Schizophrenia - General Discussion

Nicole Barrett76 said:I have a question for you all.

Suppose someone is going through a psychotic episode, yet they remain lucid enough to realize that if they hear voices, it’s simply their brain misfiring. They understand there isn't anything extraterrestrial happening.

They see that you are taking an antipsychotic and ask if you could just share a couple of tablets to get them through a day or two until they can reach a doctor. Perhaps there is a practical reason why they can't seek medical help immediately—say, they live out in rural Nebraska and don't have anyone to drive them, so they have to wait for the first bus into the city.

We are all aware that providing medication in this manner is strictly forbidden. Even if another person exhibits identical symptoms, it doesn't mean the same medication will be effective for them.

Would you actually hand over those pills to that person, or would you simply leave them to endure the voices?

To be perfectly honest, I believe I would decline to give them the medication; instead, I would prefer to offer my presence—perhaps by staying at their house or bringing them to mine. However, it is quite easy to say that when one hasn't truly stood in those shoes. Who can say for certain? Perhaps, in the end, I might succumb to the temptation and provide the pills after all.

What do you mean by "succumb to the temptation"?

Personally, I think in that situation, my first instinct would be to give them some medication
and then immediately get them to a psychiatrist for an evaluation.

Larry Lewis said:What do you mean by "succumb to the temptation"?

Personally, I think in that situation, my first instinct would be to give them some medication
and then immediately get them to a psychiatrist for an evaluation.

"Giving in to temptation" refers to the fact that you shouldn't just decide to hand out medication on your own initiative.

Look, playing amateur psychiatrist is just plain stupid—it’s not like popping a single pill is magically going to make psychosis vanish into thin air. Realistically, if you've got someone on the right treatment plan, they’ll hit remission after a few months of actual work. And honestly? If there isn't any way to get them to the hospital, just call 911 and let the paramedics handle the transport. It's not rocket science.

My story:
Between the intrusive thoughts and my inability to focus on anything, I finally decided to go see a psychiatrist. Based just on those two things, he slapped an F20 diagnosis on me.
I spent about three weeks checked into a hospital where they basically kept me medicated around the clock. Now I’ve been discharged and sent home with a prescription for Risperdal.

The intrusive thoughts have cleared up, sure, but now I’m dealing with these episodes where my brain just... stops working properly. I get this restless urge to just keep walking and walking. I can't even sit down with one of those books I used to love. Then there's the anxiety—this constant, heavy dread about what's coming next. I’ve lost all interest in hanging out with people, too. Honestly, I'm terrified I won't be able to finish my degree at MIT.

Has anyone else gone through something like this? Any advice on how to get my life back on track? 😕

Eric Ortiz4 said:My story:
Between the intrusive thoughts and my inability to focus on anything, I finally decided to go see a psychiatrist. Based just on those two things, he slapped an F20 diagnosis on me.
I spent about three weeks checked into a hospital where they basically kept me medicated around the clock. Now I’ve been discharged and sent home with a prescription for Risperdal.

The intrusive thoughts have cleared up, sure, but now I’m dealing with these episodes where my brain just... stops working properly. I get this restless urge to just keep walking and walking. I can't even sit down with one of those books I used to love. Then there's the anxiety—this constant, heavy dread about what's coming next. I’ve lost all interest in hanging out with people, too. Honestly, I'm terrified I won't be able to finish my degree at MIT.

Has anyone else gone through something like this? Any advice on how to get my life back on track? 😕

I also live with an F20 diagnosis. When I first got it, I actually sat down with this veteran psychiatrist—she had something like 40 years under her belt—and asked her straight up how I could recover from this. Her advice was simple: read for four hours a day and take a walk around Central Park once a day; she said it would help stabilize me. I didn't follow her advice at first because I just didn't have the patience for reading anymore, but once my medication stabilized and the side effects leveled off, I realized that reading really does help ground my thoughts.
If the medication isn't working for you, you have to speak up and tell your doctor.
I'd honestly suggest seeking out a second opinion, or even a third, if you truly feel like this diagnosis doesn't fit who you are...

silentpilot97 said:I also live with an F20 diagnosis. When I first got it, I actually sat down with this veteran psychiatrist—she had something like 40 years under her belt—and asked her straight up how I could recover from this. Her advice was simple: read for four hours a day and take a walk around Central Park once a day; she said it would help stabilize me. I didn't follow her advice at first because I just didn't have the patience for reading anymore, but once my medication stabilized and the side effects leveled off, I realized that reading really does help ground my thoughts.
If the medication isn't working for you, you have to speak up and tell your doctor.
I'd honestly suggest seeking out a second opinion, or even a third, if you truly feel like this diagnosis doesn't fit who you are...

