Posts by Carol Barrett2

George Cook said:Why shouldn't you overdo it with ginger tea? It’s much like taking too many aspirin; even natural remedies have their limits if you push them too far.

You can grate ginger into lemonade, but as Harold Anderson3 pointed out, you shouldn't overdo it because the flavor is intense. Is it actually harmful to consume large quantities?

I'm not an expert on ginger, but with stuff like aspirin, you definitely have to be careful if you're on Metoten or Moditen here in the States. I think they thin your blood or something like that. Green tea is fine, I've had it, but honestly? I'm not a fan. It's not even bitter, it just tastes... bland? I don't know how to describe it. Maybe those herbal blends you find at Whole Foods are better, but I've never really been a tea person. Things like elderberry or chamomile. I'm not even sure where to find decent elderberry supplies anymore—everything seems so overpriced lately.

I had the exact same experience with Risperidone. It didn't quite drive me completely insane, but man, the intrusive thoughts were dark—just nasty, in my opinion. Honestly, screw all that. A lot of these pills are just bad news; even the fine print on the side effects lists a massive amount of issues.

Just to be clear about what I was saying earlier—I’m not suggesting some average Joe is going to go out and kill someone. I’m talking about the elites, the people in power. People in this country are reaching a breaking point because they're so fed up with a government that does nothing but steal and grab whatever they can get their hands on. If it weren't for the fact that we haven't totally snapped yet, I’d probably feel the same way. But instead, they just pit us against each other, keeping us divided so that the fear of another war keeps everyone from actually revolting. Honestly, it wouldn't surprise me if they pushed us into a new conflict just to distract everyone from everything else going on.

If I snap—God forbid—and end up taking my own life, or if I somehow end up killing someone else, things are going to get absolutely insane. People will say "they killed because they were crazy." Well, newsflash: I’ve always been a little unstable, and honestly, most people out there aren't exactly sane either. But man, the system just keeps me drugged up for years on end. They won't even let me get any kind of income because they know that when you're constantly looped out on meds, you can't hold down a job. You can't operate machinery, you can't really handle basic tech... nothing. Who would even hire someone in my state? I wouldn't even qualify for health insurance. No one gives a damn. It’s ridiculous—they seem to have more compassion for actual houses than for people. At least there are programs for housing assistance, but for someone like me? Nothing. Zero.

If things go south, I’d much rather take myself out than God forbid hurt anyone else.

Jeffrey Ramos4 said:Floaters are actually a totally normal thing. Everyone sees them at some point.

Well, now I’ve got way too many of them. Honestly, I can even see blood cells floating around. The trouble started when I actually brought it up to my family—specifically when I was venting about everything from hormone issues to other stuff. I just snapped, trying to get them to understand me. A "normal" person wouldn't have reacted like that, but I was just... done. Completely broken by it all. At one point, I even lunged out in front of a car—Lord help me—just because I was so overwhelmed. Everything felt like too much. It’s still bad, but I don't snap quite as hard anymore. I just double up on my Metoten and Apaurin when things get heavy and I feel like I'm hitting a breaking point.

PS. My vision is getting worse, too. These floaters are spreading everywhere in my field of vision, and they're huge—looking like giant amoebas. When I tried telling my family, they didn't really believe me. Even now, they don't seem to think it's that big of a deal, mostly because they're so wrapped up in their own drama that they just brush my problems aside.

So, if someone’s actually a psychopath, what do you guys think their move is once they get out of the psych ward? Honestly, the more I look at it, the more I feel like I’m starting to get why psychopaths do what they do. It’s like—damn—it feels like that's just the only way to deal with most people. Just keep things strictly business and stay on top of everything.

Nicole Barrett76 said:Furthermore, even if hallucinations occur, albeit rarely, should a patient not be placed under twenty-four-hour observation for a full month just to catch a single episode? Assessing a patient's state of consciousness, particularly during an initial psychiatric evaluation, is such a delicate, difficult, and sensitive endeavor, is it not?

I recall back in 2002 when a psychiatrist was attempting to determine if I suffered from any disturbances in consciousness; she feigned confusion while typing on her computer and actually asked me to correct her text! (She had skipped several lines in the following paragraph). I corrected it and returned to my seat. She then informed me that I showed no psychotic symptoms or disturbances in consciousness and that I was perfectly oriented.

But here is the catch: I am quite visually impaired, and I made sure to inform her of that immediately. It is also true that I find it somewhat more challenging to orient myself when entering an unfamiliar indoor space for the first time (though this isn't the case with outdoor environments). Had I not emphasized so clearly that my vision is poor and that I was due to my poor eyesight disoriented... or rather, temporarily incapacitated in my ability to use my sight for a few seconds, who knows what she might have written, or perhaps even suggested that I be held in the hospital?

At the time, I possessed a completely sound mind; I was merely facing immense stress at work and wished to consult a psychiatrist to prescribe some sedatives or sleep aids, since psychologists lack the authority to do so. And then, as part of my own personal growth, to pursue therapy with a psychologist.

