Schizophrenia - General Discussion

He’s currently on some medications—I can't recall the specific names because, frankly, I don't care enough to go digging through them... It's just depressing. Truly. Especially considering how young he is; there’s no light at the end of the tunnel for him, whether we're talking about the near future or the distant one (never mind). His own father actually thinks—and I am quoting him directly here—“that it would be better if he died before I do.” Tragic. Just plain tragic.

James Cooper23 said:He’s currently on some medications—I can't recall the specific names because, frankly, I don't care enough to go digging through them... It's just depressing. Truly. Especially considering how young he is; there’s no light at the end of the tunnel for him, whether we're talking about the near future or the distant one (never mind). His own father actually thinks—and I am quoting him directly here—“that it would be better if he died before I do.” Tragic. Just plain tragic.

Is this not simply one more compelling reason to consider the approach I have outlined? I am well aware that talking about it is much easier than actually following through, particularly when we consider how exorbitantly expensive dietary supplements can be. However, the items I mentioned can be ordered directly online. While the results may not manifest overnight, through such a therapeutic regimen, one might gradually reduce both the number and the dosage of antipsychotics, thereby enhancing overall quality of life and mitigating the side effects caused by those medications.

I have a question for anyone living with schizophrenia. How did it all start for you? What were the first symptoms you noticed?

Benjamin Robinson3 said:I have a question for anyone living with schizophrenia. How did it all start for you? What were the first symptoms you noticed?

Depression, zero focus, feeling numb, pulling away from everyone...

Henry Garcia9 said:Depression, zero focus, feeling numb, pulling away from everyone...

The more I hear about this stuff, the more I feel like I'm bordering on mild schizophrenia myself.

Benjamin Robinson3 said:I have a question for anyone living with schizophrenia. How did it all start for you? What were the first symptoms you noticed?

If we don't count me being a naturally withdrawn and shy kid, my first actual symptoms popped up when I was 16—mostly intrusive thoughts and this heavy emotional flatness, or apathy. About two or three years later, I started getting treated for depression, which eventually turned into bipolar disorder, and then by the time I hit 21, I went through two psychotic episodes back-to-back. That second one was particularly rough, and it was right after that that I received a diagnosis of schizophrenia. I'm 26 now, and I've actually been in a steady state of remission for five years; I don't deal with psychotic symptoms anymore, though I still have some occasional mood swings.

Hey everyone.
About a year and a half ago, I went through a psychotic episode. It all started with this overwhelming feeling that my family was turning against me—like I was just a burden in my own home and they were looking for ways to get rid of me... I’ve been really diligent about taking my antipsychotics since being hospitalized, but about 20 days ago, my doctor lowered my Azalea dose from 15 mg down to 5 mg. Well, today the symptoms started creeping back in... those same exact feelings I had during the last episode. I panicked a bit and just took an extra 5 mg of Azalea along with some Normabel right away. I haven't checked in with my doctor yet, but I'm definitely calling them tomorrow to let them know I bumped the dose up. I can't help but wonder, is it better to do this now rather than just sitting here waiting for my next scheduled appointment? Is it okay to adjust things slightly on my own if the reduction felt too drastic? Honestly, the thought of slipping back into psychosis again is just terrifying.

Dana Vaughn said:Hey everyone.
About a year and a half ago, I went through a psychotic episode. It all started with this overwhelming feeling that my family was turning against me—like I was just a burden in my own home and they were looking for ways to get rid of me... I’ve been really diligent about taking my antipsychotics since being hospitalized, but about 20 days ago, my doctor lowered my Azalea dose from 15 mg down to 5 mg. Well, today the symptoms started creeping back in... those same exact feelings I had during the last episode. I panicked a bit and just took an extra 5 mg of Azalea along with some Normabel right away. I haven't checked in with my doctor yet, but I'm definitely calling them tomorrow to let them know I bumped the dose up. I can't help but wonder, is it better to do this now rather than just sitting here waiting for my next scheduled appointment? Is it okay to adjust things slightly on my own if the reduction felt too drastic? Honestly, the thought of slipping back into psychosis again is just terrifying.

Oh, absolutely... because clearly, the solution to feeling those symptoms is to just go ahead and change your own dosage on the fly!!

Hey there!
My therapist thinks I’ve finally lost my marbles... she put me under observation and started me on antipsychotics.
It all kicked off about two years ago when I was in a really dark place. I was depressed, overly emotional... unstable, irritable, disconnected from reality, and feeling suicidal. The real issue was that I just didn't trust her to actually nail the diagnosis... let alone find the right treatment plan.
I kept turning down the meds. Every single suggestion I met with pushback. "This one's old school," "this one causes weight gain," "people on Reddit say this one is garbage"... blah, blah, blah. I wouldn't back down until she gave me something brand new—something where I couldn't even find any reviews online.

Regardless, I didn't want to take anything... because I truly believed I was special enough... unique and tough enough... to just white-knuckle my way through these "problems" using pure willpower.

Then I stopped seeing her altogether... and naturally, I decided my issues weren't caused by my mental health... they were caused by the people around me, my coworkers, everyone I ran into. Basically... everyone else is just incompetent... and I'm the one suffering because of them.
The fallout was this pathological hatred for people... mixed with a constant fear of them, too, because I felt like they only brought me misery. And I'm the one hurting.
THEN IT HIT ME: if suffering is tied to emotions... then what the hell do I need emotions for? I don't need them. So, I basically went out of my way to stop feeling anything toward anyone at all.
And honestly? It worked. I didn't give a damn about anybody... and I was mostly just arrogant toward people.
I didn't have friends... I thought that was for weaklings. No emotional connections... I thought that was primitive.
Eventually, I realized I just wanted to be completely alone in the world. Without seeing, hearing, or interacting with a single soul.
Which led to me losing my job.
No job... means no money.
No money... means no freedom, and no anything else for that matter.
That's how you end up miserable... but you can't admit you're miserable because you have to maintain your image.
And when you're trying to act like a big shot... the fact that you're actually miserable is always someone else's fault... and it just goes in circles.

