Posts by driftinggull21

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Harold Harris20 said:Look, I’m just gonna be totally real with you guys for a second...
I've been sinking into such a deep depression over my brother's situation and how much it's tearing our family apart that I've actually started thinking about suicide. I'm considering giving power of attorney to someone who can sell his car and give that money to my mom and brother so they're taken care of. I’m even planning to write out a detailed email listing all my accounts so they automatically inherit everything if I die. Honestly, I just don't see the point in any of this anymore. It's Friday, and they wouldn't even let him come home for the weekend because they say it's not a good idea. And they're right—he’s just so restless and on edge. Right now, he's on the max dose of Xarelto, plus Lariam and some Xanax. And none of it is working. He saw a psychologist today and apparently bombed some test—something about drawing geometric shapes or whatever. We barely managed to convince him to stay put today so he could get a sedative injection. They're even starting him on Zyprexa tonight (not sure what the dosage is). I get the feeling they've lost hope in him. He's been stuck in this since February 20th. I feel like there's no hope left, and honestly, I feel useless. My heart is just breaking; I don't know what to do. What's the point of my life if he can't even get better enough to stop having these manic episodes every couple of days?

I understand this is difficult, but you must not dwell on suicide. You certainly won't be able to help your mother or brother that way.
It is common for patients to remain hospitalized for two or three months just to stabilize; recovery does not happen overnight, and often multiple medication combinations must be tested to find what works best.
If you are feeling this low, perhaps you should seek psychological support for yourself to help navigate this devastating period.
Stay strong; this will not last forever.🙂

turning table said:It is strange how you feel that way; I have experienced the same thing through my own history and by watching my father undergo treatment for schizophrenia.

Your inquiry regarding a therapist has been moved to the appropriate thread. click

William Evans10 said:It’s exactly everything you just listed... it's happening to her right now. And on top of all that... she doesn't care about herself or basic hygiene at all. It's just cigarettes, cigarettes, cigarettes.

And to top it all off, the medical report states: "Given her age and the nature of these disturbances, the prognosis is poor."

Is there ever any hope for improvement? Because the doctor's words aren't exactly encouraging, and they leave me feeling pretty hopeless. Based on what he said, I feel like I can only wait for the day she becomes completely bedridden and loses all touch with reality.

Because nothing interests her anymore. She doesn't even want to talk. She just wants to lie there.
She lives with us, but her condition hasn't changed one bit. If I ask her to do something simple, like take a shower, she won't do it... I literally have to command her to do it.

The doctor mentioned that while her current medication should keep the illness under control, hallucinations could still emerge... and honestly, he admitted he doesn't even know for sure.

Is there really no cure? No hope?

There is no cure in the sense of a total recovery, unfortunately. She takes medication that manages the symptoms just enough to prevent them from spiraling further. As for hope, there is always hope. 🙂
I know it's difficult, but this is a chronic, lifelong condition. Even residual symptoms mean the schizophrenia remains.😢
The priority is using therapy to prevent worsening and hallucinations.
If she has enough work history, apply for her Social Security disability benefits; with an F-22 diagnosis, she will certainly meet the medical criteria.

David Vaughn75 said:Look, if you ask me, there's a massive, crystal-clear line between a delusional psychotic belief and just having a general theory about how the world works. We're talking about psychosis when someone starts thinking everything is being scripted specifically for them. Like, hey, believing in the Illuminati or some shadowy cabal isn't necessarily "crazy"—it's just a conspiracy theory. But it turns into actual psychosis when you think those groups are personally stalking you, or that they're the reason you failed that midterm at NYU or missed your flight at JFK. You know what I mean? It's that shift from "the world is weird" to "the world is out to get *me* specifically."

Being sane is basically just knowing the difference between those two things.

Exactly. 🙂

So... do you know anything about that diagnosis? Or does anyone else here? It’s RESIDUAL SCHIZOPHRENIA. I don't believe anyone on this forum has it (though I could be wrong, I haven't noticed anyone specifically), but if anyone knows something about it or knows someone living with this diagnosis?

Residual schizophrenia is characterized primarily by "negative symptoms": apathy, sparse communication, social withdrawal, emotional blunting, a lack of interest in one's surroundings, an inability to express emotions, loss of pleasure, and an inability to work.
Would those symptoms apply to her?

granitefalcon26 said:Actually, a family practitioner can adjust any specialist's treatment plan if they need to. They have the training to make those calls, so they're definitely allowed to manage your therapy.☕

They might switch you to a generic version, though most people stick with the brand name if that was originally prescribed. But I have never heard of a GP completely overhaul thyroid medication. 🤷

Kenneth Scott41 said:@zeusxl I’ve run into a bit of a situation... I recently saw my psychiatrist, and out of nowhere, they decided to slash all my dosages and completely cut out the Zoloft and Seroquel I take in the mornings.
Anyway, it’s been about three days since I stopped taking the Zoloft in the AM along with the Seroquel, and I have to say, my mood has just cratered. I feel incredibly depressed—not even just "down," but genuinely miserable—and there's this persistent, nagging sensation that something is fundamentally missing from my system...
So, this morning, I just went back to my old routine: one Seroquel and one Zoloft, and suddenly I felt somewhat happy and content again 🙂 and now I'm left wondering what to do. I suppose I’d much rather just tell the doctor to put me back on the Zoloft!

