Schizophrenia - General Discussion

Chloe Flores83 said:Aside from that one time, I haven't had any hallucinations, which is why I'm asking. Once, I spent an entire night watching birds all flying in the exact same direction, but my doctor insisted it was impossible and told me I was just hallucinating. Then, a few years later, it clicked—those were just migratory birds heading south. Another time, I thought I saw a Virgin Mary statue. I was sitting in a coffee shop, staring at this statue, thinking to myself, "There isn't actually a statue here," but I couldn't figure out what I was looking at. Later, I realized it was just a massive patio umbrella—a canvas canopy—that looked like a perfectly sculpted statue because it was covered in snow. And yeah, I did have one actual hallucination once when the title of a book called 'friendly whisper' suddenly changed to 'friendly whispering' right before my eyes. There's a whole story behind that one, too, but honestly, these sexual hallucinations are way more interesting. John, could you tell me a bit more about yours?

What an idiot. 🤦

Joseph Bailey41 said:What an idiot. 🤦

Exactly.

Oh, right! I totally forgot to mention that weird thing with the fish. I honestly don't know what happened, but twice while I was out in the deep ocean, these silvery fish just started swirling around my legs. They weren't scared of me at all—it was almost like they were tame. It felt so surreal, like they were staring right at me. I can't tell if they were just incredibly curious little creatures or if I was having some kind of hallucination.

Chloe Flores83 said:Oh, right! I totally forgot to mention that weird thing with the fish. I honestly don't know what happened, but twice while I was out in the deep ocean, these silvery fish just started swirling around my legs. They weren't scared of me at all—it was almost like they were tame. It felt so surreal, like they were staring right at me. I can't tell if they were just incredibly curious little creatures or if I was having some kind of hallucination.

There are definitely fish like that out there; sometimes they even like to nip at you. 😁

Chloe Flores83 said:Oh, right! I totally forgot to mention that weird thing with the fish. I honestly don't know what happened, but twice while I was out in the deep ocean, these silvery fish just started swirling around my legs. They weren't scared of me at all—it was almost like they were tame. It felt so surreal, like they were staring right at me. I can't tell if they were just incredibly curious little creatures or if I was having some kind of hallucination.

Like Joseph Bailey41 said, there are definitely fish like that out there. Maybe they’re just looking to pick off parasites or bacteria from other fish? Perhaps they just took a liking to you.

For me, back when I was going through a psychotic episode, cats absolutely adored me. I remember this one time at a friend's place, his cat just wouldn't leave my side. She walked right up to me and stayed glued to me the whole time. My take on it? Animals can sense the energy we put out into the world. It happened again with dogs during my psychosis, too. They kept hovering around me. It felt totally freakish because nothing like that had ever happened to me before.

"Do you like sex? Then you're a wicked girl."

The big mistake people make when thinking about hallucinations is assuming that everything the brain registers is just a fake image. It’s not quite like that. For instance, if you see those birds, seeing them isn't the hallucination itself; rather, the hallucination is the way the brain twists the actual properties of what's happening. I remember once feeling like I was being tracked through my laptop. In reality, I *was* on my laptop, but nobody was actually stalking me through the webcam like I was absolutely convinced during the onset of my symptoms.

It's the same deal with sexual hallucinations. I had this unshakable conviction that I had to get certain women pregnant—women I actually knew. It wasn't just a passing thought; it was a rock-solid belief. I remember lying in bed one night and having this vivid illusion that I was having sex with one of them. It felt "real," too—the sensations were incredible. Unfortunately, those kinds of hallucinations always ended abruptly for me. My brain would just pivot immediately to the next thing, jumping from one hallucination to the next.
At the same time, other things were happening in my life. Right before things started spiraling into psychosis, I met this incredibly gorgeous woman. On a scale of 1 to 10, she was a 10+—I'm talking looks, beauty, brains, and talent all rolled into one. She was seriously gifted. But, as life often goes, I developed this totally unrealistic sense of self-confidence (during my psychosis, the only time I ever felt fear was when I was dealing with negative hallucinations), but otherwise, I felt invincible. I approached her without any hesitation and somehow managed to get her number by asking her dad directly. But then, reality hit hard. I ended up in a psychiatric ward. When I got out, I found out she had already jumped into a relationship with someone else (someone she might have met just before me). I can't shake it from my head because my brain convinced me it was only a matter of time before she became my wife. 😁

