Posts by Larry Lewis

How many milligrams are we talking about when you take that Seroquel xr—do you just knock the whole dose back at once, or are you splitting it up throughout the day?

Kenneth Scott41 said:I’ve been taking Seroquel, and I suppose I should say it’s actually quite an effective medication, though it does come with certain quirks. For instance, I find myself drifting off mid-sentence—much like I am right now while typing this out. It’s almost instantaneous; one moment I’m conscious, and the next, I’ve just slipped away for a second, which is something I can't quite seem to control

I’ve definitely been there—that sudden fog—but then again, if I were just slamming 1000mg all at once for the hell of it, I suppose I wouldn't be complaining about being sleepy.🙂

Sandra King4 said:Do you really think his emotions aren't grounded in reality at all? How much of his "paranoia" do you think is actually just a byproduct of the condition? (He’s constantly spiraling—accusing me of cheating, claiming I lied about things like whether I've ever even been pregnant. He just has this fundamental issue where he can't distinguish between when I'm being honest and when I'm lying, etc.)

Don't go thinking I'm asking this for some selfish reason, because I promise you, that isn't the case here.

Look, regardless of why you’re asking—and frankly, I don't think that matters much at this stage—you haven't actually laid out the full picture. You haven't really delved into the specifics of what happened or provided any real context regarding his behavior—though, then again, maybe that's for the best. It’s all a bit of a muddle, isn't it? Anyway, it doesn't matter.
There is one fundamental truth you simply have to grasp—one that seems to escape most people wandering through this life—and that is that every single individual is fundamentally different, regardless of whether they carry an official diagnosis or not. Honestly, the idea of being "perfectly healthy" is a complete myth—a bit of a fairy tale we tell ourselves to feel secure—because, let’s be real, nobody is truly, entirely "healthy." We are all walking around with our own unique set of glitches, baggage, and quirks. I remember talking to a colleague back in Chicago years ago—a brilliant man, really, though he had his share of struggles—who used to say that "health" is just a sliding scale of how much chaos you can manage on any given Tuesday. And he was right. Whether you have a label attached to your psyche or you're just dealing with the general wear and tear of existing in this chaotic world, we're all essentially navigating our own version of brokenness. It's just the way it is.
I honestly have no idea how you managed to arrive at that particular diagnosis—whatever your process might be—but you really ought to understand one fundamental thing: doctors issue medical diagnoses, not amateurs playing pretend. It’s a distinction that seems to escape some people, yet it remains quite vital. I remember once dealing with a specialist back in Chicago who spent twenty minutes explaining why my "self-diagnosis" was nothing more than wishful thinking—and he was right, of course. Professionals undergo years of grueling training for a reason; they aren't just guessing based on a few symptoms and a hunch. One shouldn't simply bypass the experts with amateur intuition.

If you’re asking for my two cents regarding your love life—and believe me, I’ve seen enough heartbreak in this weary world to fill a dozen lifetimes—I would tell you to proceed with extreme caution. Just... be careful. You might even consider nudging him toward seeing a professional—a therapist or some specialist who can actually untangle that mess in his head—but let’s be honest, he’ll likely recoil at the suggestion. He’ll probably take offense, turn it around on you, and act like you're the one being unreasonable—which, in these times, feels all too familiar. So, my advice? Take a long, hard look at everything. Don't just listen to what he says—words are cheap, after all—but watch what he actually does. Study the patterns. Analyze the actions. Once you've weighed the reality against the rhetoric, then, and only then, should you decide how to move forward.

Sandra King4 said:I’ve recently crossed paths with someone who, in my estimation, is dealing with schizophrenia (and let's just assume for the sake of argument that I'm right, okay?)—but here's the kicker: they haven't been diagnosed, and they aren't seeking any kind of treatment whatsoever.
My question is this: how much of the person I think I know is actually "them"? To what extent does this illness warp their core character? And if they finally decide to get professional help and start treatment, how much will they actually change? Most importantly, when it comes to how they feel about me, how much of that emotion is genuinely theirs, and how much of it is just a byproduct of the disorder?

Thanks in advance for any insight you can offer.

