Posts by Harold Anderson3

casualsailor said:What's the deal with these get-togethers? Does everyone here actually know one another? 😛adobranac:

It’s a pretty common typo, really 😛

depending on how you look at it. For instance, everyone seems to know Carl Rivera43, and I think most people would love to have half the popularity he enjoys 😒

Haha, looks like we might actually get some snow 😛 and it's only Wednesday, too 🙂

Rebecca Rivera3 said:Hi everyone, sorry I haven't checked in for a while. I've been reading through the threads and noticed things haven't been looking great for some of you.
I’ve dealt with significant crashes myself. Right now, I'm on Solian. I've seen two different psychiatrists, but the diagnosis remains the same.
The difference is that I'm finally stopping the denial. I'm accepting the reality and committing to treatment. So far, I think it's working. It’s a rollercoaster of highs and lows, but I'm putting in the effort. Today is a good day. Today, I actually feel like I can recover and leave all of this behind me—like it was nothing more than a bad dream.

On Solian, I feel pretty drowsy—almost drugged, like I'm being chemically altered. It feels like I'm not quite myself, but it helps anchor me to reality, even though I didn't struggle much with perception before, given my other negative symptoms. Those are still there: the depressive phases and that sense of emptiness.
I'd be lying if I said I hadn't experienced hallucinations, because I have; I just had them occasionally and kept them to myself. They aren't happening anymore.
I'm doing better on this medication for now. I'm not drifting off into my own head. I even had a boyfriend once, and he told me I seemed "absent" a lot... I would also experience intense catatonic states and episodes involving muscle and jaw spasms. That has calmed down, and I didn't mention it to my doctor. I'm hopeful they'll stay gone. Those stupors and tremors were nasty, and honestly, I'm terrified they might come back. I need to continue my treatment with a female psychiatrist, as I feel male doctors often judge me differently.
So... that's basically where I've been at for the last few months.

Solian is actually the second most effective AP, right after Leponex. How's it working for you?
Have you thought about asking for an antidepressant? Personally, Ladiomil really did the trick for me.
I've been feeling totally dysfunctional these past two days, though—just completely out of it. 👎 Things will get better. 🙂 😉

crimsonfox5 said:I have a brother who was diagnosed with schizophrenia about ten years ago. In the beginning, his doctor struggled quite a bit to find the right treatment plan. For the last seven years, he’s been getting a Risperdal Consta injection every two weeks, but for the past three months, he’s switched to a monthly injection—I can't recall the exact name—plus Diazepam 10mg as needed. Despite all these medications, he still experiences occasional episodes. He tells me he feels fine, yet these episodes keep happening, especially when the weather changes or when he's under significant stress. His doctor claims this is fairly standard for patients in his situation and suggests we should just be grateful he's functional enough to handle some self-care. I guess I don't really see it that way; living in this constant state of uncertainty is difficult. I suppose I'm wondering what your thoughts or experiences are regarding how these types of medications actually work and their effectiveness?

Schizophrenia is a condition with a thousand different faces, and it hits everyone uniquely. It’s unlikely anyone will ever be fully "functional" in the traditional sense, myself included.
The real balancing act with dosing is trying to hit that sweet spot where episodes are minimized and kept mild, without turning the patient into a total zombie. I deal with my own periodic setbacks too, but the alternative is cranking up the dosage and feeling like a walking ghost.
If I try to explain why it works this way, I’d say the brain chemistry in someone with schizophrenia is more like a rolling ocean wave—or a sine wave if you want to get mathematical—rather than a stagnant pond. Because it's constantly moving, the exact same dose might feel insufficient when a wave of symptoms hits, yet feel far too heavy once the surge passes. It might be worth discussing with his doctor whether adding a second antipsychotic could help; for instance, I personally increase my Leponex whenever I feel a psychotic episode starting to brew. I suppose his doctor does have a point, though—being able to hold down a job is actually a huge win, considering more than half of us struggle to do that.

Carol Barrett2 said:To put it bluntly, you can get pretty much anything you need here, provided you're willing to pay off some corrupt officials to look the other way. 🕺

I don't think I quite followed what you were getting at there 😢

Carol Barrett2 said:Maybe I’ll start seeing some progress too—who knows, right? We’re still dealing with constant bickering at home, so there's that. Thank Bog that things are looking up for you guys even if they aren't moving for me yet... though maybe I'll eventually catch a break.

