random people walking by. This isn't about some crowded downtown area packed with idiots who have nothing better to do than stare and judge... omg 😲 🙂

copperhound99 said:So I’m doing a little deep dive online and stumbled onto this wild theory.

Some psychoanalyst was talking about "ideas of reference"—basically when someone feels like everything they hear or see is somehow tied back to them personally, like there's this hidden meaning meant just for them...😁

But honestly, it makes me wonder—is there anyone out there who *doesn't* connect what they read or see on the news back to their own life? If I'm not comparing information to my own experiences or the people around me, what am I even supposed to do with it?😁

Like, I'll be watching the weather report, see that rain is coming, and naturally, I start thinking about how it’s gonna mess up my plans or what I'll end up doing if I can't get out...

Is that actually what they mean, or am I totally misreading this? Are we all just a little bit schizoid at heart?😁

You can't just take a single diagnosis, memorize the rules and symptoms, and assume you've solved it. Every person is different. Within any given diagnostic classification, everyone exhibits unique structural and dynamic variations...

While schizotypal personality disorder might share common elements among those diagnosed, the individual differences are essentially endless.

...And how exactly am I supposed to cure these ideas about relationships?

With antipsychotics.

Hello there. I was going through some of my mother's old medical records recently and came across something I didn't quite recognize. The documentation lists a diagnosis of F25... If anyone happens to know a bit more about what that entails, I would truly appreciate your insight. Thank you.

William Evans10 said:My mother-in-law suffers from what’s called psychoactive schizophrenia—it’s a heavy diagnosis, really. But honestly, on top of the clinical side of things, she struggles with significant cognitive impairments too. I can't tell if it's just part of the illness or something else, but she's unable to handle basic tasks, doesn't know how to manage them, and frankly, refuses to try. It leaves her completely dependent on my husband and me. For the longest time, she never stayed consistent with her medication or kept up with her appointments at the psychiatrist. Ever since I moved in after we got married... well, I finally pushed for some real help. We eventually managed to drag her to a specialist, and she’s been attending sessions now. She was prescribed Zyprexa and Faverin. However, ever since she started this regimen, she has become incredibly lethargic. She spends her entire day in bed, she’s lost a significant amount of weight, and she barely speaks. She just wants to be alone, staring at the TV or sleeping. At first, I thought she was just adjusting to the new meds, but it’s been three months now. It’s like the light has just gone out in her. Her parents have passed away, and she’s only 47 years old. You truly cannot imagine how difficult her personality is, or how draining this whole situation has become. My husband remembers how tough it was when he was growing up; his grandparents tried everything they could to help her back then, but nothing worked. She’s cycled through various medications before with zero results. Either these specific pills are totally numbing her, or she’s subconsciously avoiding taking them.

What you described definitely isn't just "adjusting" to the treatment—because I take olanzapine (Zyprexa) myself, and I used to be on Fevarin too. Are you absolutely certain she's actually swallowing the pills? Also, regarding the cognitive issues, those aren't necessarily tied to the diagnosis; I live with schizophrenia and I'm currently pulling double duty as a student at two different universities.

Look, if she refuses to cooperate with treatment, then honestly—without any guilt whatsoever—you should just insist on having her admitted to a psychiatric facility for a while. Maybe that'll finally bring her to her senses. I've spent time in a psych ward before, and it’s actually not a bad place to be.

Kimberly Cook5 said:What you described definitely isn't just "adjusting" to the treatment—because I take olanzapine (Zyprexa) myself, and I used to be on Fevarin too. Are you absolutely certain she's actually swallowing the pills? Also, regarding the cognitive issues, those aren't necessarily tied to the diagnosis; I live with schizophrenia and I'm currently pulling double duty as a student at two different universities.

Look, if she refuses to cooperate with treatment, then honestly—without any guilt whatsoever—you should just insist on having her admitted to a psychiatric facility for a while. Maybe that'll finally bring her to her senses. I've spent time in a psych ward before, and it’s actually not a bad place to be.

