Schizophrenia - General Discussion

Carol Barrett2 said:I’m definitely getting plenty of sugar. I know that much. But I’m not talking about sitting around snacking on candy or cookies—it’s more that most of the food I eat is just loaded with hidden sugars anyway.

And honestly, cutting back isn't really an option when you're living on the cheap—this kind of stuff is basically the budget staple.

So, yeah, my dopamine levels are constantly spiking. It’s like being perpetually high.

It’s probably no wonder my brain is constantly racing—thoughts and ideas just sort of swarm and multiply out of nowhere.

There's plenty to dig into here.

Researchers believe certain psychotic experiences are caused by an overproduction of dopamine neurotransmitters in the brain. Consequently, most antipsychotic drugs work by blocking specific dopamine receptors, which reduces the rapid transmission of signals in the brain—something that happens too frequently during psychotic states.

I'm skeptical of this definition too, so I need to look deeper. Overproduction could actually be caused by blocked receptors, and saying that slows down signal transmission... They haven't slowed the transfer; they've just shrunk the surface area for transmission. It's like all that dopamine is being forced onto a smaller space, like a massive traffic jam. I need to study this more.

You know how it is—when you're afraid your thinking is limited or "blocked," once you unblock yourself, you realize just how diminished your awareness really was.

Maybe instead of blocking receptors, we should expand the surface area. Get on the highway so there's no traffic. Think about multiple things at once—multitasking—expand the brain's capacity through various activities simultaneously so that dopamine distributes evenly instead of pooling too heavily. That would basically be psychotherapy: giving different parts of your brain different tasks to do instead of forcing one single center to run non-stop.

Are you overweight? Is your liver healthy? A person acts "normal" until their liver fails, then metabolic waste builds up in the brain and hits you like a disease. It's toxins. I wonder if psychiatrists ever bother running blood work to see what kind of junk is actually circulating in a patient's system.

Jose Ward4 said:Do you struggle with split personalities? In layman's terms, that’s basically what bipolar disorder looks like. One minute you're riding high on pure happiness, and then, out of nowhere, you're crashing into total sadness. It's quite a rollercoaster.

You really have to find your own "why" when it comes to meditation. Honestly, if things were actually falling apart for you, you wouldn’t be sitting around pondering this—you’d be frantically Googling solutions to fix your life. I know, because that’s exactly how I operate. If I’m in a rut, I’m digging through the internet until I find an answer. Is finding your own purpose okay with you? Because if you're curious, once you find that spark, you can learn pretty much everything online. It isn’t rocket science, really. At the end of the day, when you first start out, it just boils down to being mindful. You focus on your breathing. Try to calm it down. Just take slow, steady breaths through your nose. That’s the layman's version, anyway. If you want a specific starting point, I can give you a name that actually caught my attention: Tony Stark. That’s who I learned from. Personally, I don't care for all that Zen mysticism stuff. If I wanted to dive into that, I would have searched for it. So, the ball is in your court. But hey, if this works for you, stick with it. What else can I say? You seem content with where you are right now. If you weren't, you would've been out there tearing up the ground trying to find a fix. Aren't we all like that?

Do you have split personalities? Basically, that's just bipolar. One minute you're on top of the world, the next you're totally miserable—layman's terms, anyway.

I used to deal with that. Not anymore, thanks to Azolar.

You need to find the purpose behind meditation. And honestly, it probably isn't even that bad for you, because if it were, you’d be hunting for solutions already. I’m speaking from experience here. Does "finding" it sound okay to you? Because if you were truly interested, you'd be scouring the internet for an answer. Finding it seems to suit you, right? If you care to know more, once you find the point of it all, you can learn everything online. It's not rocket science. It really just boils down to when you meditate—initially, whatever works for you—just paying attention, being aware of your breathing and trying to steady it. Like, just slow nasal breathing. That’s my layman's explanation. If you're curious, I can give you one name that actually caught my interest: Tony Stark. That's how I learned. I'm not really into this Zen stuff; if I were, I would've looked it up sooner. So, it's on you. But clearly, things are fine as they are, so stick with that. What else can I say? You're satisfied with where you're at right now. Because if you weren't, you would've dug through dirt to find a fix. Aren't we all like that?

I tried those breathing techniques a while back to calm down, but it was a bust since I've got a deviated septum, so breathing through one side is a total struggle.

I guess I'll Google Tony Stark and see what's up. Might as well try—nothing to lose, right? Better than being constantly hooked on meds.

If there's one thing that really messes with my life, it's sleep. I sleep way too much, so I never get anything done—plus, I end up drifting off into my own little world of random thoughts and ideas.

