Posts by Harold Anderson3

Jose Ward4 said:But look, there are plenty of people out there who didn't finish college but aren't dealing with any health issues either. It doesn't really correlate. Sure, starting life is harder when you suddenly get sick and have to start relying on pills, but once you figure out the rhythm, things smooth out. We can agree on that. And as far as I know, a degree isn't some direct indicator of intelligence; it’s more about persistence. The person who stays the course is the one who graduates. Even then, a degree is no guarantee of anything. Especially here in the States, where only a handful of specific universities actually carry weight internationally—or so I've heard, please correct me if I'm wrong. I didn't finish my degree because I struggled with it and, honestly, I probably just lacked the grit, so I totally missed the mark there. You didn't finish yours either, yet you're doing quite well now. That doesn't mean you lack credibility. You have skills and knowledge right now that others don't, which you can easily leverage down the road. A diploma isn't a prerequisite for success. I see so many people graduate only to struggle to find work, both here and abroad. Competition is fierce, and you still need to be sharp and driven to stand out. As for why I'm not married or having kids, well, a lot of that comes down to the medication. How am I supposed to have children when these pills are basically part of my DNA at this point? I'm just not willing to risk having a child with deformities. My psychiatrist tells me it's fine to have kids while on them, but my gut tells me otherwise. He says it's more of an issue for women, but I don't buy that; I think it affects men too. Maybe they just don't have reliable data. It's like the stuff they say about e-cigarettes—that you should just quit for a few months before trying to conceive if you have a partner. I don't believe those meds just leave your system after a year. In my mind, it would take at least five years for the body to truly clear out. And even then, I'm not certain. That's the only reason for me. Why don't I have a partner? Because who could put up with my nonsense after I've taken my meds for the night? I actually heard a woman mention here once that when her man takes his medication in the evening, he acts differently. Who would want to deal with my ego and all my baggage? It wouldn't be fair to burden someone like that.

My friend, I think you're letting the medication weigh on your mind a bit too heavily.
Just be grateful they exist so you can live a somewhat functional life.
.
I can't even begin to describe how much better my life would be if I weren't dealing with this illness. But since I am, thank God these pills are available. This condition has completely derailed my mother's life, with one exception: she has her child, me, to look after her. Even though I was born under rather strange and accidental circumstances. I haven't just given up on finding a partner; I actively turn away potential opportunities. This idea that your future child would be deformed because of your medication... that doesn't sound like the reasoning of a rational person, sorry. 🕺

Right now, I feel like my entire life is one big punishment for a crime I never committed. Depression is washing over me again, 😢

Jose Ward4 said:Don't be such a pessimist, Harold Anderson3. By that same logic, I could claim that countless people have fully recovered from schizophrenia. What you wrote there? That’s just your subjective impression. It isn't objective reality.

Me, being pessimistic? Fair enough. But if we're playing that game, maybe we both have our struggles with schizophrenia. Did you actually finish your degree? Are you married with kids? That’s really what I’m getting at. Statistically speaking, about 20% of people with schizophrenia reach full recovery, while the rest don't quite get there. Still, the majority manage to function reasonably well in their daily lives when they stay on their medication.
There are certain traits that make a recovery more likely, and others that make it much harder.
Generally, the prognosis is tougher for those who have a family history of the illness, or for cases where the symptoms didn't hit suddenly but rather crept up slowly over time—especially if there wasn't a specific traumatic trigger before the diagnosis. On the flip side, those with the opposite characteristics tend to have a much more positive outlook.

Olivia Bishop8 said:Hey everyone.
I haven't been on this forum for long. I'm the mom of a guy diagnosed with G20. We've been through some pretty rough patches—more than him, obviously. It’s been a little over four years since he got sick. Two hospital stays, a suicide attempt... you name it. But, whatever, I shouldn't complain too much. Things seem to be looking up lately, I guess. The illness is mostly under control. He's doing okay, just doesn't really go out much. Mostly just hangs with close family, though he's actually planning on heading to college soon (the diagnosis hit right after he finished high school). Honestly, I just wanted to see what you guys think, since you're going through this too... Do you think it could come back? Not like it goes anywhere, but still. He's on meds and sticks to them strictly. I'm just wondering if he can actually do college and live a somewhat normal life ??? Or am I just being overly optimistic ???!!!

Let me give you my honest perspective based on my own lived experience. Things can be good—actually, very good—but it won't be exactly the same as living without the diagnosis. There are two main reasons for that: first, the medications required for lifelong management come with their own set of side effects, and second, despite the medication, the illness can resurface, and quite likely it will. I have been dealing with schizophrenia for about ten years now; I work a physical job, but I never actually finished my degree, even though I was officially enrolled in university for ten years. He can certainly try college, but with this diagnosis, it is going to be a massive uphill battle, especially since a career following a degree often carries even more psychological stress than the studies themselves. Generally speaking, even if we set aside the constant stigma that follows anyone with a mental health condition, it is difficult to live a life that is indistinguishable from someone who is neurotypical.