Have you ever heard that individuals with epilepsy can experience a type of "object consciousness"? Is it not fascinating that they can function in such a narrowed state of awareness for days or even months before anyone notices something is wrong?

Of course, I only realized much later that my psychiatrist hadn't actually been confused while typing. Once I figured that out, I began digging through library books—this was long before the era of the Internet—to understand what kind of test that was, and how it was possible that she called me over to fix text when all she really needed to do was position the cursor in the blank lines and hit the delete key enough times to create spacing between paragraphs.

Ultimately... those who search, shall find. That is to say, those who seek answers will eventually uncover them. And especially now, in an age where information flows freely across the Internet, won't they find them even faster? It was while I was scouring medical encyclopedias in a library that I discovered that fact about epilepsy.

Man, I've got all sorts of issues from physical illnesses. I see blood cells, floaters, and stuff after psychiatry, etc., but when I told them, they didn't believe me. I tell them I'm a phenomenon. Nobody believes me. I'm a walking miracle, and who knows exactly what physical ailments I have, and let's be real, I've never been well, not before and especially not now. My family and I are in a catastrophic financial situation too. Total bastards. They couldn't care less. God, they practically wanted to tie me up and beat me, because being tied up usually ends in a beating. There was this time I woke up in my sleep, drank too much water, choked on it, and started suffocating. I stumbled out of the room trying to get air with this loud, I don't even know how to describe it, sound. It wasn't the first time I've had something like that. Even as a kid, I used to choke on cigarette smoke and things like that. And I still deal with it today because I have problems with swallowing, breathing, etc., especially now with something else going on. Seriously, they almost tied me up and beat me instead of helping. Luckily, I managed to wiggle out of that story somehow.

bluedrifter45 said:Thanks for the response. I think I can agree with them regarding those adjustment disorders and various personality combinations... you know, the F60 stuff. Personally, I feel like the definition of psychosis could be interpreted differently, and that occasional, deliberate attention-seeking through inappropriate behavior—which is always under control, mind you—wouldn't necessarily be what I'd call psychosis, but fine. What really rubbed me the wrong way in the report was how they noted that while I deny sensory distortions, like hallucinations, they "cannot be ruled out with certainty." My blunt insistence that I have never heard or seen anything that isn't actually there clearly didn't satisfy them. God, this pseudoscience is exhausting...

Look, I definitely snapped back then, but I don't think I had hallucinations. I just broke—it was the meds, the illness, the stress, all of it hitting at once. I was down to like 140 pounds even though I'm basically 6'7". In my opinion, maybe it was delirium or a delusion, but not hallucinations—not even this, maybe. I just lost it. One time I got into a massive shouting match with the hospital staff, and another time I just snapped and wandered out onto the street. It was just too much. Probably the Ativan and the phenergan keeping me level right now so I'm not exploding from everything piling up on me, plus I'm pretty drowsy. I've just accepted my fate and realized nobody's really looking out for me anyway.

Carol Barrett2 said:I’ve been sitting under the same diagnosis for five years now. Though, honestly, there's probably way more going on—what do they call it? Co-occurring stuff. I've likely got OCD, depression, maybe some personality disorder, who knows what else at this point. I don't even bother with psychiatrists anymore. My old lady just handles things and picks up my meds. There's zero point in them, anyway. At least, it hasn't worked for me.

It always boiled down to the same script: "How are you feeling? Are you hearing voices?" or whatever. We'd talk for maybe a minute, tops. I can't tell you how many times I just sat there repeating that I don't hear voices and never have. I mean, if I had actually yelled it out loud—like, really lost it and raised my voice—they would've heard me, sure, but then they'd probably call the cops on me. For real. The truth is, nobody gives a damn about me. Honestly, the government, the elites... they couldn't care less about us. We're just cattle to them. And let's be real, those psychiatrists? They're part of that same elite circle, just another branch of the establishment.

bluedrifter45 said:Hey everyone, I have a quick question... I was wondering how many of you, following an F23 diagnosis—you know, those acute and transient psychotic disorders—eventually received a diagnosis of schizophrenia or perhaps something even more severe? I guess it’s just on my mind. Thanks.

I’ve been sitting under the same diagnosis for five years now. Though, honestly, there's probably way more going on—what do they call it? Co-occurring stuff. I've likely got OCD, depression, maybe some personality disorder, who knows what else at this point. I don't even bother with psychiatrists anymore. My old lady just handles things and picks up my meds. There's zero point in them, anyway. At least, it hasn't worked for me.

Man, it’s like you just wrote a biography of me—except, you know, without all the hallucinations. Everything hits home, even that bit about how I learn. No wonder school was such a disaster for me. 🍿

darksurfer4 said:I’ve been spending far too much time lately digging through Google, specifically looking into residual schizophrenia, and honestly, it isn't some "milder" version of the disorder—in fact, I don't think a "milder" version even exists in the way people imagine. What we’re actually looking at is a specific state characterized by profound isolation, a total withdrawal from the world, and this heavy, dragging motor retardation that just slows everything down. It’s a complete lack of willpower or any drive to engage with life, leading to things like neglecting basic hygiene and just... fading away.

