Larry Lewis said:But what exactly do you mean by "getting hit"? Give me some context here—because when it happens to me, I don't exactly check myself into a psych ward immediately.
Well, let's see... just this past year, back at the start of it, I felt like I was being targeted by aliens. It sounds wild, but people were following me everywhere—literally all over town. I ended up refusing to leave my room because I had pulled the curtains shut, trying to hide from everyone watching me. I was convinced my own family was tampering with my food and water, which led to some pretty bad dehydration, but I wouldn't let them take me to the hospital. I wouldn't even touch my laptop because it felt too dangerous, and I was terrified that if the TV was on, I’d catch some kind of secret message through the screen, so I kept it turned off and covered with a sheet just to be safe. In the end, I wound up in a psych ward on a locked unit, blah, blah, blah.
I honestly feel so incredibly alone right now. It feels like nobody understands what I'm going through, and no one seems to have any answers. I'm just stuck.
I have a bit of a question here, and I’m hoping someone can relate. People close to me, including my boyfriend, keep asking how they should actually react when I’m going through one of those "episodes"—basically, what's the best way to handle me when I get caught up in something intense. Honestly, I never know how to answer them. What am I supposed to tell them to do? How should they behave? Should they just drive me crazy or tie me to the bed? Because, if I'm being real, that's usually how things end up anyway. 😢
Thanks everyone, I really appreciate all the support and the advice you guys shared. It means a lot. 🙂 Regarding group therapy, my psychiatrist mentioned getting me into a session for young adults dealing with psychotic issues sometime this fall. I’m hoping it’ll provide some much-needed help 🙂 My friends and my boyfriend are all in the loop about what I’m going through, so they've been a huge help and are always there for me.
I’m still having a hard time coming to terms with the fact that I'll be on medication for the rest of my life. It’s heavy, knowing I’ll be managing this condition indefinitely, just constantly hoping to stay in remission for as long as possible. Looking back at the stretch between age 14 and 19, I went through six episodes—which works out to a little over one episode per year on average. Lately, I feel so disconnected from myself. I struggle to trust people, I find it hard to believe what I see right in front of me, and I definitely don't trust what I hear. Everything just feels... surreal, like nothing is quite real. To be honest, I’m scared of what life has in store.
Lawrence Hill6 said:First off—someone struggling with schizophrenia is fully aware of what they’re doing. They act, but the people around them just don't see it. Then, being shut out by society pushes them toward an edge—they feel this desperate need to prove they can be the "bad guy," even though they've spent their whole lives fighting not to go there. Meanwhile, the government has endless money for nonsense I won't even bother listing... we really need a New York Times or a Wall Street Journal to actually cover this;;;;; Sorry if this comes off aggressive—not trying to hurt anyone's feelings, just looking at the facts...
Maybe try actually looking into the facts before you start talking nonsense.
Rebecca James3 said:I'm curious, how do these voices actually sound to you? Is it like you're talking to a person, or is it more like a fog? My mom hears voices too, but I don't want to bring it up because she isn't really in a headspace to handle it.
Sometimes it’s incredibly quiet, almost like someone is leaning in right next to my ear to whisper. I can practically hear a mocking laugh or catch them making snide comments about everything I do. They tell me what to do and even make threats. There are moments where it feels like it's echoing inside my head, even though the sound seems to be coming from outside. It’s such an unsettling feeling, especially when you're struggling to realize it isn't actually happening.
Anyway, I haven't heard anything for about a month and a half now. I'm still dealing with some negative symptoms, though—mostly just feeling a little paranoid every once in a while.
David Vaughn75 said:It's always easy for them to talk when they haven't lived through it. 👎
I have this coworker who deals with schizophrenia, and people at work actually have the nerve to tell him he just needs to "toughen up" and quit his meds. I'd love to see those geniuses try to navigate life if they were in our shoes for even a second. 🙂
My favorites are when people start suggesting all these different herbal teas, claiming they're so amazing I won't even need my prescriptions anymore. Yeah, because I’m sure a cup of chamomile would totally replace my fifteen daily pills. 🙂🙂🙂
David Vaughn75 said:The thing is, way too many people out there think we’re somehow responsible for our own illness. 🙄
I was actually just thinking about this myself. It honestly feels like the people closest to me often assume I'm the one to blame for what I'm going through. Not too long ago, I was dealing with a situation where I felt like I was constantly communicating with another dimension, and my dad would absolutely lose his mind over it. He’d constantly grill me about why I was spacing out, and when I finally told him I was hearing voices, he just started snapping at me, telling me I needed to stop listening to them. But look, if you had someone standing right next to your ear screaming at you for hours on end, you wouldn't exactly be "listening" either, right? So, how am I supposed to not feel like it's my fault when everyone around me is constantly judging me for it?