Thanks for getting back to me. The thing is, I can't even focus on reading right now—I just feel dull and foggy. These symptoms started cropping up after I was discharged from the hospital. It's not an every-day occurrence, but when it happens, it makes functioning pretty much impossible. Honestly, I don't see the connection to schizophrenia. I don't even know what else to link it to. All I know is that something deep down feels fundamentally wrong. 😕

What else could it be?

I honestly think your mind is just trying to adjust to how those antipsychotics affect you. I know exactly what you're going through because I’ve been right there in those shoes myself. Please, sit down and have a real conversation with your psychiatrist about this—and if you don't feel heard, don't hesitate to seek a second opinion from another doctor. These medications can come with a heavy load of side effects, though the newer generations tend to be a bit more manageable.
I remember reading about Mark, who appeared on a talk show after being released from a psychiatric facility in Baltimore; he was talking about his experience with Zyprexa and described it as feeling like the medication just slowly sucks the soul right out of you.

Look, it’s true that antipsychotics hit everyone differently, but if you ask me, you two might have been slapped with a schizophrenia diagnosis based on some pretty shaky evidence. Honestly, though, even if the diagnosis is accurate, it doesn't seem to be having much of an impact on you guys, which is actually a good thing. You're going to recover; it just takes a lot of patience. I’ve always felt the brain does its best healing while we're asleep. Once you get back into a steady rhythm—you know, hitting that 10 PM to 6 AM sleep schedule, eating three solid meals a day, and getting some light walks around the neighborhood—your body will naturally start to bounce back. Antipsychotics can definitely drain your energy, but maybe try taking them only in the evening? On a side note, I personally tried Ginkgo Biloba extract and found it really helped my focus. You can find similar supplements at any local pharmacy, so why not give them a shot? Since you're already managing psych meds, I don't see what the harm could be in trying a little something extra.

Laura Castillo6 said:Look, it’s true that antipsychotics hit everyone differently, but if you ask me, you two might have been slapped with a schizophrenia diagnosis based on some pretty shaky evidence. Honestly, though, even if the diagnosis is accurate, it doesn't seem to be having much of an impact on you guys, which is actually a good thing. You're going to recover; it just takes a lot of patience. I’ve always felt the brain does its best healing while we're asleep. Once you get back into a steady rhythm—you know, hitting that 10 PM to 6 AM sleep schedule, eating three solid meals a day, and getting some light walks around the neighborhood—your body will naturally start to bounce back. Antipsychotics can definitely drain your energy, but maybe try taking them only in the evening? On a side note, I personally tried Ginkgo Biloba extract and found it really helped my focus. You can find similar supplements at any local pharmacy, so why not give them a shot? Since you're already managing psych meds, I don't see what the harm could be in trying a little something extra.

It happens all the time where psychiatrists can't even agree on a diagnosis, let alone a treatment plan. And for the record, it's definitely not true that 'APs' are only taken in the evening.

Mark Baker17 said:It happens all the time where psychiatrists can't even agree on a diagnosis, let alone a treatment plan. And for the record, it's definitely not true that 'APs' are only taken in the evening.

In my case, it is true. I take 1mg of Risperdal strictly at night. That’s been my routine ever since I started seeing a private psychiatrist. When I was seeing the head specialist at the hospital, he told me to take the single daily dose in the morning, but during my medical exam for my driver's license renewal, the doctor suggested it would be better if I took that one pill in the evening instead.

Laura Castillo6 said:Look, it’s true that antipsychotics hit everyone differently, but if you ask me, you two might have been slapped with a schizophrenia diagnosis based on some pretty shaky evidence. Honestly, though, even if the diagnosis is accurate, it doesn't seem to be having much of an impact on you guys, which is actually a good thing. You're going to recover; it just takes a lot of patience. I’ve always felt the brain does its best healing while we're asleep. Once you get back into a steady rhythm—you know, hitting that 10 PM to 6 AM sleep schedule, eating three solid meals a day, and getting some light walks around the neighborhood—your body will naturally start to bounce back. Antipsychotics can definitely drain your energy, but maybe try taking them only in the evening? On a side note, I personally tried Ginkgo Biloba extract and found it really helped my focus. You can find similar supplements at any local pharmacy, so why not give them a shot? Since you're already managing psych meds, I don't see what the harm could be in trying a little something extra.

