Thomas Mendoza5 said:but honestly, you basically have to completely check out of reality just to even think about it—since it involves totally insane concepts like nothingness and infinity
It’s better not to fry your brain with stuff like that. It's way too easy to get lost 🙂.
they say people on the spectrum are most likely incredibly high-functioning geniuses, while those dealing with schizophrenia actually grasp the "meaning of everything"—clearly they're the ones who should understand the essence best, the ones who believe they understand it best, and the ones trying their hardest to grasp it—the ones with the least connection to our actual reality...
Experience tells me most folks on the spectrum aren't all that bright. Maybe because they're stuck in the same rut their whole lives and never really grow...
And schizophrenia? Nah. Being a little detached doesn't push you away from life, it actually makes things easier. Living in a fantasy world works too.
Ugh, seriously? What did you even do to this thread... 👋sorry:. First off, let me just say it’s way better to be two bucks in the hole than to have absolutely nothing.
Second. When you're approaching zero through debt, you're just getting deeper and deeper into the red. But if you're approaching zero by spending down what you actually have, then you're just slowly losing cash. There's a massive difference between being broke because you owe money and being broke because you spent it all. At zero, those two paths collide at one single point. And that point is totally undefined specifically because it matters so much how you got there.
Anyway. Let's get back to the actual topic.
User123 said:Even though I have a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, I don't consider myself crazy. Honestly, I don't even know what "being crazy" is supposed to mean.
Okay. So, what does it mean to be crazy? To me, it's when someone can't even take care of themselves because of some mental health issue. Whether you're crazy or not, you'll find out pretty quick by seeing if you can actually manage your own life. Without breaking things, without all the bullshit.
If you can handle yourself, you aren't crazy, you're just different. If you can't... well, damn.
Jason Morgan2 said:Look, maybe I'm not totally sane 😁 but this question is actually pretty straightforward to me. Think about it like 4 divided by 2—just to be a little visual here—how many times can two liters fit into a four-liter bottle? (4/2=2). Well, 1/0 works the exact same way:
How many times can nothingness fit into a one-liter bottle? The answer is super simple (at least in my book)—infinity times.
cy 🙂 BHD
Hold up. BHD, it's not that simple. If nothing equals nothing... then how many times does negative nothing fit into a one-liter bottle? Negative infinity? Yeah, that's exactly the point 🙂. BTW, Geza is talking about zero vs. nothingness, so we should probably break down those two concepts before we try to give a real answer to this question 😁.
Homeopathy is basically just a scam for people who think they’re too smart to listen to some local fortune teller, but are actually way too dim to understand how actual medicine works.
Maybe "too dim" is being too generous, because honestly, ignorance is bliss 👍
Alright, here’s some free advice for anyone hanging out with folks dealing with mental health stuff. Find yourself a crew that isn't afraid to call you out when you're acting up... people who will actually sit there for an hour straight just to help you see where you're messing up.
Alright, you losers. Is this all just one big joke to you?🙂
Look, it's not funny. Because honestly, there isn't much smarter we can do right now anyway🙂.
So what *can* we do? One idea spinning in my head is finding some kind of feedback loop to prove we're actually losing it. It’s obvious that "gut feeling" isn't something we can rely on, since feelings always feel good even when reality is totally different.
What I'm thinking—like a sort of guide for this whole mess—are those techniques people use for lucid dreaming, where you do a reality check to see if you're actually asleep.
Because even in a dream, while most things seem totally normal, certain things just won't work. To figure out which rules still apply and which ones don't, the most effective thing to do is what?
Keeping a journal, logs, stuff like that. BTW, is there anyone among you certified crazies willing to actually do something like that? If we built a solid database, maybe we could spot those hidden patterns that help us realize what state we're really in.
From what I've noticed, the biggest issue is how those hallucinations and the noise created by forcing them are absolutely killing our health and schizophrenia. We need to get rid of the hallucinations fast.
Only once we have a way to tell if we've fallen for the movie or not can we start doing some real cleaning up. Until then, it's hard to imagine any way forward.
Since this step is obviously crucial for building a place like this, there’s zero reason to rush it. It’s way better to sit down, analyze everything, and really nail how we say it so nobody screws up the final call.
An open forum has its perks because then the whole damn public gets to see what’s actually lurking behind actual schizophrenia. But look, this project isn't meant to educate the masses—it's for the people who actually need the help.
The upside to an open forum is that someone might just stumble into the conversation by accident. A closed forum (let's call it that) has the edge because the target group will find it easier to get involved.
Personally, I’m all for open source, but this is about privacy. And honestly? Being completely wide open in a society that is far, far from being accepting might be overkill... maybe even harmful. BTW, I actually think one of the issues with people dealing with schizophrenia is that they're just way too open sometimes.
Because let's face it, we all have so many dogmas... any harsh run-in with those beliefs from people who don't even realize they exist could totally backfire.