That isn't legal, and frankly, I don't find it morally acceptable either—this idea of just "forcing someone into a psych ward."
She isn't posing a threat to herself or anyone else. Just because your own experience was fine doesn't mean we should be imposing forced interventions on others. 🙂

William Evans10 said:Hello there. I was going through some of my mother's old medical records recently and came across something I didn't quite recognize. The documentation lists a diagnosis of F25... If anyone happens to know a bit more about what that entails, I would truly appreciate your insight. Thank you.

F25 refers to schizoaffective disorder. This is when mood symptoms—like mania or depression—occur alongside schizophrenia symptoms.

There are a few different types
F25 Schizoaffective Disorders
F25.0 Schizoaffective disorder, manic type
F25.1 Schizoaffective disorder, depressive type
F25.2 Schizoaffective disorder, mixed type
F25.8 Other schizoaffective disorders
F25.9 Unspecified schizoaffective disorder

You can find more details here and here.

Anthony Lopez8 said:That isn't legal, and frankly, I don't find it morally acceptable either—this idea of just "forcing someone into a psych ward."
She isn't posing a threat to herself or anyone else. Just because your own experience was fine doesn't mean we should be imposing forced interventions on others. 🙂

I'm with you 100%. Plus, let's be real—no hospital is a great place to be. You should always try other treatment options first. Forcing people into a ward just because you can is wrong; it ends up being a pretty traumatic experience, especially for the patient.

Henry Garcia9 said:I'm with you 100%. Plus, let's be real—no hospital is a great place to be. You should always try other treatment options first. Forcing people into a ward just because you can is wrong; it ends up being a pretty traumatic experience, especially for the patient.

And it’s not like people just get admitted on a whim, either. Those making the calls don't just decide based on a mood; there have to be specific clinical criteria met for hospitalization to happen.

EDIT:
@lucka1989, you didn't mention if any family members have actually sat down with her current doctor. If they haven't, it might be worth having you or your husband—or both of you—join her at the next appointment. Since you live together, you likely see things she might not mention. Providing those outside observations to the doctors can really help them fine-tune her treatment plan... plus, you can get a clear picture of her prognosis directly from the professionals.

Michelle Evans said:And it’s not like people just get admitted on a whim, either. Those making the calls don't just decide based on a mood; there have to be specific clinical criteria met for hospitalization to happen.

EDIT:
@lucka1989, you didn't mention if any family members have actually sat down with her current doctor. If they haven't, it might be worth having you or your husband—or both of you—join her at the next appointment. Since you live together, you likely see things she might not mention. Providing those outside observations to the doctors can really help them fine-tune her treatment plan... plus, you can get a clear picture of her prognosis directly from the professionals.

It doesn't even cross our minds to force her into hospitalization unless she becomes an actual danger to herself or us—you know, when those episodes of wild outbursts and screaming start happening again. That last incident was about three months ago, but we didn't push for a hospital stay back then because she’s absolutely terrified of medical facilities. We were the ones who told the doctors she didn't need to be admitted and that a sedative injection would suffice instead. Looking back, I have to wonder... where did we go wrong?
And besides, when things get to that point, it’s honestly probably better if they just keep them under observation for a little while afterward.

We live upstairs, while she’s down on the ground floor. My husband is working around the clock, but I still fully intend to go with her to see Dr. Johnson so I can have a serious word with him. To be perfectly honest, neither my husband nor I ever suspected her diagnosis was quite that severe. I suppose it varies from person to person—I actually read a post here from a young woman who has schizophrenia but is still managing to attend college—but it's hard to say. In my experience, even when my mother-in-law is at her absolute best, she remains mentally fragile. She struggles with her speech, she mumbles, she fumbles with simple tasks like buttoning clothes, and her cognitive sharpness just isn't there. I truly believe this stems from years of either avoiding treatment altogether or receiving inadequate care. It doesn't help that she has been dealing with this for decades; her initial medical records regarding a psychoaffective disorder date all the way back to 1987. Given the lack of consistent treatment over the years, it’s entirely possible this has progressed into schizophrenia. The most difficult part is that she lacks any insight into her own condition. She has no desire—and frankly, no capacity—to grasp how ill she really is. Instead, she's convinced that we are all out to get her, and I find myself in the position of having to practically force her to take her medication just so she'll comply.