Then you realize the world isn't really a place for you... and that it might be better to just end it all. There’s nothing left to look for here.

Still... just to be safe... I went back to that therapist of mine.
She asked if I was willing to take the medication this time, and I... well, I promised I would.

So, I started.

I've been taking everything she prescribed regularly for a month now... and I have to admit, I feel amazing.
I'm actually fun to be around now... telling jokes to people... and I love seeing them smile. It feels good when people notice how much I've changed... and even my problems and worries seem... manageable now.
I've even started apologizing to people for my mistakes... or my rudeness.
And I actually like it.

Now... if this is all just because of the meds... I'm terrified that one day they'll take them away... and I'll turn back into that old, terrible version of myself.
😢

Nick isn't going to snatch your medication away—not if you actually need them, at least. As long as they remain a necessity for you, he’ll leave them be.

I’m right there with Larry Lewis; he’s clearly been navigating this mental rollercoaster for a while now, given his last two posts.😁

@Dana Vaughn—it honestly feels perfectly reasonable to bump up your antipsychotic dose for a day or two if you start sensing those psychotic symptoms creeping back in. I tend to do the exact same thing myself when things feel a bit off.

@David Lee2—no one should be standing in your way when it comes to getting the medication you need, especially since a decent doctor would never deny you that support. Personally, I think most people can find decent enough medical care here in the States; despite all its flaws, our healthcare system generally does a pretty good job of prioritizing patient wellness.

I have an off-topic question, and I am honestly not quite sure which section this belongs in.

Suppose there is someone who, over a very long period of time, uses Facebook and other social media platforms to make public threats of self-harm; in such a case, would the police or emergency services be obligated to respond to that individual and forcibly transport them to a psychiatric facility, even if they aren't actively endangering others or themselves, but are "merely" making those threats?

Nicole Barrett76 said:I have an off-topic question, and I am honestly not quite sure which section this belongs in.

Suppose there is someone who, over a very long period of time, uses Facebook and other social media platforms to make public threats of self-harm; in such a case, would the police or emergency services be obligated to respond to that individual and forcibly transport them to a psychiatric facility, even if they aren't actively endangering others or themselves, but are "merely" making those threats?

Maybe they're just an attention seeker. Though, even that isn't exactly healthy.
But I don't think anyone is obligated to step in; if someone truly wants to end it, they'll do it regardless of whether they post about it on Facebook.

Hey everyone, has anyone else here tried tapering off Azalea-AP? I just had my dose dropped by 5 mg and honestly, I feel absolutely terrible. It’s this constant sense of nervousness, irritability, and physical tension... it feels exactly like I'm going through withdrawal. I'm at the point where I don't know if I can actually push through this, and I'm seriously considering asking my doctor to put me back on the previous dose. Has anyone else dealt with these kinds of symptoms?

Dana Vaughn said:Hey everyone, has anyone else here tried tapering off Azalea-AP? I just had my dose dropped by 5 mg and honestly, I feel absolutely terrible. It’s this constant sense of nervousness, irritability, and physical tension... it feels exactly like I'm going through withdrawal. I'm at the point where I don't know if I can actually push through this, and I'm seriously considering asking my doctor to put me back on the previous dose. Has anyone else dealt with these kinds of symptoms?

What were you taking the Azalea for?
I’m on 15mg twice a day and haven't even thought about lowering my dose yet.

Dana Vaughn said:Hey everyone, has anyone else here tried tapering off Azalea-AP? I just had my dose dropped by 5 mg and honestly, I feel absolutely terrible. It’s this constant sense of nervousness, irritability, and physical tension... it feels exactly like I'm going through withdrawal. I'm at the point where I don't know if I can actually push through this, and I'm seriously considering asking my doctor to put me back on the previous dose. Has anyone else dealt with these kinds of symptoms?

Are you seeing someone through your insurance, or are you paying out of pocket for a private specialist?

Eric Mitchell55 said:What were you taking the Azalea for?
I’m on 15mg twice a day and haven't even thought about lowering my dose yet.

Well, after dealing with an acute psychotic episode last year, my doctor switched me over to Seroquel. Apparently, this one bumps up dopamine and serotonin levels, whereas the old medication just completely crushed me... I was basically a zombie, just totally passive all the time.

Larry Lewis said:Are you seeing someone through your insurance, or are you paying out of pocket for a private specialist?

Public insurance. Why do you ask?

Dana Vaughn said:Well, after dealing with an acute psychotic episode last year, my doctor switched me over to Seroquel. Apparently, this one bumps up dopamine and serotonin levels, whereas the old medication just completely crushed me... I was basically a zombie, just totally passive all the time.

Honestly, you should take this straight to her—because from what you’re saying, she really messed things up. And if you're just seeing some random community clinic doctor, well, they'll just shuffle you from one prescription to the next without a second thought.

Larry Lewis said:Honestly, you should take this straight to her—because from what you’re saying, she really messed things up. And if you're just seeing some random community clinic doctor, well, they'll just shuffle you from one prescription to the next without a second thought.

She wouldn't have switched my meds unless I pushed for it. I felt way too sluggish on the last one... just totally checked out. I actually lowered my dose of Azalea—again, only because I insisted on it during a particularly rough patch of stress—but looking back now, I can tell I really miss it. I actually had to take a second Xanax earlier today just to deal with how jittery and on edge I feel without it.