The old man is about to get his old Slovenack pension sorted out soon. I’ve been trying to nudge him toward just getting a debit card, but he’s insisting on having the pension transferred directly to me—though honestly, knowing how much of an addict he is, I doubt he’ll actually follow through. My family has also started wondering if someone should step in and take control of my affairs too, but the old man is too stubborn and prideful to ever admit it, and I’m just stuck somewhere in the middle.

I’ve been managing a mental health condition for about ten years now, and let me tell you, it’s been a million ups and downs. Right now, I’m doing alright, but who knows what the weather will be like by next spring or summer.
Are you from Canada? If I remember correctly, I think you mentioned that. I’m not really sure what the situation is like there regarding mental health care and treatment. If you don't mind, try to give me an objective look at how things are handled over there.

My current medication regimen
is an aripiprazole injection at 400 mg every four weeks,
along with 75-100 mg of Leponex and 50 mg of Ladiomil in the evenings,
plus 5-10 mg of Cerson and 10-20 mg of Normabel right before bed.

I usually get about 7 to 8 hours of sleep, and I actually wake up feeling refreshed, often even before my alarm goes off. To be honest, I never really believed that medication could make such a massive difference, but this specific treatment has honestly been life-changing for me. Though, I suppose I’ll probably still be dealing with some existential dread over the next couple of years.

Sophia Morales51 said:I watched it, and personally, I thought it was a beautiful movie. What really resonated with me was how it wasn't just one single narrative, but rather a collection of different perspectives. It feels like the perfect kind of story for this pre-holiday season.
👍

If this topic only had one reply, 🤔

I felt the same way about it. Even though that boy is undoubtedly the heart of the story, what's highlighted here is where the film's true value lies.
There are at least ten other characters in the movie dealing with their own struggles; granted, they aren't facing the exact same things as the boy, but they all have their burdens, whether caused by their own choices or someone else's. Making mistakes is part of being human, but making them right is an even more essential part of the human experience.
In the end, it’s a happy The end. It's a very typical American style of resolution, but I don't mind it at all. In fact, you could find many similar stories playing out in real life, even if this particular film wasn't based on a true story.

To put it simply: I'm looking for someone to head to the movies with, maybe grab a coffee beforehand so we can actually get to know one another...
E: We could catch the film Miracle, and I'll happily cover the tickets if the other person wouldn't mind picking up the tab for our coffee later on..

Jose Ward4 said:Listen, I’ve actually been feeling a bit worse lately. Maybe it's just the weather changing—I don't really watch the news, so I haven't been tracking the forecasts, but I've been spending a lot of time online and everyone's saying this stretch of weather isn't going to be great for people with chronic conditions. Other than that, my health is fine; it's just this weather getting to me. I'm headed to see my therapist next week.

That’s certainly possible. Personally, I wouldn't say I'm sensitive to the weather changes, which doesn't mean I don't have my bad days, but for me, those fluctuations don't seem to be tied to the forecast at all.

vividhound192 said:Best regards.
This is my first time posting here—regarding how, during hospitalization, psychiatrists tend to rush toward a diagnosis before they've actually ruled out physical, organic issues. In my own experience, there was this constant push to get me to accept their conclusion before we even looked at the facts. They kept pushing their narrative, while I kept insisting that there was clearly a physical cause behind everything, but they just wouldn't listen. Even after I had an ultrasound—which clearly showed a tangible, organic issue—and even after my psychiatrist finally agreed that my initial diagnosis was wrong and said it should be wiped from my medical records, that old hospital diagnosis still sits there as the primary entry in my file. So, when people try to tell me otherwise now... who's actually the one losing touch with reality? Seriously, WTF? 😵 😵

When I first experienced psychosis, they ran every single neurological test under the sun "just to be safe," even though it seemed pretty obvious it was a psychotic break (schizophrenia), especially since my mother has that diagnosis and it's partially hereditary. Why some children of schizophrenic parents develop it while others don't—well, according to official medical consensus, we just don't know for sure. It could be early childhood trauma, or maybe just bad luck; for instance, if one parent is ill but the other doesn't have any predisposition toward mental illness, the condition might never manifest. Bipolar disorder seems to have a much stronger genetic link than schizophrenia; for example, in identical twins, if one has schizophrenia, there's only about a 50% chance the other will develop it, whereas with bipolar disorder, that number jumps up to 80%.

