Posts by Kevin Nguyen3

Jason Vaughn482 said:Many psychiatrists do prescribe two different ADs; in my own case, I was prescribed Zoloft and Calista... though I haven't started the Zoloft yet because my priority right now is getting some actual sleep.

I am aware that they do prescribe dual AD regimens, but generally speaking, doctors try to avoid doing that, and most psychiatrists aren't exactly thrilled when they "have" to admit that such a combination actually works.
The real issue lies in how the drugs interact. Doctors often say, in a sort of metaphorical way... "if side effects start popping up, just wash your hands of the whole thing..."
In fact, I am currently taking two ADs myself.
Now, if you'll excuse me, I’m off to go kneel in a cornfield in the corner of town.🙈

And the reason? It's the same old story—it's the only way they work the way I envisioned them working.
I don't know anyone else who was recommended a dual AD regimen at the start of treatment (and I am referring here to a "good friend" of mine)

This guy, who is 44 years old, deals with the usual, politically correct EF-oeves.. recurring anxiety (based on our conversations...) and a severe depressive episode.
That is what is listed for him regarding his medications.
I don't even know of a single sleeping pill that you... chew.
I know of some things used for asthma prevention, or for stomach issues, or certain vitamins, like a B-complex or similar, or maybe something effervescent that dissolves in water.🤷

rustymaker682 said:Someone very close to me has been struggling for the last two months—feeling completely drained, moody, pulling away from everyone, avoiding friends, and dealing with some pretty dark thoughts. He finally decided to see a psychiatrist for the first time, and they prescribed him Effexor at 37.5 mg (1, 1, 0) and Calista at 15 mg... plus some Valium to help him sleep. But honestly? It feels like everything is just ten times worse now. We’re only five days into this, and he’s dealing with intense fear and anxiety, an absolute aversion to people and his job, and he can't sleep a wink despite all the medication. His mind is racing—he’s even thinking things like "this might be my last night." Then there are the physical symptoms: sudden chills, random hot flashes, and this stinging sensation in his chest. I'm looking for anyone who has navigated this before... is there actually any hope that this will settle down while he's on these meds?

"Someone close," huh?☕

It is quite fascinating, isn't it? How you claim not to know how a specific AD works, yet somehow you know nearly every granular detail regarding the side effects your friend is experiencing.🙂
How does that even work?🤷
I have no idea which psychiatrist would prescribe those two particular ADs together...?🙄
Neither of those ADs is intended to help someone sleep better or longer, which is why the Valium is there.
When an organism isn't accustomed to medications of this nature, it often struggles significantly during the initial phase, but eventually, some side effects subside, while others may emerge as the old ones fade.
Or perhaps they won't.
Those are merely prognostic guesses that are mostly accurate, though things can always go differently.

Something about this whole story feels off to me—the therapy, the dosages... you haven't even mentioned what the diagnosis is, which hospital they went to, how old they are, or anything else of substance.

Larry Barnes10 said:I've been on Alice's meds for exactly 25 days now, though I spent the first week tapering up with a lower dose just to get used to it. Had some minor side effects during that first week, nothing crazy, but they cleared up pretty fast.
Honestly, I’m not feeling much better—if anything, the last two days have been rough, with these heavy depressive episodes hitting me out of nowhere.
So, if anyone here has experience with this specific med, should I go see my psychiatrist to switch things up or just hang in there a bit longer? (I'm dealing with anxiety-depression and mild bipolar II)

Let's be objective here: that is such a short window of time to decide whether or not you're actually seeing real changes.
Everyone is different, right? Some people need more time, others need less... it’s all about how your own body reacts.
Alicia is a solid medication. I know people who have been on it for ages and swear by it.
I haven't personally taken it, though.
Just stay the course and follow exactly what your doctor advised.

Zachary Stewart2 said:I’m on the lowest possible dose—at least, that’s what I’ve been told. I take my Prozac twice a day, 1 mg in the morning and again at night. Then there's my Citram in the morning (10 mg) and half a pill of Xanax at night, just 0.25 mg. My diagnosis is BPD. So, why do you think Xanax is a joke? Honestly, reading your description of "emotional numbness" was such a massive relief because I literally didn't have the words to explain how I feel. I'm going to try to look more into that, since I really want to wrap my head around what's actually happening with me. Sometimes... things get dark enough that I've had suicidal thoughts.

All in all, things seem okay.🙂
At least you aren't being completely crushed by depression, which is a great first step, isn't it?
What I meant was regarding how long you stay on the Xanax. Unless your medical records specifically say "as needed," that's usually the concern.
Do some reading on Xanax, or Helix, or those types of medications.
I assume you'll eventually taper off the Prosper in the near future.