That's kind of why I don't work and I'm pretty broke.

Kimberly Cooper said:There's plenty to dig into here.

Researchers believe certain psychotic experiences are caused by an overproduction of dopamine neurotransmitters in the brain. Consequently, most antipsychotic drugs work by blocking specific dopamine receptors, which reduces the rapid transmission of signals in the brain—something that happens too frequently during psychotic states.

I'm skeptical of this definition too, so I need to look deeper. Overproduction could actually be caused by blocked receptors, and saying that slows down signal transmission... They haven't slowed the transfer; they've just shrunk the surface area for transmission. It's like all that dopamine is being forced onto a smaller space, like a massive traffic jam. I need to study this more.

You know how it is—when you're afraid your thinking is limited or "blocked," once you unblock yourself, you realize just how diminished your awareness really was.

Maybe instead of blocking receptors, we should expand the surface area. Get on the highway so there's no traffic. Think about multiple things at once—multitasking—expand the brain's capacity through various activities simultaneously so that dopamine distributes evenly instead of pooling too heavily. That would basically be psychotherapy: giving different parts of your brain different tasks to do instead of forcing one single center to run non-stop.

Are you overweight? Is your liver healthy? A person acts "normal" until their liver fails, then metabolic waste builds up in the brain and hits you like a disease. It's toxins. I wonder if psychiatrists ever bother running blood work to see what kind of junk is actually circulating in a patient's system.

It’s been ages since they flagged an issue with my liver, but they told me it recovered. I’m pretty Slim, really more like Ascet, especially considering I’m pushing almost 6'6". They haven't checked my liver since, though I can't be 100% sure. I have had blood work done, and those results were fine, nothing to worry about.

As for the whole multitasking thing—yeah, I am terrible at it. Just straight up bad. When I try to juggle too many things at once, I just get completely overwhelmed, if that makes sense.

I definitely have some skin in the game here, too. Jose Ward4 is right—I’ve let myself get a bit too complacent, if you want to call it that.

But a lot of it comes down to being broke. If I actually had some cash on hand, things would be a hell of a lot easier.

I'd probably spend my time focusing on school or something productive instead.

Carol Barrett2 said:

Do you have split personalities? Basically, that's just bipolar. One minute you're on top of the world, the next you're totally miserable—layman's terms, anyway.

I used to deal with that. Not anymore, thanks to Azolar.

You need to find the purpose behind meditation. And honestly, it probably isn't even that bad for you, because if it were, you’d be hunting for solutions already. I’m speaking from experience here. Does "finding" it sound okay to you? Because if you were truly interested, you'd be scouring the internet for an answer. Finding it seems to suit you, right? If you care to know more, once you find the point of it all, you can learn everything online. It's not rocket science. It really just boils down to when you meditate—initially, whatever works for you—just paying attention, being aware of your breathing and trying to steady it. Like, just slow nasal breathing. That’s my layman's explanation. If you're curious, I can give you one name that actually caught my interest: Tony Stark. That's how I learned. I'm not really into this Zen stuff; if I were, I would've looked it up sooner. So, it's on you. But clearly, things are fine as they are, so stick with that. What else can I say? You're satisfied with where you're at right now. Because if you weren't, you would've dug through dirt to find a fix. Aren't we all like that?

I tried those breathing techniques a while back to calm down, but it was a bust since I've got a deviated septum, so breathing through one side is a total struggle.

I guess I'll Google Tony Stark and see what's up. Might as well try—nothing to lose, right? Better than being constantly hooked on meds.

If there's one thing that really messes with my life, it's sleep. I sleep way too much, so I never get anything done—plus, I end up drifting off into my own little world of random thoughts and ideas.

That's kind of why I don't work and I'm pretty broke.

Let me guess: deviated septum, you snore so loud the walls shake, and you can't get decent rest because of all that noise. Those are muscles that've gone soft, but once you tone them up, the vibrations—the snoring—will stop.

You could sleep forever, but that noise is unbearable. Look into exercises for those nasal passages; tighten those muscles up and the vibrations will vanish.

So, either your liver is trashed from alcohol or meds,

Evo, let me give you some real advice: try learning a foreign language you don't know. You can find them all online. It’ll burn off that excess dopamine that keeps looping back to the same old spots and redirect it to new neural pathways.

