Schizophrenia - General Discussion

Larry Lewis said:Only you truly know your own mind, and believe me, nobody is ever going to fully understand you—unless, if you're incredibly lucky, someone manages to love you regardless.

As for the forum and the "brainwashed" crowd, I'll tell you this: just like everywhere else on the internet, everyone here is just looking for something to consume.

You know, you’re actually missing the mark on several fundamental points here. The real issue is that people—and I mean people in general—don't actually know themselves or what's truly eating at them. That is precisely why they seek help; they want someone to finally define who they are and offer them an alternative path.
How can you possibly claim that no one will understand you?
It really depends on how you define "understand," doesn't it?
The reality is that modern psychiatry has made massive strides in both knowledge and actual comprehension.
And honestly, luck in love has nothing to do with it. Happiness is simply the result of what you build today—whether it's for tomorrow or what you did yesterday for today.
I am not looking for anyone to exploit (it hasn't even crossed my mind, frankly).
I have no idea what you're basing this whole "brainwashed" argument on.☕

Larry Lewis said:The whole species, I suppose.🤷

I'm fairly certain we're talking about the human race in general here.

Noah Garcia4 said:I'm fairly certain we're talking about the human race in general here.

The word "species" is such an ugly term.
Either we're actually human, or we're just primates... though honestly, even primates seem to have more of a conscience than us.🙂
Nothing personal, it’s just that using "species" feels a bit too much like secularism or skin-color racism and all that...

First off—someone struggling with schizophrenia is fully aware of what they’re doing. They act, but the people around them just don't see it. Then, being shut out by society pushes them toward an edge—they feel this desperate need to prove they can be the "bad guy," even though they've spent their whole lives fighting not to go there. Meanwhile, the government has endless money for nonsense I won't even bother listing... we really need a New York Times or a Wall Street Journal to actually cover this;;;;;
Sorry if this comes off aggressive—not trying to hurt anyone's feelings, just looking at the facts...

Sean Smith39 said:Look, I don't have an issue with reading—I actually love it—but I wanted to hear from you guys about what specific symptoms we're actually talking about here. 🙂 You can find all sorts of definitions online—honestly, I’d almost prefer an answer from someone who’s completely lost their grip on reality—if that’s even possible. I'm new here, so I'm looking to meet as many people as I can. 🙂 .

And you went looking for the schizo-crowds just to make friends? Talk about twisted... okay, just kidding 🙂.

I feel like we've touched on this over a few pages now, but I wanted to be blunt with you—we don't exactly love discussing this stuff here—well, at least I don't.

Lawrence Hill6 said:First off—someone struggling with schizophrenia is fully aware of what they’re doing. They act, but the people around them just don't see it. Then, being shut out by society pushes them toward an edge—they feel this desperate need to prove they can be the "bad guy," even though they've spent their whole lives fighting not to go there. Meanwhile, the government has endless money for nonsense I won't even bother listing... we really need a New York Times or a Wall Street Journal to actually cover this;;;;;
Sorry if this comes off aggressive—not trying to hurt anyone's feelings, just looking at the facts...

Maybe try actually looking into the facts before you start talking nonsense.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:You know, you’re actually missing the mark on several fundamental points here. The real issue is that people—and I mean people in general—don't actually know themselves or what's truly eating at them. That is precisely why they seek help; they want someone to finally define who they are and offer them an alternative path.
How can you possibly claim that no one will understand you?
It really depends on how you define "understand," doesn't it?
The reality is that modern psychiatry has made massive strides in both knowledge and actual comprehension.
And honestly, luck in love has nothing to do with it. Happiness is simply the result of what you build today—whether it's for tomorrow or what you did yesterday for today.
I am not looking for anyone to exploit (it hasn't even crossed my mind, frankly).
I have no idea what you're basing this whole "brainwashed" argument on.☕

Good grief—if I can't figure out what's eating at you, then honestly, who on earth could? I know exactly what’s going on here.
It’s a plain truth—people come to this forum because they’re looking for a lifeline, and honestly, if someone actually manages to lend them a hand, even just a little bit, then credit where credit is due—kudos to them.

