Posts by David Vaughn75

Nicole Nguyen6 said:And there it is. That classic socialist mindset in full swing: "The state provided it."

What state? The state doesn't just have its own pile of cash sitting around. It’s all just taxpayer money from citizens and corporations that the government redistributed. So, when someone leaves for a job in Europe or wherever, it wasn't some magical gift. Their parents already paid for that education through taxes—along with every other tax they've busted their backs to pay their whole lives. The money just went through the Department of Education instead of directly to the tuition bill.

Sure thing, genius—but don't forget that plenty of folks who never even stepped foot in a university also chipped in to pay for this guy to get his degree.

darkbison5 said:If you’ve truly moved past your panic attacks, then why are you still taking AD?

I'm not even taking them—not the ADs, not any anxiolytics, nothing.

granitefalcon26 said:😂🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Need some more emojis? Honestly, everyone should just leave. Even the people who signed those fancy contracts. The government ought to sue them in a different country—somewhere that actually respects the rule of law. Those little agreements will fall apart like a house of cards once they get there.☕

The only way you're getting a response from me is if you start by apologizing for being such a jerk. Until then, you can just talk to your hand. 👋

Look, man, let's be real—mafia wouldn't even exist in any country if they didn't have some serious ties to the government. The whole shadow economy is basically fueled by politicians running protection rackets; they’re the ones keeping the whole damn thing breathing. You see those guys selling cigarettes out of their trunks at a flea market? They might spend a few seasons in jail or deal with some probation, but you can bet your life they'll be right back at it doing the exact same thing once they're out.

William Brown4 said:I wanted to see what everyone here thinks about a potential economic shift in the US.

In my opinion, the biggest issue in America is the massive shadow economy and all the off-the-books work happening everywhere. There’s no point in debating how to squeeze more cash out of people to fund a bloated government bureaucracy when nobody actually wants to pay their utility bills—most people just try to dodge them at the first opportunity.

That makes me wonder: wouldn't it be smarter if the government just said, "We'll only charge you for what we can guarantee we'll collect, but in exchange, don't expect anything for free"?

Imagine setting sales tax like in California at 7%, but if you get caught dodging it, you go straight to jail. Then, instead of trying to pull money from various service fees and utilities, you just handle your own expenses directly.

Why should the state collect money that citizens clearly feel they don't owe, just to provide healthcare and education? Wouldn't it be simpler if the government stopped collecting funds that people are unwilling to give, and instead let citizens pay for everything themselves?

For example: fine, you don't want to pay $200 in fees that fund public healthcare... okay, you don't have to pay me that $200, but you'll have to pay it directly to a private insurance provider if you want medical coverage.

What are your thoughts?

Since there seems to be a lack of civic duty regarding taxes, isn't it better to just force a "every man for himself" mentality?

If you don't want to pay $300 toward your child's schooling, no problem. I won't ask for it, but you'll have to find the money to pay the school yourself.

Simple.☕

Side note: anyone who decides to pack up and move abroad should probably pay back every cent the government spent on their education.☕

darkbison5 said:I was wondering if anyone could shed some light on a specific question of mine;
Is there actually such a thing as a PERMANENT solution to the struggles caused by antidepressants—
specifically regarding panic disorder?
I am talking about individuals who successfully tapered off their medication years ago and have seen no return of their symptoms.
Based on what I’ve been reading on various forums, that seems like an impossibility—as if antidepressants merely act as a veil, masking the underlying issues rather than curing them. If that is the case, what is the actual purpose of the treatment? Why don't psychiatrists simply admit that these drugs only work while you are taking them, rather than suggesting that a few months or perhaps two years of use will lead to long-term stability?
Psychotherapy can offer a lot of insight—you might even uncover the root cause—but understanding the "why" doesn't necessarily provide the "how" when it comes to being permanently free from mental distress. I personally understand the triggers that led to my panic disorder, but knowing the cause feels hollow when the symptoms keep resurfacing despite all my hard work and four years of medication. It looks like I’ll be heading back to the pharmacy soon enough.🤷
It is difficult to wrap my head around the fact that medical science remains so stagnant in the 21st century while technology advances at breakneck speed. We are approaching an era where teleportation might feel plausible, yet we still haven't found a definitive cure to liberate millions from psychological suffering, let alone physical ailments.
It seems far more profitable to pour money into the NFL or pay a pop star $50,000 to headline a New Year's Eve party than it is to invest in genuine medical breakthroughs.🙂
It is quite disheartening.

Well, good morning to you too, Sherlock.

Look, we aren't evolutionarily wired to just pop a pill and take a hit and suddenly all our problems vanish into thin air. We're built to actually deal with things—either by solving the issue or, if it's something you can't fix (like, I don't know, bringing people back from the dead), learning how to process it properly. That's literally why religion exists, why people seek spirituality, why we talk to friends, or why we see therapists in the first place. That's the only way to feel "right" naturally.

Psychotherapy helps you learn stuff and maybe even find the root cause, but even then, it might not be enough to permanently free someone from the mental struggles they're dealing with.