To be honest, you won't find much concrete information out there regarding BPD and emotional blunting. There are some articles discussing a reduced emotional response to people and situations, but even if they describe it crudely, we are all different individuals, right?
Given the diagnosis you're dealing with, having suicidal thoughts is actually quite common. If you look into Borderline Personality Disorder just a little bit, everything will start to make sense.
There is an entire, excellent thread dedicated to this topic, so why not go take a look?😉

Zachary Stewart2 said:It’s almost been four months since I started my meds. I’m currently on Prosper, Citram, and Xanax, and honestly? I don’t feel any better. Instead of actually feeling the benefits or seeing some improvement—which is what I expected by now—I just feel this constant wave of anger and confusion. The usual side effects like being exhausted, drowsy, foggy, dry mouth, or feeling weak have mostly cleared up. But instead, I’m stuck with this massive lack of motivation, zero energy, and I can't focus for anything. People keep telling me I'm forgetful, and frankly, I’m acting like a total zombie. It’s hard to even explain what’s going on because it feels so foreign to me. Even the stuff I used to love when I was dealing with depression—like going for walks, gaming, or hitting the gym—all feels like such a chore now. I just don't have the will to do anything. Everything is just... boring. I'm basically just counting down the minutes and hours until the day ends. The only thing that's actually okay is sleep. I sleep like a baby, though lately it feels like the meds are wearing off and I'm having a little trouble drifting off. I'm trying so hard to figure out what's happening to me, but I'm just pissed off and honestly, I just want to quit this whole treatment. This situation sucks and I'm really worried it isn't going to end anytime soon. I keep wondering how much longer I have to stay on this, because I don't know if I can handle this miserable state much longer. Reading through the posts here, I can't even wrap my head around how anyone manages to stay on these things for years. How do people even deal with that?

It’s quite simple, really—you feel better.
But you haven't even mentioned what kind of dosage we're talking about here.
What was the actual diagnosis? Was it some sort of psychotic episode or perhaps bipolar disorder?
Taking Xanax for four months straight is just nonsense.
As for Citram, it’s a decent medication; besides, I didn't notice you complaining about depression.
Well, that was the whole point, wasn't it?
That emotional numbness... it will pass eventually, though I suppose it can be a rather serious issue at times.

Charles Patel said:Of course I get it. I studied this stuff and drilled it into my head constantly all through high school and college! 😉

And I never said it was the cause—just a trigger. I know plenty of people where marijuana acted as the trigger for psychotic symptoms to kick in.
My first post on this thread wasn't meant to provoke anyone. I just wanted to express my thoughts and emotions, you know? All the things you can't really suppress when you're dealing with someone in acute psychosis. 🙂

In that case, it would be truly fascinating to hear both your reflections and your firsthand experiences.
After all, isn't every form of unpredictability incredibly intriguing? Whether we are talking about how we approach people, or how we approach the illness itself.
Should one strictly follow what they have been taught, or should one adapt to the situation at hand? And yet, isn't there always that razor-thin line of losing credibility that we can't always precisely define?
What is it, in academic circles, that actually defines a truly skilled and experienced psychiatrist when it comes to schizophrenia?
Why is it, in your estimation, that we possess such brilliant diagnosticians but such desperate prognosticators?
What specific information could potentially serve to make those prognoses more effective?

Believe me, I have a million questions for which I simply cannot find an adequate answer.😉

Paul Thompson3 said:I didn't feel targeted, per se—it just struck me as wild that a doctor would actually ask something like
"I'm curious, for those who used marijuana or other drugs that likely acted as a trigger for your condition, do you regret doing that now?"

It’s a bit like someone getting hit by a car and you asking them, "So, do you regret not looking both ways?"
If you're trying to pull a Dr. House routine, fine—then I guess it makes sense.

Drugs can be a trigger for schizophrenia, sure, but they aren't the cause.
By that logic, if schizophrenia hadn't come to light back then, some other factor would have just been the trigger instead.
I don't see any point in carrying around guilt if the schizophrenia was already present within us.
The fact that smoking initiated an episode doesn't change much; even having great sex could technically be the reason symptoms surfaced.
Your zebra analogy isn't exactly hitting the mark because our starting point is fundamentally different, so it carries none of that weight.

I really hope Charles Patel realizes that drugs cannot be the root cause of a disease, especially not schizophrenia. In reality, we don't truly know the causes, but certain elements play a role—genetics, biology, some people claim family dynamics (though that's a stretch), stress, and blah blah blah.
Certain substances can certainly induce psychosis, and by extension, schizophrenia.