So, much like with your birds, that girl is a real person, and she really is as amazing as I described. But the hallucination is the idea that she's my future wife or that we're actually together. 🙂

Hopefully, you understand a bit better now why these experiences feel so intense for most people dealing with psychosis, and why people tend to attach such supernatural significance to these hallucinations.

I mean, you could definitely call it being wicked, considering I spent years sleeping with Satan. There, I said it.🙄 While everyone else was terrified of him, he was actually just making love to me. Does anyone else have a story like this, or maybe some sexual hallucinations?

Look, I know for a fact that back when I was going through that psychotic episode—and yeah, I wasn't taking my meds—my libido shot up by like 200%. I was constantly wound up, which was a huge issue since I didn't have a girlfriend at the time. Even when I tried going off the pills for seven days later on—and I truly believe I wasn't in a full-blown psychosis then—that same thing happened. My drive just spiked 200% again. I'm just perpetually revved up. The real struggle is that I have no way to channel all that energy when I'm single. It’s just how I function. That's my reality. When I'm off the medication, I am nonstop. And honestly, from what I can tell, I don't even have any specific fetishes or anything.

So, look, my dear friends, Jose Ward4 is feeling that primal urge again today. Honestly, I don't know how else to deal with this constant hunger for intimacy besides... well, you know. I’m just craving some kind of connection, even if it's just a casual thing with a woman. It seems to hit me hardest whenever the weather gets this sweltering. I feel like I’m constantly on edge, just wanting to be close to someone. I can't help but wonder if you all feel this same restless tension, or if it's just me? Because for me, it's relentless. Day in and day out. It actually makes me feel a bit physically ill, and yet, there isn't a single girl in sight. I truly envy those of you who have a partner. If I had a girlfriend, I’d shower her with affection every single moment. Every hour, every minute—it’s just a constant, driving hunger.

Please, just don't go quitting your therapy. A single week of physical intimacy really isn't worth spending three months trying to recover from a psychotic episode. Take my word for it on this one.

This whole thing about fish is pretty convenient, right? At least until you’re shaving and suddenly feel like you've been chosen to save the entire planet. Then your brain just starts spinning. And my pets? They were all so huge they actually bit me—if they'd really gone for it, they would've taken my fingers. During my wilder phases, my cats and dogs were just like how Jose Ward4 feels about things; we didn't just like each other, we absolutely adored one another. I remember this German Shepherd over at the local park—he passed away a few years ago. He looked terrifying, honestly. Had this massive black head like a K9 officer, always barking and pacing around on his chain, and I just got this crazy idea that I had to pet him. When he finally went quiet, I walked up to stroke him, and he started acting like a little baby. I really thought all animals could sense me now, but I quickly learned better when a tiny Pomeranian nearly took my hand off during one of my more stable moments. 😁

Regarding the birds, John, you're totally right. With my lot, I felt like I saw every bit of evil in the world just by clearing out their little hiding spots. But what could I do? They were flying around all night until morning, and then a pair of white pigeons showed up. That was my sign that I’d found them all and could finally step away from the window. Time to start a new chapter, I guess. As for sex, it seems like everyone loves it, yet nobody wants to talk about it. I don't mind either topic, but after dealing with Wicked sex, doing it with people just feels totally pointless.

Harold Anderson3 said:Please, just don't go quitting your therapy. A single week of physical intimacy really isn't worth spending three months trying to recover from a psychotic episode. Take my word for it on this one.

