Visionary, you hit the nail on the head. I’m working—it’s my main occupation, and honestly, it brings me a real sense of fulfillment. Things can be a bit of an uphill battle for us, but hey, what can you do? You just have to keep fighting the good fight. I truly hope you get that pay increase you're looking for.
Chloe Flores83, sure, some things might seem easier than others, but everything worth doing requires real effort—even something like crafting text. There’s no reason to beat yourself up if you’re putting in the work; I actually get the impression that people expect a lot from us, which isn't necessarily a bad thing! It just means we need to be thorough. We shouldn't rush through things just to say we're done—you know, to avoid any unintended side effects, if you catch my drift.
Jamie Lewis, thank you so much for the invite, but I actually just committed to grabbing coffee with someone. I do try to get out and socialize a little bit every now and then 👍. My main goal is simply to ensure that when I do succeed, I’m doing it with actual quality. That is such a tall order these days—especially for someone without a diagnosis, let alone someone living with one.
Chloe Flores83, you are absolutely spot on. I honestly can't wrap my head around why it’s like this sometimes—it's just one of those things! Just the other day, I almost told my mom, "Look, there goes a jet instead of a semi-truck" 🤔. It really takes me a moment to process things, and I’ve realized that I definitely struggle when communication needs to be lightning-fast. It’s just not my speed, and since being social really demands that quick wit, I often find it much more comfortable to just stay quiet. Honestly, staying silent isn't necessarily easier, but it certainly feels more pleasant! Of course, other people—and by that, I mean doctors and professionals ☕ —tend to think I’m somehow lacking in that area.
Visionary, I completely hear where you’re coming from—I really do! Back when I was totally broke and couldn't afford a single thing, my doctor would just suggest, "Well, why don't you just go grab a coffee in the park or something?" It was one of those suggestions that didn't quite hit the mark, you know? Now, things are looking up a little bit—not exactly "rolling in it" status, mind you, but I'm definitely not struggling to afford a simple cup of coffee anymore. The funny thing is, even though I have more breathing room now, I don't actually feel like going out for coffee all that much. I have the desire, truly I do, but when it comes down to actually making it happen, I just... stall. It’s like socializing itself is physically draining. Even being on this forum, unfortunately, feels like a bit of an effort sometimes. I can't quite put my finger on why it is this way—it isn't laziness, believe me—but it’s as if the whole concept of interacting just exhausts me. I can fully empathize with what it's like to be struggling financially, and please, trust me, being poor is absolutely not a sin. I don't understand why some people make such a big deal out of it, though I do notice that people can find it exhausting when someone is going through a hard time—so, on one hand, I really don't want to feel like a burden to anyone in that sense. Honestly, maybe I'm better off this way, even if my doctor keeps nudging me to get out and socialize more. Personally? I don't see the problem at all. 🤷
Visionary... things feel much clearer this way! But look, if two people are staying in touch through letters, isn't that still a form of socialization? I mean, can you really deny them the title of "friends" just because their connection happens on paper? 🤷 From my perspective, absolutely any kind of communication counts as socialization.
Chloe Flores83, honestly, even that counts as progress! It’s important to remember that you don't just beat cancer with a single round of chemo—it's a long road.🍿
But here’s a little thought for you all—we’re sitting here messaging one another, which is really just its own unique way of being social! And yet, it seems we’re still struggling with the exact same 🤷 .
Chloe Flores83 said:Well, it looks like there aren't even that many of us. Actually, it's just three of us: you, me, and Angela Stewart6, plus one curious onlooker (Nicole Barrett76). And man, Harold Anderson3, how were you in the hospital for six whole months? From my perspective, where things seem to settle in a day or two, that sounds absolutely wild. I don't think I'm in a depressive state either, except maybe on weekends when I feel totally lost. When I'm at work, the day just flies by. I'm not even that social anymore, so I tend to dodge friends... though sometimes it feels like they're dodging me. Same thing, really.
A true psychosis can drag on for quite a while—I mean, a *real* one. I actually dealt with it for several months before I ended up in the hospital, and the craziest part was that I wasn't even aware of it because that state of mind felt perfectly normal to me at the time. It is such a difficult thing to wrap your head around—and frankly, I don't think it's even helpful to dwell on it too much, especially since even doctors don't always dive that deep with their patients. That said, I think it would be a mistake to define ourselves solely by our diagnosis; that just leads to more issues, specifically the whole stigma problem. Socializing is a struggle for me too, though—not really at work, but rather when I'm trying to get close to someone, despite a few exceptions here and there. Sometimes I even wonder if I'm a bit on the autism spectrum myself.
From what I can see, we all deal with some level of social dysfunction. So, given everything, what do you all think is the best way to tackle this issue effectively and meaningfully?
Harold Anderson3 and Chloe Flores83. I’ve been sipping on some Olandix lately—and honestly, it completely knocks me out! At least, it certainly does for me.
