Schizophrenia - General Discussion

steelotter20 said:I wasn't asking about the pros and cons here. I'm asking how you actually feel the next day. Do you end up feeling groggy, sluggish, or just totally out of it?

I take 100 mg before bed and I manage fine. I feel a bit tired, but that’s the extent of it.

cosmiclynx79 said:I take 100 mg before bed and I manage fine. I feel a bit tired, but that’s the extent of it.

Yeah, though we should probably keep in mind that steelotter20 isn't actually trying to treat psychosis, just chronic insomnia...

So, honestly, it’s hardly any surprise he was feeling so completely drained. I used to struggle quite a bit myself with chronic insomnia, though these days I don't have that issue where I have to "force" myself through a massive 13-hour sleep marathon just to function—and that's without touching a single pill. If I were in his shoes, I’d probably try timing my rest to hit that eight-hour mark just to see how much actual, quality sleep those "chemicals" are really providing him.

Is it possible to take just a quarter of a 25 mg pill, like splitting it up that way?
The manufacturer is Pfizer.
Maybe lowering the dose would mean I don't feel so lightheaded the next day, but I'm not sure—it's been knocking me out.

I’ve stopped taking my medication... has anyone else ever quit their meds?
Everything feels different now—even the air feels different. I don't have those surreal sensations or that total numbness that comes and goes depending on how much antipsychotics are circulating in my bloodstream at any given moment.
It’s harder, though. Much harder. Everything actually hurts; the pain is real, and reality just hits you right where it counts... but everything feels so vivid and alive. Before, I was basically a zombie. I don't know—I realize my current state without medication won't last forever because, given the illness, I won't be able to sustain this indefinitely... but have any of you tried experiencing what it's like to be free from that chemical fog? Even if you were dealing with psychosis at the time.

Rebecca Rivera3 said:I’ve stopped taking my medication... has anyone else ever quit their meds?
Everything feels different now—even the air feels different. I don't have those surreal sensations or that total numbness that comes and goes depending on how much antipsychotics are circulating in my bloodstream at any given moment.
It’s harder, though. Much harder. Everything actually hurts; the pain is real, and reality just hits you right where it counts... but everything feels so vivid and alive. Before, I was basically a zombie. I don't know—I realize my current state without medication won't last forever because, given the illness, I won't be able to sustain this indefinitely... but have any of you tried experiencing what it's like to be free from that chemical fog? Even if you were dealing with psychosis at the time.

Everything you're saying is true, Rebecca Rivera3. I went off my meds for seven days recently, and man, the gastritis hit me like a freight train. But you're right, everything changes. On that seventh day, I found myself just staring at the night sky, marveling at how beautiful it was. I started noticing things—really seeing people and animals. You perceive everything through a different lens. The air tastes fresher, food tastes better, life just feels more intense. By the seventh day, I looked at my neighbor's Labrador and saw this incredible warmth in him; I remember thinking, "My God, I wish it could always be like this." I saw things in their true light. But I couldn't hold out. That gastritis was brutal—constant nausea and such intense stomach pain.

With this lower dose, things are actually feeling alright. I haven't totally ditched the meds, though—I’m not that reckless. I mean, sure, I might occasionally blank on a single pill here or there, but I haven't gone completely off the wagon.

The sun shines differently now; the light hits everything more beautifully... it spills over into colors I didn't even know existed. And the food... oh, the food... it’s so incredibly rich. All those flavors I could never have imagined or sensed before are finally here.
Sometimes I just laugh at everything, almost as if none of it ever happened—even though it was always there, I just couldn't experience it until now.
Even the silly chirping of a bird outside my window...
I don't know if I'm dreaming or how long this will last...
I don't ever want to go back to medication again...

Diego and I used to deal with me getting acute gastritis; I know exactly how awful that feels.

So, Rebecca Rivera3, you're feeling better. Great. Really glad to hear that.

I’m doing alright mentally too—had a bit of a crisis the other day, but I'm over the hump—except my body isn't really cooperating right now. I was working on something and just completely ran out of steam. Total burnout. I think I'm officially retired from any kind of heavy lifting.

If anyone is interested, you're invited to:

1. a workshop on hearing voices phenomenon from the perspective of the Hearing Voices movement (this session is designed as an introduction to the complexities of hearing voices, covering a wide array of modern insights and approaches to the phenomenon) on Saturday, May 26, 2018, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Center for Excellence in Integrative Bioethics, located at 1a Ivan Lučić St.

2. a workshop titled "The Meaning of Peer Support Groups within the Hearing Voices Movement"(This session offers practical information, techniques, and firsthand experience regarding how peer support groups operate and how to establish one—the very principles upon which the Hearing Voices movement's own groups are built. Additionally, the workshop will provide all the necessary tools for someone looking to become a group facilitator. It’s a hands-on session intended to encourage and assist people in launching their own peer support groups for those who hear voices.) on Sunday, May 27, 2018, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Center for Excellence in Integrative Bioethics, located at 1a Ivan Lučić St.

Both sessions are led by Ada Hasanbašić, a licensed psychologist and Gestalt therapist in private practice who has been an active participant in the Hearing Voices movement across the Western North America and in Prague since 2012.