And whatever. Who am I to tell anyone what they can or can't do? That's why I think the place should be totally open, but definitely more private.
Kenneth Hernandez67 said:I honestly think it's better this way, just being open... no need for special private forums.
Listen, Kenneth. You're just putting on an act. You aren't actually showing anyone the messy parts of yourself—the stuff that's hard to admit out loud. And trust me, you need to do that if you ever want to actually grow.
Bottom line, the perks of a closed group are that it's easier to open up, there's less outside judgment, and the vibe is more supportive.
The upside to this place right here is that it's just easier to get to.
User123 said:Bradley Fisher20, what kind of project are you even talking about here? Like, what am I actually supposed to be doing, and how do you think this whole thing should be organized?
From what I can see, we need some kind of counseling service for mental health patients—people who are actually going through it, plus those who feel the same way, and maybe even people who just want to understand what that's like. That last group would probably be professionals or family members.
As far as I'm concerned, I can talk openly about my own situation right here on this forum, and you guys have already seen that.
Back when I worked on other projects, I noticed a lot of people hate airing out their personal business in public like that. People relax and open up way more when things feel private...
It’s all because they aren't terrified of being labeled by outsiders. That makes a huge difference.
BTW, there's one major thing we absolutely have to dig into if we want to find any real answers. We need to figure out how to spot delusional states and how to shut them down.
Kenneth Hill37 said:Yeah... too much outside noise leaking in, totally messes with the workflow. so what were you thinking... about having a more private vibe? and is just being interested enough? I mean, who even are these individuals?
Here I go again 🙂. I was talking about an open forum that still keeps certain private details under wraps. Just being interested is plenty, obviously. Individuals? People who are interested 😁. I'm already seeing seven people here.
p.s. (just for Bradley Fisher20) "anywhere... kiki everywhere"😉
User123 said:So, if I'm following you correctly, you're suggesting we start some kind of sub-forum dedicated to health and schizophrenia?
Personally, I'm totally against opening something like that on a public forum. A private setting just works way better for getting people actually involved in a project like this.
Anyway, I think since we can all just link up online and basically ignore distance and time zones, it'd be super easy to set up a solid channel for talking...
User123 said:I'd pretty much agree with almost everything you said about health and schizophrenia, except for that part about meds not being necessary. Maybe they aren't needed once things finally settle down—maybe then you could try group therapy or something similar to stay on track—but during the acute phase? There isn't a single soul out there who could handle that kind of mental pressure without pills. I know, because I've lived it...
I'm with you on that. When things are hitting the fan and you're in an acute state, meds are absolute lifesavers for keeping everything stabilized... Quote: Illegal
I haven't really gone deep into studying this disease or anything... except for what I've read... This...Look, all I know is what I’ve been through personally and how I've actually acted... When I asked my psychiatrist if I'd be stuck on pills for the rest of my life, he just told me maybe not, and said: "Just be glad there are good medications out there."
Totally. It’s just that classic issue with medicating chronic disorders—you try to find some kind of new balance, but then all these new problems just start popping up again because nobody is actually dealing with the root cause or fixing it...
On the other hand, if those meds are basically nuking your ability to think, then they're just killing your soul... and that's nowhere near fixing the actual problem.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I swear doctors are way too quick to just throw prescriptions at you... honestly, it seems like the easiest way for them to deal with a patient who isn't cooperating. They completely ignore the side effects and the actual root of the whole damn problem...
Look, I'm not saying anyone should just ditch therapy that actually works. I'm really not. What I'm saying is we need to take a massive step forward in how we look at this whole mess... and honestly? I expect to see some actual results from it...
Aside from those magnetic blankets, I honestly don't get what kind of people are buying those plastic plates with some yin-yang symbol printed on them in copper just to "block radiation"... and then dropping like $15 bucks on a single plate? Seriously...
Crazy people... 🙂. Quote: Illegal
And I’d actually show up to some meetings where people interested in health and schizophrenia or folks living with it hang out... but where even do you find that kind of stuff around here?...
There are definitely people on this forum who would be interested. People who actually know people... I really believe that a forum like this is just a great way to communicate, or at least a way to get everyone on the same page...
That could actually be a solid start. But since my buddy at Anderlon isn't exactly thrilled about starting forums that deal with this kind of stuff, maybe we should just gather everyone somewhere else. Like... on Reddit or something... 🙂.
Off course, if anyone actually wants to get in on this attempt...
Nathaniel said:While people who are just hyper-sensitive and have a stronger mental connection—that's how I like to put it—get tossed into all kinds of diagnostic categories way too easily...
The difference is actually pretty simple. If you can still function in society, you're "normal." If you can't, then you're "sick."
Creative people, folks with massive imaginations and intense sensitivity in every sense of the word—they're just THAT KIND OF PERSON (not schizophrenics, which is what I hear "normal" people label them as all the time). Without people like that, the world would basically just be staring at daytime soaps thinking they've reached the peak of spiritual enlightenment.