Nicole Barrett76 said:Does the psychiatric ward actually segregate patients into different rooms based on their specific diagnoses? For instance, would you find one room dedicated solely to those with schizophrenia, another for individuals dealing with bipolar disorder, a third for those struggling with depression, and perhaps a fourth for people diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder, or is that how such clinical classifications are organized?
In my own experience—I was once at a facility in Seattle—I ended up sharing space with people dealing with both bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. As for whether they strictly categorize everyone based on the severity or type of their condition... well, I honestly couldn't tell you!
Rebecca Rivera3, please, just take things one step at a time. Give yourself some breathing room! Try to find something—anything, really—that helps you unwind. For me, it’s all about keeping my mind off the illness itself; if I notice things are starting to spiral, I make a conscious effort to sit up straight and reset my posture—it actually helps more than you'd think! We really have to learn how to navigate this whole situation, you know? It isn't easy for any of us, but we'll get through it.
I honestly don't see what there is to analyze here—really! He was simply who he was, through and through, and in the end, he found his soulmate. Some people go their whole lives without ever finding that kind of connection, regardless of the health struggles or whatever other curveballs life throws at them. If his journey hadn't unfolded exactly the way it did, perhaps he wouldn't have ended up with his lady by his side. ☕
Chloe Flores83 said:I really get that. It's like I'm disappearing too. Honestly, it just depends on the day. Some days I have zero motivation, so I just force myself to go through the motions on autopilot. I tell myself it'll pass—that it's just one of those awful days where nothing, and I mean absolutely nothing, seems to matter. So, I don't even try to fight it. Tomorrow's a new day.
Hello, everyone! That is exactly it. Tomorrow is a fresh start. I couldn't agree more with that sentiment.
Njusica, I truly hope things start looking up for you soon. Though, if I may be so bold—I don't quite understand why you aren't sticking with the therapy regimen your doctor prescribed? You could work alongside them to gradually adjust the dosage or intensity over time. At the end of the day, isn't your own health far more important than anything else?
Honestly, I find reading your posts so incredibly engaging—especially when I catch myself nodding along because I can relate to your stories so deeply!
Angela Stewart6 said:Just reposting my ad here! I’m looking to meet a woman—ideally around her 30s—living in the Washington, D.C. area. I'd love to find someone to grab coffee with and just enjoy some long walks together. As for me, I’m 33, and I live with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. 🙂
Just reposting my ad here! I’m looking to meet a woman—ideally around her 30s—living in the Washington, D.C. area. I'd love to find someone to grab coffee with and just enjoy some long walks together. As for me, I’m 33, and I live with a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia. 🙂
Just wanted to pop in and send my warmest greetings to everyone! I hope you’re all doing wonderful—I’ve been keeping up with the discussions here from time to time. 🙂
Hi everyone! I’m looking to connect with a woman for some genuine companionship—ideally someone who shares my values and leads a relatively low-key, stable life. I tend to be quite introverted myself, so I’m really looking for someone who isn't constantly chasing the nightlife scene; instead, I’d love to find someone who enjoys the simple things, like grabbing a coffee or going for a nice walk. To give you a little background, I’m 33 years old and am hoping to meet someone roughly in my own age group. On a more personal note, I live with paranoid schizophrenia, but I want to be clear that I am currently in a very stable period of remission. If any of this resonates with you, please feel free to reach out via private message! 🙂 Also, please don't let finances be a barrier—it doesn't matter if you can't swing a coffee date right now.
@Nicole Barrett76 I totally hear where you're coming from—I really do—but at the end of the day, a deal is a deal! I'm just going to wait and see which ones I decide to go with. Honestly, having something to work with is definitely better than being left with absolutely nothing at all.
I have this rather peculiar thought whenever I’m staring at my morning coffee—it’s as if I suddenly start thinking about cars 🤦. To be fair, that kind of mental wandering is actually part of my diagnosis, but somehow, over time, those intrusive thoughts just seem to be tapering off.
@Rebecca Rivera3, I’m not really taking sides here—I’m certainly no doctor, so I wouldn't dream of making any definitive claims! From my own personal experience, though, medication has definitely been a huge help for me, but of course, it’s never just about the pills alone. 🙂
@Nicole Barrett76, those options you mentioned are a bit pricey for my current budget—though I truly do believe they're worth the investment, so I’ll have to weigh my options carefully. Perhaps I can find a way to mix some more affordable supplements with the ones you suggested! I plan on heading down to the pharmacy to get some professional advice soon. On a related note, iron supplements used to be my absolute lifesaver, but my doctor stopped prescribing them since my last blood work came back looking perfectly normal—though, given that I don't really eat much red meat to get that specific B vitamin, my levels might be fluctuating more than I realize. I occasionally struggle with looking quite pale and dealing with dark circles under my eyes. Honestly, we haven't been able to pin down the cause of the dark circles at all, even after several different tests! Does anyone happen to have any insight into what that could be? I did notice a cream at the drugstore that claims to fix that exact issue 🙏, but it costs about $30. I'd love to find a solution so I don't have to rely on layers of concealer every single day...