I’ve already posted here saying that therapy is pretty much useless if you don't actually face your fears head-on, and man, did I get roasted for that. But hey, don't listen to me—I'm clearly just some idiot who doesn't know anything, right? Even though I managed to kick my own panic attacks to the curb. ☕

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?

Look, Velafax is meant for depression, but what you're describing sounds a lot like schizoaffective disorder. Even if I'm totally off base and they really are just struggling with major depression, antidepressants can take a full month just to start doing their job.

Eric Mitchell55 said:My doctor mentioned he'd look into adjusting my treatment plan, though he wants to make sure I'm somewhat stabilized first. 🙄

Seriously, tell me about it.
The logic is always the same—you have to play it safe for a year or two until you're actually feeling okay, and only then do they even consider tweaking the prescription.

Eric Mitchell55 said:Zeldox 160mg
Zyprexa 200mg
Zoloft 100mg
Klonopin 3mg

I honestly can barely walk right now—I feel so sluggish and unsteady on my feet. Everything is just slowed down; I’m sleeping constantly, dealing with an endless amount of congestion, and talking like I've got some kind of built-in slow-motion filter on my voice. It feels like the meds have totally overtaken me. 😢 I'm really hoping these side effects taper off soon, since I only started this regimen yesterday... Does anyone have any experiences or thoughts to share? Sending good vibes to everyone!

Look, you can always ask your doctor to switch things up, but they aren't going to pull the plug on the meds just because you're feeling crappy. Honestly, Zyprexa is brutal, but it's one of the few things out there actually proven to help dial down those suicidal urges.

Bluejacket said:
She’s Psychotic, schizophrenic—who knows.
It’s just a brief episode of acute psychotic disorder.
It happened, but it doesn't mean it'll happen again.
The real issue lies in the root causes.
Why did this even go down?

Honestly, there's a real chance Rainbow wasn't even Psychotic to begin with.

Look, being paranoid isn't the same damn thing as being Psychotic. My own mom is totally paranoid—she's constantly looking over her shoulder at every little shadow—but she still manages to hold it together and function perfectly fine in the real world, which proves she isn't Psychotic. True psychosis is when you're completely consumed by your terrors, where you can't stop spiraling through those fears no matter how hard you try to snap out of it.

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.

Dana Vaughn said:Maybe you’re right about the depression thing. Honestly, I’m starting to wonder more and more if my doctor gave me the wrong diagnosis entirely. Everything that happened with that guy... it was real. I wasn't having some wild delusions about being followed or watched; those were actual facts. He told me he was a hacker, so I had every reason to be paranoid and overthinking everything. But she just brushed it all off as unrealistic and labeled me with psychotic decompensation.
Now, I don't know why I've been feeling this way lately, though I did stop taking the meds. Maybe staying at the psych ward and being knocked out by pills left some kind of lasting impact on me because I wasn't treated properly. Even the people at the facility were asking me what I was doing there, saying I seemed totally fine.
The truth is, I feel like a completely different person since I got out of the hospital and dealt with all those heavy drugs. Or maybe I really am depressed. I honestly have no clue. I'm heading to a spiritual retreat on the 15th—maybe I can find some kind of peace or spiritual guidance there.

Since when did you scale back your meds?

Antipsychotics are incredibly addictive, so coming off them can be a total nightmare.

hiddeneagle98 said:I was lurking on another forum recently and came across a user who gave a really vivid, almost cinematic explanation of how schizophrenia "spirals." His whole argument is that while genetics clearly play a massive role, the real catalyst for a breakdown in symptoms is this internal tendency to actually embrace unreality.

He’s basically saying that schizophrenia isn't some sudden "snap" where you lose your mind overnight; it’s more of a slow burn. You can actually trace the progression backward to those very first moments where someone starts drifting away from reality. According to him, these initial slips are usually subtle—tiny, gradual things, like someone starting to believe they can easily sense what others are thinking or what their intentions are. Now, any healthy person might have a fleeting, irrational thought like that once in a blue moon, but for someone predisposed, that tiny departure from reality takes deep root. It builds a foundation for even bigger delusions. For instance, once you've convinced yourself you have this "ability" to read minds, it’s a short leap into full-blown conspiracy theories or paranoia about being watched—anything that fits that initial delusion. His main point is pretty heavy: if you could catch it at that exact moment, you might be able to prevent the descent rather than just trying to treat the aftermath. He argues that even back then, a part of the person knows they are choosing to accept these delusions as truth.

Looking back at the last couple of pages here, it seems like that whole discussion about iPhone hacking served as the perfect trigger for this entire cascade of paranoid delusions.

Schizophrenia is just a split personality—we create a whole new persona just to cope with life's problems because we don't know any other way to deal with them.

Look, I’m no doctor or anything, but it honestly feels like you might be dealing with depression here.

Why on earth do you think those are actual symptoms of an illness? You got some first-hand experience with this stuff or what?

