Schizophrenia - General Discussion

Paul Thomas9 said:I mean, does she actually see them or just feel them there? Or is it all just in her head? And how long has this been going on...

bluecobra142 said:From what I know, it’s been about two years now. She hasn't brought it up much—she only really mentioned it the other day when I went over to visit her. I'll try to dig a little deeper next time I get a chance to talk to her. Honestly, listening to her tell these stories really got my imagination going, so I even gave her some ideas on what to ask certain people.😁
How are you handling your own situation?

vividskipper15 said:Paul Thomas9, at first glance, this seemed to be about you dealing with OCD, but things have clearly escalated because you haven't sought professional help. When someone struggles with OCD without proper therapy, the disorder tends to creep into more areas of their life, leading to a significant decline. It is critical that you start therapy immediately and take any prescribed medication as needed. You need to see a specialist right away to get an official diagnosis; knowing exactly what you're facing is the first step toward getting the right medication and feeling better.
As for your interest in the paranormal or aliens, that isn't necessarily "dangerous" unless you've reached the point where you believe you're actually communicating with them. But then again, one can never be entirely certain.
I didn't quite catch everything you meant, so please clarify your symptoms. If you do, I can try to give you a better idea of what might be going on.
Regardless, seeing a mental health professional is non-negotiable. I'm not sure what your financial situation looks like—do you have the means to see someone privately?

Spock said:you’re never going to stop 😕

Paul Thomas9 said:I mean, does she actually see them or just feel them there? Or is it all just in her head? And how long has this been going on...

Linda Gray76 said:Is anyone here taking Pravda to manage schizophrenia, and what’s your experience been like with it?
My boyfriend lives with schizophrenia, and I’m starting to feel like this specific medication isn't the right fit for him. He’s dealing with side effects, feeling totally emotionally numb, and seems incredibly unmotivated... I barely recognize him anymore. It feels like his entire personality has shifted.
Does anyone have any advice or insights to share?

stormylynx23 said:You really need to lean on his psychiatrist to switch up the prescription. If the doctor tries to brush you off, don't let them. Push back. They have to listen.

Laura Davis62 said:😘 There are way more cases of schizophrenia going unrecorded than we realize. It’s not some terminal death sentence. Maybe it’s more of a state of mind—a struggle to fit into one's surroundings. Family support helps immensely, especially if they can actually earn that person's trust. Once you have that, you slowly teach them that jealousy is a destructive trait, or how to genuinely love people instead of just performing for them. You can't snap at every moment of suspicion; that's just part of the illness. And then there are the auditory hallucinations—those sounds or voices in their head. You have to explain that those are symptoms too. It's heartbreaking when patients refuse their medication. Usually, their intelligence is perfectly intact—often quite high—it's just pointed in the wrong direction. These individuals need purpose. Anything. If they don't care for sketching, maybe they can tend a small garden; give them that nudge. No garden? Then indoor plants. Anything to provide a sense of responsibility and the satisfaction of work. They aren't impossible people, nor do they all belong in a psychiatric ward. They are just sensitive souls in need of guidance. They feel love and hate just as deeply as anyone else. I'm using quotes on purpose when I say "healthy"—in my experience, there are plenty of broken people among the "sane." I have a close family member dealing with this; with enough effort and willpower, life can be good. Though, I'll admit, I occasionally reach for a sedative myself. It isn't always easy. But then again, is it easy for someone who is paralyzed? Or blind? Every illness brings its own set of burdens to the individual and the family. This isn't even the worst of it.
The fear of doctors is also a massive hurdle. Patients often feel like the doctor just made up the diagnosis out of thin air. Suddenly, the doctor becomes enemy number one. What works is a physician who meets them for coffee—just a casual chat where the patient doesn't even realize they're being evaluated. Unfortunately, those kinds of empathetic doctors are rare. Most are stuck-up types who won't "lower themselves" to meet a patient on their level, insisting on bringing them into a clinic, sometimes by force. That's a mistake; it achieves nothing. Are mental health professionals really that afraid of their own patients? Yet they tell the rest of us there's nothing to fear. 😠
A MESSAGE TO MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS: Will any of you consider the suggestion of home visits? Just sitting down for a coffee and talking in an environment where the patient feels safe and normal? I truly believe that is the superior approach for these individuals.

Brian Mitchell44 said:I’ve already shared my thoughts here once before regarding a friend of mine who seems to be struggling with some kind of disorder—perhaps paranoid psychosis, or something along those lines, if I’ve interpreted his behavior correctly.

To cut to the chase, a mutual friend and I have reached an agreement that we need to get him to see a psychiatrist. I’ve tried suggesting he seek professional help already, but he’s stubbornly decided he doesn't need it because he feels perfectly "fine" right now.

I find myself wondering: how would he actually react if we were forced to push him into an appointment? It’s becoming painfully obvious that this is just another one of his episodes, and there really seems to be no other way forward. 😕

Nicole Barrett76;8675478 said:Is it actually possible to experience a psychotic episode while you're home alone, for instance? Or could it be that nobody even notices, yet once the fog clears, you're left with the unsettling realization that something truly strange happened to your mind?

I am asking this purely out of intellectual curiosity.

Nicole Barrett76;8675518 said:

Nicole Barrett76 said:I find myself pondering a specific question, which I previously attempted to pose within the health forum—or so I believed. However, it seems my thread has vanished into the void.

The inquiry is this:

Is it entirely possible to endure a psychotic episode while completely alone in one's home? Or perhaps, could such an event occur so subtly that no one else notices, leaving you as the sole witness to your own fractured reality once the fog finally lifts?

Allow me to clarify my intent;

I am certainly not suggesting that such experiences are synonymous with schizophrenia. Rather, my curiosity lies in whether one can undergo such an episode without it necessarily serving as a definitive diagnosis of schizophrenia.

Furthermore, I feel it is high time that our psychiatric classifications expanded beyond the traditional silos of schizophrenia, depression, mania, bipolar disorder, neurosis, intellectual disability, and paranoia...

In fact, only the French psychiatric school treats paranoia as a distinct entity.

Regrettably, too many disparate conditions are being lumped together under the broad umbrella of schizophrenia. If only certain practitioners would take the time to actually differentiate these various entities—if only they would perform the nuanced analysis that was so desperately needed just the other day.

Of course it can...

It’s happened to me a hundred times, though some episodes are purely subjective. Sometimes they hit so hard in the moment that I can't even finish a conversation or talk normally with someone.
It doesn't depend on whether I'm alone or not; it's more like being hit by this negative energy, like some dark force.
I'll explain what it's like...
When I'm by myself, it manifests as a really uncomfortable experience. It feels like my consciousness starts to narrow, which triggers an incredibly unpleasant sensation...
It happens often enough that I've actually learned how to sense it coming before it fully hits.
Everything around me loses its sense of normalcy, and sounds get amplified—like, if my computer fan kicks on, the noise can drive me absolutely insane.
I just know it'll pass, so I "swallow the pill" and wait it out.

If I'm out with people or in the middle of a conversation when I feel it starting, I try to wrap up the discussion as quickly as possible so I can go settle down for a bit. If someone asks me something during those moments, I manage to focus enough to give a short answer.
And that's about it..