Honestly, meditation isn't the move for you. You don't need to freeze your state; you need to rewire your brain's layout. Learn a language, sit at your computer—it costs nothing. Or toss some apples in the air and juggle. Doesn't have to be apples; use anything. 😁

For those aiming for success, stop feeding yourself excuses like "I'm broke" or "I can't get my head straight." It is entirely possible... and yes, I’m using the word "looking" ironically here because my eyesight isn't the best either... anyway, the point is, I used to give myself enough "excuses" to ensure I'd never achieve anything. Now, I just feel angry at my past self. I don't make excuses, and I don't indulge in self-pity.
My starting point was abysmal. I wasn't wealthy, nor did I have particularly... supportive parents. I grew up surrounded by violence, alcoholism, and all sorts of chaos. In my household—if you can even call it a family—I was treated like an outcast. I actually had to hide just to study, because my folks would throw books at me, claiming I’d go crazy from reading and that it was why my vision was failing.
So, despite the obstacles—and believe me, there were far too many to bear—I made it.

While I am saddened because my options are still severely limited due to MS, that doesn't mean I won't find a way to achieve more. I always have, and I always will, no matter how hard it gets.

As for this entire scientific saga by Trump, I actually learned about it back in high school while reading extra literature on the side and finishing music school simultaneously. For instance, when people mention an enzyme, my brain immediately connects it to a molecule and starts calculating how neurotransmitters travel down the axon and... well, I'll stop there. That’s just how my mind works—scientifically. Anything else feels pointless to me.

Even something as simple as picking out a shelf to hang a weight on involves me applying the laws of physics, calculating inertia, checking the wall type, and so on...

That’s when my "crazy" mind takes over, and honestly, nobody can keep up with it—not even me. For example, at fifteen, I could spend an entire night studying a complex book on quantum mechanics, while my peers were busy studying the bottom of a bottle during a night out.

Different. I've always been different. People like us have a hard time fitting in, as you probably know. That often leads to loneliness, and if you're unlucky like me, you end up facing the exact illness you fear most—the one that attacks your brain. Hallelujah... what can I say? Maybe I should go dig up that bottle those fifteen-year-olds were draining. Maybe they found their answers at the bottom. Bazinga, hah.
Life is interesting; I always knew I’d spend mine trying to make sense of it.

Who else reads 750 pages of scientific literature and actually enjoys it? There's no helping it... heh... but I love who I am. People, please love yourselves, even when you're weak. Forgive yourselves, stand up, and move forward. Don't make the same mistake twice. Life is too short.

Rebecca Rivera3 said:For those aiming for success, stop feeding yourself excuses like "I'm broke" or "I can't get my head straight." It is entirely possible... and yes, I’m using the word "looking" ironically here because my eyesight isn't the best either... anyway, the point is, I used to give myself enough "excuses" to ensure I'd never achieve anything. Now, I just feel angry at my past self. I don't make excuses, and I don't indulge in self-pity.
My starting point was abysmal. I wasn't wealthy, nor did I have particularly... supportive parents. I grew up surrounded by violence, alcoholism, and all sorts of chaos. In my household—if you can even call it a family—I was treated like an outcast. I actually had to hide just to study, because my folks would throw books at me, claiming I’d go crazy from reading and that it was why my vision was failing.
So, despite the obstacles—and believe me, there were far too many to bear—I made it.

While I am saddened because my options are still severely limited due to MS, that doesn't mean I won't find a way to achieve more. I always have, and I always will, no matter how hard it gets.

As for this entire scientific saga by Trump, I actually learned about it back in high school while reading extra literature on the side and finishing music school simultaneously. For instance, when people mention an enzyme, my brain immediately connects it to a molecule and starts calculating how neurotransmitters travel down the axon and... well, I'll stop there. That’s just how my mind works—scientifically. Anything else feels pointless to me.

Even something as simple as picking out a shelf to hang a weight on involves me applying the laws of physics, calculating inertia, checking the wall type, and so on...

That’s when my "crazy" mind takes over, and honestly, nobody can keep up with it—not even me. For example, at fifteen, I could spend an entire night studying a complex book on quantum mechanics, while my peers were busy studying the bottom of a bottle during a night out.

Different. I've always been different. People like us have a hard time fitting in, as you probably know. That often leads to loneliness, and if you're unlucky like me, you end up facing the exact illness you fear most—the one that attacks your brain. Hallelujah... what can I say? Maybe I should go dig up that bottle those fifteen-year-olds were draining. Maybe they found their answers at the bottom. Bazinga, hah.
Life is interesting; I always knew I’d spend mine trying to make sense of it.

Who else reads 750 pages of scientific literature and actually enjoys it? There's no helping it... heh... but I love who I am. People, please love yourselves, even when you're weak. Forgive yourselves, stand up, and move forward. Don't make the same mistake twice. Life is too short.

Evo, first day on the psych ward, hitting the scientific journals hard, and now I'm diving onto Reddit.