It just seems pretty obvious to me—I mean, common sense dictates that meds wouldn't cause depression, brain fog, or kill your drive, because if they did, nobody would ever touch them, right? 🤷

Dana Vaughn said:Hi everyone. I’m 32 years old, and about a year ago, I ended up in a psychiatric ward. Since then, I’ve been trying to work and function normally—I had a social life, friends, went out... all that. To be honest, between the ages of 21 and 25, I was really struggling with heavy substance use—amphetamines, speed, ecstasy, and a lot of alcohol—but after that, I just stopped everything. Then, a year ago, I met this guy online. After a while, he started claiming he was some kind of computer expert, a hacker who could see everything I did on my iPhone. From that point on, I spiraled. I became terrified of everything, convinced he was listening to my calls or tracking my every move. I even thought he was sending me messages through Google searches. Some things felt real, others didn't, and eventually, I just couldn't tell what was reality anymore. That whole situation is what landed me in the hospital. While I was there, they had me on Solian; I started at three pills a day and now I'm down to half. I tried talking my way through the whole thing with my doctor, but she just insisted none of it was real. I was discharged with an F23.8 diagnosis due to psychotic decompensation. But here’s the main thing: since leaving the hospital, I feel completely hollow. My motivation is gone. I’m not working, I can't find the drive to do anything, my speech feels slow, and my concentration is shot. Nothing brings me joy anymore. Everything I used to love doing, I either physically can't do or I just don't have the will to try. To put it mildly, I'm just existing. I’ve been reading online about "negative symptoms," and now I’m stuck wondering if that’s what this is, or if it’s just a side effect of the medication. Will I ever recover and get back to the life I had before? Has anyone else gone through something similar?
Thanks so much

Look, those are the fallout effects of being sick, not necessarily the meds

And listen, you absolutely can get back to functioning normally—there is nothing stopping you from getting your life back.

Lisa Reyes4 said:As for me, Zyprexa made me gain weight like crazy—I mean, seriously, I blew up!—so my doctor finally pulled it off and switched me over to a milder dose of Seroquel.

My doctor actually suggested Seroquel specifically because I was struggling with my weight, blood sugar levels, and cholesterol.

How many milligrams of Zyprexa were you on? (I’m currently on 15) And did you deal with any insomnia once you made the switch to Seroquel?

Look, let's be real—getting totally obsessed with working out is actually a recognized thing in psychiatry, and honestly, if you aren't careful, it can spiral into full-blown psychosis

Jason Vaughn482 said:One should never, under any circumstances, dismiss potential side effects as mere trifles—a mistake I have made far too often in the past. You must read the fine print and listen intently to what your body is trying to tell you. My daughter is currently hospitalized because she ignored a warning sign from an antiviral medication prescribed by her dermatologist for a facial herpes outbreak. Even though she noticed some slight swelling after just two days, when she sought medical attention at the hospital, the specialist was incredibly dismissive, rudely telling her to stop worrying about the side effects and just keep taking the pills. Well, the consequences were swift and severe: within forty-eight hours, the swelling surged to the other side of her face with terrifying intensity. They admitted her immediately, and now, on her third day in the ward, she is being treated with heavy-duty antibiotics and allergy injections. It looks like she’ll be stuck there for at least a week, if not three full weeks. I am absolutely devastated; I can't stop weeping, and my entire world feels like it's collapsing. This nightmare has served as a grim, painful lesson: I will be infinitely more vigilant with medications from here on out.

There are tons of similar drugs out there these days, so if one messes you up, you can always just switch to something else.

For instance, I took some Risperdal once and felt like my head was spinning 180 degrees—just completely lost it. My doctor ended up putting me on Zyprexa instead, and honestly? I feel great now.

And just who exactly would be running the show in that military?

I mean, seriously—have you guys completely lost your minds, or are we all just collectively trolling at this point?

redranger2 said:I’ve been on Vair and Zyprexa, and I have managed to pack on sixteen pounds. 😁
The medication is actually working quite well for me; my concentration has become remarkably sharp since I started taking it, and I haven't felt this focused in a very long time.
Sedation was truly my lifeline, saving me from those crushing depressive episodes and the endless, hollow nights of insomnia.

Is it even worth complaining about it? Honestly, I hadn't realized that was an option. 😍

Zyprexa (olanzapine) can spike your blood sugar, so you should probably get your labs checked.

But let's be real—the meds aren't what makes you fat, it's the food; the drugs just turn your appetite up to eleven. Back when I was on Zyprexa, I hit the gym like crazy and ended up dropping 37 pounds, so yeah, it's totally doable if you put in the work.

graniteorca62 said:I was on the 10 mg dose before and—honestly? I was basically a zombie... I couldn't think, couldn't remember a single thing, just a total nightmare. Now that I've dropped down to 6.5 mg, at least my brain is somewhat functioning again, though I still feel like I'm running on half-power... if that makes sense? Like, I’m just a bit slower—it takes me a beat longer to process things than it used to.

Look, all antipsychotics have that sedative, slow-motion effect, sure—but that mental fog you're feeling? That's likely just the disorder itself doing its thing, not necessarily the meds.