Schizophrenia - General Discussion

Lisa Morgan27 said:I’m honestly fed up with my memory failing me. I forget things almost the second they happen. It’s impossible to follow instructions because my attention span is shot—I’ll read something and it just doesn't stick; nothing stays in my head. My concentration is non-existent. I get these weird waves hitting my brain and ears, this pulsing sensation that gets even worse when I try to focus. It feels like I’m physically here but mentally checked out, totally detached. Information just won't settle. I know I'm not demented since I'm only 18, so maybe it’s some mental health issue, a side effect from medication, or some kind of delirium. I don't know. All I know is whether I'm at school or at home, I can't grasp anything or retain it, and I have no clue how to fix this...
I also had this gross taste of rotten eggs from Olandix this morning.

I honestly don't know how to give you a smart answer to that—maybe some brain exercises or vitamins? I really don't know.

@Jose Ward4, maybe I'm just looking for an excuse, but I wouldn't say I have a huge appetite normally—though I do try to regulate my diet as much as I can. As for >, I wouldn't describe it primarily as a romance, even though it is (I mean, Leonardo DiCaprio played it like he was doing everything out of pure love!). To me, it was more about the lesson of understanding the main characters' personalities based on their life paths. You really should watch it, though. And don't worry—if you head in that direction, you'll find someone special 😉

Angela Stewart6 said:I honestly don't know how to give you a smart answer to that—maybe some brain exercises or vitamins? I really don't know.

@Jose Ward4, maybe I'm just looking for an excuse, but I wouldn't say I have a huge appetite normally—though I do try to regulate my diet as much as I can. As for >, I wouldn't describe it primarily as a romance, even though it is (I mean, Leonardo DiCaprio played it like he was doing everything out of pure love!). To me, it was more about the lesson of understanding the main characters' personalities based on their life paths. You really should watch it, though. And don't worry—if you head in that direction, you'll find someone special 😉

Look, just eat as much as you want! Everyone has their own appetite, right? It's totally fine. Yesterday I was thinking about a girl, but today my whole mood has flipped. I just got some extra cash in my pocket, so I'm feeling pretty pumped. Honestly, my moods change like the tides. One minute I'm down, the next I'm on top of the world... I bet it's some horoscope stuff. Libras are supposed to be super moody, apparently. Anyway, I'm not exactly going out of my way to chase anything right now. If it happens, it happens. If not, oh well...

Lisa Morgan27 said:I’m honestly fed up with my memory failing me. I forget things almost the second they happen. It’s impossible to follow instructions because my attention span is shot—I’ll read something and it just doesn't stick; nothing stays in my head. My concentration is non-existent. I get these weird waves hitting my brain and ears, this pulsing sensation that gets even worse when I try to focus. It feels like I’m physically here but mentally checked out, totally detached. Information just won't settle. I know I'm not demented since I'm only 18, so maybe it’s some mental health issue, a side effect from medication, or some kind of delirium. I don't know. All I know is whether I'm at school or at home, I can't grasp anything or retain it, and I have no clue how to fix this...
I also had this gross taste of rotten eggs from Olandix this morning.

That isn't coming from the medication; it's a symptom of the illness itself, and the meds are actually there to help you manage it. If you've dealt with a psychotic episode recently, it's actually quite 'normal' for your thoughts to not feel quite organized yet. I used to go through phases where letters would practically jump off the page, much like dyslexia but significantly more intense, and fortunately, it wasn't a permanent deficit. Just keep taking your medication and things will start to stabilize. The frustrating part is that the recovery process takes time, but there will be progress, and a full recovery is definitely possible, if not likely.

The truth is, medication can really make a difference—you just have to figure out which specific ones work for your unique chemistry. And honestly, most of the time, you just need to push through a brief adjustment period while your body gets used to the psychotropic meds. You have to give them a chance to actually kick in! Of course, there's always the caveat regarding side effects; if they feel too overwhelming or just plain wrong, you absolutely have to walk your doctor through exactly what you're experiencing.