And this whole novel from Trump...Scientific.I picked up even more of this stuff just by digging through extra reading during my junior year of high school.

Evo, I’m reading this stuff for the first time at almost 3:00 AM. I was bouncing around other subreddits—started on the Economy boards, moved to crypto, then things went south when the Chernobyl news hit, and now I've already been slapped with a couple of 25-point warnings from the moderators.

So, I write novels—mostly sci-fi. Then I remembered I used to hang out on Alternative talking about quantum physics. Clearly, I've already lost my mind.

I was just wondering which trolls are lurking on the Psychology subreddit—you seriously don't mess with them. Once they start knocking on your door, it’s over. Evo, I'm out. If anyone starts a war with me, I'm done with this sub. I don't need that kind of drama in my life. I'll figure out my next move tomorrow.

Rebecca Rivera3 said:For those aiming for success, stop feeding yourself excuses like "I'm broke" or "I can't get my head straight." It is entirely possible... and yes, I’m using the word "looking" ironically here because my eyesight isn't the best either... anyway, the point is, I used to give myself enough "excuses" to ensure I'd never achieve anything. Now, I just feel angry at my past self. I don't make excuses, and I don't indulge in self-pity.
My starting point was abysmal. I wasn't wealthy, nor did I have particularly... supportive parents. I grew up surrounded by violence, alcoholism, and all sorts of chaos. In my household—if you can even call it a family—I was treated like an outcast. I actually had to hide just to study, because my folks would throw books at me, claiming I’d go crazy from reading and that it was why my vision was failing.
So, despite the obstacles—and believe me, there were far too many to bear—I made it.

While I am saddened because my options are still severely limited due to MS, that doesn't mean I won't find a way to achieve more. I always have, and I always will, no matter how hard it gets.

As for this entire scientific saga by Trump, I actually learned about it back in high school while reading extra literature on the side and finishing music school simultaneously. For instance, when people mention an enzyme, my brain immediately connects it to a molecule and starts calculating how neurotransmitters travel down the axon and... well, I'll stop there. That’s just how my mind works—scientifically. Anything else feels pointless to me.

Even something as simple as picking out a shelf to hang a weight on involves me applying the laws of physics, calculating inertia, checking the wall type, and so on...

That’s when my "crazy" mind takes over, and honestly, nobody can keep up with it—not even me. For example, at fifteen, I could spend an entire night studying a complex book on quantum mechanics, while my peers were busy studying the bottom of a bottle during a night out.

Different. I've always been different. People like us have a hard time fitting in, as you probably know. That often leads to loneliness, and if you're unlucky like me, you end up facing the exact illness you fear most—the one that attacks your brain. Hallelujah... what can I say? Maybe I should go dig up that bottle those fifteen-year-olds were draining. Maybe they found their answers at the bottom. Bazinga, hah.
Life is interesting; I always knew I’d spend mine trying to make sense of it.

Who else reads 750 pages of scientific literature and actually enjoys it? There's no helping it... heh... but I love who I am. People, please love yourselves, even when you're weak. Forgive yourselves, stand up, and move forward. Don't make the same mistake twice. Life is too short.

Current findings and numerous studies indicate that multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease triggered by environmental factors combined with genetic predisposition.

Evo, I'm clearly not normal, reading about MS for the first time, visual acuity decreases

The disease is extremely rare among indigenous populations in the USA, Canada, or Australia. It's similar regarding frequency in Eskimos, Laplanders, or Romani people. In our part of the world, the hotspots for MS are located in places like the Appalachian Mountains.

The myelin sheath allows for the rapid transmission of nerve impulses, while also protecting and nourishing nerve fibers; its damage causes stripping and gradual degeneration of those fibers. Damage to the myelin sheath prevents proper impulse conduction; with minor damage, some slower impulses can still pass through, but high-frequency impulses fail to transmit, resulting in varying intensities of neurological deficits.
------------------------------------------------------------

Visual acuity is pure physics; nerves can't influence sharpness.

Regarding this damaged sheath thing—I was reading about dopamine yesterday, which is a fascinating topic. What do you guys think about the link between schizophrenia and myelin sheath damage??

I guess I'm wondering if there’s such a thing as a mild form of schizophrenia?

I'm asking for someone I know. I know they had a pretty traumatic childhood and youth. They also had a brief stint at a psychiatric facility several years back. As far as I can tell, they aren't on any medication. I also know they don't use opioids. On top of that, they deal with frequent phobias and struggle with sleep quite often. Most of the time, they'd describe themselves as being depressed.

