What’s the deal with all these pills? We’re constantly feeling drowsy, dealing with dry mouth, and even facing sexual dysfunction—it seems like almost everyone I know deals with some level of that. What’s the point? Is anyone actually feeling better? I was prescribed Paxil. I'm getting all those side effects too, especially the nausea, and I honestly can't stand them.
I don't get one thing: my psychiatrist keeps telling me I have domestic violence issues, but I separate myself whenever I can. Plus, there's the guy I love, who's under 2. I just don't understand why I can't seem to meet someone for something serious. I don't even have a psychiatric diagnosis; my neurological condition is in full remission and has completely receded. I'm attractive, financially stable, mentally resilient, and highly educated—yet I keep running into idiots. It feels like despite everything, I’m destined to be alone, unable to find anyone so I won't be lonely and can actually start a family one day.
People really need to get an MRI before jumping to psychiatric diagnoses. I was actually misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, but it turns out my symptoms were caused by brain lesions located right in the area that triggers those specific behaviors. It wasn't a mental illness; it was purely organic. I didn't see any real progress until I started receiving neurological treatment rather than psychiatric intervention. Many neurological conditions can manifest as psychological outbursts depending on the circumstances, so it is always worth investigating further.
Hey everyone, it’s been a while. I've been struggling through hell with a certain friend, but he's incredibly psychotic. On top of that, he has this Oedipus complex involving some old, unattractive woman he just won't leave alone. I finally had to cut him off even though I love him, and honestly, it's been a brutal period. To make matters worse, I've dealt with a heart attack and a blood clot recently, along with leukopenia.
I'm taking Wellbutrin for my mental health—I can't quite recall what you all mentioned earlier—and I've also started taking Kvetiapin entirely on my own. My family at home creates such a chaotic circus that I'd rather be anyone else than a person living in that house. I'm taking about 300mg... I actually called the police yesterday to report the abuse, but they basically told me they couldn't see any physical evidence of being hit and wouldn't do anything. Meanwhile, the people in my own house are tearing me apart; my father is an old alcoholic who uses everything he has to destroy me both mentally and physically. I reached out to a guy today for help, and he's looking into a local shelter for me; I'm hoping to head there tomorrow if I can manage to wake up.
Everyone will be there today to witness it. Yesterday, because my family was busy moving things around, I wasn't even allowed to pay my respects to my friend who took her own life; they denied me that chance. Today, I'm going to overdose on Kvetiapin. I don't know how many tabs it will take, but I just want to be pinned to the floor. If God is willing, maybe I'll wake up and fall, and then I can tell them that my family really did hit me... I just can't do this anymore. My Psychic is supporting me and is going to write a report regarding the abuse, but my family still insists they have the right to stay in my space and torment me.
I completely agree that you should never reduce or change your medication without consulting your psychiatrist first. If things feel off, the best thing to do is state it clearly to your doctor; they can assess the situation and determine the next steps. Sometimes, a specific regimen just isn't the right fit. In my case, it took years to finally find some balance in my therapy.
I am currently on Wellbutrin 300mg, Rivotril 2mg, and I was prescribed Duloxetine due to worsening depression. I'm also taking Norvasc and, unfortunately, Prazina as well. To be honest, I’m not even sure if the Duloxetine is doing anything. As for the Prazina, it feels like a necessary evil, but it's what it is. Wellbutrin is really the only thing keeping me afloat right now. I remember being on Lexapro, Haldol, and all sorts of other things back in the day. Everything became much clearer once they discovered lesions in my brain. They are located in the area responsible for schizophrenia, affecting my thought processes, emotions, motor skills, and vision... Since then, my treatment has been neurological. And let me tell you, the psychiatric meds I used to take seem like child's play compared to these neurological treatments and undergoing hemodialysis. Hemodialysis is the worst feeling imaginable—both mentally and physically. You feel completely drained, nauseous, and utterly exhausted, to the point where you just want it all to end. Unfortunately, once that phase passes, you know you have to go through it all over again later.
So now, I’m dealing with an anxiety and depressive disorder, which seems minor compared to what you all are facing. But I do understand how you feel because I’ve been in that stage myself. Regardless, I’m not giving up. No matter how hard it gets, I keep pushing toward my goals.