Charles Patel said:Thanks to my colleague for the defense 🙂 😉

I'm on the exact same page. Actually, they beat me to it because I was just about to post that when you're dealing with patients in an acute psychotic state, having a "normal" conversation is just impossible.

It’s honestly refreshing to read firsthand accounts here from people living with these conditions who are actually in a good headspace and can share what they're going through.

We aren't colleagues; I am a client.😲
At the facility where I'm currently receiving treatment, I spend part of my day with people suffering from various types of psychosis—though even before this, I was placed in wards with schizophrenic patients due to a lack of available space.
Those who truly know how to look... they see.😉

Charles Patel said:So now you’re feeling targeted? 🙂

Look, depending on where we land for work, some of us aren't exactly dealing with patients facing mental health struggles on a daily basis. It all comes down to which hospital or clinic we happen to get placed in.

And if you think I just sit around reading textbooks and clinical manuals—yeah, I stay sharp. I also spend time reading through forums and other sites where people actually describe their problems and look for advice or help.

Yes, I would actually dedicate a portion of my learning to this forum. Every single day, I am in contact with individuals facing various diagnoses—all falling under the umbrella of, say, schizophrenia.
Without direct communication with them—which can be incredibly difficult, if not impossible—we might only observe external changes. But what does "change" even mean? It’s subjective, isn't it? One person sees a lot, another sees nothing at all.
In essence, this forum represents one of those vital opportunities to learn firsthand.
Why shouldn't we?
There are certain cognitive algorithms that shape a skilled diagnostician—someone who, by rare chance, gets to work directly with patients—but those very algorithms often get lost in a sea of information because they never get the opportunity to be applied in a practical, real-world way.
Many patients express themselves with perfect clarity through writing, whereas verbal conversation is almost impossible for them.
I see absolutely no reason to avoid a forum like this. Certainly, professionals read Psychology Today and other resources, but perhaps due to a certain fear of losing credibility, they hesitate to jump into discussions.

David Vaughn75 said:It’s honestly pretty easy to see how Dana Vaughn might not be dealing with psychosis at all.

Just because someone is feeling paranoid or scared doesn't mean they've suddenly gone schizophrenic—it's just not how it works.

Is she psychotic? Is it schizophrenia? Honestly, I just don't know.
She might be dealing with an acute transient psychotic disorder.
It happened—but it doesn't have to happen again.
The real issue lies in the root causes.
Why did this even happen in the first place?

Dana Vaughn said:

I was just sitting here thinking about how much everything seems to be shifting lately... you know? It’s like one day things are steady, and the next, you're looking at a completely different landscape. I found myself staring out the window this morning, just watching the traffic move along—kind of like how life just keeps rolling regardless of whether we're ready for the change or not. It reminds me of that old saying about how progress isn't always a straight line. Sometimes it's more of a jagged, messy scribble. I was reading this article on Psychology Today the other day—one of those deep dives that makes you question your own habits—and it really hit home. We spend so much time trying to organize our lives into neat little boxes, but reality is rarely that polite. Anyway, I don't mean to ramble. I just felt like sharing that bit of reflection. It’s been on my mind. kaže:
Who actually told you that you were schizophrenic? You mentioned those symptoms yourself earlier... though I did see something about you being out there with some kind of diagnosis involving psychotic episodes, or something along those lines.

Where exactly am I jumping to conclusions about your diagnosis? That’s not what this is. I’m just trying to tell you that you need to actually process what happened to you—really sit with it—instead of just bottling everything up inside. That’s all I'm saying. Honestly, I couldn't care less about court cases, how broken the world is, or all the unfairness in the psychotherapy industry. All of that is just noise, and frankly, it isn't going to help you move forward.

I’m asking you again... where exactly did I establish a diagnosis for you? Or even suggest there was some kind of pathology at all, other than what seems pretty obvious from the way you carry yourself here on the forum?

Just because your psychiatrist didn't tell you straight up that you were talking nonsense doesn't mean what you said wasn't coming from somewhere real. Honestly, I think he was probably just trying to sidestep one of those frantic, hysterical bursts where you try to justify every paranoid thought you have. It’s exhausting, isn't it? Trying to make sense of things that don't feel right. And when he realized you were having blackouts... man, he probably just brushed it off or told you that you were losing it and needed to head over to the psychiatric ward at Mayo Clinic or something like that. Or maybe he just gave you that look—you know the one—where they basically imply you've lost your grip on reality.

