Posts by driftinggull21

Kenneth Scott41 said:See, for me, Seroquel or Loquen work quite well too, though I wouldn't exactly go so far as to call them "light" 😁
As for Oxazepam, it's actually very effective; I've spent a lot of time on the more well-known ones—you know, things like Xanax, Normabest, Helix, Misar, or Diazepam—especially Alprazolam, which I find to be incredibly addictive. So, Oxazepam fits my needs quite nicely, and it doesn't seem to have that same heavy pull that Xanax or Helix does

"Light" antipsychotics in the context of Clozaril, Haldol, or Moditen.😁
I also use Oxazepam for sleep. Since I only take it occasionally, 15 mg is more than enough to knock me out. In comparison, 20 mg of Diazepam does absolutely nothing for me.

For the last three months, I've been on Oxazepam at 3*30 mg daily. I was thrilled when I started! It relaxed me and knocked me out instantly—something even a handful of narcotics couldn't manage, let alone a tiny 10 or 30 mg Oxy. I’m still a supporter of Oxazepam, but the rapid rise in tolerance is terrifying. Within a week, I jumped from 10 mg to 180 mg just to get some sleep. Has anyone else dealt with this? Also, how does Oxazepam compare to Helix 0.25?

Unfortunately, those are all just decoys. For sleep, Seroquel or Quetiapine is often prescribed. That is an AP, light, and clean option with excellent hypnotic effects.

Benjamin Taylor6 said:Should we be looking at involuntary hospitalization for this person, or maybe just sending volunteers over every single day to clean up her place—assuming she’ll actually let them through the door? 😲
http://www.nytimes.com/article/elderly-woman-living-in-hoarding-conditions/1012577/

The CDC should have contacted her local LOM, which would have then conducted a home visit to perform an assessment, issue a referral for psychiatric inpatient care, and call for an ambulance.
The rest of the procedure is standard: if she refuses hospitalization, it becomes involuntary. This also raises the inevitable question of guardianship and placement, as she clearly lacks the capacity to care for herself.

dustyangler79 said:This isn't really the right thread for this—I know, I know—but I’m hoping someone here might actually have an answer... We have someone who spiraled into a severe depression, dealing with intense anxiety, restlessness, and constant fear. In an attempt to "fix" things, she turned to alcohol, which led to some minor incidents—nothing criminal, nothing illegal, just messy. She eventually took the initiative to check herself into psychiatric care. The treatment has been working, and you can clearly see her moving in a better direction. But here’s the catch: we’re approaching the 80-day mark, and the doctor is already saying they can't keep her inpatient any longer. The problem is, she doesn't feel ready to face the world yet. My question is: is there any specific law, regulation, or set of guidelines that covers this? Is there a way to file a formal petition, a request, or anything at all to extend her stay?🤷

That is quite a long duration for inpatient care. One must be careful with psychiatric patients to avoid the development of hospitalism, which often becomes the very reason a patient feels unready to leave. While a hospital provides a "protected environment," it is not a permanent residence. As an alternative, I would suggest a 30-day program at a Day hospital. This serves as a transitional period where she could attend individual and group psychotherapy during the day while sleeping at home at night.

@Jason Reyes9
Could you provide some background on yourself so we can get to know you better?

It all came to a head when I realized that flower was thriving simply because it was healthy; all it needed was a larger pot. The fear of watching it eventually wither forced my hand—I decided to end the agony early by simply uprooting it and throwing it away.

How would you describe your approach to relationships? Are you prone to fear, do you take risks, or do you play it safe? Please elaborate and draw some parallels if possible.

Jason Reyes9 said:Here’s the deal with my dilemma: I absolutely adore animals and plants. I love anything that breathes, grows, blooms, or just moves through life. But I have this deep-seated fear. It’s specific. I worry that because animals and plants are such vulnerable, helpless creatures, I might somehow misread their needs. What if I fail them? The thought of them dying or suffering right in front of me because I didn't realize what they needed... that's my worst nightmare.😢

So, what am I actually dealing with here? How can I move past this anxiety?

What lies beneath this fear? Is it the weight of responsibility for a living creature entirely dependent on you, or is it simply a fear of failure?