That is a heavy, incredibly difficult question to parse—really quite profound—and if I can offer anything from my own weary experience, it's simply this: the illness changes them. It's an undeniable factor.

Henry Garcia9 said:I don't deal with intrusive thoughts, but what kind of stuff are we talking about? Though, I did realize something today that’s been tripping me up lately. Not sure if it’s part of the same struggle or just my own brain being difficult, but I'm incredibly indecisive. Even the tiny stuff feels like a mountain, and even when I finally pull the trigger on a decision, I immediately want to take it back...

Well, I deal with more obsessive thoughts than anything else—they aren't even "thoughts" per se, they're just these intense, repetitive fixations on things I can't even quite name. It makes life incredibly difficult, to the point where holding a simple conversation feels like an uphill battle.
I've learned how to function around them somehow, but man, I would give anything to just be rid of them. They haven't gone away, and honestly, they make me miserable most days. I try so hard to focus on anything else just to drown them out—and sometimes it works—but then I eventually hit a breaking point from all that mental strain, and they come crashing back even harder.
By the way, there’s a history of intrusive thoughts in my family tree.

At this point, I'm just fighting to stay afloat because no therapy seems to have actually cured me. I was wondering if anyone here has dealt with this and managed to find relief through medication or some other way.

I suspect what you're experiencing might not be directly tied to the diagnosis itself, but let's face it—illness has a way of magnifying our existing traits, usually the ones we'd rather hide, so anything is technically possible.

Has anyone else here dealt with the whole intrusive thought side of schizophrenia? If you have—and I mean really lived through it—how did you actually manage to get them under control? They’ve been absolutely tormenting me lately... honestly, it’s pretty much the only symptom left hanging around from my diagnosis at this point.

Henry Garcia9 said:Who are "everyone else"? I consider myself totally normal, even with my schizo diagnosis. I don't see any link between a heatwave and symptoms flaring up.☕

It’s common knowledge that people with chronic conditions—including mental health struggles—often react to shifts in the weather. It’s just how biology works. But hey, if you aren't feeling it, then consider yourself lucky, I guess.

Aaron Bennett30 said:I was actually prescribed Seroquel XR, but I couldn't get it covered by my insurance, so she said she would give me something else that's easier to get through my prescription plan.

Wait, why on earth couldn't you get the Seroquel XR? I pick mine up at my local CVS without any drama at all, so I'm honestly scratching my head here.

coppermason38 said:Look, I was just sharing my own experience with someone living with schizophrenia.
Maybe I was a little harsh with my wording. I'll go back and re-read it.

Listen, you have to understand—not every patient is cut from the same cloth—but it is incredibly hard, truly soul-crushing, when someone already struggling with a diagnosis realizes people are looking at them differently... to put it mildly.

Sorry, I got a little heated there myself.

coppermason38 said:If only her actions weren't also self-destructive. It's not like her family has the money to just cut her loose entirely.
And then there's her claim that she can't wait for them to pass away so she can finally be on her own—as if she isn't out there hurling insults at everyone else! And let's be real, her illness isn't some excuse for being malicious; if anything, it just brought out the worst in her.

Look, maybe she is a difficult person, but I still believe the illness plays a massive role here—psychosis has this way of blurring and warping everything you perceive.
Most people I know who deal with schizophrenia are actually decent folks just struggling through the chaos of the condition and life itself. Honestly, it stung to see you talk about her like that—you clearly don't grasp what "stigma" actually means since you haven't had to feel its weight on your own skin.

If her behavior bothers you, then either tell her to her face or just walk away. There is absolutely zero point in dragging her name through the mud online; all it does is give uneducated people the impression that we’re all just a bunch of lunatics to be avoided.

Go read the new thread by Harold Anderson3 and see what he's actually battling. If you want my two cents, I'd say his situation is even more grueling than what he lets on—I live with this myself, so I know exactly how heavy the burden can be.
And don't lose sight of the fact that, regardless of her personality, that girl is dealing with a very serious diagnosis.

coppermason38 said:Get well soon, you poor thing... hopefully things turn around for you.