Patrick Patel4, did you really take 400mg of Quetiapine four times? If you don't mind my asking, what is your body weight? Because that is an incredibly high dose. I have it myself, but I try to avoid taking it because it just gets me high and knocks me out; sometimes it leaves me unable to get anything done, and I'm not sure how it affects you. I usually take it when I want to numb everything out—when I want to disappear because my soul hurts, I'm in intense physical pain, or I simply can't sleep. It helps me drift off, but I'm terrified of forming a habit, even though it feels good to take it at night. As for Lamictal, I've unfortunately had to increase my dose to 40 or 50mg. That’s just too much. Some days I take two, other days I lose track of the count entirely. I really miss having people around. I didn't realize it would hit me like this, but I feel so lonely. There aren't many people in my house—just three of us—and hardly anyone talks to me since everyone has their own interests. It definitely makes my condition worse.
Just checking in for a moment. To be completely honest, I hit a really severe depressive episode and was prescribed 350mg of Welbutrin, along with Duloxetine, 30mg of Norvale, and 2mg of Rivotril.
Truthfully, a part of it was due to my boyfriend, but it was also because I was dealing with intense physical pain. I couldn't eat, so I lost weight, and I was sleeping constantly—sometimes six hours during the day plus all night... it was awful. I suppose the illness itself is responsible for that phase, since it triggers those moods and shifts in brain chemistry. But there was also the crushing thought that I’m still young and now I'm sick, feeling like I’ll never finish my second degree, get a career, start a family, or everything else... it felt like my youth had been stolen from me. That sent me even deeper into the depression.
I'm doing better today. Things at home, with my boyfriend, and with my family have improved... but unfortunately, you don't just bounce back from depression overnight.
You all know how it goes. You're still left with that lack of motivation and that sense of worthlessness. Plus, I officially caught COVID, which really drained my will to do anything.
However, every day is a new start. It doesn't matter how many times you fall, as long as you keep getting back up.
Thanks for all the support, everyone. Honestly, I’m blown away by the kindness. I’m a fighter—I fall down, but I get right back up. I suppose growing up with parents who treated me more like a soldier than a child—very much that old-school military style—helped. I've become accustomed to levels of pain that no one should ever have to endure. Still, today made me realize who I am. I am a strong person; even when I stumble, there is a deep, steady strength behind it.
As for my medication, I'm doing okay, thank God. No Xanax or anything like that, just Normabell, though I can't seem to let go of it—and even if I could, it helps with my muscle spasms since it acts as a relaxant.
My current regimen includes a heavy antidepressant and 1.5 mg of an anti-epileptic. Beyond that, it's just the neurological meds I receive while at the hospital.
Physically, I actually look good—better than I can explain. I am thin, and I try to keep up with physical therapy, though my mental state fluctuates. Right now, I'm just hoping this phase lasts. It’s also about shifting my mindset, though emotions can still pull you under.
I completely understand what you all mean about hiding symptoms. People think it's easy to mask things, but I do the same thing—hiding both the neurological and psychological symptoms because it takes everything I have to stay strong.
They say a healthy person has a thousand wishes, but a sick person has only one.
Sometimes I feel like I’m failing myself. Despite having my degree and being able to handle situations better than most, I get so incredibly exhausted. My IQ is high, but when the lesions start acting up, everything just goes out the window.
Unfortunately, they’ve scheduled me for chemotherapy in a few months. The neurologists decided that suppressing my immune system is necessary so I can walk and move properly, though I have my doubts. I’m also still waiting on one more test result regarding a potential tumor.
Enough gloom, though. We just have to keep getting up, no matter how hard it gets, and find meaning in the little things. Try to be less self-critical. To those of you working: be proud. I'm not there yet, but I will be soon. Even just making your bed and looking around to realize you are managing despite everything—that is a success to be proud of.
You all are heroes, even if you don't feel like it. I know how heavy it feels to deal with a disability when you're young. But remember, we aren't alone; there are many of us. If we keep trying, things will slowly settle into place. Life won't be the same as it is for "healthy" people, but it will be okay. We have to accept that, and that’s fine. I envy them, too... but if this is what we were given, we have to show what we can do with it. You are all incredibly strong people, and you should be proud of yourselves. Just take it one step at a time, without setting impossible expectations.
Harold Anderson3, thanks for the support. The max dose of antidepressants combined with anti-epileptics and Normabels feels like taking candy for the pain—between the physical cramps and the mental anguish, it's constant.
I should mention that I've finally stopped taking benzodiazepines, with the exception of Normabels. I am sticking strictly to my prescribed therapy, though I still have to rely on the Normabels more than I'd like.