Follow your doctor's orders, not the advice of people on an internet forum.

wiredcanyon19 said:What actually happens in a situation where someone loses their mother—assuming she was the one using her Social Security to cover all the groceries and household bills—and then the kids can't (or just straight up won't) step up to cover those costs and move out... especially if the house doesn't end up being 100% owned by that same person we're talking about?

You need to be more specific. If this person's mother passes away (I assume you mean when 😉), what is the relationship between those children and the individual, and who stands to inherit the property?
Provide more data.

wiredcanyon19 said:Yeah. She lives with a few of us, but she has her OWN ROOM where nobody bothers her. Look, psychiatrists might be able to help if someone actually *wants* treatment, but this person isn't interested in being hospitalized—and just trying to manage through meds alone? It’s not working. Her doctor, the cops, the whole legal system... they won't and can't do anything. Honestly, they couldn't care less about us taxpayers who are basically funding their lazy, ignorant asses. They don't lift a finger until some massive tragedy hits or until everyone under this roof collectively loses their minds because of one lunatic who terrorizes the house and sucks the life out of us.

I am unsure if there are sufficient grounds for an involuntary hold, but you should look into this.

@wiredcanyon19

Are you even related to this individual? Who does this person live with, and who is their primary confidant?
Does this person have a verified psychiatric diagnosis from a licensed professional?

This Monday started with a fever of 103.1, chills, a sore throat, and constant congestion with thick mucus. I've also dealt with headaches, general weakness, and a loss of appetite. I'm just taking Advil 400mg to bring the fever down, but it keeps spiking back up to 100.8, requiring more Advil. I can barely get out of bed because I feel so unsteady and weak. It’s Friday now, and I don't feel any better.
Yesterday I went to the local clinic and they confirmed it's the flu; they told me to keep resting and managing the fever.
But shouldn't I be improving by now? Subjectively, I don't feel even slightly better.
For the record, I did get my flu shot last year. 🙂😍

Kenneth Harris51 said:Greetings. Having researched this condition extensively due to a grandmother's diagnosis, I have come to wonder: do these individuals truly believe their hallucinations and delusions are reality? Do they genuinely think they are someone else? Specifically, if a psychiatrist were to develop schizophrenia, would they be convinced by these hallucinations, or would their clinical knowledge allow them to recognize these delusions for what they are?

For instance, could a doctor believe they are being followed by surveillance cameras while simultaneously understanding the symptoms of schizophrenia and realizing they are actually ill? Is such self-awareness possible, or is it fundamentally impossible according to the nature of the disease, requiring an outside observer to intervene? ☕

During an acute psychotic episode, patients lack insight into their condition; they genuinely believe their delusions are real, regardless of whether they are psychiatrists or not. Once the acute phase passes and effective treatment is administered, most people regain some level of critical awareness and accept the need for medication. Unfortunately, some never do.

@Robin Gonzalez3
If Elizabeth was introduced too abruptly, it could be due to insufficient weaning.
I assume you aren't dealing with some kind of stomach flu?
If this persists, you should consult a doctor, who will likely reintroduce Alice and then taper her off much more gradually.

rustymoose13 said:I could really use some advice here.
I’m currently on day seven of taking Lexapro. After dealing with those initial side effects—mostly nausea, dizziness, and anxiety—I’ve actually started to feel some mental improvements. My anxiety and depression, which were the whole reason I was prescribed an antidepressant in the first place, seem to be lifting. However, it feels like the Lexapro is giving me a bit too much energy; normally, I’d be asleep by 11:00 PM, but now, even after getting up at 6:30 AM, I find myself taking Misar 0.5 around midnight just to try to wind down. Even then, I don't feel tired until about 2:00 AM. Has anyone else dealt with this? Is this just a temporary side effect that will eventually settle down once my sleep routine returns to normal (which for me is usually about 6 to 7 hours a night)?