Those kinds of people only become schizophrenics when their first real episode hits and they start running around like maniacs. That’s when they lose the battle, and honestly, usually the whole damn war. Because nobody ever gave them any weapons to fight back with... 🙂.
And one more thing. I’d much rather you attack me than try to praise me. I'm used to being the punching bag... 🙂.
Let's take a look at paranoid schizophrenics for a second. The classic profile usually goes like this: educated, smart, dissatisfied, haters, middle-aged...
I'm gonna throw out some scenarios here just to build a model. Take Kenneth Hernandez67’s uncle, for example. Guy lives with his mom. Middle-aged. I bet you he's just totally lost himself in it. Zero discipline. Life is just one big routine. He's constantly haunted by this deep dissatisfaction. He doesn't have the backbone to actually face life head-on, so he starts losing himself in his own little world as an alternative. Over time, that world gets stronger and swallows him whole. Eventually, he hits those breaking points where he just loses total control...
And that scares him. Look, people are basically cowards. As long as they can find a way to run from the damn facts, they’re gonna run. And they just get weaker for it. They start building these new mental systems just to protect their illusions—systems they were probably pretty good at maintaining at first—but after a while, everything slips away from their control. The threshold is invisible...
After a certain point, because that core barrier between dreams and reality breaks down, this open channel causes the personality to rapidly decay.
Schizophrenia syndrome? Hallucinations, voices, feelings of power, non-existent characters, even catatonia. All of that is perfectly normal until it breaks through. Until it takes over. And it *has* broken through.
Alright, now here's the heavy part. Something I've noticed with religious people dealing with schizophrenia. These people are still human. Because schizophrenics are always looking for a home base. Security. They gravitate toward religion. But religion is fundamentally at odds with the world. So, because of this new rift—this clash between the massive security faith provides and reality as a direct image of the truth—the person gets even more lost. It descends into chaos. They get even more terrified and they grasp even harder. It just spirals worse and worse...
This shows how sensitive schizophrenic personalities really are. Kind of like me 🙂. And while a "normal" person might be able to handle playing both sides and stay functional, a schizophrenic just can't pull that off.
Anyway, enough projecting. Let's talk solutions.
Schizophrenics have a mess in their heads. And they have to clear it out. They need methods to help them distinguish reality from illusion. That's how we get things back on track—by steering things in the right direction. There are all sorts of techniques used in lucid dreaming that I think could be applied during these episodes.
Another thing is connecting with other people and their experiences fighting the illness. Like, you think you're Jesus. Then you meet five other "Jesuses." And suddenly you realize that feeling isn't unique to you. That kind of realization humbles you a bit.
I'm talking about that sensitivity to "playing both sides" that schizophrenic types have. This double game doesn't have to be religious. It can be the conflict between an internal sense of justice and the actual reality User123 experienced. Because they can't reconcile those two stories—actually, because those two stories are in blatant conflict—we end up with a war inside ourselves. But everything can be integrated if there is Truth 🙂.
Anyway, you need explanations that tie everything into a coherent whole. Because once the whole picture makes sense, that internal conflict—which is the main driver behind developing schizophrenia—disappears.
Moving on.
To fix the mental chaos caused by the "subconscious" breaking through, you have to build up personal power and self-belief. You need that strength to push through existing barriers and climb that mental gradient.
And one more thing. You have to face your problem head-on. Solve it. Accept it, or rather, harmonize the different worlds.
Off course, this is just my sketch of how schizophrenia works. And my sketch of how to solve it. Because "medication" only puts shackles on the mind to stop it from flying too far away, and to prevent it from increasing the existing noise.
Of course, meds don't reduce the noise, which is why schizophrenia is considered incurable. But the noise CAN be reduced, and that's what needs to happen.
Summary: - gotta find some legit info to fix this internal war going on inside me. - need to work on my faith, just to get enough fuel for this long-haul healing process --> - gotta use my own willpower and focus methods to clear out all the garbage cluttering up my head.
So, let me get this straight. Sympathy is bad, but empathy is somehow great?
Honestly, it feels like the only difference is that ego filter you slap onto sympathy. It’s that ego protecting your "integrity" so you don't drown in some pit of self-pity. Basically, if someone is too terrified to actually feel something real, they settle for sympathy—just faking an emotional connection to look good...
But look, I bet the root is the same. It's all about identification. When you're being sympathetic, you're just filtering everything through that lens.
I mean, when you empathize, your brain runs the thought through a web of concepts that match what you're seeing. But when you're just offering sympathy, you're lifting yourself above the situation... putting up this mental barrier to keep yourself "safe." It's still running through the same mental mesh, you're just refusing to be vulnerable.
At the end of the day, if you're capable of feeling sympathy, you're capable of empathy too🙂.
BTW, look... if you've lost your faith in the Truth, that doesn't mean the Truth isn't out there somewhere 🙂. Seriously, I'm living proof of that and I'd be more than happy to show you 😉.