Living with schizophrenia

Kimberly Flores3 said:it isn't caused by loud noises; that's just one of the symptoms of health and schizophrenia.

The point is, getting irritated by loud neighbors is a perfectly normal reaction—actually, it’s a desirable one. 😉

It isn’t easy for me to write this.
I’ve been struggling with mental illness. I was hospitalized twice; it wasn't until the second time that they finally
figured out what was actually going on. I ended up staying in the hospital for three months.

I can’t say I’m particularly satisfied with my psychiatrist. He just hands me prescriptions without ever really wanting to listen to me. Since money is tight, I stick with him because he's the most affordable option available.

The worst of the illness hit me hardest between the ages of 18 and 23.
I went through some really dark, unstable times...

I feel okay now, though I still find myself daydreaming quite often and trying to "escape" from reality.

I just feel so misunderstood. That has been the hardest part of all...😢 😢 😢 😢 😢

I’ve ended up in the hospital eleven times myself

briskgull27 said:I’ve ended up in the hospital eleven times myself

Please, tell me how you're feeling right now? Are things getting any better with the medication? Which ones are you currently taking?

Edward Evans8 said:It isn’t easy for me to write this.
I’ve been struggling with mental illness. I was hospitalized twice; it wasn't until the second time that they finally
figured out what was actually going on. I ended up staying in the hospital for three months.

I can’t say I’m particularly satisfied with my psychiatrist. He just hands me prescriptions without ever really wanting to listen to me. Since money is tight, I stick with him because he's the most affordable option available.

The worst of the illness hit me hardest between the ages of 18 and 23.
I went through some really dark, unstable times...

I feel okay now, though I still find myself daydreaming quite often and trying to "escape" from reality.

I just feel so misunderstood. That has been the hardest part of all...😢 😢 😢 😢 😢

Hey, I hear you.😘
I know a few people dealing with this, and I've seen what the medication does—it can turn someone into a vegetable, leaving them with nothing.

I think it might help if you could get your hands on some books about the condition, perhaps some works by authors specializing in psychology or this specific field.

Since you aren't at the stage where you've completely lost control, you might be able to work on strengthening your mind to resist those "episodes."

Good luck.🙂

Chris Morgan67 said:Hey, I hear you.😘
I know a few people dealing with this, and I've seen what the medication does—it can turn someone into a vegetable, leaving them with nothing.

I think it might help if you could get your hands on some books about the condition, perhaps some works by authors specializing in psychology or this specific field.

Since you aren't at the stage where you've completely lost control, you might be able to work on strengthening your mind to resist those "episodes."

Good luck.🙂

Thank you.😘

And what kind of excursions are we talking about here?

How are things looking at the psych ward? Do people with schizophrenia get bunked together, or do they mix everyone—depressive, schizophrenic, manic—all in one room?.....

And how much have you figured out regarding whether people with intellectual disabilities end up on those wards too? (Asking about ID for a friend)

You mentioned feeling misunderstood, and honestly, it makes sense. People with mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities face such massive stigma. It’s pure primitivism. Healthy people think they’re "elevating" themselves by belittling those with mental impairments or physical disabilities, but it just makes them look small. Even the doctors can be brutal, crushing someone's dreams in the harshest way possible. I know this from my own experience. My vision is poor and I deal with endocrine issues. I know exactly what it's like walking into an office filled with an arrogant specialist and an even more arrogant nurse.

The hardest part is looking back on my time in the hospital and dealing with the psychiatrist there...
All he would ever tell me was, "You're not normal!!!" It really took a toll on
me.

My current psychiatrist is actually quite reasonable and empathetic, though.
I think his easiest way of handling things is just prescribing the medication.

Sometimes I just wish I had someone I could truly vent to, but that’s the "unstable" part of my life—I don't have
anyone...👎

You have us forum members😁

People living with schizophrenia can be fully integrated into society and lead normal lives without much trouble, provided their condition is kept under control. Of course, that assumes society isn't riddled with prejudices, which often feels like the case here in America... I wonder if you've ever tried to just ignore those images, people, or sounds... knowing deep down they aren't actually real...

I get how you feel; I actually had a 😢 friend who dealt with the exact same thing. I told her more than once that she could always count on me to listen whenever she needed to talk, though I never pushed her to open up if she wasn't comfortable. In the end, we haven't spoken since last summer; she just ignores my messages, and her mother is always incredibly dismissive whenever I try to call her.

I have a brother who struggles with this awful illness. I’ve been living in this heavy environment since I was five years old, and no matter how much I try to brush it off because of the stigmas people attach to these cases, the truth is that it has left a massive mark on me too...
He’s really gone through a mountain of those paranoid phases—everything from religious delusions to completely cutting himself off from the rest of the world, not to mention those manic episodes where he just blasts music constantly. Right now, you could say he’s in a slightly longer lull, but the thing is, someone like that always seems to carry this negative energy around them. I don't know, maybe it’s just because I’ve dealt with so much that I can’t tune out those negative vibes anymore; there's always that gap between us, so our relationship basically boils down to a quick "hey" and a couple of words.
TO Edward Evans8: Can you tell me what it’s like inside your head when it comes to processing everyday situations or logic? For instance, I’ve personally struggled quite a bit; I’m tackling a super intense college major right now, and toward the end, I feel like I’m having trouble concentrating, connecting the dots, and stuff like that...
On top of that, I feel this constant exhaustion and lethargy. When I wake up in the morning, I get this feeling where I could just stare at a single spot for hours... it's awful! But I’m still trying to fight through it. I read a ton, I push my brain to work non-stop, and I try to boost my social life and even my diet as much as possible. So, yeah, I'm curious about your situation... How did you actually end up seeing a doctor, and what kind of symptoms were you dealing with?