It's hard to call it schizophrenia without hallucinations. Maybe she experiences them in some sort of subtle way? I've noticed that during a normal two-way conversation, her mood can just plummet out of nowhere. It's like something suddenly unsettled her. She starts scanning the room with her eyes, loses focus on what we're talking about, and suddenly seems really anxious. I don't think it's anything crazy or obvious, but you can definitely pick up on it.

If these same "symptoms" have been happening for maybe 5 or 6 years now, would a more serious illness eventually get worse over time?

briskowl24 said:I guess I'm wondering if there’s such a thing as a mild form of schizophrenia?

I'm asking for someone I know. I know they had a pretty traumatic childhood and youth. They also had a brief stint at a psychiatric facility several years back. As far as I can tell, they aren't on any medication. I also know they don't use opioids. On top of that, they deal with frequent phobias and struggle with sleep quite often. Most of the time, they'd describe themselves as being depressed.

It's hard to call it schizophrenia without hallucinations. Maybe she experiences them in some sort of subtle way? I've noticed that during a normal two-way conversation, her mood can just plummet out of nowhere. It's like something suddenly unsettled her. She starts scanning the room with her eyes, loses focus on what we're talking about, and suddenly seems really anxious. I don't think it's anything crazy or obvious, but you can definitely pick up on it.

If these same "symptoms" have been happening for maybe 5 or 6 years now, would a more serious illness eventually get worse over time?

I think you can have a milder version. Maybe something snaps once a year, but that doesn't warrant a diagnosis. For a full diagnosis, things have to be way more complicated...

It's basically a cocktail of different psychoses hitting all at once, or constantly rotating through them.

(Psychodynamic Family Life)

Back in 1957, researcher Christian Midelfort published
his findings from his work at Lutheran Hospital in La Crosse, Wisconsin. He studied the connections between patients suffering from depression, paranoia, schizophrenia, or neurosis and their families. He wrapped up his research by stating: "This work supports the hunch that all mental illnesses originate within the family and extend to several members of that same family." (The Family in Psychotherapy /
The Family in Psychotherapy)

In 1951, Gregory Bateson kicked off the research that would lead to
an interpersonal perspective on schizophrenia, based on faulty and
insane communication. Telling kids they need to be spontaneous, or
telling them it’s their duty to love their parents, began to be seen as
"double binding." Ordering someone to do something that, by
their own definition, they cannot do, is pure insanity.

Bowen realized there's a common pattern in the development of mental illness.
Two people get married bringing unresolved conflicts from their own parents.
As tension rises between the couple, those conflicts deepen.
Partners try to settle things through emotional divorce, or "aggressive emotional enmeshment."
They often agree to stop fighting and establish a kind of pseudo-closeness. To the outside world, the marriage
looks great. It looks happy. But underneath the surface, there’s a battle, pain, and loneliness.
When a child is born, the system turns into a triangle. The child becomes the center of everything. They are trapped in this system and feel like it's practically impossible to leave the family. This child is often emotionally
distressed, and is identified as the "patient" sent for treatment. In reality, that patient is just a symptom of an emotionally dysfunctional marriage. That’s why you can only understand a patient's so-called mental illness in relation to the emotional system they belong to.

Emotional contagion exists throughout the entire family. The one labeled as "sick" displays the exact same symptoms as the entire emotional system, which is what's actually sick.

Kimberly Cooper said:I think you can have a milder version. Maybe something snaps once a year, but that doesn't warrant a diagnosis. For a full diagnosis, things have to be way more complicated...

It's basically a cocktail of different psychoses hitting all at once, or constantly rotating through them.

For her, though, it's constant. We aren't talking about something that hits once a month or once a year.

Honestly, she probably just has some form of depression mixed in with that anxiety that's constantly gnawing at her.

Her fighting spirit and her kids are what keep her going right now, but I worry it might get harder for her as the years go by.

briskowl24 said:For her, though, it's constant. We aren't talking about something that hits once a month or once a year.

Honestly, she probably just has some form of depression mixed in with that anxiety that's constantly gnawing at her.

Her fighting spirit and her kids are what keep her going right now, but I worry it might get harder for her as the years go by.

A little psychotherapy could help uncover the root cause. There’s some decent introductory reading out there—here’s a snippet...