On a brighter note, there is one silver lining to this heavy burden: sometimes, when a person experiences mild psychosis, they possess a level of creativity that exceeds that of a healthy person. I was recently watching a documentary about someone advocating for microdosing LSD to boost mood and creative output. From what I gathered, people with schizophrenia don't necessarily need that, because a person in a psychotic state can exhibit similar symptoms to someone on a low dose of LSD.

Hey everyone, how’s it going?
Njusice, I really hope this diagnosis is the final word on the matter, because having that clarity is such a huge part of managing whatever illness you're facing.
For me personally, staying busy with physical work does wonders beyond just what medication can offer. Plus, it keeps me on my feet financially, bringing in over fifteen hundred dollars a month quite consistently. Honestly, life just feels a lot more stable and rewarding when you're working a real job rather than relying on government assistance.

Amanda Collins57 said:Do you think it could be something with your spine? For instance, if someone has scoliosis, they might feel this tightness in their chest area that feels like it's squeezing their lungs, even when a doctor runs all the tests and tells you everything looks perfectly normal! 🙂

I’m definitely going to head in and get checked out just to be safe, but it’s honestly pretty baffling how rarely it happens, yet whenever it does strike, it’s incredibly uncomfortable and painful 🕺 thanks so much 😉

Ronald Martin said:Does it hurt when you move around or when you take a deep breath? On a scale of one to ten, how bad is the pain?

It’s possible it’s just psychosomatic, though I suspect it might be something with my lungs (like pleurisy). It hurts when I breathe, but nothing too intense—just a normal breath. It feels as if my lungs are being "squeezed,"
making it hard to fully fill them up. I don't think it's my heart, but I definitely want to get that checked out just in case. And it's certainly not heartburn; this feeling is completely different from any indigestion I've ever had.

Every once in a while (like 😢 right now), I get this weird, inexplicable chest pain. It usually lingers for about an hour before finally letting up, and honestly, I’m just not sure what I’m dealing with... whether it's my heart, my lungs, or maybe just some stomach issues 😕 I always seem to forget to bring it up with my doctor since it doesn't happen particularly often. Any advice?

If anyone happens to be free for a coffee tomorrow afternoon and doesn't have anyone to grab a drink with, please reach out. I don't feel the need to dive into my life story or anything; honestly, you could just take a look at the various threads I've started (if my math is right, there are about 93 of them). I'm not really looking for anything grand or asking for much—just some good company over a cup of coffee. Your gender, age, education, or whatever else isn't important to me. I'm based in a neighborhood in NYC, but I can meet up anywhere reachable by the subway. That's 🙂

Hey, are you guys actually planning on swinging? 🍿

I’ve come to this realization that when we’re dealing with both physical and mental health struggles at once, the physical pain seems to take center stage. It’s almost as if the body hijacks the brain; for instance, if you’re struggling with depression and then come down with a nasty case of the flu, that heavy depressive fog just sort of vanishes, leaving you to deal solely with the physical symptoms. At least, that’s how it works for me. I’ve been managing a mental health condition for about ten years now, though the early warning signs started creeping in back when I was in high school. That’s exactly what happened during those years. I was really struggling with intrusive thoughts—what most people call OCD—and depression, but when I caught a really severe cold, all those mental symptoms just seemed to evaporate. Of course, as soon as I recovered from the illness, everything came rushing back.
That being said, knowing this doesn't exactly make life easier, because it implies we’re stuck in this loop where we're constantly suffering from something, whether it’s our bodies or our minds.
None of us actually want to be in total agony, whether that pain is felt in our flesh or in our souls.
There are stretches of time where I feel completely healthy and genuinely okay (like right now), but more often than not, things aren't quite so bright. I just wanted to point out that strange phenomenon where feeling physically ill actually brings a sense of mental relief. Does anyone else experience this kind of weird trade-off, or is it just my own strange way of functioning?

nimbleharbor46 said:Reddit sadness.

Sent from my LG-H870 using Reddit

Honestly, what a mess. I actually just added that song to my "What kind of music do lightning bolts listen to?" playlist.😛
A total coincidence, I swear. 🙂

Gregory Robinson11 said:Greetings, everyone. I occasionally post here, though lately I've been reading much more than I write. If the timing happens to align, I would actually like to join you all for a meetup whenever I find myself in Washington, D.C. I have already met Diego Rivier, and I can say nothing but the absolute best about him.

So, who exactly is Harold Anderson3? 😛

Of course, Gregory Robinson11, even though we don't get together all that much these days, if you happen to be in Washington, D.C. at the right time, you're more than welcome to join us 😁 at Psychic or wherever we end up heading 🙂

There were nine of us there in total, though a few people weren't part of our usual group. It was honestly such a great crowd, and we had a really fun time hanging out this past Friday night towards the end. I actually had to head out a little early, but I know some of the others stuck around longer. Thanks to everyone for coming, it was lovely 👍

nimbleharbor46 said:So, who's actually going then?