You have only been on Lexapro for seven days and you are already feeling improvements; therefore, the medication is performing its intended function. When introducing any new medication, a minimum of 14 days of adaptation is required. It is logical that your follow-up appointment is scheduled for 21 days after starting. You must endure this period, as your sleep may regulate itself; if it does not, your dosage will be adjusted or a nighttime supplement will be added. There is no reason to panic.😉

Henry Garcia9 said:I honestly can't wrap my head around how someone ends up stuck in a care facility with an schizophrenia diagnosis when we have such high-quality treatments available these days.

I am unsure if that was intended as a rhetorical question, but you can take my word for it.
While pharmacological treatments have indeed made significant strides—with next-generation atypical antipsychotics being the gold standard for improving quality of life in patients with schizophrenia—the reality remains complex.
Unfortunately, there are cases of treatment resistance where the illness escalates uncontrollably, leaving standard medications unable to suppress symptoms. When an individual becomes entirely dependent on others and cannot be managed within a family setting, placement in a residential facility becomes an unavoidable necessity.😢

shadoworca98 said:Could someone please tell me if there are any residential facilities in Washington, D.C. specifically for people living with schizophrenia? It seems like there’s an endless supply of nursing homes for the elderly, but when it comes to mental health facilities, the options are embarrassingly scarce—if not non-existent within Washington, D.C., or even just the surrounding areas of the District of Columbia. I’ve visited a few of them myself, and frankly, I was pretty disappointed; they felt outdated, overcrowded, underfunded, and just generally inhumane.
I’m asking because my sister (who is 28) has been struggling with schizophrenia for about ten years now. She isn't able to function independently and requires constant supervision and care, especially since she has a tendency toward self-harm. Right now, the only real solution would be to find a specialized facility where she could be around people her own age facing similar challenges. I suppose being in a structured environment with professional support might actually help her make some progress. In the meantime, she is on medication constantly.
If anyone happens to know of a decent facility or something similar, please let me know!

I can recommend a specific facility that houses quite a few young adults with schizophrenia. It is a paid service, of course. Send me a private message.
Best regards🙂

Look, don't quote me on this, but if I recall correctly, mandatory psychiatric treatment and confinement can last for a maximum of five years. An individual can be released sooner if the reasons for their commitment are no longer valid, though that process must be initiated by their psychiatrist in a Small town in the Midwest.

The discussion regarding guardianship belongs here where you will find all the relevant information.

bluemason3 said:She mentioned in a private chat that she came across some psychiatrists on various forums who argued that those old-school tricyclic antidepressants were actually more effective than the SSRIs we see everywhere today. Apparently, while the older stuff comes with its own set of nasty side effects, the push for newer meds is largely driven by the bottom line—big pharma pushes the latest drugs because they still hold the patents, whereas the generics don't bring in nearly as much cash.

??? 🤷 🤔 :teorijezavjereito: 😁

Patient care requires an individualized approach; some respond better to tricyclics, while others require SSRIs. A patent lasts for its designated term—typically 20 years—after which generics can be produced. The number of times the original brand-name drug was prescribed has no bearing on that process.🤷 Generally speaking, many psychiatrists prefer prescribing brand-name medications over generics.

bluemason3 said:It’s also true that under the new transparency laws here in the US, they were forced to release some research they had been dodging for years. Apparently, it shows SSRIs are basically just fancy placebos—they might make you feel like something is happening, but they don't actually have any measurable impact on depression itself. So, you're just left with side effects that create a stronger placebo sensation, while the actual depressive symptoms stay exactly where they were. 🤷

Anyway, that's just what I heard. Does anyone actually know the specifics of what this study is about?

What kind of act is that?🤷
Can you provide the link to that study? Otherwise, Americans have research claiming vaccines cause autism, yet they also have studies claiming they don't. One must be cautious with research.😁

bluemason3 said:I also heard recently—before it was even official—that some independent study on antipsychotics suggested the older generations of meds actually yielded better results 🤔

It depends on the specific parameters involved. While older antipsychotics offer certain advantages, they are frequently criticized for lacking a "neuroprotective effect." When used alongside schizophrenia, they can still lead to neurodegeneration. Conversely, newer antipsychotics provide that neuroprotection, yet they face backlash due to increased appetite, which leads to significant weight gain and metabolic syndrome.
The standard procedure is to prioritize scheduling the newer AP units first; if they aren't available, we move on to the older ones.