You still haven't quite laid it out for me... how exactly does a few seconds of silence lead to a full-blown diagnosis from a psychiatrist? I'm still circling back to that. And honestly, why did you even end up at that clinic in the first place? Was it just someone suggesting it, or was there more to it? It’s hard for me to wrap my head around why you stayed in that awful ward, too—especially after your brother gave you that piercing, judgmental look and suggested you just go pick up some light reading to cheer yourself up. It feels like there are pieces missing here.

"Maybe something light," he probably meant... you know, like a subtle warning that she’s a bit much to handle and buying her a heavy, dense tome would be a disaster. It wasn't really about the section being subpar or only stocked with beach reads. Looking back at that sharp, judgmental glare from his brother combined with that suggestion for a lighter read, I can't help but think there's some underlying shame there. Maybe it's the kind of embarrassment that makes you want to just brush the whole situation under the rug.

You were doing quite poorly even before you ever stepped foot into a psychiatric ward. And honestly, it feels like you still haven't quite grasped what the core issue is, though the root of it all clearly started much further back than this. Also, just for the record, doctors don't exactly hand out antipsychotics just because someone takes a little pause while they're talking.

Honestly, I just don't have the energy to keep wrestling with this projected paranoia of yours. It’s exhausting.

I was just trying to offer a bit of advice. It’s not exactly easy to swallow, I know—kind of bitter medicine—but it’s for your own good. Still, you clearly have everything figured out better than anyone else on this planet, and you seem perfectly content being the most miserable person around, so... by all means, enjoy that if you can. If you ever actually want to sit down and have a real, honest conversation, this community is here for you. I'm here, too, if you feel like dropping by. And hey, if you decide you want to tell me I'm still chasing after that same old thing, be my guest. I won't hold it against you.

You’ve already been flagged by the moderators for maladaptive behavior, so you might want to watch your step. Just a heads-up. 🙂

Well, look, you didn't explicitly say I was schizophrenic... but then you went ahead and pivoted to that whole discussion about schizophrenia from some other forum and suggested you think it might be the case with me, too. It feels pretty much the same as if you had just told me straight up that I have schizophrenia.
It’s just not true that my doctor refused to tell me I was losing it. I know exactly how it went down because she confirmed it to my brother—she told him I was speaking perfectly normally right up until the moment that flash happened. Based on that, she realized something was seriously wrong. She offered me some medication, which I turned down, and then the next time we spoke, she suggested hospitalization. I declined that too, so we just left it at the idea that I should at least go get some psychological testing done. I didn't even follow through with the testing. We didn't see each other again for about two weeks, until I started feeling physically terrible. My parents insisted I head to the ER, and my mom really wanted her to be the one to examine me. When she finally showed up, I told her I would finally agree to take the meds, but instead, she just took me straight to the ward.
I just wanted to say that there was honestly no need for them to hospitalize me. I’m still dealing with massive fallout from being stuck in that ward and being pumped full of medications. They spent ten days pushing all this nonsense on me, and then, once they finally saw how much it had messed me up, they just swapped my entire treatment plan around... like I was some kind of lab rat in an experiment.
As for that being a light read... well, that's just how I took it. I mean, what her actual intention was? Only she knows that, but honestly, it didn't sit right with me at all. It wasn't a nice way to go about things, in any case.

Hmm, alright then. Let us approach this from a different angle altogether.
By simply participating in this thread, one might walk away with the impression that you suffer from schizophrenia. Of course, that is a mere prejudice, but isn't it true that we have this innate psychological need to latch onto an object? In this specific instance, that object is the title of the thread itself.
It is almost instinctive, really—an immediate, first impression.
But when one digs a bit deeper into the actual words you have penned, a far more nuanced picture begins to emerge, constructed entirely from the information you have provided, whether that information is accurate or not.
And the process would look roughly like this:
Physicians often make errors in predicting the course of an illness because they tend to downplay or outright ignore certain details—even assuming the diagnosis is correct, which, let's face it, is frequently not the case. Is it even easy to determine the root of a problem based solely on the data at hand? Not at all.
If I were to go to Google Images and select any random young woman... that would be you!
Now, I can observe you either "from the inside" or "from the outside."
If I am looking at you from the outside, there is a high probability of failure; however, by looking at you from the inside, a certain intuitive framework regarding the problem begins to take shape.
When observing from the outside, I am merely applying symptoms and drawing from my experiences with other patients; I am "investing" that accumulated knowledge into the information you provide.
Fundamentally, the state of schizophrenia acts as a sort of reference class—a foundation upon which I lean when I attempt to truly perceive you.
Initially, I took the core characteristics of schizophrenia and began making predictions based on a sort of statistical model.
Then, I adjusted that initial prediction to account for what you wrote; that is to say, I incorporated your own subjective perspective on the disorder.
Ultimately, as I stated in previous posts, nothing I have observed was fabricated; I merely translated it using different terminology.
Nothing—not a single word—was written lightly, off the top of my head, or without a genuine effort to grasp things in a more precise manner.
In all sincerity, I wish you did not have this disorder; I wish you were simply optimistic and happy.
But your posts offer hints that reality is quite different.
What I think of *you* is completely irrelevant.
What matters is what I think of your disorder.