No, I am definitely not quitting therapy. Honestly, I haven't missed a dose in about four months. I'm staying on top of everything. It's just that today... I don't know, I just felt a bit off. Maybe if the mood doesn't lift by around 2:30 or 5:00 PM, I might head to the doctor. I think it’s just this heat. I swear, everyone gets more irritable when it's this sweltering out. Yesterday, there were these girls at the pub—real show-stoppers, you know? Deep decolletage, huge chests, very distracting. They were heading to a folk dance club nearby, so they were just warming up. My gut tells me they were probably working the scene. Anyway, by the time I got home around 1:30, I hadn't touched a single drop of alcohol. I haven't been drinking for two months now, and I can tell you, I feel much better for it. Even those little glands behind my ears—I can't even remember the name—they seem to be functioning better. Plus, my blood work came back perfect, which is a huge change from before. I just had it done a week ago. It’s just that sometimes the cravings hit me hard. Yesterday was one of those days where I just really wanted a beer. But instead, I stuck to a chocolate Nescafe and then some juice. The rest of the guys were hanging out at the corner. I thought they might give me a hard time about it, but they didn't. They aren't really my inner circle anyway; seeing them once a month is plenty for me.

Look, I’m definitely not shy about talking about sex—I'm a huge fan of it, personally. But honestly? Sometimes I just love to sit here on the forum and talk a big game. There's something about the anticipation and the chatter that feels even better than the actual act itself. Just a little bit, though.

Chloe Flores83 said:This whole thing about fish is pretty convenient, right? At least until you’re shaving and suddenly feel like you've been chosen to save the entire planet. Then your brain just starts spinning. And my pets? They were all so huge they actually bit me—if they'd really gone for it, they would've taken my fingers. During my wilder phases, my cats and dogs were just like how Jose Ward4 feels about things; we didn't just like each other, we absolutely adored one another. I remember this German Shepherd over at the local park—he passed away a few years ago. He looked terrifying, honestly. Had this massive black head like a K9 officer, always barking and pacing around on his chain, and I just got this crazy idea that I had to pet him. When he finally went quiet, I walked up to stroke him, and he started acting like a little baby. I really thought all animals could sense me now, but I quickly learned better when a tiny Pomeranian nearly took my hand off during one of my more stable moments. 😁

Regarding the birds, John, you're totally right. With my lot, I felt like I saw every bit of evil in the world just by clearing out their little hiding spots. But what could I do? They were flying around all night until morning, and then a pair of white pigeons showed up. That was my sign that I’d found them all and could finally step away from the window. Time to start a new chapter, I guess. As for sex, it seems like everyone loves it, yet nobody wants to talk about it. I don't mind either topic, but after dealing with Wicked sex, doing it with people just feels totally pointless.

My cats love me unconditionally—well, at least mine do. They even follow me and the dog out into the woods. It gets a little awkward when we walk through town, though; I worry about what the neighbors think. I'm already a bit of a local oddity since I'm constantly out foraging for herbs. 🕺

Chloe Flores83 said:This whole thing about fish is pretty convenient, right? At least until you’re shaving and suddenly feel like you've been chosen to save the entire planet. Then your brain just starts spinning. And my pets? They were all so huge they actually bit me—if they'd really gone for it, they would've taken my fingers. During my wilder phases, my cats and dogs were just like how Jose Ward4 feels about things; we didn't just like each other, we absolutely adored one another. I remember this German Shepherd over at the local park—he passed away a few years ago. He looked terrifying, honestly. Had this massive black head like a K9 officer, always barking and pacing around on his chain, and I just got this crazy idea that I had to pet him. When he finally went quiet, I walked up to stroke him, and he started acting like a little baby. I really thought all animals could sense me now, but I quickly learned better when a tiny Pomeranian nearly took my hand off during one of my more stable moments. 😁

Regarding the birds, John, you're totally right. With my lot, I felt like I saw every bit of evil in the world just by clearing out their little hiding spots. But what could I do? They were flying around all night until morning, and then a pair of white pigeons showed up. That was my sign that I’d found them all and could finally step away from the window. Time to start a new chapter, I guess. As for sex, it seems like everyone loves it, yet nobody wants to talk about it. I don't mind either topic, but after dealing with Wicked sex, doing it with people just feels totally pointless.