I’ve cycled through just about every antipsychotic out there 😁
including i normabel, Domirin, Xanax, and Fevarine. I eventually landed on Olandix and Zoloft. The real issue is that none of these drugs actually touch the cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. For my part, Olandix seems to be the only thing handling both the positive and negative symptoms. Honestly, even 5 mg of normia won't even put me to sleep, so Olandix is my only real option—even if it gives me terrifying heart palpitations.

Now, I truly believe we have to learn how to manage certain symptoms—basically learning to live alongside them—while simultaneously putting in the work to dial them down. For instance, you really ought to find something that settles your nerves, something that just clicks for you personally. Getting some physical activity in can do wonders too—I’m speaking from my own personal experience here!—but please, don't overdo it; stay within your own limits. Just do what you can. Every little bit counts toward building up your strength, and if you take it one step at a time, you'll eventually reach a sense of total wellness.

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Which symptoms are generally more difficult to endure? The positive ones or the negative ones?

It seems to me that the positive symptoms are tougher, though perhaps I am mistaken.

I mean... when you are calm and "lethargic," you are less conspicuous and cause less harm to those around you.

I believe that hearing voices, thought broadcasting, and paranoia are the hardest things to cope with.

I know an acquaintance who doesn't hear voices at all, yet experiences every other symptom of schizophrenia. Before his last extended stay at a psychiatric facility, he suffered from an intense fear of being recorded. It strikes me that this was actually a fear of thought broadcasting. During his most difficult moments, he would ask his mother for medication and paper so they could communicate via writing, because if he spoke aloud, "they" would record him. I realize that schizophrenia lacks logic, but if someone fears they are being filmed, then "they"—whoever they may be—can film them regardless of whether they write or speak.

I don't believe it was the illness that made him "lethargic," but rather the medication. He functions relatively normally in most areas, except that he is significantly slowed down due to the drugs.

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P.S. You do not have to respond if you do not wish to. I certainly do not want to give any of you the impression that I am following you or stalking you; nor that I am stealing, broadcasting, or altering your thoughts, or anything of the sort.

Nicole Barrett76 said:Which symptoms are generally more difficult to endure? The positive ones or the negative ones?

It seems to me that the positive symptoms are tougher, though perhaps I am mistaken.

I mean... when you are calm and "lethargic," you are less conspicuous and cause less harm to those around you.

I believe that hearing voices, thought broadcasting, and paranoia are the hardest things to cope with.

I know an acquaintance who doesn't hear voices at all, yet experiences every other symptom of schizophrenia. Before his last extended stay at a psychiatric facility, he suffered from an intense fear of being recorded. It strikes me that this was actually a fear of thought broadcasting. During his most difficult moments, he would ask his mother for medication and paper so they could communicate via writing, because if he spoke aloud, "they" would record him. I realize that schizophrenia lacks logic, but if someone fears they are being filmed, then "they"—whoever they may be—can film them regardless of whether they write or speak.

I don't believe it was the illness that made him "lethargic," but rather the medication. He functions relatively normally in most areas, except that he is significantly slowed down due to the drugs.

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P.S. You do not have to respond if you do not wish to. I certainly do not want to give any of you the impression that I am following you or stalking you; nor that I am stealing, broadcasting, or altering your thoughts, or anything of the sort.

It's definitely the negative ones, at least from the patient's point of view.
During a positive phase, a person feels energetic and emotional, and their brain activity is high, but the issue is that they can't distinguish reality from fantasy. In the beginning, the sensation can actually feel quite good. However, if a psychotic episode isn't recognized early enough, things turn ugly. For instance, hallucinations are one of the more difficult and dangerous positive symptoms that tend to emerge later on.

On the flip side, during a negative phase, the patient becomes blunt, apathetic, sluggish, lacks initiative in everything, and is often depressed. This isn't necessarily caused by medication; a person can go through a negative phase without any drugs at all, even though antipsychotics invariably lower overall brain activity levels.

For the patient themselves, the negative symptoms are more uncomfortable, whereas for their family and friends, the positive symptoms are much harder to handle.
People tend to think, 'As long as they just sleep and stay quiet, they won't do anything bad.' Sure, but they won't do anything good either. They won't do anything at all.