It’s one of those things that really gets under my skin—this modern tendency to see a collection of symptoms instead of seeing the actual person standing right in front of you. You walk into a clinic, and instead of being treated like a human being with a life, fears, and a history, you’re suddenly just a walking list of diagnostic codes and physiological malfunctions. It’s clinical, it’s cold, and frankly, it’s exhausting. I remember back when my old neighbor down in Chicago used to get sick; people actually sat with him, listened to his stories, and understood that the fever was only half the battle—the other half was the toll it took on his spirit. But now? Everything is so detached. We’ve become experts at deciphering a lab report while completely failing to comprehend the soul behind the illness. It’s a tragic sort of myopia—treating the malfunction while ignoring the man.

For me—if I’m being honest, which is a rare occurrence in this weary world—true happiness only ever exists within the realm of love. It’s the only thing that holds any weight. Whether that’s a devotion to one's career, a deep affection for a partner, or even just the simple, grounding bond with a dog... it all counts. But if you really peel back the layers—and believe me, I have spent many long, cynical nights doing exactly that—the most vital kind of love is the one you hold for yourself. Without that foundation, everything else is just... well, it's just noise.

Remind me again—when exactly did that Bear tell me that he’d only just realized humans are complete idiots? He was questioning whether his own little brain wasn't at least a bit foggy, if not outright washed clean... honestly, I can't quite recall the specifics of that conversation—it was such a strange, rambling exchange—but the sentiment remains etched in my mind.

Lawrence Hill6 said:First off—someone struggling with schizophrenia is fully aware of what they’re doing. They act, but the people around them just don't see it. Then, being shut out by society pushes them toward an edge—they feel this desperate need to prove they can be the "bad guy," even though they've spent their whole lives fighting not to go there. Meanwhile, the government has endless money for nonsense I won't even bother listing... we really need a New York Times or a Wall Street Journal to actually cover this;;;;;
Sorry if this comes off aggressive—not trying to hurt anyone's feelings, just looking at the facts...

Look, man, I’m asking you nicely—please, just move on from this topic, brother.

Larry Lewis said:Good grief—if I can't figure out what's eating at you, then honestly, who on earth could? I know exactly what’s going on here.
It’s a plain truth—people come to this forum because they’re looking for a lifeline, and honestly, if someone actually manages to lend them a hand, even just a little bit, then credit where credit is due—kudos to them.

It’s one of those things that really gets under my skin—this modern tendency to see a collection of symptoms instead of seeing the actual person standing right in front of you. You walk into a clinic, and instead of being treated like a human being with a life, fears, and a history, you’re suddenly just a walking list of diagnostic codes and physiological malfunctions. It’s clinical, it’s cold, and frankly, it’s exhausting. I remember back when my old neighbor down in Chicago used to get sick; people actually sat with him, listened to his stories, and understood that the fever was only half the battle—the other half was the toll it took on his spirit. But now? Everything is so detached. We’ve become experts at deciphering a lab report while completely failing to comprehend the soul behind the illness. It’s a tragic sort of myopia—treating the malfunction while ignoring the man.

For me—if I’m being honest, which is a rare occurrence in this weary world—true happiness only ever exists within the realm of love. It’s the only thing that holds any weight. Whether that’s a devotion to one's career, a deep affection for a partner, or even just the simple, grounding bond with a dog... it all counts. But if you really peel back the layers—and believe me, I have spent many long, cynical nights doing exactly that—the most vital kind of love is the one you hold for yourself. Without that foundation, everything else is just... well, it's just noise.

Remind me again—when exactly did that Bear tell me that he’d only just realized humans are complete idiots? He was questioning whether his own little brain wasn't at least a bit foggy, if not outright washed clean... honestly, I can't quite recall the specifics of that conversation—it was such a strange, rambling exchange—but the sentiment remains etched in my mind.

I know you know. But when did you find out? Once you answer, you'll realize there was once a time when you didn't. I highly doubt you figured this out through some online research or similar methods. No, you learned over time that this is who you are... and you'll always be learning, though you'll never truly be certain that the learning is complete.
There's still this lingering question hanging in the air... why do you think no one can understand you as a human being? On what basis do you claim that?🤷
Life isn't a lottery or some game of chance; you live the life you build for yourself. If you haven't built it the way you envisioned or desired... well, you go chasing luck. Fine, I can accept that, especially if you actually understood it.
Regarding that settled Bear, I have no idea what you're talking about, but I'm sure you two know the story. I refuse to write about things I don't understand.😉

Larry Lewis said:And you went looking for the schizo-crowds just to make friends? Talk about twisted... okay, just kidding 🙂.