By the way, I know you're right, Harold Anderson3, but this is just who I am. These issues are rooted in me from birth, and I can't change them. If I don't finish my medical specialization, I’ll spiral into an even deeper depression. I know that shouldn't be the case, but here we are... I suppose I've never had anything in my life besides books—knowledge and academic success. Without that, I feel empty, like an empty shell. My brain hungers for knowledge, but this illness keeps holding me back.
Regarding the topic of schizophrenia, let me clarify a bit. Some of the lesions I have are located exactly where the "trigger" for schizophrenia resides; according to Wikipedia, it's scientifically proven that people with lesions in my specific areas are highly prone to developing schizophrenia. And yes, I have gone through intense stages of psychosis—catatonic, simplex, and everything in between—before I started targeting the actual cause. And the cause is neurological. Since then, I haven't struggled with identity disorders or schizophrenia. But I know what it's like. I've fought hard battles and tried almost every medication out there. I'm aware it could return, though I truly hope it won't.
Right now, I'm dealing with depressive anxiety. Lately, the depressive state has been more dominant, which for me is caused by a dopamine deficiency—people with this condition simply don't have enough dopamine. I'm taking a dopaminergic antidepressant; sometimes it worked wonders, but now... I don't know. Maybe the circumstances are too heavy, or maybe I need to add something else to the mix.
I'm currently in a relationship with a guy I used to think was totally out of my league... but honestly, I'm not feeling particularly happy. He lives in a different city, and I feel like the honeymoon phase is over because he's starting to take me for granted. I'm just not sure how to let him know that his behavior isn't okay.
It’s possible, provided it isn't too severe and you have properly coordinated medications along with psychological support.
I’ve been trying to get myself back on track. I think I overdosed on my tabs last night, because I felt terrible this morning. Despite taking Normabest, Misara, and Quetiapine, I couldn't sleep at all... it was awful, waking up every half hour from intense nightmares. Tonight, I took 15 or 20mg of Normabest and 2mg of Misara a little early since I can't sleep. Honestly, those non-benzodiazepines are total garbage. They create dependency and cause issues; they aren't meant for regular use, only for extreme situations, not like this. I really want to be done with them entirely. My goal is to stick to just 1mg of Normabest before bed or perhaps a sleeping pill—I'll talk to my psychiatrist about it when I see them.
People still treat me like some kind of doll—"she's so pretty," "so lovely," blah blah... but nobody actually listens to what I say. Now I’m starting to think about just using that look to my advantage, but what's the point? I hate it when men stare at me; most of them are dumber than I am, and it's exhausting, making me regret even speaking up.
Some people target me specifically because they find me attractive, and since I'm unwell, it’s easier for them that way. But I still believe I will recover, because so far, I've achieved everything I set my mind to.
Finishing my doctorate and my specialization... I've enrolled in some courses, though things are moving a bit slowly right now, so we'll see. Everything depends on my health and how my environment treats me. I’ve seen many psychiatrists, and none of them saw any pathology in me—it's more that I'm overly idealistic about the world, which is what triggers these anxiety and depression phases.
I'm not schizophrenic, though I do have lesions in a nearby area, but I'm definitely not that.
No, there are rare instances where the illness plateaus or goes dormant, leaving you feeling okay, but that’s about it.
Yesterday and today have been particularly brutal. I don't really smoke much because I don't react to it anymore—the sadness is just too heavy. I'll have some, but not too much, because it only makes me feel more depressed. The only upside is the numbness, but the problem is what happens when that numbness wears off. Once you sober up, everything resurfaces—either slowly or all at once—and you start drowning, like you're suffocating. And when that happens, you eventually have to face reality regardless of anything else; it’s just a matter of time.
And it's hard when reality itself is so grim that you can't bear to endure it.
I have to admit, I've had suicidal thoughts over the last three days. And I don't mean just passing thoughts; I mean serious ones. I've even been thinking about methods, and honestly, I'm not even afraid. My only regret is my family, whom I would be leaving behind... I don't have many, but I'm close to my mom, and I think she might die from it, though I wouldn't do it to my sister.
I know it isn't the answer, but it feels that way to me. I can't see my psychiatrist until September 30th, and I have no idea how he’s going to react when I tell him. In fact, I've been quietly considering this for two months now.
We'll see if I pull through this or decide to go through with it. My best friend did it; she simply wasn't built for this world, and it seems I'm not either. It was evident from birth. An idealistic person who strives for morality, truth, and honesty just cannot live in this world.
Thomas Turner2, thank you for everything. I think you're right, but fighting emotions isn't easy.
I feel like an easy target now that I've described all this; I still come across as some fragile little girl, and honestly... it's a disaster.