Take a look

don't just tell me... 🙂

Schizophrenia isn't just one thing—there are actually more than a dozen different types out there, and they all present themselves pretty differently. Scott Davis32, honestly, what you’re describing could easily just be burnout or some latent depression rather than what your brother is unfortunately dealing with. Either way, the move here is to track down a smart, actually competent specialist and just sit down for a real talk with them.
Medication is almost always a necessity in these cases—it's basically there to put the brakes on the cognitive decline that usually follows sch. Without decent pharmacotherapy, that cognitive slide can be fast and pretty much inevitable. Thankfully, we have plenty of meds available now for these kinds of disorders, but the trick is finding that specific combination and dosage that clicks for the individual (which brings me back to my point: find a damn good psychiatrist).
I know this one girl who’s been living with this "diagnosis" since she was eleven—and hey, juvenile sch is one of the rougher versions—but she’s been in treatment the whole time and is actually right in the middle of finishing up her Master's degree.

Lisa Johnson6 said:And what kind of excursions are we talking about here?

How are things looking at the psych ward? Do people with schizophrenia get bunked together, or do they mix everyone—depressive, schizophrenic, manic—all in one room?.....

And how much have you figured out regarding whether people with intellectual disabilities end up on those wards too? (Asking about ID for a friend)

You mentioned feeling misunderstood, and honestly, it makes sense. People with mental illnesses or intellectual disabilities face such massive stigma. It’s pure primitivism. Healthy people think they’re "elevating" themselves by belittling those with mental impairments or physical disabilities, but it just makes them look small. Even the doctors can be brutal, crushing someone's dreams in the harshest way possible. I know this from my own experience. My vision is poor and I deal with endocrine issues. I know exactly what it's like walking into an office filled with an arrogant specialist and an even more arrogant nurse.

Alright, here's the lowdown. On psych wards, they generally try to separate patients based on their specific diagnosis. People with severe intellectual disabilities usually get hospitalized in specialized facilities—so, they're kept apart from patients being treated for acute psychotic episodes.
Based on the old-school way of classifying mental illness—which, honestly, still sticks in the minds of most doctors and psychiatrists out there—schizophrenia falls into this massive umbrella category known as psychoses. That group includes manic psychosis, manic-depressive psychosis, and various types of schizophrenia (paranoid, catatonic, hebephrenic, juvenile, etc.). Even endogenous depression was lumped in under "psychosis" according to those older classifications.
That last part is honestly pretty gross to me. 😱
Just remember, not every doctor is like that! And hey, don't be scared! You aren't alone, and there's always someone out there who can help! 🙂 👍

neonrider13 said:Alright, here's the lowdown. On psych wards, they generally try to separate patients based on their specific diagnosis. People with severe intellectual disabilities usually get hospitalized in specialized facilities—so, they're kept apart from patients being treated for acute psychotic episodes.
Based on the old-school way of classifying mental illness—which, honestly, still sticks in the minds of most doctors and psychiatrists out there—schizophrenia falls into this massive umbrella category known as psychoses. That group includes manic psychosis, manic-depressive psychosis, and various types of schizophrenia (paranoid, catatonic, hebephrenic, juvenile, etc.). Even endogenous depression was lumped in under "psychosis" according to those older classifications.
That last part is honestly pretty gross to me. 😱
Just remember, not every doctor is like that! And hey, don't be scared! You aren't alone, and there's always someone out there who can help! 🙂 👍

1. Not true.
- Here's why: on the general med wards, everyone is just tossed into one big pile; you know the deal, just male and female dorms... otherwise, in the common areas, everyone hangs out together.

2. Not true.
- Here's why: they actually have the right to act like that, looking down on us "patients." They honestly don't give a damn about messing with everyone individually unless they feel like being extra.

3. Not true.
- Here's why: it's all just prejudice and a total lack of understanding.

Redeemer, look, let’s just take this step by step:

1. You’re talking about the internal medicine ward, but I'm talking about the psych ward.
2. Honestly, you're off base there—they don't have any reason to act like that, and most of them don't anyway. I actually know a few doctors who, after pulling a full 24-hour shift, still stick around to work and somehow find the energy to reply to random posts over on the Health subforum.
3. I didn't quite catch that third point, though. Are you talking about the doctors, or are you talking about yourself?

neonrider13 said:Redeemer, look, let’s just take this step by step:

1. You’re talking about the internal medicine ward, but I'm talking about the psych ward.
2. Honestly, you're off base there—they don't have any reason to act like that, and most of them don't anyway. I actually know a few doctors who, after pulling a full 24-hour shift, still stick around to work and somehow find the energy to reply to random posts over on the Health subforum.
3. I didn't quite catch that third point, though. Are you talking about the doctors, or are you talking about yourself?

What even is a psychiatric ward? I mean, seriously, they classify internal medicine as a psychiatric unit too? Like, what the hell?!

I'm talking about that first reply I got on my post regarding depression.

Look, a psychiatric ward or clinic is basically there to treat mental health issues and people struggling with those kinds of conditions. Internal medicine, on the other hand, deals with all the physical stuff inside the body—you know, things like cardiology, pulmonology, endocrinology, nephrology, gastroenterology, clinical immunology, and so on. So yeah, we're talking about two totally different departments here.

Wait, hold up, are you seriously trying to tell me there’s no internal communication in psychiatry?

The only thing that actually sets that ward apart from the rest is how they handle visitor access...