It’s almost like you wrote my biography. Except, I don't deal with hallucinations or voices, even though my brain loves to trick me into thinking I hear them. To be honest, I talk to myself in my head all the time—it's like there's this constant movie playing behind my eyes, you know? Just running through ideas or whatever.

Python Code:

They’re testing the pills on us. Or maybe I can't say that for sure—I don't have any hard evidence, anyway. It’s all just... well, it's firmly in the realm of theory at this point.

Joseph Kim said:What exactly did they do to you? ☕ Using the word "experiments" sounds absolutely chilling to me.

At this point, I have no idea who's actually right and who isn't.

I’m talking about how they keep pumping me full of pills—even though I don't have hallucinations, nor have I ever had them. They just keep tweaking my prescription bit by bit because of some corporate nonsense during the bidding process.

It was Moditen, then Metoten, and now it’s Prosper. Just one thing after another.

Lawrence Bailey77 said:Professional diagnosis > an authorized expert..

The users here are regularly cautioned, penalized, or even banned when they attempt to issue (do) diagnoses ☕

Depression is a far more serious condition, so perhaps it wouldn't be such a bad idea to actually trust the medical institutions that are meant to be doing their jobs 😬 Let them do a little work on you for once 🙂

Good luck 👍

Joseph Kim said:You need a reality check 😁

Let them experiment on me, since they're already experimenting on everyone else anyway.

What they’re telling you about work—they aren't entirely wrong, but then again, they aren't entirely right either. If you're miserable, burnt out, or just plain unhappy with your job... yeah, you should probably find a new one.

It seems like we humans are always chasing something better.

I mean, obviously, Norway has all that oil money, so they can afford to throw cash around if they want to.

Anyway, I’m jumping in to say congrats to whoever is celebrating.

I mean, finding a job is hard enough as it is—let alone actually landing one where they don't just work you into the ground and pay you peanuts.
It’s even worse if you're dealing with a medical diagnosis, especially when you throw a lack of education into the mix.

That’s why I made that post. Right now, I’ve got nothing—not even any government assistance to fall back on.

Honestly, that’s probably why my health has totally tanked, both physically and mentally. Everything just feels like it's falling apart. And it's not just me—it's hitting my whole family too.

Nicole Booth25 said:Perhaps you’ve just let routine get the better of you.
There are plenty of us in the same boat.😉

Honestly, what keeps me going right now is this whole project I'm working on. Though, if I'm being real, it's getting harder to stay focused because life—you know, everything else—keeps pulling my attention away from the screen.

But yeah, you're not wrong; a repetitive routine can absolutely wreck a person. It did the same thing to me with math back in the day—and I was actually pretty gifted at it when I was a kid.

Joseph Kim said:I'm not in Tech. But honestly, everything bores me pretty quickly—though, I suppose I wouldn't get bored if I were doing something I actually loved. A "dream job," if you will—but that's a different conversation entirely. You have to take the opportunities presented to you; that's the only way to actually move forward. If I spend my whole life dodging responsibility just to avoid boredom, I'll end up absolutely nowhere.

Two jobs? Please. I can barely handle the stress I have now—adding more would give me a legitimate reason to check out early.

I guess I didn't word that very well, so you missed my point entirely.

What I actually meant was—think of it as a bridge. Like, a transition phase. You take this current gig you're stuck in and start scaling back—either by cutting hours or just coasting through it—while you hunt for something that actually makes you happy. Once you land that dream role, you ramp up there and slowly phase out the old job that's currently making you miserable.

So, yeah... just two jobs for a little while, acting as a temporary buffer until you can finally ditch the one that's draining your soul.

But hey, what do I know? I'm clearly not exactly winning any awards for life coaching.

Later.

Joseph Kim said:I do have passions and goals, but I’m moving way too slowly—time is slipping through my fingers and my surroundings feel incredibly stagnant. I’m stuck in jobs that drive me insane; every time I finally clear one hurdle, another one pops up right in its place. I’ve thought about packing up and changing my entire environment, but there are people here I can't easily walk away from—and if I did, I'd be starting from absolute zero.

He wouldn't "snap back" by doing that. Suicide isn't a solution to problems.

Yeah, I get it. Maybe I wouldn't either.

If you weren't in IT, maybe things would be different—because let's face it, in tech, there's always another fire to put out.

Maybe your work is something like math or accounting—it's just repetitive, and after a while, the monotony starts to eat at you.

And we humans? We crave the thrill, the new stuff, the challenge. We absolutely hate being bored out of our minds.

Have you thought about picking up a side hustle or a second job if you can swing it? Like, keep doing what you're doing part-time, but find something actually interesting—something that makes you feel alive.

As for the whole "starting from zero" thing and leaving people behind... yeah, you're right. That’s incredibly tough. No doubt about it.

Larry Scott43 said:I’d write you something back, but I got nicked by the mods—not that I’m actually complaining, though.

Just hit me up in a DM then. I won't hold it against you—I'm really not one of those people who holds grudges or gets all worked up over nothing. Honestly, my memory is about as good as a goldfish's.