Schizophrenia - General Discussion

Sex, adrenaline, and music—well, and everything else in between.

I am truly relieved that I did not cause any offense to you.

Well, I’ve gone and flipped my sleep schedule right back around again. Now I’m basically acting like some old farmer—crashing at night and waking up at the crack of dawn. It was pure luck, really. But honestly? I’m getting a little worried. My sleep is getting shorter. I used to pull twelve hours or more, but now I’m barely getting five or six—sometimes even less—though I try to squeeze in a nap later in the day to compensate. Because of this lack of sleep, I feel... I don't even know how to put it... kind of intoxicated? Like I'm slightly buzzed. It’s this weird, lightheaded sensation, almost like I'm spinning or drifting. Maybe it's because of the way Azolar and Apaurin are interacting. Since I've shortened the gap between them to just five or six hours—or even less, like I mentioned before—it might be doing something to me.

Carol Barrett2 said:Well, I’ve gone and flipped my sleep schedule right back around again. Now I’m basically acting like some old farmer—crashing at night and waking up at the crack of dawn. It was pure luck, really. But honestly? I’m getting a little worried. My sleep is getting shorter. I used to pull twelve hours or more, but now I’m barely getting five or six—sometimes even less—though I try to squeeze in a nap later in the day to compensate. Because of this lack of sleep, I feel... I don't even know how to put it... kind of intoxicated? Like I'm slightly buzzed. It’s this weird, lightheaded sensation, almost like I'm spinning or drifting. Maybe it's because of the way Azolar and Apaurin are interacting. Since I've shortened the gap between them to just five or six hours—or even less, like I mentioned before—it might be doing something to me.

If you were to ask a psychiatrist, would they suggest there is any possibility of taking only Azolar while eliminating the Apaurin entirely? Since I take 10mg of Apaurin before bed, which can feel quite potent, I find that any lesser dose offers me no relief whatsoever. Perhaps you have already shared this elsewhere, but I cannot recall: what exactly is the reason for your Apaurin prescription, and what dosage are you on? Is it intended to mitigate the side effects of Azolar, or is it for anxiety? Or perhaps it is simply to regulate a disrupted sleep rhythm?

I used to take Sanval before bed, and I am currently attempting to taper off of it, a process that has been nearly successful despite my occasional lapses. For a period of time, I relied on nothing but five to seven grams of Ashwagandha, (link to wikipedie) (link to forum topic here) which is beneficial for both sleep and thyroid function. I eventually discontinued its use because I am now using a different herbal supplement to support my thyroid, one that does not provide any calming effect or aid in sleep. Furthermore, I simply cannot afford both supplements.

To summarize the information from Wikipedia, Ashwagandha aids sleep due to the chemical compounds known as Withanolide, which interact with GABA receptors through a mechanism distinct from that of benzodiazepines. Not only did I experience improved sleep, but I also found myself better able to tolerate the hum of my computer, a sound that usually irritates me immensely. Now, as soon as I power it on, I play soothing music just to drown out that buzzing. I suffer from chronic tinnitus, which I attribute to the prolonged use of benzodiazepines. If only I could finally break free from them completely.

I believe I recall reading somewhere that one potential cause, or perhaps even a side effect, of being a šizofreničar could be an excessive accumulation of the amino acid arginine within the body; furthermore, isn't it possible that the necessity for antipsychotics might be somewhat mitigated by supplementing with a different amino acid that exerts the exact opposite effect of arginine?

Nicole Barrett76 said:If you were to ask a psychiatrist, would they suggest there is any possibility of taking only Azolar while eliminating the Apaurin entirely? Since I take 10mg of Apaurin before bed, which can feel quite potent, I find that any lesser dose offers me no relief whatsoever. Perhaps you have already shared this elsewhere, but I cannot recall: what exactly is the reason for your Apaurin prescription, and what dosage are you on? Is it intended to mitigate the side effects of Azolar, or is it for anxiety? Or perhaps it is simply to regulate a disrupted sleep rhythm?