There is no cost to attend these workshops.

Matthew Castillo5 said:If anyone is interested, you're invited to:

1. a workshop on hearing voices phenomenon from the perspective of the Hearing Voices movement (this session is designed as an introduction to the complexities of hearing voices, covering a wide array of modern insights and approaches to the phenomenon) on Saturday, May 26, 2018, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Center for Excellence in Integrative Bioethics, located at 1a Ivan Lučić St.

2. a workshop titled "The Meaning of Peer Support Groups within the Hearing Voices Movement"(This session offers practical information, techniques, and firsthand experience regarding how peer support groups operate and how to establish one—the very principles upon which the Hearing Voices movement's own groups are built. Additionally, the workshop will provide all the necessary tools for someone looking to become a group facilitator. It’s a hands-on session intended to encourage and assist people in launching their own peer support groups for those who hear voices.) on Sunday, May 27, 2018, from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM at the Center for Excellence in Integrative Bioethics, located at 1a Ivan Lučić St.

Both sessions are led by Ada Hasanbašić, a licensed psychologist and Gestalt therapist in private practice who has been an active participant in the Hearing Voices movement across the Western North America and in Prague since 2012.

There is no cost to attend these workshops.

Good grief, you could have just left a link so we could actually see the details! Instead, you drop a link at 2:00 AM when the lectures start at 9:00.

Jose Ward4 said:Good grief, you could have just left a link so we could actually see the details! Instead, you drop a link at 2:00 AM when the lectures start at 9:00.

Fair point, but I didn't get home until late last night, so I couldn't get it up earlier.

Things have taken a turn for the worse again, naturally... dealing with hospitals and all sorts of medications, and now the struggle of missing doses is starting to trigger psychotic symptoms because my stress levels have hit a breaking point. I just can't handle even the slightest bit of pressure right now.

I don't know... life for patients dealing with mental illness is pure suffering and torment, and honestly, only those living through it truly understand. There are so many days when the desire to just be dead—to have none of this exist anymore—is overwhelming.

Life is just grinding us down, plain and simple. I’m still sitting here with zero income. I finally have an appointment with my psychiatrist next week—it’s been three months since I got out of the hospital. He was away on vacation, but honestly, he’ll probably just extend my medical leave because the guy isn't doing great himself.

They slapped me with a paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis, even though I don't feel paranoid, I don't have hallucinations, and I don't deal with paranoia—not in my book, anyway. I’m antisocial, sure, but that’s just because I’m broke, my living situation sucks, and I'm dealing with some physical and mental health issues. People have been giving me advice on how to stop fighting the schizophrenia label so I can try to scrape together some social services and disability benefits. I need some immediate help, even if it's just a one-time payment, then hopefully long-term disability. It's necessary because neither I nor my family are doing well. Physically speaking.

I was lifting something heavy with someone else recently and it felt like I'd gained twenty pounds. I completely ran out of steam. I’ve always been lazy, but now it’s on another level. I’m a total wreck. I'm at 167 pounds right now. I've lost about 11 pounds, and I'm nearly 6'7". Mostly because I stopped eating three meals a day.

My family isn't in the best shape either, so I don't have much support to tackle any of this stuff I mentioned. And since I've already posted about how clueless I am with bureaucracy, let's just say I'm clumsy—clumsy in general, really. I’m being realistic here; I don't think this is just me being pessimistic or having low self-esteem. I’m just a weak, awkward guy, and I’ve always been this way. Like they say in Canada, I'm just a "Hafifan."

Hopefully, I can pull something together so life gets easier for me and my folks, because things can't go on like this. Life has squeezed the life out of me; everything is going downhill. We're drowning in debt and it's just getting worse.

If only I could make this happen more easily, it would be a massive relief for everyone involved.

Life doesn't show any mercy, but it seems to crush those of us with mental health struggles even harder, because, well, we don't exactly navigate the world better than everyone else.

It’s been three years since we lost the mathematician John Nash. He actually developed game theory, which earned him the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences back in 1994. What I find truly incredible, though, is that he managed all of that while navigating the challenges of schizophrenia. After turning 42, following about eleven years of being treated at various psychiatric hospitals, he decided to step away from that specific type of medical intervention and never took another medication for it again—which, in its own way, is quite a medical phenomenon. His life story was even turned into the Oscar-winning film 'A Beautiful Mind,' with Russell Crowe playing him. Rest in peace.


I just wanted to add one little thought to this: when he was first dealing with his illness, the methods and medications used back then were much more grueling than what we have available today, making them largely obsolete by modern standards. I only mention this because I wouldn't want anyone here to take his lead and decide to reject their own treatment or therapy based on his experience. 🙂

Harold Anderson3 said:It’s been three years since we lost the mathematician John Nash. He actually developed game theory, which earned him the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences back in 1994. What I find truly incredible, though, is that he managed all of that while navigating the challenges of schizophrenia. After turning 42, following about eleven years of being treated at various psychiatric hospitals, he decided to step away from that specific type of medical intervention and never took another medication for it again—which, in its own way, is quite a medical phenomenon. His life story was even turned into the Oscar-winning film 'A Beautiful Mind,' with Russell Crowe playing him. Rest in peace.