Dana Vaughn said:I'm not even being aggressive; if anything, I'm just passive, depressed, and completely lacking any motivation or willpower.
That's exactly why I started this thread. You're misreading me. I guess I just posted this in the wrong place.

🙂

To assume that a mental health disorder is some sort of fixed, unchangeable entity that a psychiatrist "ought" to simply cure... isn't that fundamentally mistaken? Can we truly hold doctors accountable for every failure when dealing with unpredictable illnesses, particularly something like schizophrenia?

Looking at your entire post, you spent all this energy trying to justify why you aren't aggressive, but honestly, did anyone even ask you that?
Yes, fine, perhaps you are passive and depressed, but when faced with unusual circumstances or interpersonal friction, you seem to lack the necessary self-control, which then manifests as aggression.
And what exactly would be a "better" place for this topic?
The Teen section?
I have absolutely no intention of trying to convince you that you have problems if you refuse to accept it—even when presented with new information. It's frightening, isn't it? And frankly, I would be scared too. You don't want to be labeled by those specific diagnostic criteria that point toward a certain type of psychosis.
See, it isn't like breaking a leg where you go in for a cast and you're done; that doesn't exist in American psychiatry. Symptoms are convoluted, phenomena overlap constantly—it is pure contradiction.
Your view of your own condition is quite narrow; you're reacting exactly how I described in my previous post.
There is no shame in seeking treatment for psychosis, even if you feel the diagnosis isn't accurate. You mentioned experiencing derealization yourself... that alone is enough to rule certain things out, while simultaneously casting suspicion on others.
Ultimately, our only goal here is to highlight the dangers of running away from the truth, regardless of what that truth might be.
You are thinking purely through emotion, and in doing so, you are preemptively shielding yourself from the very things YOU are saying.

Dana Vaughn said:So, according to you, I brought up schizophrenia and the truth, and that somehow proves I'm schizophrenic and symptomatic?! That’s just nonsense. How on earth did you conclude I'm schizophrenic when I haven't said anything specific other than mentioning I ended up in a psych ward? You're making huge assumptions without any actual evidence.
The reason I ended up hospitalized was simply because I felt physically ill for a week. Before that, I had seen my psychiatrist a few times—just routine follow-ups since I have a history of dealing with addiction recovery. During one session, my doctor suggested inpatient care because there was this moment during our conversation where I just... froze. I couldn't focus, almost like a shadow passed over my mind for a few seconds. Up until that exact moment, everything I told her about being hacked and all those other issues didn't sound crazy at all; we were just having a normal conversation about life's problems.
It isn't "unrealistic" for me to be skeptical of medications or the psychiatric system. I've been in the trenches; I know what it's like, and I know how the doctors and nurses actually behave. I'm speaking from firsthand experience, whereas from what I can tell, you’ve never even stepped foot on a ward. Just remembering the way they received me when I arrived... my brother gave me this grim, piercing look, arched his eyebrows, and gave me this cynical smirk, like he was silently welcoming me to hell. And when my mom asked the nurse what she should bring me tomorrow, and I mentioned wanting a book, the nurse just replied, "...sure, but maybe something light," which basically meant, *you have no idea what's coming for you.* And that's exactly what happened. They handed me a handful of pills immediately, and I slept for three days straight. I was completely incapacitated; the meds just turned me into a vegetable. I checked in with nothing but physical weakness, and they turned me into a shell of a person. Things have only gone downhill since that day, so in my view, it isn't a coincidence that I've been struggling ever since I walked through those doors...
That’s my take on maladaptive behavior.