I used to take Sanval before bed, and I am currently attempting to taper off of it, a process that has been nearly successful despite my occasional lapses. For a period of time, I relied on nothing but five to seven grams of Ashwagandha, (link to wikipedie) (link to forum topic here) which is beneficial for both sleep and thyroid function. I eventually discontinued its use because I am now using a different herbal supplement to support my thyroid, one that does not provide any calming effect or aid in sleep. Furthermore, I simply cannot afford both supplements.

To summarize the information from Wikipedia, Ashwagandha aids sleep due to the chemical compounds known as Withanolide, which interact with GABA receptors through a mechanism distinct from that of benzodiazepines. Not only did I experience improved sleep, but I also found myself better able to tolerate the hum of my computer, a sound that usually irritates me immensely. Now, as soon as I power it on, I play soothing music just to drown out that buzzing. I suffer from chronic tinnitus, which I attribute to the prolonged use of benzodiazepines. If only I could finally break free from them completely.

They have me on Apaurin to help me sleep. Just 5mg every night, though truth be told, I can sleep just fine without it. Things are okay right now. As for the Azolar, I don't take it right away anymore—I wait until after a meal. Just figured that out on my own. Since I don't eat immediately when I wake up, I usually take it a few hours after getting up. Somehow, that ended up fixing my sleep schedule too, by accident.

It’s just a shame that I’m constantly drowsy during the day—which leads to me napping all afternoon. I wish I could get that part sorted out. On top of that, some life complications have started cropping up, and I just can't seem to get the ball rolling on applying for disability or any kind of assistance.

Anyway, things are decent for now, at least compared to how bad they used to be. It's just that life is starting to get complicated again. Life just grinds you down sometimes, man. Honestly.

Quick question... is it possible to deal with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder without actually seeing things? Like, if someone is just incredibly paranoid, withdrawn, and emotionally numb... is that still part of it? And one more thing... does a diagnosis like that typically lead to losing legal competency or a driver's license? Thanks for letting me jump in here.

redpilot37 said:Quick question... is it possible to deal with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder without actually seeing things? Like, if someone is just incredibly paranoid, withdrawn, and emotionally numb... is that still part of it? And one more thing... does a diagnosis like that typically lead to losing legal competency or a driver's license? Thanks for letting me jump in here.

It’s definitely possible, because hallucinations aren't a requirement for everyone living with schizophrenia; they are really just one symptom among many possibilities.
As for your other question, it really depends on the individual case. Generally speaking, a diagnosis alone doesn't automatically strip someone of their rights, but if it's determined that they truly lack the capacity to drive safely or manage their own affairs, then those privileges can certainly be revoked.

redpilot37 said:Quick question... is it possible to deal with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder without actually seeing things? Like, if someone is just incredibly paranoid, withdrawn, and emotionally numb... is that still part of it? And one more thing... does a diagnosis like that typically lead to losing legal competency or a driver's license? Thanks for letting me jump in here.

So, I’ve been officially diagnosed with schizophrenia myself, and honestly? I’ve never had a single hallucination in my life. As for the legal stuff—it's not like they strip those rights away from everyone you mentioned. At least, they haven't touched mine. But, yeah, it’s definitely possible for some people to lose those privileges depending on the situation.

Carol Barrett2 said:So, I’ve been officially diagnosed with schizophrenia myself, and honestly? I’ve never had a single hallucination in my life. As for the legal stuff—it's not like they strip those rights away from everyone you mentioned. At least, they haven't touched mine. But, yeah, it’s definitely possible for some people to lose those privileges depending on the situation.

Based on everything I've been reading lately, I’m starting to suspect I might have negative symptoms... I live in my own little world, pretty withdrawn, which honestly makes me happy... that's just how I am. Otherwise, I've been struggling with depression for years. I don't know if it's psychological or something else. I'm worried about losing my driver's license—sounds silly, I know, but that's all I've been reading about in the news lately. What about you? How does it show up for you? What kind of symptoms are you dealing with?
Ps. I noticed that on small doses of Risperdal I’m actually much more open, so my psychiatrist prescribed it without a diagnosis of schizophrenia... she just asked if I hear voices. I said no. I've had a traumatic life, so maybe that's where it comes from. I also struggle with insomnia. I had a polysomnography done and I'm missing the N3 sleep stage entirely, and my REM is too short. They couldn't find any physical cause, so I'm afraid it might be psychological in nature.

