rustyskipper7 said:I feel compelled to weigh in here. I'm not a professional, though I have family members who work in border patrol, but it is a complete falsehood to claim those people are lazy. I have witnessed incredible feats of adaptation from individuals who integrate themselves perfectly without ever asking for special treatment. In my view, "neurotypical" people possess developed "filters" that allow them to breeze through daily hiccups. On the other hand, people dealing with some variation of psychosis are essentially overwhelmed by petabytes—I'm not sure how else to put it—of useless information. They have to sift through all that noise to figure out what actually matters and draw a conclusion in a fraction of a second.
Just one example (which isn't meant to be taken too seriously, but it hits at the core of the issue): Imagine an employer calls an employee over to fix a problem that isn't even part of their job description. The worker solves the issue mentally in an instant, but they just stand there with their mouth open because reality is finally setting in. Now, the employer wants the worker to either solve or ignore the problem, and they're watching from the sidelines along with a crowd of onlookers interested in the outcome. Ultimately, the worker isn't solving a simple task; they are navigating how the employer *wants* them to solve it. Now, that worker has spent their life essentially sabotaging their own cognitive processes (to put it bluntly, to achieve a sense of blessed silence), so even if their thoughts are clear, what they say or write might not always come across as eloquent. It is quite difficult to write about something so abstract, especially when your interlocutor is a neurotypical person. And one more thing: the idea of a person struggling with mental illness working in a group of five or more people is a fantasy. It’s not just because of the illness itself; it’s because everyone has their own little agendas, and people can act like piranhas when they smell blood in the water.
I didn't mean it quite so literally when I said they aren't "capable." It's more that they struggle to perform certain tasks effectively. It’s harder for them. They push through, but there's a real difficulty there. I agree with everything else you said, though. Even if it isn't obvious to everyone, handling work assignments is much more taxing for them. I know people who simply can't manage it anymore. I used to volunteer with the Sparkle foundation back when I was involved about two or three years ago, and most of the folks there were practically unable to work. And I don't just mean on some official paperwork; you can actually see it in how they carry themselves. You look at their body language and hear them speak, and it's clear they can't focus on anything besides their own illness.
@Angela Stewart6: "Yeah, I read somewhere that we tend to be pretty self-absorbed, but honestly, maybe that isn't such a bad thing. From an outsider's perspective, a person like that just has their own little world going on. Trying to force changes on them to make them more 'objective' feels risky. We might draw all the wrong conclusions because we're so tied to our own beliefs. Everyone lives in their own bubble; it’s just more pronounced in some people. Personally, I think instead of trying to break into someone else's bubble, you should just try to improve things within it if you can."
I mean, yeah, we are incredibly wrapped up in our own little bubbles, and let's be real—we can be pretty lazy too. I know I am, and I suspect most of us are. We just don't feel like grinding through pointless tasks. Thank God I have this remote gig; otherwise, I can't imagine dealing with the soul-crushing grind of a 9-to-5. But that internal world isn't inherently bad or malicious. It's usually well-intentioned. After all, there's a razor-thin line between being a genius and just being totally detached from reality, right? I don't think we've fallen into the latter category. As for me, I actually enjoy my solitude. Having someone in my life would be great, obviously, but I'm not going to overthink it. I remember once I was out on a date, and when we met up, she looked at me all puzzled and asked, "Did you seriously not notice I changed my hair near my temple?" I told her no, and she just sighed and said, "You're totally in your own world," much like my sister does to me. At the end of the day, everyone has their own universe, and we all just try to adapt to it as best we can.
Angela Stewart6 said:Jose Ward4, you know what really gets me thinking—it’s a bit of a nagging concern of mine. I completely see where you're coming from with your point, but let me give you an example to illustrate my perspective. Sometimes, when I tackle a task, I might take things a little slower, and then other times, I’m lightning-fast and deliver top-tier quality. But there are those moments—and they happen!—where I try to rush through that exact same task to be more efficient, and I don't quite know how to put it... it's just this feeling that it actually would have been better if I had just slowed down a bit.
I'm not quite sure which specific task you mean—it might help to clarify. Are we talking about the way you move while washing dishes, or maybe when you're out shopping? But look, that movement belongs to you. You know? Don't try to force it to be faster or drag it out; just try to make it logical. That friction you're feeling happens because of that. Honestly, you're the only one who can find the fix for that, but if it starts weighing on you mentally, then just take a breather. Slow the pace down. You've got to find your own rhythm. This kind of thing has probably been happening since you were a kid, but now that you're on your medication, your whole tempo is shifting. I really think you just need a little more time to adjust, figure out your flow, and settle into it.