Look, Dana, you are absolutely swimming in prejudices, though I suppose I shouldn't be surprised; you aren't the only one here.
You haven't suddenly become "worse" because you arrived at this unit, nor would anyone here intentionally go out of their way to make things harder for you than they already are.
Do you not see the sheer lack of logic in what you're saying?
If you have been diagnosed with some form of schizophrenia, or perhaps an acute psychotic disorder, then what does it actually mean when you claim to "know someone very well and know they aren't sick," while you simultaneously fail to see yourself?
Your perspective is simply not objective.
Are you suggesting you ended up in psychiatric care just because you felt physically unwell for a few days??
Please, let's be serious; this isn't kindergarten-level reasoning.
The reality is that you were admitted to the psych ward because that was where you needed to be, and the sooner you accept that, the sooner you can actually start addressing your issues.
Insight into one's own condition is fundamental, and unfortunately, you seem to lack it entirely, which will only slow down your progress.
In cases of paranoid schizophrenia, these exact phenomena occur—the things you're struggling with right now: grandiosity, presumably aggressive tendencies (which clearly manifest in your writing style), hallucinations, and those feelings of being watched or persecuted. You are untrustworthy, suspicious, and irritable... and frankly, those are symptoms that don't change my opinion of you one bit; it is up to you whether you reflect on your state and accept it or not.

All this rambling about psychiatry is completely baseless. I have been undergoing treatment for many years, and speaking from my own lived experience, I am telling you that you are mistaken.
Doctors are, in 99% of cases, empathetic people—approachable, understanding, and compassionate—meaning their entire goal is to help you.
Your very opinion serves only to confirm your diagnosis. It really is that simple.

Jack Johnson47 said:So, for about six months, I was on this routine—taking my portal in the morning, Normabel 2mg three times a day, and then finishing the night with one and a half Prazin.
Everything was going pretty smoothly, you know? Relatively fine... until everything just hit the fan. I lost my job, things went totally sideways, and I ended up being hospitalized...
Now, looking at my discharge papers, they’ve got me staying on the portal and Normabel, but instead of the Prazin, they switched me over to SeroquelXR at night and added Cerson 5mg as needed.
Has anyone here actually dealt with this specific combo before?
I’ve heard stories about how Seroquel can make you pack on the pounds, and honestly, that is the last thing I need right now... 🤷

Well, Cerson is intended for sleep; since it’s "as needed," you can take it over a longer period, provided you don't overdo it by needing it three times every single day.🙂
Think of Cerson as a bridge while the Seroquel starts working properly.
If there were any psychotic elements involved, Seroquel should be fine, but if things aren't that severe, it might leave you feeling quite sedated. Be careful with it; it’s a heavy-duty medication.
In this particular mix, Normabel seems redundant.
You didn't mention what your Seroquel dosage is.

And neither did you mention the Prozac dose. Now, Prozac is an excellent medication for those intense depressive episodes.
As for Seroquel, it doesn't necessarily cause weight gain—in fact, it can actually suppress appetite—but really, it's all subjective. You'll just have to see how your body reacts over time.

Kevin Lee8 said:Hey there! I'm a retired veteran too—has anyone else here been called back for those trauma-related psychological re-evaluations?

No.
A while back, I unfortunately ran into an issue where they placed a one-year restriction on my driver's license. And then comes the endless cycle... you pay for the medical exam, you pass, and then you just keep doing it over and over again.
To make matters worse, there is also a restriction on carrying both short and long firearms.
There are certain perks available, too—things I don't even bother using, like a notary public or various school benefits for children, though I couldn't tell you much more about them.

But really, why would you ever need to repeat a psychological evaluation for trauma?

Well, there you have it. I am a veteran.

What exactly is it that you are looking to find out through this thread?

Look, he’s basically constructed this tiny, insulated little bubble around himself—a private universe where he can finally feel significant and find some sense of worth. If he senses even the slightest hint of a threat, he overreacts. It doesn't matter what the context is; his reaction is always dialed up to eleven.
And honestly? You have become a threat to that equilibrium. That’s why he won't outright reject your friendship, but there's a catch: he will only accept it if it unfolds exactly according to his own twisted script.
There is no way for you to make progress or achieve anything meaningful here; you'll just end up exhausting yourself until you eventually give up out of pure desperation.
He’s become unreachable. He has retreated so deep into his own world that his version of reality only satisfies him—to everyone else, it looks completely irrational, which, let's be honest, it probably is.

His sister is trying to use her authority—assuming she actually has any—to apply some basic psychology and coax a positive trait out of him, or at least try to blunt that incredibly abrasive temperament of his.
But it isn't working. She's just not getting through to him.
I suspect you're wasting your breath with her, but... I suppose if you haven't tried, you can't truly know, right?
Trying to force things with him won't yield results; all you'll do is walk away with a heavy conscience.
Don't distance yourself too drastically, but don't forget that you need an exit strategy. If his behavior starts becoming unpredictable, you need a backup plan—a way to step back while the dust settles.
In other words, maintain a "hot and cold" approach.
Trying to hold onto him based on who he was ten or more years ago is a lost cause. He isn't that person anymore.