Harold Anderson3 said:It’s definitely possible, because hallucinations aren't a requirement for everyone living with schizophrenia; they are really just one symptom among many possibilities.
As for your other question, it really depends on the individual case. Generally speaking, a diagnosis alone doesn't automatically strip someone of their rights, but if it's determined that they truly lack the capacity to drive safely or manage their own affairs, then those privileges can certainly be revoked.

Thanks for the answer. God help me... all I need right now is to be able to drive just 6.2 miles to and from the house while my husband handles everything else... but I really need the car for driving the kids to school. I got a little spooked reading some of those news stories about driver's licenses...

redpilot37 said:Quick question... is it possible to deal with schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder without actually seeing things? Like, if someone is just incredibly paranoid, withdrawn, and emotionally numb... is that still part of it? And one more thing... does a diagnosis like that typically lead to losing legal competency or a driver's license? Thanks for letting me jump in here.

Honestly, I’d turn the question back on you—what makes you feel so suspicious, withdrawn, and cold? Have you thought about seeing a psychologist? That's actually what I'm planning to do myself in a few months.

I don't want to scare you off, because that isn't my intention at all, but the reality is that it usually comes down to the specific psychiatrist you see. My doctor tends to be pretty strict about everything, especially when it involves driving privileges, particularly with more severe diagnoses.

Jose Ward4 said:Honestly, I’d turn the question back on you—what makes you feel so suspicious, withdrawn, and cold? Have you thought about seeing a psychologist? That's actually what I'm planning to do myself in a few months.

I don't want to scare you off, because that isn't my intention at all, but the reality is that it usually comes down to the specific psychiatrist you see. My doctor tends to be pretty strict about everything, especially when it involves driving privileges, particularly with more severe diagnoses.

It stands to reason, does it not? When one is grappling with a severe diagnosis of schizophrenia, the necessity of consuming heavy antipsychotics alongside various sedatives to counteract those very side effects becomes unavoidable. Is it any wonder, then, that such a combination inevitably slows one's reflexes?

If we find ourselves in a situation where a person struggling with schizophrenia is also their sole provider through driving, and they have no other means to sustain themselves, wouldn't they be caught in an absolutely impossible bind? To revoke their driver's license would be to effectively strip away their entire livelihood, thereby turning them into a target of circumstance and hardship. While the social repercussions of creating such an adversary out of necessity might seem secondary in the grand scheme of things, can I truly say that I am not deeply unsettled by the gravity of such a dilemma? I simply cannot ignore the weight of that reality.

It would be most prudent to implement an adjustment period lasting several months. We ought to grant the patient medical leave immediately; after all, is it not only when they are hospitalized and under constant observation—through various combinations and dosages of medication—that we can truly assess their condition? Perhaps this more severe diagnosis is merely an acute phase, and would it not be a profound injustice to strip them of their driver's license prematurely?

If I were unable to access psychiatric care immediately due to overcrowded wards, or if I needed some time to persuade him to accept an inpatient stay, I would explore whether there are any legal mechanisms for a temporary suspension of his driver's license. My approach would involve managing his medication through strategic titration—starting with a high dose, adjusting it every two weeks, and gradually tapering down to find that threshold where he can function effectively. During this transition, I would work on preparing him for the possibility of a permanent loss of driving privileges while we collectively develop a "Plan B" for his future stability. Heibga, one must consider the profound difference in impact between these situations. It is fundamentally different to revoke the license of a forensic specialist with a severe schizophrenia diagnosis who has dedicated over thirty years to their profession and still faces a full career ahead without a pension, versus revoking the license of a sixty-year-old who is only five to seven years away from retirement. In the latter case, they will likely have a more stable foundation through social security or a modest pension once they reach that milestone.

Beyond all else, shouldn't we consider that the vast majority of accidents are driven by alcohol consumption and the constant distraction of texting on a smartphone? Of course, we must also consider excessive speeding. However, isn't the concept of "excessive speed" somewhat subjective? Should those blessed with lightning-fast reflexes be forced to drive at a crawl, while those with average or even quick reaction times are permitted to maintain an average or slightly higher pace? Furthermore, can we not agree that a small percentage of accidents are undoubtedly caused by individuals suffering from schizophrenia while under the influence of antipsychotic medications like Wellbutrin?