Angela Stewart6 said:Well, I did manage to scale back mine, though it wasn't some overnight transformation—it took plenty of time because I only reduced things as I felt ready to handle it. Eventually, I realized that sometimes there isn't even a real need to change anything; I was just telling myself I had to. To be honest, I don't really suffer from major side effects now—I went through that initial period of adjusting to the medication, and frankly, they've done more good than harm for me. The only thing is that I occasionally feel a bit sluggish, though even that is becoming less frequent. And even then, I can't definitively pin that on the medication itself—it's hard to tell if it's the pills or just my general state of being.
Listen, what matters most is you. Your well-being is the priority here. If you feel good, and if the people around you feel good because of it, then we've won. That's what I've learned. As for the sluggishness... yeah, I get that too. Sometimes. But maybe it isn't even the meds. Sure, medication can slow down your brain waves and your thought process, but it could just be the weather. You should ask your doctor, but it's common knowledge that anyone dealing with chronic issues becomes hyper-sensitive to the seasons and the atmosphere. We belong to that group, after all. Personally, when things get gloomy, I find it helps immensely to escape to somewhere sunny or bright. It keeps me grounded. Because if you're struggling with depression, or feeling low, and the world around you stays dark, it's just going to drag you straight into the gutter.
How did you all manage to burrow yourselves into such cozy little homes... so warm. I know it’s the weekend and we're in the middle of the holidays, but honestly...
Come on, people, I’ve put the numbers out there! Kickam, Dr. Diego, and you, Jose Ward4—but don't you dare be antisocial when we hang out, grrrr. Seriously though, please show up. I was stuck with the handyman all day today, and he had the nerve to tell me I have plaque buildup on my teeth. It’s honestly embarrassing, but I showed up anyway, so please, just get over here. I’m expecting to see you all next week, I mean it. What can I say? You might find someone more interesting here than anywhere else, or maybe not, but let's just hang out. What's the harm? Aside from my... dental situation. If I can drag myself out despite this, you guys have no excuses!
mistydrifter55 said:I try, but then I end up just yelling at my kids all day. ☕
The 4-year-old leaves toy cars in every single crevice of the apartment. The older one? She’s basically a walking tornado. Oh, and we have a Cat. The one I specifically wanted because I grew up around them and didn't mind the cleanup. But this one is FLUFFY. And naturally, it's a WHITE FLUFFY Cat, so the sheer volume of white fluff shedding onto the carpet is actually impressive. 🤦🤣☕
P.S. I actually bent the vacuum hose by pressing too hard trying to suck up the hair. THE HOSE—METAL. (Can't afford that fancy one with the rotating brush right now 🙂 )
Honestly, I think you’re meant to be a mommy blogger. You should start one! You might even make some money. It'd be interesting to see how many people are out there. I've noticed most people in these groups are women, though we all deal with the same chaos. Plus, you have a real knack for storytelling. You could write something like, "How an American woman manages her time in the modern age."
Honestly, I think you’re under an incredible amount of stress. At least, that’s how it seemed back when you were working in politics. You just can't stomach it—whether you realize it or not—and that’s exactly how people break. Their mental health just goes out the window because of the sheer weight of the responsibilities and those high-pressure situations that nobody is built to handle indefinitely. I have a buddy who actually started losing his hair after a few years working in investment banking. The guy was pulling in $150,000 a year, sure, but his mental state was completely shot. In my view, you aren't "sick" per se, and it’s hard to even wrap my head around what you're saying; rather, you're just putting way too much pressure on yourself and setting impossibly high expectations. You need to dial it back, seriously. What you said about feeling like you could just throw yourself onto the concrete while waiting for the bus? That is a massive red flag. It’s your mind screaming at you that you need a serious break. You need to get out into nature, maybe somewhere quiet with some flowers and fresh air, and take a good few months to just... recover. Because if you don't, you're going to snap. I don't think you'll do anything drastic, but you'll end up physically ill. When mental health hits a chronic level, the body starts paying the price physically, too. So please, slow down. Do something kind for yourself.
