Posts by Larry Lewis

It seems to me—and I say this with no small amount of skepticism—that the girl will simply have to get off her medication altogether...

vividnomad2 said:That’s probably the lowest rate you'll find, though, since they usually charge a bit more for initial consultations after the first visit, maybe around $133. I’m still mulling over the idea of starting psychotherapy or something similar; I’ve thought about seeing someone privately to figure out the best path forward, but if I’m being completely honest with myself, I just don't think I'm quite ready for that step yet.

I actually sat down with a private therapist today, and it wasn't half bad—just some light introductory small talk and getting the lay of the land. She started digging into my past, though, and I have to admit, it felt incredibly awkward and frankly a bit ridiculous to be rehashing all that stuff, but what can you do? Go when you feel like it, I suppose, but don't go in expecting any miracles—I certainly don't know what to expect from them myself.

William Fowler11 said:Schizophrenia? How does it actually present itself? Is it primarily hearing voices and seeing things that aren't there, or is there something else entirely going on under the surface?

Look, just go find something on schizophrenia online—Google it or whatever—and you'll see everything you need to know.

vividnomad2 said:Look, there’s always going to be something on the to-do list, isn't there? It feels like as soon as you cross one thing off, two more pop up in its place. But I’ve learned over the years—especially during those frantic weeks when my workload at the firm felt completely unmanageable—that you really have to learn how to distinguish between what actually matters and the stuff that's just noise. Some things are essential, sure, but so many tasks are just secondary distractions that don't actually move the needle.
How has therapy been treating you lately? I’m curious if you feel like it's actually helping you find some balance, or if it just feels like you're constantly adding more weight to your mental load instead of lightening it.

Well, I decided to take matters into my own hands regarding the alcohol—stopped drinking it entirely—and I tapered down the antipsychotics a bit, too... and, well, the result isn't exactly a miracle, but it isn't a disaster either. Honestly, the biggest change is just that I don't feel like a total zombie anymore—which, frankly, was the main issue with being on that Valax medication; it felt like living in a fog. Anyway, I went ahead and scheduled an appointment with a private practitioner—just to get a professional opinion on where I stand and see what the roadmap looks like. She isn't even that expensive, $67actually.

Honestly, even when I’m ostensibly "off the clock," I find myself spiraling back into work mode—it’s an endless cycle, really. There is simply no finish line in sight... someone please, just grant me some semblance of freedom!!🙂

I’m not entirely sure what you mean by "intrusive"—that’s a bit vague, isn't it? Anyway, I actually have some news of my own—I finally found something to keep me busy. It’s a warehouse gig, and they’ll be paying me through a temp agency, but honestly, it beats sitting around the house wasting my life away. If the job turns out to be decent, I’ll give it my absolute all to see if I can land a permanent spot... but if it doesn't work out? Well, that’s just how the cookie crumbles, I suppose. We move on.🙂

vividnomad2 said:They’ve actually vanished completely—they're gone😍 but it all feels like it's happening a bit too fast, considering I've only been on this specific regimen for a very short time.

It’s pretty obvious you’re on the right stuff if they're actually disappearing—that's really what I was hoping to hear. As for me... those intrusive thoughts are still kicking my teeth in quite a bit, though they are finally starting to fade, slowly but surely.

So, I’ve gone ahead and cut my antipsychotic dosage in half—just a trial run, really—and, strangely enough, I actually feel better. If things start getting heavy or if a crisis hits, I’ll just take another pill to level out, but honestly? For the last few days, I’ve felt more alive... more present... just in a better headspace overall. At the end of the day, the main thing is that the voices have quieted down significantly, and I’m holding onto this hope that, given enough time, they might just fade away for good.👍

Hey, where have you been hiding?! How’s that new treatment treating you? Feeling any better yet?

George Clark19 said:Quick question—can a stroke actually trigger schizophrenia?