To be honest, part of the damage lies in the area responsible for my emotions and reasoning. Otherwise, I used to be quite socially distant, but now... I'm not. I crave attention and conversation, yet I don't know if anyone actually cares. When I got sick, so many people walked away from me, leaving me completely isolated and feeling unfulfilled as a person.
That guy isn't all bad; he just has this need to save himself. Like you said, it feels like everyone is trying to "save" themselves through me, making me an easy mark. On his own, though, he's someone who responds perfectly to me—otherwise, I wouldn't even be talking to him. I mean, our topics and interests align, but on the other hand, I don't trust him at all. Even though he insists I come over to meet his parents and everything, which isn't a small thing, so I just don't know.
By the way, my medication has been changed. I am now on Wellbutrin XL 150, a dopamine antidepressant for severe depression. I take 1mg of Rivotril in the morning, 1mg in the afternoon, and at night I take Normabelles—well, I'll say Normabelles because I take two or three 5mg tablets.
Currently, I am tapering off Xanax/Ativan. It's hard... just like the Prazosin. We'll see how it goes, hopefully for the best.
Tonight the restlessness caught up with me; I almost took the Ativan, and it's only been one day without it.
Thank you all for the support while I taper off these heavy doses of Ativan, Prazosin, and Quetiapine.
Multiple sclerosis isn't just about physical lesions; it’s also about the mental toll and the emotional weight. It's absolutely draining. I honestly don't get it. I have my degree, I've always been well-presented, and I make a genuine effort to be a kind, decent person. I just don't understand.
Thanks for the response, Brenda Parker5.
Medication is honestly a nightmare. I’m going to drop the Praxiten because I can’t feel any effect from it at all. A few months ago, I was just taking Normabel to sleep, and that actually worked. I know exactly what pushed me toward these drugs: losing someone close to me, an MS treatment that failed completely, a falling out with my doctor, and having zero support from my family. On top of that, she’s busy hoping some guy will come along and take advantage of her, and now she’s stuck waiting around while he decides whether or not to tell her the truth—all because the kid is young, even though a child is always going to be small. He lied to me, saying he was single; if I had known, I never would have talked to him.
Honestly, I’m already struggling enough with my current situation as it is. Everything was finally starting to stabilize when some random person swoops in out of nowhere and takes advantage of the chaos. They see a woman who’s already down and decide that now is the perfect time to make her life even harder. It’s pretty obvious—I'm just easy prey for people like that.
I fall asleep because of the heavy dose of Xanax, which leaves me feeling totally numb. But once the medication wears off in the morning, I’m hit with this intense wave of fear—it’s a mix of panic, anxiety, and just everything at once. I’ve even had moments where I felt like I couldn't breathe. What am I supposed to do in those moments? Just take another pill?
I know I’m going to taper off the Pristiq, but I’m staying on the Coaxil and Misar. I’ve also been slowly phasing out the Quetiapine. I honestly don't know what's going to happen, but I'm going to try to face life partially without being dependent on pills. If I tell him I’m not showing up until he cuts contact, he’ll probably never reach out again, right? It’s honestly devastating to realize that after all these years, someone you truly care about turns out to be nothing but a fraud.
Honestly, your support here means the world to me. And why wouldn't I succeed? Even with my lack of fine motor skills, moments where my memory just slips away, vision issues in one eye, tremors, and all the other symptoms. This illness used to leave me bedridden physically, though back then, I was still doing okay mentally.
Lately, a string of terrible life events has taken a toll on my mental health. On top of that, every time I finish clinical treatment, I develop PTSD. It leads to these episodes that are just devastating; I can't even close my eyes because the fear is constant. It’s better if I don't go into detail.
My mental state took a massive hit because of a guy I was seeing. I was nearing a suicidal breaking point; a bad episode started before him, and then he came along, and things just spiraled.
The best feeling is when you're almost numb—when everything is just a flat line, where you barely feel an emotion and physical pain becomes impossible to sense. There has been far too much physical and emotional agony in my life. I often wish I were dead, or I find myself wondering how I'm even still alive. Life has been incredibly unfair to me.
Right now, it hurts because I can't be with the person I love. They are already in a relationship, and while they love me, they aren't willing to end it. It's agonizing... I just want this to resolve somehow—either my emotions fade away, or they finally make a decision. This situation is an overwhelming storm.
Also, the nightmares are nearly constant.
To be honest, I'm taking Seroquel at 100mg to 200mg—about 1mg three times a day—along with Praxis, Normabel SR, and Coaxil.