Everything you’ve been spewing about her—all those jabs—it really just says more about you than anyone else. If she’s causing trouble, then she’s only hurting herself at the end of the day. Honestly, I can't even wrap my head around what she could have possibly done to you to justify all these nasty names you're throwing around.
People have the right to live their lives however they damn well please.

coppermason38 said:I know this specific person with schizophrenia who does the exact same thing—crushing pills into meals. But now she’s reached a stage where she refuses to eat anything at all, so that’s become the new issue. In all fairness, those pills weren't even helping her much... maybe if she had actually gone to her appointments with her doctor, they could have prescribed something else entirely.

Using terms like "schizos" to describe people living with schizophrenia... no comment.😢

Reporting in from the front lines!! The enemy is currently laying siege to the base—though, frankly, our defenses are holding steady enough to give them hell right up until I finally pass out for the night🙂somebody just end my misery already🙂

Harold Anderson3 said:Hey friend, I'm doing alright over here—just riding a bit of a hypomanic wave, I suppose. 🙂I just hope this lasts. So, when are we finally grabbing a drink? And please, don't go thinking I'm asking that rhetorically. 😉

Glad to hear you're hanging in there. I’m doing okay myself, more or less—had my check-up today and the doc says I'm not quite out of the woods yet. 🙂We are definitely hitting the pub soon; honestly, it’s about damn time. As soon as I clear my schedule, I'll reach out. Between all these coffee dates I have lined up with various women—and frankly, I've had quite enough of them—a night out with the guys sounds like just the thing.🙂

Hey, you absolute lunatics—where have you all been hiding? How are those crazy heads of yours doing?🙂

Kenneth Scott41 said:It’s genuinely good to hear that Seroquel is making a difference for someone. You’re on a pretty high dose, I suppose, but then again... the most important thing is that you're feeling better. Personally, I take 100mg of Seroquel, which seems to be just about right for me—not too little, but not overwhelming either. 😉
For me, this medication has been incredibly helpful, and I truly believe it's one of the most effective antipsychotics out there. It's hard to imagine anything better.

Yeah, it seems like it fits my chemistry perfectly, and judging by what you said, it works for you too. Though, looking back, 300mg isn't actually a massive dose—my doctor mentioned that dosages for this stuff can climb all the way up to 1200mg, and frankly, if things were worse, I’d probably swallow that much without a second thought just to feel normal.🙂

As for the Fevarin, I’ve been taking 100mg daily and haven't run into any nasty side effects, though I will say it helped quite a bit.

Right now, I’m in the process of tapering down my Diazepam, and surprisingly, I haven't hit any major withdrawals or crises—but then again, I suspect that’s mostly because my antipsychotic is finally doing its job properly.

How long does it actually take for an antipsychotic to really kick in and start doing its job?

So, here’s the deal—I was recently prescribed 300mg of Seroquel XR, and out of nowhere, over the last few days, I’ve been feeling... well, almost completely sane. I’ve been on it for about 20 days now, so I’m sitting here wondering if it’s actually the medication or just some strange cosmic fluke. Either way, this sudden shift caught me totally off guard. I feel more stable—those intrusive thoughts have either weakened significantly or vanished entirely—and the nightmares have finally stopped. For once, I’m actually in a decent mood. I just find myself praying this lasts—that I don't slide right back into that exhausting cycle of merely surviving instead of actually living my life.

slystag43 said:Fine then, I’m out. My husband thinks this forum is messing with my prognosis, so I'm leaving... see you one day eventually. 👋

Best of luck!

I really can’t bring myself to sit through any more psychological evaluations—honestly, I have no idea if I’m actually losing my grip or if I’m perfectly sane, and besides, I don't exactly find my own internal monologue to be that riveting anyway.🙂

slystag43 said:You're wasting your breath. You know the world is headed toward a Star Trek future where love won't even be necessary... 🙂

So, apparently my luck has finally turned—everything is suddenly coming up roses. Now I’m supposed to believe that some big-shot specialist at one of those fancy clinics is going to fix me right up? And to top it all off, the doctor is supposedly stunning... and here's the kicker—she actually *likes* me, precisely because of this gut—this "extra padding" I've been carrying around lately. Honestly, it feels like a bad joke.🙂