Casey Peterson2 said:Hey everyone, I’m not really sure how to kick this thread off properly. Let's just get straight to the point.

I'm talking about my best friend—we've been tight since we were kids. He’s dealt with mental health issues his whole life. Growing up, it manifested as all sorts of tics and weird habits: eye blinking, coughing, twitching his head or shoulders, needing to take two steps backward after walking five or six steps, obsessive hair combing, nail biting, an intense need for cleanliness, and checking if the front door was locked about ten times before leaving the house.

His childhood was pretty traumatic, to say the least. His dad was an alcoholic who used to beat his mom (who was battling cancer and eventually passed away), and his sister ended up running away from home. He spent a huge chunk of his time over at my place during holidays and dinners.

So, enough with the backstory. Here's why I'm posting: I feel like my friend is digging himself into a massive hole of crap.

Everything was under control until we finished school and started working. You know how it goes when you change your environment and your circle of friends. At first, he was incredibly jealous of me—because I had a girlfriend, played sports, had a solid social life... basically, things were going well for me, and anything I tried to pull him into, he just found pointless. We actually had one massive blowout fight when we were 25, and we didn't speak for a year.

Once the tension died down, we started hanging out again, but he was a completely different person. The jealousy and the belittling were gone; instead, he was super confident, almost arrogant (which I thought was a good thing at the time). But then, the "phases" started.

Each phase lasted maybe four or five months max, and every single one was exhausting for him and everyone around him.
First, he had his "soldier" phase, where he wouldn't stop bragging about everything he did during his time in the military.
Then came the die-hard sports fan phase. He spent insane amounts of money on tickets and games, which landed him in some serious trouble—he even ended up in the ER after getting into a scrap with rival fans.
And the list goes on: The Singer (joined a choir for a month), the Guitarist (bought a guitar, tried to learn, gave up after a few months), the Rocker (hung out with long-haired crowds, blasted rock music, and forced everyone around him to listen to it), the Party Animal (similar vibe to the rocker era), the Boxer (a buddy talked him into it, he bought gloves and pads, then quit after three months), the Pigeon Guy (apparently Mike Tyson loves pigeons, so this idiot decided he needed them too... he had about ten of them, spent a fortune on them, even had a custom birdhouse built for his balcony, only to release them all into the wild once he lost interest), and finally, the Falconer (since pigeons were "lame," he decided to get a Harrison's falcon to fly around the local park. He spent months studying for a falconry exam only to sleep through the actual test). On top of all this, he constantly surrounds himself with these bottom-of-the-barrel, problematic people—mostly losers or guys with nothing going for them. There are a few exceptions who hang out with him briefly or just accept him for what he is while mocking him behind his back.

It clicked for me recently: all these people he hangs out with—whether they're troublemakers or "normal"—actually have personalities. They're successful at *something*. One plays guitar amazingly, one is a DJ, one is heavily tattooed, one is a great boxer... and my friend? It feels like he’s just trying to shoplift bits and pieces of their personalities. It's like he thinks if he copies their traits, he'll magically find success or a purpose.
Basically, keeping up with his constant trends and obsessions has become draining. You can't talk to him about anything except whatever his current hyper-fixation is. I see him constantly spiraling into trouble and surrounding himself with guys much younger than him who are nothing but trouble.

Look, I respect him as a friend, and I’d go to bat for him any day if he needed help, but it feels like he’s headed in the wrong direction. He's gone so far off track that I don't think anyone can reach him anymore—except maybe a psychiatrist and some heavy-duty therapy.

The only thing I don't get is why he didn't try to rip me off on anything. It’s like he thinks he’s somehow above that. Weird.

Sorry for the low-effort post, I just needed to vent to someone. Maybe someone here has dealt with this before, or better yet, an expert who can weigh in.