No child, because they are helpless, dependent, and terrified, wants to
admit that their parents' behavior is inappropriate, sick, crazy, or just
plain wrong.
To feel safe and survive, a child has to idealize their parents and view themselves as the problem. Instead, they project their own separated and forbidden self onto others. Those split-off parts are actually the pieces their parents rejected. They see those traits as belonging to outsiders who don't belong to the family. Consequently, the child
internalizes their parents' voices. This means the child continues to
hear that shameful dialogue they had with their parents deep inside them.
The child raises themselves based on how they were raised. If they were scolded and
shamed for feeling anger, sadness, or sexual urges, they will feel
shame every single time those feelings arise. Shame will suppress all their
emotions, needs, and impulses. This internal fracture is incredibly painful, so the child has to build a "false self."
Over time, the child identifies with this false self and becomes completely unaware of their true feelings, needs, and desires. Their real self has retreated from consciousness.
Parents are seen as good, and noevidence suggesting otherwise can
convince the child. Furthermore, the emotional reasons and willpower driving the child
to cling to these beliefs stem from the fact that they love their parents and are emotionally bonded to them.

Abused children are often even more tightly bound. Abuse creates a powerful bond because, since the child is
being mistreated, they see themselves as less worthy, which limits their perceived options. The stronger the sense of worthlessness, the more intense the feeling of helplessness to change things. And the stronger that helplessness feels, the more trapped they feel by their limited choices. The more
we accept certain rules and internalize parental voices, the more we idealize those rules just so we can stay close to our parents.
In other words, for a child to question their parents' rules and realize they are flawed, they would need to detach and stand on their own two feet. And no eight-year-old is capable of doing that.

Kimberly Cooper, you’re a breath of fresh air in here, haha... welcome aboard! Unless, of course, you aren't dealing with any mental health issues yourself?

To be honest, what you typed is quite interesting. I agree with your point, though I wouldn't necessarily reduce it strictly to pure psychodynamics. That said, more recent studies show some deviations from that traditional approach—which I still believe should serve as our foundation—but perhaps we don't need to be quite so rigid about it.

Anyway, briskowl24, you're describing someone who seems unstable, clearly struggling with depression and a few phobias. It doesn't necessarily mean they are experiencing psychosis, but the key is to react promptly. We need to find a way to help them change the circumstances driving this behavior so it doesn't escalate into something much more serious. Clearly, this isn't just a recent development; it's likely been part of their life for years.
The real question is: is this just their personality, or are we looking at actual clinical disorders?

I honestly think what she’s going through is just the fallout from a few traumas during her childhood, mixed with her naturally sensitive personality and some tough times at home. She’s also just got a bit of a pessimistic streak by nature. Her phobias play a massive role too; she’s mentioned them to me before, and I feel like those intrusive, dark thoughts—the "what if this happens, what if that happens, how will I feel, how much will it hurt, will I even make it..." type of stuff—constantly creep up on her, even in normal situations. These fears started surfacing around middle school. She used to talk about them quite a bit, but for the last couple of years, she’s been avoiding the subject because it clearly scares her, and she knows bringing it up only makes things worse... since she’s really trying her best to keep her mind focused on more positive things.
I could get way more specific, but I wouldn't want anyone to recognize her and have the post get taken down.

She can be pretty awkward at home, but out in public or at work, she actually comes across as very composed and calm.
She says she feels like she's constantly stuck in a depression, and she has to put in a ton of effort just to occasionally keep her head above water.

She realizes herself that things might get harder as she gets older, and she’s said that a new trauma—like losing a family member—would probably break her completely.
It makes sense, too; as you get older and your nerves aren't what they used to be, and once the kids are grown, you just don't have the same fight left in you. I really hope she starts getting on the right medication soon.

Rebecca Rivera3 said:Kimberly Cooper, you’re a breath of fresh air in here, haha... welcome aboard! Unless, of course, you aren't dealing with any mental health issues yourself?

To be honest, what you typed is quite interesting. I agree with your point, though I wouldn't necessarily reduce it strictly to pure psychodynamics. That said, more recent studies show some deviations from that traditional approach—which I still believe should serve as our foundation—but perhaps we don't need to be quite so rigid about it.

Anyway, briskowl24, you're describing someone who seems unstable, clearly struggling with depression and a few phobias. It doesn't necessarily mean they are experiencing psychosis, but the key is to react promptly. We need to find a way to help them change the circumstances driving this behavior so it doesn't escalate into something much more serious. Clearly, this isn't just a recent development; it's likely been part of their life for years.
The real question is: is this just their personality, or are we looking at actual clinical disorders?

Haha, never say never. I’m just being proactive. A long time ago, I downloaded a ton of books on family dynamics—useful stuff even if you aren't "sick." Who knows what else I've read... I remember reading about sleep; how a bad dream wakes you up, heart racing, totally rattled, because your brain can't tell it was just a dream. It thinks it's happening right now. Once I read that you have to explain to your brain that it was a false alarm and not reality, it made a huge difference. I forget how it used to be, but now when I have stupid dreams, I just tell myself, "It was just a dumb dream," and move on. My body settles down and my heart stops pounding immediately. Without that realization that it was just a dream, it would take way longer for my system to calm down.