I just wanted to add one little thought to this: when he was first dealing with his illness, the methods and medications used back then were much more grueling than what we have available today, making them largely obsolete by modern standards. I only mention this because I wouldn't want anyone here to take his lead and decide to reject their own treatment or therapy based on his experience. 🙂

I mean, you can't really make that argument while those mental health diagnoses are still sitting right there on the official list of medical conditions. Look, I’m all for exploring other ways to handle things—there are plenty of alternative approaches to managing psychological struggles without immediately jumping to a prescription pad. But we have to be realistic about the heavy stuff. When someone is in the middle of an acute psychotic break, where they've completely lost touch with reality and are being driven by hallucinations, things get dangerous fast. They could end up hurting themselves or anyone else nearby. In those intense, high-stakes moments, medication isn't just an option; it’s often the only way to stabilize the situation and keep everyone safe.

I just can't bring myself to mess with medication recommendations just because there's a kickback involved. It's just not how I operate.

Look, until we actually get a handle on how to manage psychotic disorders—to the point where someone experiencing them actually has enough clarity to realize what’s happening and can proactively reach out for help during those brief windows when they're feeling okay—it just feels reckless to suggest anyone should ditch a treatment that’s providing even a modicum of relief. I remember talking to a friend back in Chicago who struggled with similar issues, and seeing how much they relied on their routine just to stay afloat... it really puts things in perspective. Telling someone to walk away from something that's helping them survive, even slightly, seems totally irrational to me.

Laura Castillo6 said:I mean, you can't really make that argument while those mental health diagnoses are still sitting right there on the official list of medical conditions. Look, I’m all for exploring other ways to handle things—there are plenty of alternative approaches to managing psychological struggles without immediately jumping to a prescription pad. But we have to be realistic about the heavy stuff. When someone is in the middle of an acute psychotic break, where they've completely lost touch with reality and are being driven by hallucinations, things get dangerous fast. They could end up hurting themselves or anyone else nearby. In those intense, high-stakes moments, medication isn't just an option; it’s often the only way to stabilize the situation and keep everyone safe.

I just can't bring myself to mess with medication recommendations just because there's a kickback involved. It's just not how I operate.

Look, until we actually get a handle on how to manage psychotic disorders—to the point where someone experiencing them actually has enough clarity to realize what’s happening and can proactively reach out for help during those brief windows when they're feeling okay—it just feels reckless to suggest anyone should ditch a treatment that’s providing even a modicum of relief. I remember talking to a friend back in Chicago who struggled with similar issues, and seeing how much they relied on their routine just to stay afloat... it really puts things in perspective. Telling someone to walk away from something that's helping them survive, even slightly, seems totally irrational to me.

Actually, Harold Anderson3 said pretty much the same thing you did. So why are you picking a fight with him?

He wasn't telling people to throw away their psych meds; he was specifically warning them *not* to do exactly that.

Matthew Castillo5 said:Actually, Harold Anderson3 said pretty much the same thing you did. So why are you picking a fight with him?

He wasn't telling people to throw away their psych meds; he was specifically warning them *not* to do exactly that.

Of course.
I mean, obviously, there isn't some federal law requiring someone diagnosed with schizophrenia to stay on their medication unless they've been admitted to a hospital. Choosing not to take prescribed meds isn't a crime under US law, but it can be incredibly detrimental—and honestly, potentially dangerous—for both the individual and those living around them.

The real issue is that they just don't listen—not even a little bit. Like, I told them I might be dealing with bipolar disorder, and they just went ahead and slapped a schizophrenia diagnosis on me instead. It’s ridiculous. I might even have Asperger's, which can totally look like schizophrenia on those standard tests. Plus, the meds they put me on gave me terrible constipation, yet they just kept pushing the same pills anyway. Then they expect us to sit there and have these deep, meaningful conversations while we're basically drugged up. How am I supposed to actually talk to a psychiatrist when I'm high as a kite from their prescriptions? It's like being completely out of it because of these pills.

That's why I don't even bother talking to psychiatrists anymore. And none of them have a clue about my liver issues, either. Nobody bothered to note it down in my medical records. Not even a mention that I was transferred from the internal medicine ward—where they actually caught the liver problem—over to psychiatry.

And this last time? Absolutely nobody noted that I only checked myself into psychiatric care because of some intense family drama.

When I show up to see a doctor at CZMZ, all he's going to think is that I've been having hallucinations or whatever, because he won't have any idea that I only came in because I couldn't handle my life anymore. Between their constant intoxication, the petty arguments, and them just making things harder for me... it's a mess.

But I can't even bring that up to him. Because I'm dependent on my family, and if I speak up, they could easily toss me out onto the street.

@Carol Barrett2, I don't think there's much of a distinction between schizophrenia and bipolar disorder when you look at it from a pharmacological perspective. Most of the antipsychotics that I’ve been prescribed, or that Sam used to take to manage schizophrenia, are also frequently utilized to treat bipolar disorder, essentially acting as effective mood stabilizers.