Given the current circumstances, I must remind everyone that I am a physician, not a statistician. How can one truly weigh such impossible variables? What would become of my conscience if, by failing to revoke his driver's license, I were held responsible for an accident where he causes permanent disability or requires extensive surgical intervention with lifelong consequences?

The same logic applies to various other mental health conditions where potent medications are required to stabilize neurological reflexes. I must also emphasize the danger regarding loading doses; one simply cannot administer a massive initial dose until the patient's body has properly acclimated to the antipsychotics and other prescribed treatments. During those first three days in the ward, a patient might exhibit much more severe symptoms than they would later, leading observers to mistakenly believe they are suffering from chronic schizophrenia or similar deep-seated disorders. In reality, what we are seeing is often just a violent psychological reaction to being hospitalized—especially within a psychiatric facility—and even if they accept the setting, the sudden separation from their family can act as a trigger for abnormal behavior that misleads a doctor about the true severity of the underlying illness. Wouldn't it be more prudent to allow a patient to finally get some restorative sleep before attempting any intensive clinical interviews?

Legal capacity... though perhaps you were referring to professional competence? I suspect one cannot simply strip away a person's ability to work as easily as they can revoke a driver's license. If that were the case, wouldn't we end up with a staggering percentage of the population deemed professionally unfit?

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It isn't merely that medical opinions on driving privileges vary from doctor to doctor; rather, this inconsistency persists across almost every clinical assessment. Anyone who has sought counsel from more than one psychiatrist understands how drastically different these perspectives can truly be.

Hi everyone,
I took a quick look at your posts just to see what's going on.
Yes... Diego, I’m glad to hear you have a decent salary and that the job seems solid from what I can gather. It looks like you’ve made significant progress compared to previous years. Well done.
I know how heavy this gets, and I truly believe that the darkest phases of depression are the hardest to navigate. I've been there myself.

Sleep, insomnia, and everything in between... I’ve finally managed to settle into a decent circadian rhythm, relatively speaking. As for how? Just imagine if neurological patients were also prescribed 5mg of Diazepam—along with a few other things I’d recommend to everyone.
I just picked up some local CBD resin—absolute magic. It’s incredible how much it helps; it completely smooths out all my physical tension and calms my mind. Honestly, I was shocked by how effective it actually is.

When it comes to antidepressants, Wellbutrin is the gold standard.
As for antipsychotics, I've cycled through everything from Haldol to Loxapine, plus pretty much the rest of the alphabet.

It’s fascinating, isn't it? Once the lesions in my brain started being treated, my psychiatric diagnosis just... vanished. Interesting, right?
So, it turns out my mental health struggles have started taking a physical toll on me too. I spent six months in a wheelchair, and honestly, I never know if I’ll end up back in one. But lately, I have this nagging feeling that maybe I actually need it again.

And finally, the reality is that doctors are often just guessing when it comes to sampling diseases like schizophrenia or brain demyelination. They make their best assumptions, but the actual root causes remain a complete mystery.
Well, that’s just symptomatic treatment...
A mountain of pills to manage the symptoms... yet a real cure remains out of reach. But that’s just how life goes.
I believe that one day—perhaps long after we're gone, or who knows when—we will finally uncover the cause and find a cure.
Keep fighting the good fight...

Nicole Barrett76 said:I once had the opportunity to spend time with a "schizophrenic from the VA" who takes a massive amount of medication; he even begged for higher doses, but his psychiatrists refused because they were already pushing the absolute maximum. He was taking ten to twelve different types of psychotropic drugs two or three times a day. If there is any silver lining, it is that he has a military pension, having been diagnosed with schizophrenia in his early twenties. I suspect he had a genetic predisposition, and his service in the military was merely the "trigger" that violently set the illness in motion.

Harold Anderson3, please forgive me if I offended you with that post. I intended to add more but forgot, so I am adding it now: your posts, just like those from Jose Ward4, Carol Barrett2, and the others who stop by occasionally, sound completely coherent. I do not consider any of you to be a "schizophrenic from the VA."