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I'll be there regardless, because even if I'm with Donna, I was originally hanging out with Master😁

Jose Ward4 said:I have to disagree there. I am one hundred percent certain you can hold down a full-time job even if you've retired. I’m just not sure if there’s a legal distinction between disability benefits and standard retirement when it comes to working. Honestly? If it were up to me, I wouldn't work. Why take the hard road when there's an easier path available? Why make life harder than it needs to be? If I were pulling in $10,000 or even $5,000 a month in retirement, I probably wouldn't be looking for a job either. That money would hit my account every month and I wouldn't give it a second thought. I think most people feel the exact same way, which is why nobody wants to give up those benefits. Why go to work if you don't have to? Man, if I could pull that off, I’d be the happiest person alive, and I truly wouldn't care what anyone else thinks. That’s just how I see it.

Well, I'm not entirely sure about the specifics of working while on a pension or how much one can actually earn before it impacts things.
In my case, they offered me disability benefits $417 along with a utility voucher $67.
If I found myself unable to work, I'd take those benefits and just find a way to get by—between my mom's Social Security and my own disability check, we'd manage to survive.
And if they offered me a full retirement package $2000, similar to what I mentioned regarding that woman earlier, I’d jump at the chance. I could sleep in as late as I wanted, keep my back and knees from aching too much, and if I ever felt like being productive, I might mow a neighbor's lawn or head out for a day of fishing.
But then again, who would be left to do the work? The government is already struggling to balance the books, and the sheer number of retirees is definitely part of that equation. It's not the only issue, of course, but it's certainly a significant factor.
To be truthful, I'm working right now and it feels fine, but who knows what the landscape will look like ten years down the road? Maybe I'll eventually be forced to accept whatever pension comes my way. But I suppose I'll cross that bridge when I get to it; for now, I'm not worrying about it.

Jose Ward4 said:As far as I know, you can still work even if you're retired. That's how the laws are set up here in the States. I'm not entirely sure if there's a legal distinction between standard retirement and disability status, but yeah, working while retired is totally fine. You don't lose any of your benefits. My doctor told me that directly when I went in for my medical evaluation, and I heard the same thing when my brother went through his assessment. He actually had to undergo a lung transplant—both lungs, can you believe it? Even in retirement, he can work if he feels up to it. You don't forfeit your rights just because you decide to pick up a job. Your pension checks keep coming. Like I said, I don't know if the rules differ for disability vs. regular retirement. I didn't ask which specific agency his case was handled by, but I'd bet anything that even on disability, you could still work without losing everything.

I think the real question isn't whether you're legally allowed to work while on retirement—though I suspect it might be limited to part-time or freelance stuff—but rather whether you actually need the retirement checks at all. After all, someone has to earn that money somewhere.
Whether that check is $1,000 or just $10, it matters. $0.00.

To give you some perspective, let's say they deduct about $133 from my paycheck for health insurance, and the medications I take alone run me roughly $1000 a month, even though I don't pay for them directly. These are the absolute latest and most effective medications available for schizophrenia.
If I were stuck paying out of pocket, I’d definitely have to switch to much cheaper alternatives.

Matthew Castillo5 said:Would anyone mind if I crashed the party too? 🕺

Everyone is more than welcome at this gathering, whether you have a formal diagnosis or not 🙂

bluejackal2 said:Honestly, if you tell him that, he’ll probably try to claw your eyes out. In his mind, we're all just the same kind of people, and he actually told me he hates my guts just because my retirement check is bigger than his. He basically said that having more money makes me a target for his resentment.

I tried to break it down for him nicely, but it's just a lost cause.

Well, he isn't exactly acting rational, is he? On top of being completely incompetent, he's clearly not the brightest bulb either. I can't tell if he's truly that incapable or if he's actually quite talented and just made sure he had a solid pension waiting for him while he's still young and healthy. 😕Maybe we should just offer everyone disability benefits $417, then we'd really see how much work they'd actually put in.

OK 😉

mistydrifter55 said:Honestly, just get lost. If you want to work through your own frustrations and complexes, go find someone else to bother.

I am totally with you when it comes to these fake PTSD types.☕

I honestly can't decide who bears more responsibility for these people—is it their own choices, or the government that creates the environment allowing this behavior to persist? It isn't just about veterans dealing with PTSD, either. I actually heard about a case where a man working at a brewery was shot in the leg during an argument, and the whole situation was handled with such intensity it felt like something straight out of a combat zone.
I was talking to this girl recently who deals with the exact same health condition I do, and she actually receives veteran benefits because her mother passed away from cancer after serving. It’s a bit surreal when you think about it—her monthly benefit is actually higher than my entire paycheck, and I don't exactly consider my salary to be small, either.
I’ve also always struggled to wrap my head around why society seems to view someone who loses an arm on the job as somehow less deserving of support or recognition than a veteran who lost theirs in combat.
I’m not trying to suggest that life isn't difficult for either side, but honestly, we should all take a second to pause; it feels like people are drawing such an extreme divide over this war. 😕