Joshua Lewis9 said:STOP INSULTING PEOPLE! You might end up facing some serious consequences yourself if you keep this up, so watch your mouth before the moderators come after you too...😠
Look, you totally missed my point there. You’ve got it all wrong. I’m right in the same boat as the rest of you. So, this morning, I decided to try breathing meditation for the very first time. And honestly? It felt incredible. But—and this is a big "but"—don't go overboard. I definitely overdid it today. The feeling is just so infectious that I lost my head. It’s simple breathing exercises, just relax and let go... seriously, give it a shot. There is a massive amount of stuff on YouTube to get you started, but please, don't overindulge. I went too deep into the Zen zone today, and by 7:15 this evening, I was out picking up some old keyboards from a neighbor's garage sale. After my second session, everything felt... accelerated. Everything. When I hopped on the bus later, the crowd and the noise were just overwhelming. It felt weirdly intense. It actually bothered me. I told myself, "Never again like that." Total Zen isn't always a good thing if you aren't prepared. I really think it might be better to do this in a group setting or with an actual expert guiding you through it. Anyway, I highly recommend it, just pace yourself. I'm taking a few days off to get back to reality before I dive back in.
copperpanther27 said:Carl Rivera43, you can keep those endless brainstorming sessions to yourself if you want... because honestly, if we all sit around endlessly debating every single little idea, we’ll never actually get anything done. We'll just end up with a mountain of theories and zero results.
We should be talking about how to execute the work, not just spinning our wheels on ideas...
Man, I honestly don't get why you're always so fired up. I'm starting to feel like you just can't handle hearing anyone else's perspective... wtf... anyway, is anyone actually showing up tomorrow?
Robert Harris16 said:Why is organizing a BBQ such a headache? For me, it’s simple—I just toss my grill in the trunk and show up at whatever mountain or hill you guys pick. Anyone else out there actually drive their own setup?
I don't drive, but man, that is a brilliant idea. If everyone just chips in $6.75 we'll have pounds of meat ready to go. I'm not sure if they let you fire up a grill in the Blue Ridge Mountains, but it would be incredible right now. The air is so crisp this time of year, and the view would be absolutely killer if we find the right spot.
I wanted to jump in and wish everyone a Happy Easter ahead of time since I won't be online tomorrow... but hey, it's Easter after all! We already got the ham going this morning, and now we're just finishing up dyeing some eggs and polishing them off. Honestly, there’s nothing quite like it. I really hope you all stay well—wishing you nothing but health, happiness, and plenty of love. And for anyone currently battling that post-holiday blues, hang in there for just a few more days before we all slide back into our usual routines.
copperpanther27 said:Carl Rivera43, what kind of vibe are you actually putting off that makes so many people terrified of you?
What kind of shady intentions are you hiding behind that mask, where you act one way in person but then turn around and twist everything on this forum with that "Master" persona of yours?
Honestly, I don't think he's hiding anything. He’s probably just clumsy in real life and overcompensates by being sharp online.
I might drop by later today. The admin over at Psychic won't let me talk about pharmacy or pharmacists on there. No offense to the admin, 🙂 but I really have to send you this lovely little poem Aha-Da Da Da...hopefully you won't delete this one too 👍
Yesterday was such a blast hanging out. It’s funny how you can end up hearing things from people that you didn't even realize were on their minds... plus, it's always just a great feeling to meet new, genuinely kind folks 🙂 .
Why did you guys decide not to meet up? I only managed to catch the last two pages of the thread. It honestly would have been such a blast if we could have made it happen.
When you're dealing with schizophrenia—and let's be honest, it's a brutal, unrelenting battle—you absolutely cannot just stop the meds mid-stream. It’s reckless.
I'm going to look into that Sjaj ovaj dan association for you, and once I have the lowdown, I'll shoot you a PP.
Thanks, Larry Lewis. I'll keep an eye out for your message.
So, I’m kind of a schizo🙂 hehe. It feels stupid even saying that out loud, but whatever... Anyway, my current meds feel like peanuts to me—I'm just taking two 2mg doses of Haldol and one 0.5mg Clonazepam. I take it all at once in the evening, so technically I'm not taking anything during the day. Here's the thing: I was diagnosed back in 2005, and since 2008, I’ve been aggressively tapering off everything, which is how I ended up on this light dose. Before 2008, I was popping up to eight pills a day. Well, about two weeks ago, I decided to just quit cold turkey. I mean, I had felt totally fine for seven years straight, I was even dating a few girls and stuff... so why not? But then I stopped for maybe four or five days, and everything just went south fast. My mental state completely tanked. I didn't go back to my psychiatrist immediately; instead, I just reverted to the last stable dose I had before I quit. Now, I really want to find a local support group or an association where I can actually talk things through and ease my way back into stability... hehe. My so-called "friends" just don't get it, and I honestly don't want to deal with them regarding this stuff. I'd much rather hang out with people who actually understand what it's like, you know? People from those mental health advocacy groups. So, does anyone know of an organization near downtown? I live over in the Brooklyn area and I'm not working right now, so I don't exactly have bus fare to trek all the way to Queens if the group is there. I see a few options online, but they're all too far away. Has anyone here ever been to the sjaj ovaj dan group? Does anyone know where their address is for the support sessions? Their website doesn't list it anywhere.