By the way, people more commonly use the term productive symptoms, because there is usually nothing actually positive about them.😉

@Nicole Barrett76
Nicole Barrett76

Honestly, it’s a bit tricky to say which ones work better because everyone experiences things so differently—for instance, back when I was riding a wave of positive symptoms, I felt like I was in my own little world! I wasn't preoccupied with anything else besides what I was personally going through during that time. For the most part, I felt great. As for the negative side of things? I can't say for sure. A friend of mine once told me that I come across as totally indifferent, but that couldn't be further from the truth! In reality, I feel incredibly sensitive—it’s just all tucked away deep inside. When it comes to those pesky intrusive thoughts—you know, the paranoid stuff—I can almost sense them coming before they even hit. I just tell myself, "Nope, that's paranoia," and I stop right there. I make a conscious effort not to let those thoughts take over my mind, simply because I know deep down they aren't true.

Let me correct myself there—I meant to say I felt fine based on the perspective I was looking at, which clearly wasn't aligned with the actual reality of the situation. Honestly, I wouldn't wish that kind of struggle on anyone.

What actually happens if someone accidentally takes more antipsychotics than their doctor prescribed?

Just check the patient information leaflet provided with the medication—and honestly, if you don't have it handy, everything you could possibly need to know about any antipsychotic is available online. Just type the drug's name into a search engine, and you'll be instantly directed to a page detailing usage instructions, potential side effects, and all that good stuff. Personally, I haven’t experienced anything myself, so I can't speak to specific individual reactions, but the documentation is always there.

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That being said, you really ought to proceed with caution.

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Has anyone else dealt with this pattern? For me, it’s a regular occurrence following a psychotic episode. It always seems to happen eventually, sooner or later. Right before a break, I actually feel pretty incredible—like I'm on top of the world and can conquer anything—but once the psychosis hits, I lose touch with reality and my own emotions entirely. Then, once things finally settle down, I crash straight into a deep depression. It actually got so bad once that I ended up being hospitalized.
I just feel empty, caught up in this heavy nostalgia, and I find myself blaming myself for things that happened in the past. It leaves me with absolutely zero willpower or motivation to try and fix my life.
Does anyone here have any experience with this cycle?
@Angela Stewart6, since you're relatively new to navigating these mental health struggles, I really hope my post doesn't weigh too heavily on you or bring your mood down. 😉

Harold Anderson3 said:Has anyone else dealt with this pattern? For me, it’s a regular occurrence following a psychotic episode. It always seems to happen eventually, sooner or later. Right before a break, I actually feel pretty incredible—like I'm on top of the world and can conquer anything—but once the psychosis hits, I lose touch with reality and my own emotions entirely. Then, once things finally settle down, I crash straight into a deep depression. It actually got so bad once that I ended up being hospitalized.
I just feel empty, caught up in this heavy nostalgia, and I find myself blaming myself for things that happened in the past. It leaves me with absolutely zero willpower or motivation to try and fix my life.
Does anyone here have any experience with this cycle?
@Angela Stewart6, since you're relatively new to navigating these mental health struggles, I really hope my post doesn't weigh too heavily on you or bring your mood down. 😉

It’s pretty typical, honestly. I remember having an overwhelming surge of confidence and mood right before my episodes. It’s such a bizarre paradox—that massive high followed by the psychosis and then this crushing depression.

So, here’s my take on things; I’ve been on antidepressants for quite a while now. For me, the journey involved a prolonged period of psychosis—which, looking back, I wasn't even fully aware was happening at the time—followed by these bouts of low mood that have, thankfully, been getting shorter and shorter as time goes on. My self-esteem took a massive hit for a long stretch, too, and I struggled with this sense of self-blame—though it wasn't that "typical" kind of guilt you see in movies, but rather something much more surreal and disconnected from reality. Honestly, I think psychosis is such a complex, layered concept; it’s incredibly difficult to pin down unless, of course, the symptoms are hitting you like a freight train.