I have an appointment with my psychiatrist this Thursday, and I’m really hoping we can finally phase out this 10mg dose of Haldol. It’s honestly just draining the life out of me... I seem to be doing okay with the Helix, Prazosin, and Cymbalta, but this one is just brutal. In my opinion, Haldol is pretty awful. My doctor mentioned she might switch me over to Seroquel instead—has anyone here had any experience with that?
Gerald Torres2 said:😍 I actually stopped taking them. I quit a few months before I started on the ADOv, though they aren't directly related (I was only on them because my cycles were irregular and incredibly painful).... Interestingly, since starting the ADOv, my condition has stabilized, and my periods have become regular and much less painful. 😍😍 (Who would have thought an ADOv could impact that, right?)
I’ve been dealing with irregular cycles for years, too. I actually talked to my OB-GYN about getting some help to stabilize everything and to have some reliable protection at the same time. So, I'm really hoping this all works out for the best. 😍
Hey everyone, is anyone here taking birth control while also being on psych meds? My OB-GYN told me there shouldn't be any major issues or contraindications, but I'd love to hear some real-world perspectives from you all. It doesn't feel official until I've checked in with the community. 🥳
Rebecca James3, thanks so much for such a detailed post 🙂 One day maybe I'll decide to have kids, but honestly, I’m pretty terrified that I might end up being a burden to them. I've tried to put myself in their shoes, but it's just hard... I can't quite get there.
As for what I see or hear? Well, what do I hear? I've been hearing voices since I was thirteen, and no one can ever convince me that what's happening isn't real. No matter how much people try to label me as crazy, I just can't see it that way. To me, it's completely real; I talk to them—though, to be fair, we don't argue much more than we chat. I hear them as clearly as if they were sitting right next to me. Crazy or not, I hear them.
How many Jesuses are in here 🥳 I always like to tell people I’m in remission, mostly just so I can pass for somewhat normal in public, but my psychiatrist actually told me today that I’m definitely not. Anyway, who am I to argue? Not my business, really.
Noah Garcia4 said:So, you're claiming you aren't being outwardly aggressive toward others, but instead, you're just taking all that hostility out on yourself? ☕
Noah Garcia4 said:That isn't just a feeling you're having; it's simply the reality of the situation.
Separately from your personal experience, it absolutely drives me up the wall when the news reports some tragedy and immediately labels the perpetrator as a schizophrenic. It’s presented as if that's the headline, 🙄 and then we all collectively act like murderers ourselves. As if we're just being "aggressive." Give me a break.
The vast majority of people who commit murder are perfectly "normal" individuals. I won't go down a rabbit hole discussing the history of warfare or the darker side of human nature right now, but the point remains.
Right, because if one person does it, we’re all somehow responsible. Personally, I’m nowhere near an aggressive person, and if I ever do lose my cool, it’s usually just directed at myself.
And the main thing is that we're labeled as "crazy," while some guy who gets drunk and beats his wife is seen as perfectly fine. He isn't "crazy." Fuck off 😍
Noah Garcia4 said:I find myself constantly burdened by this exhausting need to prove I’m not dim-witted just so people don't dismiss me as an idiot. It’s become a standard assumption that if someone acts irrational, they’re essentially lacking basic intelligence.🙄
I can't shake this feeling lately... it’s like people are actually a little bit afraid of me. I don't know if it's my vibe or just something in my face, but there's this sense that people are keeping their distance. It's a strange thing to deal with, honestly. 🙄
David Vaughn75 said:Screw them, man—stick with us.😍
I honestly feel like I have "schizophrenia" written in giant letters right across my forehead. It’s like everyone can see it. Even the people who don't know a thing about it somehow seem to know everything. Maybe I just smell bad, too, since people tend to give me a wide berth. Who knows what the future holds...
Well, I’ve played the role of Jesus before. I mean, how many times can one person step into those shoes? It’s a bit much, honestly. 🤣 I’ve even been the CEO of Walmart.