Just tell them at your check-up that you felt better when you were on Prozac. Your psychiatrist is likely trying to keep you functional using as few drugs as possible, which is a valid approach. You need to sit down with them and discuss the actual treatment plan.😉

Gerald Torres2 said:But then it just goes on forever... I don't understand how anyone is supposed to taper off a high using that method. I get that you build up a tolerance and need more, but is there actually a way to get off it? To be honest, I'm pretty clueless about this stuff...🤦

That is what substitution therapy is.

Kenneth Scott41 said:I was wondering if anyone could share their experiences regarding side effects from taking Zeldox. I realize we aren't exactly a massive group here, but I figured it couldn't hurt to ask... I've been having these moments where I think I might be experiencing hallucinations, though I can't say for certain if they're actually happening or if my mind is just playing tricks on me.

😉

The whole point of an atypical antipsychotic is to suppress psychotic symptoms, including hallucinations if they were present. Therefore, you shouldn't be hallucinating while on Nexium unless your dosage is insufficient.🤷
What is your current dosage, and could you describe these "hallucinations"?
Did you experience hallucinations prior to starting Nexium, and what was the reason for your prescription?

Jason Vaughn482 said:I find myself wondering... what exactly happened to cause the sudden closure of that lounge bar?

The previous thread reached its limit at 10,000 posts and has been locked, so we have started a new one here. click😍

Morgan Chase5 said:I was just reviewing the fine print on my antidepressant today and realized that weight gain is actually listed as a side effect. To be honest, I’ve put on about twenty pounds over the last year, though I’ve been largely chalking that up to menopause. I don't think twenty pounds is the end of the world—I suppose I’ve just transitioned into a more "statuesque" silhouette—but it is a bit comical to look in the mirror when I spent most of my life being quite athletic and lean.

That said, I have no desire to see those numbers continue to climb.
I am certainly not a fan of strict dieting... lately, I've found myself gravitating toward fruit or making my own fresh juices at home.

What would you all recommend? Is simple movement, perhaps some brisk walking, enough?
I really can't bring myself to go swimming; the pools are always so chilly and loud. It’s much better in the summer when I can head out to the lake.
Should I try cutting back on carbs?

Last year, I was absolutely addicted to Hostess snack cakes... this year, I just don't have much of an interest in sweets.
And as for exercising—should it be in the morning or the evening? Who is going to provide the necessary motivation?
How do you all manage it?

Try a calorie-reduction approach: eat more frequent, smaller meals to lower your total daily intake. Start your mornings with grains and end your days with protein. Use fruit as a snack, but limit it to one piece at a time. Even fruit can be problematic due to high sugar content. Avoid sweets entirely.
If your budget allows, sign up for group classes like aerobics; otherwise, stick to running or cycling—whatever you prefer.

@Nicole Martinez8

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Eric Mitchell55 said:I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there. To be honest, I don't much care what the official diagnosis is as long as I can manage my life reasonably well. My main worry is just how this might affect things down the road, like getting into college or finding a solid career path.

As far as I know, most universities don't require medical clearance.🤷
I just hope you aren't planning on becoming a pilot or an air traffic controller.😬

Eric Mitchell55 said:How long does someone usually have to deal with an acute psychotic disorder featuring schizophrenic symptoms before it officially gets diagnosed as schizophrenia?
I’ve had this nagging thought pop into my head a few times now—this fear that people are going to tell me I have schizophrenia.
Just recently, I went through another psychotic episode, dealing with both positive and some negative symptoms.

Honestly, I’m genuinely terrified of being labeled with schizophrenia. I can't help but worry about how that stigma might ripple through my entire life. I'm turning 19 soon, and I’ve spent so much time building up these big dreams that I want to chase at any cost. If they slap that label on me, I feel like everything I've worked for will just vanish, and I'll be forced to pivot to a completely different path in life.

Life really can suck sometimes.

You are an adult now; speak candidly with your psychiatrist and ask them directly.

Besides, consider which scenario is worse:
Living with constant Schizoaffective Disorder and one psychotic breakdown a year, or having Schizophrenia that remains stable and in remission?
It isn't about "labeling" you; it's about how you actually feel, whether you can function, and how well you respond to treatment.😉

Timothy Wood38 said:Actually, from what I gather, Leponex isn't your run-of-the-mill type; it's an atypical antipsychotic. It's widely considered one of the most effective options on the market right now. That said, doctors don't prescribe it all the time because there's a risk of agranulocytosis. You basically have to get regular blood work done—usually every two weeks—just to keep an eye on things and make sure those white cell counts stay safe.

I misspoke. My mistake. It is an atypical. Blood counts are monitored regularly and usually come back normal. While it is prescribed, it is rarely the first line of treatment.

Arthur Vaughn2 said:Has anyone here actually dealt with Leponex before? My psychiatrist just put me on it today, and honestly, I’ve never even heard of it. If anyone has some firsthand experience, I’d love to hear it—just trying to get a rough idea of what I'm getting into... 😁

It's a standard antipsychotic—potent and quite effective.
I don't have personal experience with it, but perhaps someone currently taking it will weigh in.🤷

Larry Lewis said:Poor kid

Feel free to elaborate; I believe diverse experiences are valuable, even from an observer's perspective.😉

Alright, let's try this: does Rohypnol even exist here in the States?

It does not.

Nice. I love horror movies like this. So, we're waiting for Insidious: Chapter 2.🙂

Benjamin Martin65 said:It’s possible; I suppose I’ll just have to recount exactly how he laid it all out for me during our conversation, thanks 😉

Alternatively, just call him if you have his number and verify it yourself.