Look, you really need to be asking medical professionals—not us—because, let's face it, we're all just patients sitting here in the same boat.🙂>

Lennon is in the exact same boat as me—my psychiatrist actually tried to push it on me, but I shot it down immediately. Honestly, the thought of having to get blood drawn every single month? No thanks. I absolutely loathe needles. It’s just... well, you'll see how it sits with you once you're in the thick of it, but there are millions of these different medications out there; statistically speaking, one of them has to click with your chemistry eventually. I’ve been toyed with the idea of tapering off my meds on my own little bit—just a thought, mind you—but I suppose I'll have to see how things shake out before I make any reckless moves.
Anyway, I'm doing alright—manageably alright, at least—though as you so aptly put it, roses don't exactly bloom for everyone in this life.

I really just need to find myself a girlfriend, that's the real solution here.🙂

vividnomad2 said:They switched me over to some Seroquel because my initial treatment wasn't quite hitting the mark
so now we'll just have to see how I handle this new round
honestly, I haven't even felt like being intimate in half a year, so I'm just not in the mood for it anyway🤣

I was on Seroquel myself and it worked wonders for about a year—until, out of nowhere, it just stopped doing a damn thing, so I ended up switching back to my old reliable Zyprexa.

Ran into an old buddy today—he’s dealing with both psychosis and epilepsy, and man, life isn't treating him kindly. We talked for a bit, and since I know he lives for basketball, I invited him over this Sunday to join my guys for a game. He’s always been one of those people you just gravitate toward, but seeing him like this... it weighs on you. Knowing he can't even hold down a steady job because of all this... well, it's just the cruelty of illness, I suppose.😢

I’m really hoping this new treatment does the trick for you—fingers crossed everything turns out alright. As for me, I had some girl reach out yesterday asking if I wanted to crash at her place so I wouldn't have to trek an hour back home on foot—but I turned her down. Honestly? I need to wake up in my own bed, not some stranger's apartment... plus, I haven't even been with anyone in six months, so it's hardly any surprise where things stand. Hehehe

vividnomad2 said:I had the exact same thing happen to me; they vanished without a trace for a while, only to suddenly pop back up right where I left them. 😢

I am truly sorry to hear you're going through that—it’s a heavy weight to carry. Please, try to get your treatment sorted out or find some way to manage it; don't just sit there and suffer through the pain.

I honestly don’t know what else to tell you—it’s one of those things where there isn't a roadmap—but I truly believe these bouts of trouble eventually run their course. Some people find their way out faster than others, while some have to grind through a much longer stretch. I actually knew a girl back in college who dealt with hearing voices for over a year straight, and then, just like that, everything cleared up overnight. It’s unpredictable, really. Anyway, hang in there; things have to get better eventually.👍

vividnomad2 said:Of course 😍 I am, though if I’m being completely honest, there are moments when even I find myself a little intimidated by my own momentum.😂

Don't sweat it; they're nothing more than paper tigers, as the old blues legends used to say.😉

vividnomad2 said:😂🙂 well, if "desperate" is an understatement, then I suppose we're talking about the impossible

hahaha, honestly though, at least the vibe is solid😉

vividnomad2 said:Personally, I feel like I'm living in Wonderland all day long, and I haven't even touched any substances to get there.🤣

I see these absolute nuisances—these total bottom-feeders—crowding around your place for every possible reason under the sun... though, if I’m being honest, most of their reasons fall squarely into the "impossible" category. It’s frankly exhausting to witness.🤣

I truly hope he’s being sincere—really, I do. Because I find myself wandering off into these mental landscapes, these little pockets of perfection I build up in my own head, but they never last long enough. It’s always the same old story—I end up sabotaging my own peace before anyone else even gets the chance to get in my way. Dammit.🙂

Matthew Lee65 said:Not really. It's been quite a while... I'm strictly on beta-blockers and antidepressants right now, though they haven't quite kicked in yet. Great.😠

Go ahead—get yourself over to the doctor earlier than scheduled and just be blunt with her. Tell her straight up that you aren’t exactly feeling like a million bucks—you don't really have much of a choice in the matter, do you? Just lay it all out there.