I was actually thinking about this tonight. When I woke up from a stupid dream, I started wondering about people with mental illnesses who experience this while they're awake. I drew a parallel between dreaming and their reality; maybe they need to explain to their brains that those are hallucinations and not real either. Of course, I don't know what that's like for them, I'm just guessing...🍿

Kimberly Cooper said:Let me guess: deviated septum, you snore so loud the walls shake, and you can't get decent rest because of all that noise. Those are muscles that've gone soft, but once you tone them up, the vibrations—the snoring—will stop.

You could sleep forever, but that noise is unbearable. Look into exercises for those nasal passages; tighten those muscles up and the vibrations will vanish.

So, either your liver is trashed from alcohol or meds,

Evo, let me give you some real advice: try learning a foreign language you don't know. You can find them all online. It’ll burn off that excess dopamine that keeps looping back to the same old spots and redirect it to new neural pathways.

Honestly, meditation isn't the move for you. You don't need to freeze your state; you need to rewire your brain's layout. Learn a language, sit at your computer—it costs nothing. Or toss some apples in the air and juggle. Doesn't have to be apples; use anything. 😁

No, it's just that breathing is harder on one side. I had some swelling a long time ago that never fully went down, leaving this kind of thickening on one side of my nose. That's why I can't breathe as well through that side.

It wasn't necessarily alcohol—could be anything, really—but nothing was ever officially diagnosed. Could've been some meds I was on back then, though.

Thanksgiving for the advice. So, go hard on the languages. I actually like that idea. I pick things up fast. I'll probably dive into German and polish up the ones I already know a little bit.

And honestly, we can't all be the same, and we shouldn't want to be. Maybe my brain is just wired this way—lots of ideas, many of which have become obsessions. Other people tend to land on the same or similar ideas too.

I'm going to try the advice, especially the language thing. I actually really like that, and I've always been pretty good at it. 🙂

Rebecca Rivera3 said:For those aiming for success, stop feeding yourself excuses like "I'm broke" or "I can't get my head straight." It is entirely possible... and yes, I’m using the word "looking" ironically here because my eyesight isn't the best either... anyway, the point is, I used to give myself enough "excuses" to ensure I'd never achieve anything. Now, I just feel angry at my past self. I don't make excuses, and I don't indulge in self-pity.
My starting point was abysmal. I wasn't wealthy, nor did I have particularly... supportive parents. I grew up surrounded by violence, alcoholism, and all sorts of chaos. In my household—if you can even call it a family—I was treated like an outcast. I actually had to hide just to study, because my folks would throw books at me, claiming I’d go crazy from reading and that it was why my vision was failing.
So, despite the obstacles—and believe me, there were far too many to bear—I made it.

While I am saddened because my options are still severely limited due to MS, that doesn't mean I won't find a way to achieve more. I always have, and I always will, no matter how hard it gets.

As for this entire scientific saga by Trump, I actually learned about it back in high school while reading extra literature on the side and finishing music school simultaneously. For instance, when people mention an enzyme, my brain immediately connects it to a molecule and starts calculating how neurotransmitters travel down the axon and... well, I'll stop there. That’s just how my mind works—scientifically. Anything else feels pointless to me.

Even something as simple as picking out a shelf to hang a weight on involves me applying the laws of physics, calculating inertia, checking the wall type, and so on...

That’s when my "crazy" mind takes over, and honestly, nobody can keep up with it—not even me. For example, at fifteen, I could spend an entire night studying a complex book on quantum mechanics, while my peers were busy studying the bottom of a bottle during a night out.

Different. I've always been different. People like us have a hard time fitting in, as you probably know. That often leads to loneliness, and if you're unlucky like me, you end up facing the exact illness you fear most—the one that attacks your brain. Hallelujah... what can I say? Maybe I should go dig up that bottle those fifteen-year-olds were draining. Maybe they found their answers at the bottom. Bazinga, hah.
Life is interesting; I always knew I’d spend mine trying to make sense of it.

Who else reads 750 pages of scientific literature and actually enjoys it? There's no helping it... heh... but I love who I am. People, please love yourselves, even when you're weak. Forgive yourselves, stand up, and move forward. Don't make the same mistake twice. Life is too short.

Look, I know there’s no excuse for it, but honestly? Things are just incredibly rough right now. The whole system in this country is pretty much a dumpster fire—not that it justifies my situation, obviously—but I’ve been stuck in this endless loop for years now, and getting out feels like trying to swim through molasses. It’s not just me, either; the whole damn country seems caught up in this cycle. Sure, you see tiny bits of progress here and there, but until things actually shift on a larger scale, I’m just waiting for my own moment to finally break free and make some real headway.