It seems his upbringing wasn't quite what it should have been.
Does he even have a father or any close relatives nearby?
Who does he live with?
And where is that sister of his now?
One of his parents—I would assume—constantly compared him to others, nagging him about how someone else was better at a job, or a sport, or just anything at all, right? It sounds like they instilled this desperate need in him to prove himself, not to satisfy his own soul or anyone else, really, but strictly to please his parents.
All that accumulated frustration and such a fragile sense of self-worth... isn't that exactly what is making him who he is today?
That is why he clings to those specific groups of people; he’s looking for a space where he won't face criticism or feel humiliated in any way.
He hangs out with younger crowds because, in their eyes, he can project an air of authority—even if it's entirely manufactured.
He appears to be struggling with OCD, mixed with elements of paranoia, mania, and depression as well.
In order for him to feel validated, to confirm his very identity, he feels he has to be 100% invested in whatever he does, or he simply doesn't care at all. This puts him in such a precarious position, doesn't it? Because, in reality, he cannot distinguish between what is right and what is wrong.
He tries to form these intense attachments to anyone or anything—be it an actor, a singer, a boxer, or heaven knows what...
While you are busy trying to show interest in becoming more than just casual acquaintances, he doesn't even perceive you as a person; you are merely an object for him to orbit around. If you were to pull away? He wouldn't care one bit.
He absolutely needs professional help. You have to think carefully: who influences him most? Who does he actually respect as an authority figure? You might have to use a little subtle persuasion to convince him to seek aid.
For instance, you could say, "Hey, that certain actor is incredibly cool, but you know, the news and the internet are saying that ever since he started seeing someone at the psychiatric clinic, he's become 1,786 times better than he was before."
If he has formed an emotional bond with that actor, he might actually listen to you.
You essentially have to craft a narrative for him, a sort of movie in his head, that makes going to a mental health facility seem desirable.
You know how he reacts, don't you? You know his patterns. He is quite predictable, so that is how you must approach him.
The truth is, he is in deep, deep trouble.

Paul Newman5 said:Had my checkup yesterday. My Effexor dose was bumped up to 75 mg, and I’m still taking Calixta in the evenings—though I’ll admit I’m inconsistent because getting out of bed in the morning is such a struggle. Told my doctor that, so she added 50 mg of Sulpiride for the mornings. It’s the anxiety that gets me; it feels like this constant tension, like I'm on the verge of a panic attack even when I'm not actually having one.
Has anyone here used Sulpiride or Eglonyl? I’ve read all the clinical stuff regarding ingredients and side effects, but I want to know what it’s actually like from people who have taken it. Does it actually touch the anxiety for you? I know everyone reacts differently, but I value the input here. I know there were threads about Sulpiride from a while back, but if anyone is currently on it, let me know how it's working. Any side effects even at these low doses? Or any benefits?
Popped two 37.5 mg Effexor pills this morning (until I hit the doctor tomorrow to get the 75 mg script) and somehow I already feel physically stronger. Is it possible to feel that immediately after a dose increase—I've been on 37.5 mg for almost five months—or do I really need to wait a few days?
Too many questions, I guess, but your experiences mean a lot. One more thing... for those on Effexor, is the standard 75 mg better than the extended-release version I was given? Personally, I find Xanax or the regular version works better for me than the XR.

I take the "standard" 75 mg version.
Yes, during those initial days, there is a sort of euphoria, a sudden surge of energy... but then, after a short while, that feeling vanishes. It takes some time for it to actually start working the way it’s supposed to, as an antidepressant.
Besides, it isn't bad for anxiety either.

steeleagle23 said:What you're saying makes sense, but my point is that the warnings for this medication have been updated several times specifically because of those side effects.
It honestly feels like the drug was released onto the market without being tested thoroughly enough, which is why they had to go back and revise the instructions later on. My real concern is whether all doctors actually stay up to date with these changing guidelines, or if they just keep prescribing it out of habit—especially since patients usually don't complain much (because, let's face it, they trust their doctor implicitly), and doctors don't really have a reason to change things up unless someone actually speaks up about an issue.
So, what am I getting at here?
I guess I'm just saying that even doctors make mistakes. And while we should definitely trust them, it’s never a bad idea to do a little digging and look into things from other sources yourself.

You hit the nail on the head. These side effects? They just keep piling up. Most of them come from actual patients reporting very specific reactions, though I suspect there are countless others out there who don't report anything at all.
And honestly, isn't that where the real trouble starts?
It’s true—so many doctors just prescribe certain meds out of sheer habit. Some will just write "general anxiety disorder" on a script, you know, just to play it safe so they won't get blamed later for a misdiagnosis.
Look, there is a certain group of people for whom Sanval practically doesn't work anymore, yet they still find themselves unable to drift off to sleep without it. It's a cycle.
Should we dismiss the placebo effect? Never. We shouldn't discard it as a tool for relief.
But the reality is this: taking this for longer than maybe three to five weeks? It just doesn't make sense.
All those other benzodiazepine-based drugs are essentially the same as Sanval, or at least incredibly similar, so the exact same logic applies to them too.