Kimberly Cook5 said:What you described definitely isn't just "adjusting" to the treatment—because I take olanzapine (Zyprexa) myself, and I used to be on Fevarin too. Are you absolutely certain she's actually swallowing the pills? Also, regarding the cognitive issues, those aren't necessarily tied to the diagnosis; I live with schizophrenia and I'm currently pulling double duty as a student at two different universities.

Look, if she refuses to cooperate with treatment, then honestly—without any guilt whatsoever—you should just insist on having her admitted to a psychiatric facility for a while. Maybe that'll finally bring her to her senses. I've spent time in a psych ward before, and it’s actually not a bad place to be.

She absolutely cannot stand the Zyprexa. It’s just not working for her at all. Honestly, she’s like a walking ghost lately. I’m basically forcing her to take it just to get her to swallow the pills. Could you tell me how long you’ve been dealing with your diagnosis? How long have you been undergoing treatment, and how much time did it actually take before they finally found a therapy that worked for you? Thanks.🙂

Henry Garcia9 said:I'm with you 100%. Plus, let's be real—no hospital is a great place to be. You should always try other treatment options first. Forcing people into a ward just because you can is wrong; it ends up being a pretty traumatic experience, especially for the patient.

I agree. But at the same time, avoiding hospital treatment entirely isn't exactly a great move either. My mother-in-law goes through these episodes two or three times a year. The last one was about three months ago. And I shouldn't even mention that it never lasts just a single day; it drags on for ten days or so. We always used to avoid taking her to the hospital because she would constantly beg us, promising she'd get better and that things would improve. Since both my husband and I knew that simply wasn't possible, we always gave in. Looking back, I think that was our mistake; perhaps being admitted to the hospital might have hit home for her, making her realize she actually needs to take her medication and that she is truly ill. On the other hand, her brain just functions in a way where simple concepts are incomprehensible to her. I don't know... In any case, I can't even begin to describe how difficult certain situations are for her, let alone how exhausting it is for us... it wears a person down mentally. How are you supposed to help someone who refuses help themselves? I actually have to resort to THREATENING her with a hospital visit just to get her to take her pills, or sometimes I have to practically force her. When I tell her we're going to see a psychiatrist, she just rolls her eyes and puts up a fight. She either doesn't grasp how sick she really is, or she's just fine with it. For instance, today she’s perfectly happy and finds everything hilarious (even things that aren't funny), yet just a few days ago, she was stuck in bed, buried under blankets from head to toe, staring at the TV all day long.

I should probably mention that for the last ten days, I haven't been giving her any Ziprex; I've switched exclusively to Feverin. She has lost a noticeable amount of weight because she just sleeps the whole time when she's on those meds. It’s quite hard on her, honestly. But really... uff. We'll just have to wait and see what the doctor says during our next visit.

William Evans10 said:I should probably mention that for the last ten days, I haven't been giving her any Ziprex; I've switched exclusively to Feverin. She has lost a noticeable amount of weight because she just sleeps the whole time when she's on those meds. It’s quite hard on her, honestly. But really... uff. We'll just have to wait and see what the doctor says during our next visit.

You shouldn't take it upon yourself to stop, lower, or increase any prescribed medication. If you notice something isn't right, call the doctor and ask for guidance, but please don't make changes on your own. You've stopped the antidepressant but removed the antipsychotic, and it's vital she takes that to help manage the psychotic symptoms.