Fair enough. That just means your brain is actually functioning. Honestly, I wish I had a bit more raw intelligence myself—then maybe I could have actually pulled off some of my own ideas. Though, if I'm being totally real with you all, there were plenty of them I didn't even want to bring to life... mostly because half of them involved weapons, and that's a rabbit hole I'd rather not go down.

Look, I care about people—I really do—and honestly, I include myself in that group. But let’s be real: we’re also perfectly capable of chasing down our wildest dreams or driving ourselves straight into a total disaster. That’s exactly what’s been messing with my head lately. Some of these ideas I have... well, they're a bit on the edge. Dangerous, even. And yet, some of them actually seem to hold water. Still, I can't just stop thinking about them. I might even try to pull one off. For instance, I’ve been sketching out this calendar concept—it’s probably the most precise, streamlined version you could ask for.

We’re all out here doing our best, @RebeccaRivera3—really, we are. But let's be real, none of us are exactly perfect.

I’ve finally made my peace with who I am—maybe this is just how things were always meant to go. Honestly, it’s probably for the best; better to stay like this than to actually act on half the crazy ideas I get. Someone might call them "visions," if they're feeling fancy, but let's just call them what they are.

Great job, Carol Barrett2, I think you're on the right track 😁

with Trajlo, you are describing a classic psychological profile that applies to almost everyone, at least regarding the person being discussed here. It doesn't take much deep thinking to realize that.
The real question is how to actually help that person. And even then, there is always that universal answer where everyone just repeats "psychotherapy, blah blah blah..."—it’s just going in circles.

Isn't it refreshing sometimes to break out of that circle and test the limits?
That is what I am doing. I know it might seem crazy, but my curiosity is simply stronger, unfortunately 😢
Also, all these corticosteroids and the other "nonsense" I take for MS are known to frequently cause anxiety, depression, or psychosis as side effects.

So, I voluntarily stopped taking Decortin and one other medication. Now my body has to produce its own cortisol, and that will take time because the adrenal gland has been trained to produce those hormones artificially.

I believe I am in a phase where my body is starting to slowly secrete them naturally. My immune system is gradually strengthening, which means it will soon (I can already feel it) start attacking itself. Since autoimmune diseases like multiple sclerosis and similar conditions are akin to cancer...

What does that imply? That I am waiting for my immunity to strengthen only to destroy itself? Today, I can't even walk without canes; I have very little sensation in my legs and they feel incredibly heavy. I have very little strength left. My vision is getting worse too; the optic nerves are affected, of course, as Kimberly Cooper once explained...

What comes next? The second part of the experiment follows...
I can form a hypothesis, but we shall see. Is it possible my body has entered remission and I don't actually need these medications, or am I mistaken?

Another reason I am doing this is that I truly have nothing left to lose. If things go south, I'll undergo plasmapheresis. Does anyone here know what that entails?
Or will the next thing happen where my neurologists, dissatisfied with my condition, finally decide to prescribe me some experimental drug or interferon?

Then it becomes a matter of risking a little more to gain a lot... because I know I am currently being treated symptomatically, and that isn't what I want. I want to treat the cause. But that is a challenge, because the underlying cause of demyelination remains unknown or purely speculative.

Your score was 26 out of a possible 80.

scores of 30 or less indicate a lack of empathy Common in People with Autism or Asperger ’ sa syndrome

https://psychology-tools.com/test/empathy-quotient

So I took this test and ended up with this. On other tests, I’ve gotten totally different results—stuff saying I actually *do* have empathy. Does this mean I'm a sociopath or a psychopath? Since they have that lack of empathy thing too.

I know these internet tests aren't exactly clinical grade, but I figured I'd give it a shot anyway. Honestly, it's possible I didn't even grasp all the questions properly or answered them wrong because I rushed through the whole thing.

Carol Barrett2 said:

Your score was 26 out of a possible 80.

scores of 30 or less indicate a lack of empathy Common in People with Autism or Asperger ’ sa syndrome

https://psychology-tools.com/test/empathy-quotient

So I took this test and ended up with this. On other tests, I’ve gotten totally different results—stuff saying I actually *do* have empathy. Does this mean I'm a sociopath or a psychopath? Since they have that lack of empathy thing too.

I know these internet tests aren't exactly clinical grade, but I figured I'd give it a shot anyway. Honestly, it's possible I didn't even grasp all the questions properly or answered them wrong because I rushed through the whole thing.

Here's what I got:

Your score was 41 out of a possible 80.