Instead of trying to get off psychiatric meds, I've reached a point where I take them like candy just so I won't feel anything—just to escape that deep pain that makes me want to die. Sometimes those pills just turn me into a zombie. I just want to find something that keeps me protected from the pain while still allowing me to function.
Hi everyone. I just had another MRI, and while the lesions themselves haven't changed, they’re showing up hyperintense now. They're located right in the white matter areas responsible for cognition, emotions—basically everything. I'm currently on Misar with extended release; has anyone else tried this? It feels like it lasts all day.
Looking back at all the heavy stuff I've taken, I've done 2 or 3 antidepressant pills, about 5 to 10mg of Diazepam, and some Xanax. Things are better, but compared to how bad it used to be, this is great.
I'm tapering off Quetiapine; taking it very rarely now.
My goal is to finish my degree, move past this depression and anxiety, and finally reach remission. I just want to finally feel comfortable in my own skin.
I look like one of those Barbie dolls, and because of that, men often treat me like a toy rather than a person. They don't show respect, and honestly, it's pretty awful.
Hi everyone, I’m dealing with a bit of an issue... since experiencing some PTSD, I've been struggling with intense anxiety. It hits me every single day, lasting all day long... it's honestly torture.
What should I do? Does anyone have any medication recommendations to help manage this? Any advice at all would be appreciated... I feel like I can't breathe.
I have some Xanax and Ativan at home. As for antidepressants, I have Coaxil and Wellbutrin. The problem is they just knock me out; I sleep all day, but when I wake up, that crushing anxiety is still right there. I know I could take higher doses, but then I just end up paralyzed, while the internal anxiety remains unbearable.
Does anyone have any advice?
I also have Quetiapine, but I tend to avoid it unless I take it by 9 PM, just in case it wears off before morning.
Today, I finally mustered the strength to dig deeper into the specific part of my brain where my lesions have been acting up—they tend to flare up and then suddenly subside, though I can't tell if it's out of fear or something else entirely. I’ve never been intimidated by science; it’s always fascinated me, and I usually intuitively understood things without even looking them up. But now, hitting a mental block feels like a subconscious defense mechanism.
The reason I decided to look into this is that over the last few days, I've noticed some significant shifts in my mood and general well-being.
Interestingly, I came across something on Wikipedia stating that the lesions located in my area of the brain are linked to the development of schizophrenia—it specifically mentions an increased risk.
I have to admit, that news left me feeling a bit stunned...
Dealing with this neurological condition is exhausting, and it frequently messes with my brain chemistry. On the bright side, since we started treating the cause of the lesions, my mental state has actually been okay. There were times when doctors couldn't figure out what was wrong with me. I would fall into stupors, deal with severe full-body tremors, memory issues, emotional numbness, and intense depression—just about everything. Now, finally, I know why.
I still take an antidepressant in the morning and occasionally as a preventative measure; the dopamine boost really helps, which aligns perfectly with my neurological diagnosis. As for antipsychotics, I’m on Quetiapine. My only complaint is that sometimes it knocks me out like a horse, and other times it makes me feel totally isolated, like I've been transported to another world. Lately, things have been strange; for the last two days, I've felt oddly detached, almost as if I hadn't taken anything at all. Of course, I haven't been taking a full dose for a long time now.
I used to take Haldol and Rexulti as well. Interestingly, those didn't necessarily make me sleepy; instead, they just kept me calm and steady. Even though people around me insisted I seemed completely out of it while on Haldol... I didn't feel that way at all. I felt perfectly fine. Rexulti was also great for me back then.
However, once the imaging showed the lesions—especially in areas that heavily influence emotions and everything else—it all became clear. I spent so much time fighting to understand what was going wrong with me. It turns out there are glitches in my brain. Now, it's starting to significantly impact my motor skills, causing major physical difficulties and body pain. The vision loss has been the most persistent issue, along with mobility struggles involving spasms, tingling, involuntary movements, tremors, the inability to perform certain motions, rotations, dizziness, and so on. It's just one struggle after another.... I don't know why life threw this at me, or how I'm supposed to live with it.
I'm still very much an attractive woman, but honestly, all I want is to be left alone. No one could truly understand what I'm going through, so I'm better off on my own.
I was wondering if anyone here has taken 100mg of Quetiapine. It knocks me out completely, even though my dosage is set at 3, which is standard. I don't actually need this for psychiatric reasons; my instability is caused by neurological issues.
Anyway, has anyone ever taken 300mg of Quetiapine and managed to stay awake? At that dosage, you could sleep for two days straight.