Jose Ward4 said:Way to go, Harold Anderson3. 👍

Thanks, Jose Ward4, 🙂 how have you been doing?

I made it to my psychiatrist appointment today, right on schedule after about a month and a half.

We decided to switch things up—instead of taking my usual pills, I’ll be moving to an injectable version (Abilify Mainten) at a 400 mg dose once a month. I also asked to keep Cerson on hand, just to use as a backup when my other medications aren't quite enough to help me drift off. We haven't changed anything regarding Ladiomil or Leponex; I’m still taking 50 mg of each in the evening, about an hour before I hit the sack. Honestly, if the dosage isn't too high, I really think Leponex deserves the credit for how much better I’m feeling; in my opinion, it's probably the best medication out there for schizophrenia. Taking it at night is a nice little two-for-one deal since it helps settle the psychosis and knocks me out at the same time.

As far as my university situation goes, I can't say I have much to complain about, mostly because I took out a student loan that will pay out over the next two years. After a one-year grace period, I'll be paying that money back over seven years with a pretty decent interest rate. Of course, there's always a risk involved with any kind of debt, but this is really my only shot at finishing my degree—it's the last lifeline I've got. I don't think I could live with myself if I didn't finish, especially since I've already knocked out one year and only have two left to go.

I wouldn't wish the struggle of working while being in school on anyone, let alone someone dealing with health issues on top of everything else. This past academic year was honestly one for the books, though not in a good way; I only managed to pass two exams because I was completely wiped out from working morning shifts at Coca-Cola for three months and then rushing to lectures in the afternoon. All that stress eventually caught up with me, resulting in a hospital stay during the Christmas and New Year holidays. Even though I was only in for three weeks, it took me at least another three months to feel like myself again. I've learned my lesson: I am never trying to juggle a job and schoolwork at the same time ever again, because I end up doing a mediocre job at both. I'll leave those kinds of intense challenges to the more ambitious, capable, and—frankly—healthier people.

Back when I first signed up for Reddit, Psychic hadn't even been launched yet; back then, we just had Psychology.
I’ve started quite a few threads over the years, ranging mostly from heavy, depressive topics to the occasional lighthearted one.
Now, I don't think Psychic can actually solve a deep-seated psychological issue for a few specific reasons:
-It's much easier to truly connect with and understand someone facing a struggle when you're looking them right in the eye in person rather than through a screen.
-A person will always be able to explain what they're going through more effectively in real life, since on Reddit, you aren't seeing their actual presence—you're just reading a description of how they're acting.
-The people contributing to Psychic aren't professional clinicians; most of them are just regular folks who happen to be dealing with their own mental health struggles.
Even though Psychic isn't meant to be a cure-all, I still believe it serves a purpose, as it can help guide someone toward finding professional help in the right places while offering at least some digital support and companionship.

Eric Fowler2 said:Why don't you try joining some group therapy sessions? At least then you won't feel quite so isolated.
Plus—it doesn't cost you a dime.

For me, the priority is adjusting my medication—I definitely need different antidepressants and potentially a change in my antipsychotics.
Psychotherapy would be more of a secondary step down the road. Besides, if you go through a private provider, even group sessions aren't free; the only way to get it covered is through a day hospital program, but honestly, spending half my day stuck in a facility sounds miserable when I have so many other responsibilities to juggle. I just can't afford to make my entire life about treatment, though I did fall into such deep financial hardship recently that I haven't been able to seek help at all. Aside from that, I'm still taking my current meds, even though they don't really feel right for me.

Nicole Barrett76 said:Why on earth would you call it a disaster?

Sure, being stuck in any hospital ward is never a pleasant experience, but is there some other specific reason why you feel things are so catastrophic over there?

The conditions just aren't great. The building is old, poorly maintained, and honestly looks like it's falling apart, and then you have the incredibly intense cases where people are completely unable to care for themselves.