Hi everyone. I’ve been dealing with paranoid schizophrenia, along with some derealization and depersonalization issues. I’ve experienced just about everything—out-of-body experiences, visions, heard thoughts, an overactive imagination, altered states of consciousness, thought insertion, thought broadcasting, reading minds, and a total lack of emotion, speech, pleasure, and willpower. It all got to a point where I stopped functioning—couldn't move or even talk—so I had to be hospitalized twice. I was on Zyprexa and Prazosin. Those meds pretty much bring my intellect back to a functional level and keep me from slipping into psychotic episodes. They're fine, I guess. Anyway, I’m on a new medication now.

I'm particularly interested in the link between altered states of consciousness and schizophrenia—if anyone happens to know anything about that or could recommend a solid book, article, or blog that dives into it, I'd appreciate it. I can't seem to find anything worthwhile. 🤷

Michelle Evans said:You shouldn't take it upon yourself to stop, lower, or increase any prescribed medication. If you notice something isn't right, call the doctor and ask for guidance, but please don't make changes on your own. You've stopped the antidepressant but removed the antipsychotic, and it's vital she takes that to help manage the psychotic symptoms.

Thanks so much for the heads-up. 🙏👍

How do I just get moving again? My primary diagnosis is schizophrenia, and my current regimen includes Zyprexa along with smaller doses of Risperdal. I’m also on Effexor; my doctor recently bumped me up to 150 mg, but I haven't really felt a difference yet—maybe it just needs more time to kick in. It’s just that I am completely lacking energy. You can see it on me; it feels like my brain is running on low power mode, maybe at 20% capacity at most.
I’ve had about enough of listening to friends and coworkers criticize me or make fun of my behavior and who I am.
What’s hardest to swallow is that this has been my entire life. The only time I ever truly felt good and full of life was before the psychosis hit.
At night, I have a hard time falling asleep because I’m so restless, and all these memories from a rough childhood start flooding back, which I feel is at the root of everything.
Then in the morning, getting out of bed is a struggle; there’s this heavy depression and apathy that just leaves me lying there, lost in my own head.
The best part of the day is usually the afternoon, once I manage to actually accomplish something, like studying or just tidying up my room.
I’ve been able to handle simple tasks, though you can't really do anything in isolation—you have to be around people—and my lack of drive, confusion, and exhaustion are so obvious to everyone else.
As for college, it’s been incredibly difficult, or honestly, it’s just not happening right now.
So far, I’ve been hospitalized five times, some for depression and others for schizophrenia. The last one was...
My diagnosis is F20.4 (post-schizophrenic depression). I don't really think going back into a psychiatric ward is the answer, even though I know they’d probably welcome me back with open arms.

Unfortunately, this illness just breaks you down in every possible way—and I suspect the medications don't exactly help matters either. When everything hits you all at once, things start looking pretty grim; you lose your footing, your willpower evaporates, and suddenly you find yourself checking into a hospital. But I get it—maybe you just need an escape, a chance to unplug from reality, Harold Anderson3. It’s your call, though. The choice is entirely yours.

I’ve actually spent quite a few days debating whether I should check myself into a facility too, though I haven't pulled the trigger yet. Honestly, I'm not doing great myself—I've been white-knuckling through far too many symptoms lately, and those intrusive thoughts... they are absolutely the worst part.
Hang in there, Dr. Harold Anderson3.

That total lack of willpower and zero energy—it’s brutal. I actually ended up dropping out of college, quit my job later on, and it even reached a point where I just couldn't bring myself to move or speak. It was awful. Fortunately, Zyprexa helped clear out those intrusive thoughts for me.

I have this nagging feeling that I set the bar way too high for myself, and when I inevitably fall short, it just feels like a deeper descent into failure. I find myself getting lost in these endless loops of daydreaming and overthinking, though if I’m being honest, it rarely leads to anything productive. People always say you just need to embrace reality for what it is, but man, that is proving to be much harder than it sounds in my case.