That acquaintance of mine, the schizophrenic I spent time with, has ended our friendship. I find myself at a crossroads, wondering: if I attempt to push our connection a little further in hopes of mmmmmmaybe helping him even slightly, would that constitute a violation of his free will? And yet, if I refrain from reaching out, am I truly respecting his autonomy? Is his true free will to remain isolated, or is the illness itself imposing this self-isolation upon him?

He told me he smokes heavily and spends nearly $500 on cigarettes alone. When I asked why he wouldn't just switch to rolling his own tobacco—which would be about three times cheaper—he said he simply lacked the willpower. It breaks my heart to see him waste so much money on smoking, and I feel such profound sorrow that I cannot impart knowledge regarding nutritional approaches to mitigating schizophrenic symptoms, which might eventually allow him to reduce his antipsychotic intake, especially since he is near the ceiling of what is safe. Unfortunately, American psychiatrists tend to scoff at nutritional or any other holistic approaches.

Out of nowhere, that friend visited me today after several months of silence. I was genuinely moved by his visit. He appeared much better than when I last visited his home a few months ago. Regrettably, however, he is suffering from leg thrombosis and spent eight days in the internal medicine ward of the hospital because of it. Aside from the antipsychotics, I suspect his heavy smoking played a significant role. We once again touched upon the subject of smoking and why he wastes so much money on cigarettes instead of rolling his own. He told me that if he were to roll his own, he would fear that someone might pour poison into them. My mother was present during this exchange. Had she not been there, I would have asked him: "Well, couldn't they just pour poison into your cigarettes then? If you lack the will to roll them and live in fear, do you at least have someone you trust enough to roll them for you? You would save so much money that way." But I refrained from asking. My mother! She was standing so close to me in that moment that it felt as though she gave me a look, signaling us to drop the subject, so we transitioned into shallower conversation. He sounded remarkably coherent—perhaps even more coherent than he did a few months ago.

Honestly, I actually kicked the habit a little over three years ago after smoking for three decades straight, mostly just because I couldn't be bothered with the whole hassle of rolling my own cigarettes, and man, I feel incredible now—every smoker I pass on the street smells like a walking chimney to me. It’s the truth, though; smoking really does mess with your health way more than people want to admit.

Smoking is incredibly harmful, yet people often fail to take it seriously. Regardless, addiction is addiction.

How is everyone doing?

As for me... emotionally, I've actually been quite stable for a while now. My only real issue lately is that I've been staying up too late.
I met this guy who acted like he was really into me, but in the end, it turns out he wasn't. It felt foolish because why lead someone on if you aren't actually interested when they decide to give you a chance? He just shut it down.
I'm not sure if it's some kind of game or what, but I have zero interest in playing games.
Either you like someone or you don't. It makes no sense to feel one way one day and completely different the next... I just can't wrap my head around that.
Perhaps it's because they're already seeing someone else. That would be an explanation, though it didn't immediately occur to me. But that might be the case.

I've decided to distance myself from the situation. Even though it's hard because I care about him, it is what it is. If someone truly cares about you, they make it clear and they don't flip-flop on their feelings every single day.

I start my new job at Verizon soon. Perhaps this change will do me some good.

I’ve been feeling off for days now. Just this constant sense of being scattered and out of sorts. It really started during that last heatwave—you know, those few days where you could barely even draw a breath because the air was so heavy? Even here in Chicago, it felt suffocating. The only thing I actually changed in my routine was switching out my laundry detergent and fabric softener. Now I'm sitting here wondering if I should just go back to my old brands. There’s still some residue left in everything. Has anyone else dealt with something like this? I’ve washed absolutely everything, even the curtains.

I just finished washing the curtains, and honestly, they look a little better now—just used some old laundry starch and fabric softener. Still have a mountain of clothes to get through, though. I remember once having a similar experience with Ariela, but I kept doubting if it was actually possible. Turns out, it was. Man, these heatwaves have been brutal lately, at least for me, and now the temperature is swinging wildly by 7 or 8 degrees. It’s all over the place depending on whether it's morning or afternoon. I'm finally sitting down to grab some food, too; my appetite didn't even kick in until just now.

Kudos to all that grit and hard work!