I've navigated my fair share of crisis periods throughout my life. Eventually, things always seem to settle back down into a sort of "normal" after some time has passed.
But when I sit down and really look at the clinical description of schizophrenia and weigh it against everything I've actually lived through... I have to admit, I was given that diagnosis for a reason.

Since my diagnosis is F20.0, and you can't technically suffer from both depression and schizophrenia at the same time, I figured I’d share my situation here.
So, as I mentioned before, I am being treated for schizophrenia, but the depressive symptoms are incredibly intense. In fact, they are really my only real struggle right now, mostly because I don't experience any of the "positive" symptoms at all.
My current medication regimen includes antipsychotics like Risperdal Consta (25 mg) and Zyprexa (5-10mg), along with an antidepressant, Alventia XL (150 mg). On top of the depression, my sleep is a total mess; I either sleep way too much or not nearly enough, and there are plenty of nights where I just don't sleep at all.
Keeping up with my studies is becoming an uphill battle—I'm currently at MIT studying electrical engineering—and the university doesn't seem to have much empathy for mental health struggles, so I'll probably have to drop out soon.
Since my highest level of education is just high school, I'm feeling pretty lost regarding job prospects; everything feels so uncertain right now.
I live with my mom and my grandmother; my mom also carries an F20.0 diagnosis and has been retired since she was 35 (she's 52 now).
I think my depression is a mix of internal factors and a reaction to a pretty heavy environment around me.
Every once in a while, I have these brief windows where I feel somewhat "alive" and can actually handle my responsibilities, but most of the time, I'm just struggling through the depression and the constant negative thoughts.
Sometimes I find myself thinking it might have been better if I had never been born, because life just feels like a continuous grind, and honestly, my mother isn't really in a position to be a parent.
I talk to my father occasionally, but he has his own family now and doesn't really care to understand what I'm going through. He remarried and has two new kids; I lived with him until I was 18, when I moved in with my mom because things were getting really difficult with my stepmother. I'm 28 now.
Looking ahead, I feel like I'm just spiraling further, and I can't see a way out of this. There are moments when my thinking feels sharp and intelligent, but other times, I feel completely incapable of doing anything productive.
I have a regular check-up with my psychiatrist today at 2:00 PM, and I plan to lay everything out for her, though I'm not even sure if help is possible in a situation like this. To be honest, as I'm typing this, I'm right on the verge of tears, but that's nothing new for me.
The thought of suicide crosses my mind sometimes, but I know it would be a massive tragedy—not necessarily for me, since I feel quite numb toward myself, but for my mom and grandma. That's why I try so hard to push those thoughts away.
But living like this doesn't lead anywhere either, except toward a complete breakdown. The hardest part is that these issues have been dragging on for years, and there's just no sign that anything is ever going to get better.

Harold Anderson3 said:Since my diagnosis is F20.0, and you can't technically suffer from both depression and schizophrenia at the same time, I figured I’d share my situation here.
So, as I mentioned before, I am being treated for schizophrenia, but the depressive symptoms are incredibly intense. In fact, they are really my only real struggle right now, mostly because I don't experience any of the "positive" symptoms at all.
My current medication regimen includes antipsychotics like Risperdal Consta (25 mg) and Zyprexa (5-10mg), along with an antidepressant, Alventia XL (150 mg). On top of the depression, my sleep is a total mess; I either sleep way too much or not nearly enough, and there are plenty of nights where I just don't sleep at all.
Keeping up with my studies is becoming an uphill battle—I'm currently at MIT studying electrical engineering—and the university doesn't seem to have much empathy for mental health struggles, so I'll probably have to drop out soon.
Since my highest level of education is just high school, I'm feeling pretty lost regarding job prospects; everything feels so uncertain right now.
I live with my mom and my grandmother; my mom also carries an F20.0 diagnosis and has been retired since she was 35 (she's 52 now).
I think my depression is a mix of internal factors and a reaction to a pretty heavy environment around me.
Every once in a while, I have these brief windows where I feel somewhat "alive" and can actually handle my responsibilities, but most of the time, I'm just struggling through the depression and the constant negative thoughts.
Sometimes I find myself thinking it might have been better if I had never been born, because life just feels like a continuous grind, and honestly, my mother isn't really in a position to be a parent.
I talk to my father occasionally, but he has his own family now and doesn't really care to understand what I'm going through. He remarried and has two new kids; I lived with him until I was 18, when I moved in with my mom because things were getting really difficult with my stepmother. I'm 28 now.
Looking ahead, I feel like I'm just spiraling further, and I can't see a way out of this. There are moments when my thinking feels sharp and intelligent, but other times, I feel completely incapable of doing anything productive.
I have a regular check-up with my psychiatrist today at 2:00 PM, and I plan to lay everything out for her, though I'm not even sure if help is possible in a situation like this. To be honest, as I'm typing this, I'm right on the verge of tears, but that's nothing new for me.
The thought of suicide crosses my mind sometimes, but I know it would be a massive tragedy—not necessarily for me, since I feel quite numb toward myself, but for my mom and grandma. That's why I try so hard to push those thoughts away.
But living like this doesn't lead anywhere either, except toward a complete breakdown. The hardest part is that these issues have been dragging on for years, and there's just no sign that anything is ever going to get better.