I feel like we've touched on this over a few pages now, but I wanted to be blunt with you—we don't exactly love discussing this stuff here—well, at least I don't.

Alright, my bad if I rubbed you the wrong way 🙂.

Sean Smith39 said:Alright, my bad if I rubbed you the wrong way 🙂.

Don't even worry about it, man☕.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:I know you know. But when did you find out? Once you answer, you'll realize there was once a time when you didn't. I highly doubt you figured this out through some online research or similar methods. No, you learned over time that this is who you are... and you'll always be learning, though you'll never truly be certain that the learning is complete.
There's still this lingering question hanging in the air... why do you think no one can understand you as a human being? On what basis do you claim that?🤷
Life isn't a lottery or some game of chance; you live the life you build for yourself. If you haven't built it the way you envisioned or desired... well, you go chasing luck. Fine, I can accept that, especially if you actually understood it.
Regarding that settled Bear, I have no idea what you're talking about, but I'm sure you two know the story. I refuse to write about things I don't understand.😉

Look, I know you have a desperate need to be right.
Regarding what the Bear mentioned—maybe try scrolling back through a few pages and you'll catch up.

I stopped grasping at luck a long time ago.

It’s a bit arrogant, don't you think? To tell people they've "realized" something or haven't—considering I don't know you and you certainly don't know me.

Stop playing the part of the concerned soul-searcher and go focus on math or physics instead; clearly, dealing with people isn't your forte.🤷

Lawrence Hill6 said:First off—someone struggling with schizophrenia is fully aware of what they’re doing. They act, but the people around them just don't see it. Then, being shut out by society pushes them toward an edge—they feel this desperate need to prove they can be the "bad guy," even though they've spent their whole lives fighting not to go there. Meanwhile, the government has endless money for nonsense I won't even bother listing... we really need a New York Times or a Wall Street Journal to actually cover this;;;;;
Sorry if this comes off aggressive—not trying to hurt anyone's feelings, just looking at the facts...

Of course I'm aware, but your theory about schizophrenics attempting to test reality—only to have things end badly—is a bit of a stretch, though I follow your train of thought...

Sean Smith39 said:Alright, my bad if I rubbed you the wrong way 🙂.

I’ll step in here, if I may :hand raise: 🙂🎉

The reality is that people aren't monoliths. People living with schizophrenia are individuals, which means they all carry their own unique versions of it.

The road to a diagnosis can look like anything; it might start with insomnia, a bout of depression, panic attacks, anxiety, general maladjustment, social isolation, or sudden behavioral shifts—you name it.

Once it becomes undeniable that a person's thoughts, speech, or actions have drifted away from shared reality, they eventually land in a psychiatrist's office, where they'll likely receive an initial diagnosis of psychosis. From there, the specific label you get depends entirely on which doctor you happen to see.

The real issue we're grappling with here 😍 is the aftermath of being labeled "psychotic." Generally, the prescription is medication. A lucky few find the right meds on the first try. In some cases, if you hit a year of remission, doctors might taper you off (that was my experience), but if the symptoms resurface after that, you're often marked as a chronic case, tethered to medication for life.😍

And once you're on those antipsychotics, good luck figuring out what they actually do to your system. Almost all of them trigger depression. So, you get the antipsychotic, then you need an antidepressant just to level things out. But again, like I said, a person with schizophrenia is still a human being. And if you've been hospitalized a few times—which, let's be honest, most of us have been through the wringer—it means
you have to accept that you are ill.
You have to maintain the discipline to take your meds and endure the side effects, though after a while, it gets blurry whether you're feeling a side effect or a symptom itself.
You have to navigate being around people who look at you like you're some kind of freak, yet you're expected to remain perfectly polite.
On top of all that, you're supposed to hold down a job, socialize, raise a family, and maintain friendships—basically doing everything "normal" people do, which is its own kind of absurdity.
Why? Because "normal" people can afford to be eccentric; they can claim their quirks give them character.
But for someone dealing with psychosis, a little bit of eccentricity is often seen as a total break from reality.