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Harold Anderson3 said:Has anyone else dealt with this pattern? For me, it’s a regular occurrence following a psychotic episode. It always seems to happen eventually, sooner or later. Right before a break, I actually feel pretty incredible—like I'm on top of the world and can conquer anything—but once the psychosis hits, I lose touch with reality and my own emotions entirely. Then, once things finally settle down, I crash straight into a deep depression. It actually got so bad once that I ended up being hospitalized.
I just feel empty, caught up in this heavy nostalgia, and I find myself blaming myself for things that happened in the past. It leaves me with absolutely zero willpower or motivation to try and fix my life.
Does anyone here have any experience with this cycle?
@Angela Stewart6, since you're relatively new to navigating these mental health struggles, I really hope my post doesn't weigh too heavily on you or bring your mood down. 😉

Hey @diego. Look, I deal with depression too—pretty much everyone does, right? I wonder if it’s the diagnosis itself or maybe a side effect from the meds. And what do you mean by psychosis? I don't quite get it. Do you mean feeling overly anxious, or just losing the ability to find a reason for things? Or is it just a total loss of logic? I guess I'll just share what happens with me. Every three months, I have to take a quarter of a Lexapro tablet. Honestly, I'm a mess because I fall into this sort of "psychosis" where I can't do anything rational anymore. It's like I become a nuisance to myself. I get these intense fears when I'm out in public, like someone is going to jump me, but then I realize it's just time for my meds. It happens like clockwork every three months, I swear. I can't tell if it's triggered by winter or something, because I can make it through the whole summer without it—last summer was fine, at least.

How are you doing, Angela Stewart6?

Jose Ward4 said:How are you doing, Angela Stewart6?

I'm doing alright—feeling a little bit drained, honestly, but tomorrow is Sunday, so I’m looking forward to some much-needed downtime! How have things been on your end?
Regarding psychosis, I really feel like it becomes a bit easier to spot the warning signs as time goes by—presumably once we actually get educated about our own condition. Though, even that's a bit of a toss-up, isn't it? Still, I believe everyone has those specific internal fluctuations, and that's why we stick to our therapy and adjust our medication as needed.

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Angela Stewart6 said:I'm doing alright—feeling a little bit drained, honestly, but tomorrow is Sunday, so I’m looking forward to some much-needed downtime! How have things been on your end?
Regarding psychosis, I really feel like it becomes a bit easier to spot the warning signs as time goes by—presumably once we actually get educated about our own condition. Though, even that's a bit of a toss-up, isn't it? Still, I believe everyone has those specific internal fluctuations, and that's why we stick to our therapy and adjust our medication as needed.

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I'm alright. Just feeling lonely, really. I miss having a girlfriend. Just having someone there by my side... that's what's missing for me. To just feel that love. To kiss someone and all that 🙂. Maybe the weather just hit me weird today. It feels like early spring out there. Perfect weather to go grab a coffee with someone. Regarding what you said about psychosis—yeah, I agree. And when I have to take my meds, I have to. If I don't, I just don't feel right 😢. Do you deal with those fears too? It's like this illness is practically designed for them. Sometimes I get this intense sensation, like someone is actually going to jump out and attack me outside. But then I walk past someone and everything turns out totally fine. Everything looks normal, and I find myself thinking, "Okay, the world is a normal place." But why can't that feeling just stay? That's what bugs me—how it happens all over again. It's like I can't learn that nobody is actually out to get me. Like I'm constantly on edge. Or maybe it's just a side effect from the pills we take. I didn't used to feel this way. Before, I just felt anxious. Even before the first psychotic episodes started, I knew what was happening. Real versus unreal... you can't really connect the dots when you're in it. But that was a long time ago.

Look, whether it’s a girl or a woman—since I don't know your age—she’ll likely show up if you truly need her and if that's where your heart is headed. That kind of connection just happens naturally, you know? Honestly, I’ve moved past being interested in that area of life myself, though I’ll admit there are those occasional moments where things feel... well, let's just say "interesting." But regardless, I’ve chosen this path, and I’m perfectly content with it. As for those fears you mentioned—for quite a while now, I’ve barely stepped foot outside, except for quick trips to the local CVS or maybe just hanging out in my backyard 🙂. It’s something that gradually tapered off as I learned how to actually manage it. My social life is also fading away more and more, though I’m not entirely sure if it will vanish completely. Still, that’s just one of the realities of dealing with our condition. But if I could offer one bit of advice: fear can actually be a good thing, provided it stays within certain limits.

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