When I lived in the city, I had this little parrot that was a total chatterbox. His favorite thing was sitting on the windowsill and having full-blown conversations with a falcon that would land on the antenna outside. If my husband hadn't witnessed it too, I would have been certain I was hallucinating. 🤣

Chloe Flores83 said:This whole thing about fish is pretty convenient, right? At least until you’re shaving and suddenly feel like you've been chosen to save the entire planet. Then your brain just starts spinning. And my pets? They were all so huge they actually bit me—if they'd really gone for it, they would've taken my fingers. During my wilder phases, my cats and dogs were just like how Jose Ward4 feels about things; we didn't just like each other, we absolutely adored one another. I remember this German Shepherd over at the local park—he passed away a few years ago. He looked terrifying, honestly. Had this massive black head like a K9 officer, always barking and pacing around on his chain, and I just got this crazy idea that I had to pet him. When he finally went quiet, I walked up to stroke him, and he started acting like a little baby. I really thought all animals could sense me now, but I quickly learned better when a tiny Pomeranian nearly took my hand off during one of my more stable moments. 😁

Regarding the birds, John, you're totally right. With my lot, I felt like I saw every bit of evil in the world just by clearing out their little hiding spots. But what could I do? They were flying around all night until morning, and then a pair of white pigeons showed up. That was my sign that I’d found them all and could finally step away from the window. Time to start a new chapter, I guess. As for sex, it seems like everyone loves it, yet nobody wants to talk about it. I don't mind either topic, but after dealing with Wicked sex, doing it with people just feels totally pointless.

Are you serious? How did you even meet him? Where does he hang out? 😒

So, how did I end up meeting nečastiv? That’s the million-dollar question. You start out trying to follow that whole "love your enemies" thing from Isusov, and before you know it, there’s nobody left to dislike—then you go and fall head over heels for the devil himself. It's wild. Honestly, what that lecherous guy did to me... I won't even say his name, just knowing it is enough. What do you think? A little devilish, I guess. No clue where he is now, though. We aren't together anymore.

https://bigthink.com/ned-dymoke/can-...ggests-you-can
I was just reading about this fascinating study out of Norway where more than half of the thirty young people involved actually recovered from schizophrenia.
One of the lead researchers is really pushing the idea that early detection is absolutely everything here.

To me, though, what really jumps out isn't just the clinical side—it’s the social environment. In my experience, a huge part of true recovery comes down to how well someone can reintegrate into society and actually find steady work.

They really are highly developed societies, though. Through all their research, they've actually managed to pin down what triggers the onset of mental health struggles. You might have even heard of that Finnish Open Dialogue approach—it’s widely recognized as this alternative way to treat psychosis.

You know, I actually stumbled upon a rather different perspective while reading a book recently.
It put it something like this:
''In developed nations, there's a much wider gap in quality of life between those struggling with mental illness and those who are mentally healthy, whereas in developing countries, that disparity is much smaller.''
It’s undeniably true that someone dealing with schizophrenia in Norway or Switzerland would have a higher standard of living than someone in India or Africa, but they often face a much greater set of challenges—both internal and external—when compared to the people around them. It’s a pretty significant point to consider, really.

Carol Barrett2 said:So, my old lady was at the social services office today talking about me—well, more like talking *around* me. She was actually there about some other business entirely. They told her I could basically move into a shelter if I wanted to. Honestly? I might take them up on it, since my life is currently a total dumpster fire. Between the health issues and everything else piling up, it’s a mess. My mom didn't want to start the paperwork for my benefits yet, though, because we've got this massive situation going on right now and she wouldn't have anyone to help me chase down all the red tape—she isn't doing too great herself lately.

Zero sense of direction.

It appears Njusice might be facing an extended stay in the hospital. Perhaps her phone was confiscated, maybe she’s short on cash for data, or perhaps she simply lacks the will—or even the capacity—to engage with digital communication.

Does this artificial intelligence-driven virtual reality not have the power to pull even those of us who consider ourselves mentally "stable" right into the depths of paranoia?

I only asked because I know she hasn't been doing great lately—she even mentioned something about being hospitalized.