To put this in perspective for you, since you're asking, 😍: imagine walking into a hospital, getting heavily sedated, and then a few days later, you're walking around, talking, and hanging out with other patients before being discharged. You go home, and everyone expects you to suddenly be "fine." In reality, what they're thinking is that you're "crazy," and that's a label 99% of the people around you will cling to forever.

As for living in remission—when the symptoms subside—it’s exhausting. To put it bluntly, regular people are allowed to lose their minds occasionally, but a person with schizophrenia isn't given that luxury.

So there it is. Feel free to ask more.
Did you want me to back this up with medical data from Google, or were you specifically looking for this kind of subjective perspective? ☕
off topic : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqRW5...&feature=share 👍

Noah Garcia4 said:I’ll step in here, if I may :hand raise: 🙂🎉

The reality is that people aren't monoliths. People living with schizophrenia are individuals, which means they all carry their own unique versions of it.

The road to a diagnosis can look like anything; it might start with insomnia, a bout of depression, panic attacks, anxiety, general maladjustment, social isolation, or sudden behavioral shifts—you name it.

Once it becomes undeniable that a person's thoughts, speech, or actions have drifted away from shared reality, they eventually land in a psychiatrist's office, where they'll likely receive an initial diagnosis of psychosis. From there, the specific label you get depends entirely on which doctor you happen to see.

The real issue we're grappling with here 😍 is the aftermath of being labeled "psychotic." Generally, the prescription is medication. A lucky few find the right meds on the first try. In some cases, if you hit a year of remission, doctors might taper you off (that was my experience), but if the symptoms resurface after that, you're often marked as a chronic case, tethered to medication for life.😍

And once you're on those antipsychotics, good luck figuring out what they actually do to your system. Almost all of them trigger depression. So, you get the antipsychotic, then you need an antidepressant just to level things out. But again, like I said, a person with schizophrenia is still a human being. And if you've been hospitalized a few times—which, let's be honest, most of us have been through the wringer—it means
you have to accept that you are ill.
You have to maintain the discipline to take your meds and endure the side effects, though after a while, it gets blurry whether you're feeling a side effect or a symptom itself.
You have to navigate being around people who look at you like you're some kind of freak, yet you're expected to remain perfectly polite.
On top of all that, you're supposed to hold down a job, socialize, raise a family, and maintain friendships—basically doing everything "normal" people do, which is its own kind of absurdity.
Why? Because "normal" people can afford to be eccentric; they can claim their quirks give them character.
But for someone dealing with psychosis, a little bit of eccentricity is often seen as a total break from reality.

To put this in perspective for you, since you're asking, 😍: imagine walking into a hospital, getting heavily sedated, and then a few days later, you're walking around, talking, and hanging out with other patients before being discharged. You go home, and everyone expects you to suddenly be "fine." In reality, what they're thinking is that you're "crazy," and that's a label 99% of the people around you will cling to forever.

As for living in remission—when the symptoms subside—it’s exhausting. To put it bluntly, regular people are allowed to lose their minds occasionally, but a person with schizophrenia isn't given that luxury.

So there it is. Feel free to ask more.
Did you want me to back this up with medical data from Google, or were you specifically looking for this kind of subjective perspective? ☕
off topic : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqRW5...&feature=share 👍

I know my way around the internet, but I just wanted someone living with schizophrenia to tell me what it’s actually like—how it feels. And please, don't talk down to me. Just because I have "Canada" in my username doesn't mean I'm automatically Canadian, though even if I were, I still get what this is all about—at least as much as a sane person can. 😉 .

Sean Smith39 said:I know my way around the internet, but I just wanted someone living with schizophrenia to tell me what it’s actually like—how it feels. And please, don't talk down to me. Just because I have "Canada" in my username doesn't mean I'm automatically Canadian, though even if I were, I still get what this is all about—at least as much as a sane person can. 😉 .

I'm sorry if I upset you🙂.