But listen, there might be a way out!!!
Back in the 20th century, this scientist dedicated his entire life to studying the traditional diets of Arctic populations—specifically fish-based diets. We're talking massive amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids. There's significant evidence that these specific types of Omega-3s found in fish can help alleviate depression, and by the eighth month of recent studies, news broke regarding research testing whether Omega-3s could assist people dealing with schizophrenia. It turns out they absolutely can.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/298178.php
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/298178.php

Harold Anderson3 said:Since my diagnosis is F20.0, and you can't technically suffer from both depression and schizophrenia at the same time, I figured I’d share my situation here.
So, as I mentioned before, I am being treated for schizophrenia, but the depressive symptoms are incredibly intense. In fact, they are really my only real struggle right now, mostly because I don't experience any of the "positive" symptoms at all.
My current medication regimen includes antipsychotics like Risperdal Consta (25 mg) and Zyprexa (5-10mg), along with an antidepressant, Alventia XL (150 mg). On top of the depression, my sleep is a total mess; I either sleep way too much or not nearly enough, and there are plenty of nights where I just don't sleep at all.
Keeping up with my studies is becoming an uphill battle—I'm currently at MIT studying electrical engineering—and the university doesn't seem to have much empathy for mental health struggles, so I'll probably have to drop out soon.
Since my highest level of education is just high school, I'm feeling pretty lost regarding job prospects; everything feels so uncertain right now.
I live with my mom and my grandmother; my mom also carries an F20.0 diagnosis and has been retired since she was 35 (she's 52 now).
I think my depression is a mix of internal factors and a reaction to a pretty heavy environment around me.
Every once in a while, I have these brief windows where I feel somewhat "alive" and can actually handle my responsibilities, but most of the time, I'm just struggling through the depression and the constant negative thoughts.
Sometimes I find myself thinking it might have been better if I had never been born, because life just feels like a continuous grind, and honestly, my mother isn't really in a position to be a parent.
I talk to my father occasionally, but he has his own family now and doesn't really care to understand what I'm going through. He remarried and has two new kids; I lived with him until I was 18, when I moved in with my mom because things were getting really difficult with my stepmother. I'm 28 now.
Looking ahead, I feel like I'm just spiraling further, and I can't see a way out of this. There are moments when my thinking feels sharp and intelligent, but other times, I feel completely incapable of doing anything productive.
I have a regular check-up with my psychiatrist today at 2:00 PM, and I plan to lay everything out for her, though I'm not even sure if help is possible in a situation like this. To be honest, as I'm typing this, I'm right on the verge of tears, but that's nothing new for me.
The thought of suicide crosses my mind sometimes, but I know it would be a massive tragedy—not necessarily for me, since I feel quite numb toward myself, but for my mom and grandma. That's why I try so hard to push those thoughts away.
But living like this doesn't lead anywhere either, except toward a complete breakdown. The hardest part is that these issues have been dragging on for years, and there's just no sign that anything is ever going to get better.

Hang in there, Harold Anderson3, my friend. 👍

Larry Lewis said:Hang in there, Harold Anderson3, my friend. 👍

Thanks, 😉

So, instead of Zyprexa, my doctor decided to put me on Azolar at 10 mg since it doesn't seem quite as "numbing" and shouldn't drain my energy levels quite as much.

We actually went through the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and despite how terrible I feel subjectively, it turns out I'm dealing with a milder form of depression—meaning things haven't crossed the line into actual suicidal attempts, and I'm not experiencing physical symptoms like digestive issues or getting exhausted instantly. Regarding my tendency to oversleep sometimes, she suggested it might be a way of escaping responsibilities or real-world problems through sleep. It’s certainly easier to just drift off than to face everything head-on, though there are times when my fatigue feels genuinely unbearable, even if I’ve slept plenty. Then there are those periods where I'll stay up all night and somehow still feel fine. This mood swinging really messes with my sleep patterns, making it either too much or almost non-existent.