I try to stay away from the hospital whenever I possibly can.

steelskipper said:It seems to me like you’re trying to tackle everything all at once. From an outsider's perspective, you really need to build some structure into your life. Maybe try sitting down and actually writing out a plan, then attempting to stick to it. For example:
In the morning: wash your face, shower, brush your teeth.
Then, put a checkmark next to everything you've accomplished. Do the same throughout the day—afternoon, evening, and so on. Before bed, look back at those marks so you can see that you actually made some progress by bringing order to your life. You have to force yourself, even when you feel completely unmotivated, to just handle the basics. Start with personal hygiene, then maybe tackle cleaning the bathroom. I assume it's not quite as much of a disaster zone as your living room. Toss the dirty laundry in a hamper or a bag, wipe down the shelves, the tub, the floor. It isn't an overwhelming amount of work, and I guarantee you'll feel significantly better afterward. Tomorrow, for instance, set aside the whites from the colors or whatever your sorting method is. Put them in different bags and tidy up the entryway. For the rest of your time, you can do something actually interesting or fun, because you’ve already done something productive for the day. If you create a daily plan like this and commit to it—marking off those tasks as you go—you’ll have physical proof that you are slowly making real progress and getting your life in order. It’s a gradual process, but you have to be persistent. Once that's steady, move on to other areas of your life, like figuring out a strategy for your college courses. If you just drift through life without direction, you aren't going to find success; you've been doing that up until now, and it hasn't exactly yielded great results. You have to change something. Give this a shot; regardless of the outcome, it won't hurt you.

Wow, that was quite the long response. Look, I'm not an idiot; I know how to maintain basic hygiene and keep a house clean. The real issue is that everything I do feels completely forced, sluggish, and lethargic.
Also, no matter how much of a loner someone tries to be, there comes a point where you realize you need interaction with other people, even if it's just occasionally.
I probably need to work on being a more positive person—someone a bit more cheerful and relaxed—so I don't subconsciously push people away, which only ends up making me feel even more depressed.
Reddit can definitely help, but it’s never going to be a substitute for hanging out with people in real life. Besides, I'm aware that I tend to radiate negativity through the screen, too.
If we assume that nobody is born "weird," then my issues likely stem from a traumatic childhood—parts of it I remember clearly, and parts I only know about through stories from people around me.
And yeah, I know I spend way too much time on Reddit. But if someone could pay for me to see a therapist twice a week, I wouldn't be spending so much time here, or at least not on a therapist's couch.

I’ve been wrestling with depression for over a decade now, though looking back, I clearly haven't been tackling it the right way.
Maybe there isn't actually a "right" way to do it, because I'm starting to fear that this depression has woven itself so deeply into my psyche that it's become part of my very character.
On top of that, I've been carrying a schizophrenia diagnosis for the last eight years.
I just don't have the energy left for psychotherapy; at this point, medication is really my only lifeline, but I've actually been without my antidepressants for more than three weeks now.
My sleep schedule is a total wreck—I'll lie awake staring at the ceiling until sunrise, only to crash and sleep through the entire day when I should be getting my most important things done, including making it to my psychiatrist appointment.
Have any of you ever hit that wall where even the simplest tasks feel impossible, like just remembering to eat, keeping up with basic hygiene, or actually showing up for a doctor's visit?
Keeping up with my college coursework feels even more overwhelming, though thankfully I have enough savings right now that I don't have to worry about finding a job.
The loneliness is also absolutely crushing me.
I’m honestly wondering if I should look into being hospitalized. My experience at the local state psychiatric facility was a complete disaster; I ended up going there seven different times.
I find myself asking how much longer I can keep doing this. 🙂I just don't see a way out.

I have a nagging feeling that any hopes for Catalan independence are likely to fizzle out. Even though the EU expressed some mild condemnation regarding the violence directed at Catalans, they’ve officially stepped in to declare the referendum unconstitutional.
Without any real backing from the UN, the Catalans are essentially facing an uphill battle they can't win. It honestly feels like we might be looking at much more bloodshed before any meaningful change actually takes place.

That’s awesome! Is anyone else seeing this too?? 🙂

Larry Walker24 said:The EU holds press conferences for every little bit of nonsense imaginable, and now they’re just straight up screwing us over

interesting

Even the European Commission has weighed in, claiming that such a referendum would be unconstitutional.
I was listening to a guy on the radio this morning explaining how holding a constitutional referendum of this nature in Spain is basically an impossibility right now.☕