Larry Lewis said:Look, I know you have a desperate need to be right.
Regarding what the Bear mentioned—maybe try scrolling back through a few pages and you'll catch up.

I stopped grasping at luck a long time ago.

It’s a bit arrogant, don't you think? To tell people they've "realized" something or haven't—considering I don't know you and you certainly don't know me.

Stop playing the part of the concerned soul-searcher and go focus on math or physics instead; clearly, dealing with people isn't your forte.🤷

If there are facts out there that support my view, then of course I'm going to defend my position. Is that really such a strange concept?
You say you aren't chasing luck, yet wasn't it just a few posts ago that you claimed everything is nothing but luck?!🤷
I don't need to know you personally; I read your posts. But honestly, why even bother arguing about that? You either get it or you don't.
I'm not pretending to be anything; I am exactly who I am. And for the record... I do work with math and physics.☕

Noah Garcia4 said:I’ll step in here, if I may :hand raise: 🙂🎉

The reality is that people aren't monoliths. People living with schizophrenia are individuals, which means they all carry their own unique versions of it.

The road to a diagnosis can look like anything; it might start with insomnia, a bout of depression, panic attacks, anxiety, general maladjustment, social isolation, or sudden behavioral shifts—you name it.

Once it becomes undeniable that a person's thoughts, speech, or actions have drifted away from shared reality, they eventually land in a psychiatrist's office, where they'll likely receive an initial diagnosis of psychosis. From there, the specific label you get depends entirely on which doctor you happen to see.

The real issue we're grappling with here 😍 is the aftermath of being labeled "psychotic." Generally, the prescription is medication. A lucky few find the right meds on the first try. In some cases, if you hit a year of remission, doctors might taper you off (that was my experience), but if the symptoms resurface after that, you're often marked as a chronic case, tethered to medication for life.😍

And once you're on those antipsychotics, good luck figuring out what they actually do to your system. Almost all of them trigger depression. So, you get the antipsychotic, then you need an antidepressant just to level things out. But again, like I said, a person with schizophrenia is still a human being. And if you've been hospitalized a few times—which, let's be honest, most of us have been through the wringer—it means
you have to accept that you are ill.
You have to maintain the discipline to take your meds and endure the side effects, though after a while, it gets blurry whether you're feeling a side effect or a symptom itself.
You have to navigate being around people who look at you like you're some kind of freak, yet you're expected to remain perfectly polite.
On top of all that, you're supposed to hold down a job, socialize, raise a family, and maintain friendships—basically doing everything "normal" people do, which is its own kind of absurdity.
Why? Because "normal" people can afford to be eccentric; they can claim their quirks give them character.
But for someone dealing with psychosis, a little bit of eccentricity is often seen as a total break from reality.

To put this in perspective for you, since you're asking, 😍: imagine walking into a hospital, getting heavily sedated, and then a few days later, you're walking around, talking, and hanging out with other patients before being discharged. You go home, and everyone expects you to suddenly be "fine." In reality, what they're thinking is that you're "crazy," and that's a label 99% of the people around you will cling to forever.

As for living in remission—when the symptoms subside—it’s exhausting. To put it bluntly, regular people are allowed to lose their minds occasionally, but a person with schizophrenia isn't given that luxury.

So there it is. Feel free to ask more.
Did you want me to back this up with medical data from Google, or were you specifically looking for this kind of subjective perspective? ☕
off topic : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqRW5...&feature=share 👍

I really hope I don't step on anyone's toes by saying this, but... honestly? This was an excellent post. 🙏 🙏

I’m still having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that I'll be on medication for the rest of my life. It’s heavy, knowing I’ll be managing this condition indefinitely, just constantly hoping to stay in remission for as long as possible. Looking back at the stretch between age 14 and 19, I went through six episodes—which works out to a little over one episode per year on average.
Lately, I feel so disconnected from myself. I struggle to trust people, I find it hard to believe what I see right in front of me, and I definitely don't trust what I hear. Everything just feels... surreal, like nothing is quite real.
To be honest, I’m scared of what life has in store.

Eric Gray2 said:I really hope I don't step on anyone's toes by saying this, but... honestly? This was an excellent post. 🙏 🙏

That's good to hear 🙂 😁