As for school, I'm planning to switch from Electrical Engineering to a slightly less intense Mechatronics track, and a colleague of my doctor's who works over at MIT might be able to help me navigate that transition.

Anyway, we'll just have to wait and see what kind of difference switching from Zyprexa to Azolar makes.

silentpilot97 said:But listen, there might be a way out!!!
Back in the 20th century, this scientist dedicated his entire life to studying the traditional diets of Arctic populations—specifically fish-based diets. We're talking massive amounts of Omega-3 fatty acids. There's significant evidence that these specific types of Omega-3s found in fish can help alleviate depression, and by the eighth month of recent studies, news broke regarding research testing whether Omega-3s could assist people dealing with schizophrenia. It turns out they absolutely can.
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/298178.php
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/298178.php

But those Omegas can actually suppress the immune system. Just Google "Saami immunity immune."

Furthermore, one requires a massive amount of EPA/DHA to see any actual effect—ranging from 5 grams of those acids up to 25 grams if you are dealing with severe schizophrenia or depression.

I apologize if I am bringing unwelcome or discouraging news to a thread where you should be feeling encouraged.

And besides, it is as expensive as Saint Peter Kajgana! Can anyone even afford to set aside at least $333/month just for Omega?

I have tried everything under the sun. When I look at the ratio of what I invested versus what I gained, I found that antioxidants and vitamin-mineral supplements—specifically high doses of B vitamins (2 x 100 mg of B1, B2, B3, B5, B6, along with 2 x 100mcg of B7, B9, B12)—were what helped me most.

As for Omega-3, my answer is simply NO. For a long time, I was never in a financial position to consistently provide myself with at least 2.5 grams of EPA/DHA.

I believe Omega-3 might help you all a bit more than it helped me. I wasn't taking it for depression or schizophrenia because, thank God, I don't suffer from those. I took it to stop my vision from declining. But again, I must say... do not expect miracles unless you are capable of consuming large quantities every single day over a long period of time.

Harold Anderson3 said:Thanks, 😉

So, instead of Zyprexa, my doctor decided to put me on Azolar at 10 mg since it doesn't seem quite as "numbing" and shouldn't drain my energy levels quite as much.

We actually went through the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale, and despite how terrible I feel subjectively, it turns out I'm dealing with a milder form of depression—meaning things haven't crossed the line into actual suicidal attempts, and I'm not experiencing physical symptoms like digestive issues or getting exhausted instantly. Regarding my tendency to oversleep sometimes, she suggested it might be a way of escaping responsibilities or real-world problems through sleep. It’s certainly easier to just drift off than to face everything head-on, though there are times when my fatigue feels genuinely unbearable, even if I’ve slept plenty. Then there are those periods where I'll stay up all night and somehow still feel fine. This mood swinging really messes with my sleep patterns, making it either too much or almost non-existent.

As for school, I'm planning to switch from Electrical Engineering to a slightly less intense Mechatronics track, and a colleague of my doctor's who works over at MIT might be able to help me navigate that transition.

Anyway, we'll just have to wait and see what kind of difference switching from Zyprexa to Azolar makes.

I'm crossing my fingers that the Azolar does its job; I've heard good things about it.

Forgive me if I sound alarmist, but what you mentioned regarding the extreme fatigue and those sleepless nights
is not something to take lightly, and I truly hope your doctor is treating it with the gravity it deserves.

Larry Lewis said:I'm crossing my fingers that the Azolar does its job; I've heard good things about it.

Forgive me if I sound alarmist, but what you mentioned regarding the extreme fatigue and those sleepless nights
is not something to take lightly, and I truly hope your doctor is treating it with the gravity it deserves.

I'm hoping for the best too.

I've dealt with occasional sleep issues for a long time now, though I know people dealing with milder conditions like depression face similar struggles. At the same time, I personally know plenty of folks living with schizophrenia who sleep perfectly fine, and I'm sincerely hoping you happen to be one of those 😉lucky ones.

Harold Anderson3 said:I'm hoping for the best too.

I've dealt with occasional sleep issues for a long time now, though I know people dealing with milder conditions like depression face similar struggles. At the same time, I personally know plenty of folks living with schizophrenia who sleep perfectly fine, and I'm sincerely hoping you happen to be one of those 😉lucky ones.

The last few days have been okay, but for about a month straight, even 300mg of standard Seroquel
wasn't enough to knock me out—and honestly, 300mg, damn it, 🙂

Dr. Harold Anderson3, I don't quite get why you're on two different antipsychotics. Wouldn't it make more sense to talk to your psychiatrist about scaling back to the lowest effective dose—just one medication at an optimal level?