Schizophrenia - General Discussion

This is really the only thing that keeps getting to me. I don't really deal with many psychotic symptoms—I had maybe two or three episodes back in the day, with the worst one being about ten years ago. Since then, I haven’t ever stepped away from my medication, though my prescriptions have shifted quite a bit over the years. When it comes to my actual mood, though, this constant pendulum swing between mania and depression is pretty much the only thing I struggle with. There are days when I feel like I don't need any help at all, and then there are days where it feels like nothing can possibly reach me, even though I’m staying on top of my meds through both highs and lows. Every now and then, I’ll tweak my dosage slightly, but only after having a good talk with my psychiatrist. Right now, I'm feeling a bit stuck in a depressive slump, and I’m just hoping it passes quickly. 😢 It's honestly pretty tough to look at the whole picture objectively when you're stuck in a state like this.

Oh, I just got a little distracted, honestly. It’s nothing to worry about on my end.

Rebecca Rivera3 said:CBD has been a total game-changer for all my health issues. Honestly, I was a huge skeptic at first and used to get annoyed whenever people kept bugging me to try it.

I started out with some well-known, tried-and-true Kanaway oil. It was decent. I noticed a subtle shift—more energy, less anxiety, things like that.

Then, a relative of mine gave me some flower that had a much higher CBD concentration. Apparently, the more CBD you have in it, the steeper the price tag. He sourced it privately from a guy named Slovenac.
I was still pretty resistant to the idea, but I didn't really have a choice once the muscle spasms in my legs started kicking in and getting worse after I stopped using the oil.
So, I decided to give the flower a shot... and for the first few days, I was still grumbling about why on earth I even needed this stuff.
Fast forward a month and a half, and I feel completely better. I know it’s actually working because I was such a skeptic that I couldn't even write it off as a placebo effect.

It’s just a shame that it's so expensive and that so many people can't afford to use it.
Everything online says that there aren't any side effects regardless of the dosage, and from what I've experienced, that is absolutely true.

Fair enough, but what specific issues were you dealing with? Psychiatrists usually advise against using oil if someone is dealing with psychosis or schizophrenia, since it can end up doing more harm than good. Did a doctor recommend this to you, or how did you end up going this route?

While skimming through some older threads today, I happened upon a truly fascinating debate involving Newman, Delmin, and myself regarding Omega 3 EPA/DHA fatty acids

Harold Anderson3, I’m really glad to hear you’re doing okay in the end—that you’re holding steady and haven't slipped into a depressive phase or anything like that.

So, after thinking about it for a while, I decided to go see a psychiatrist. She asked me what brought me in, so I opened up about my internal emotions, the anxieties that pop up from time to time, and everything else.
She paused, and she actually looked happy. She told me, "You're doing fine. Your reactions right now are completely normal. There isn't actually anything psychologically wrong that needs treating."

I honestly felt like I might be struggling more than I was, though I wasn't entirely sure. Hearing that... well, it's a relief. I feel proud. I truly thought I would never achieve peace or stability, that I'd always be fighting certain disorders.

To wrap things up, she did mention that because of the brain tumor, unpredictable reactions can occur, though they don't necessarily have to.

Listen, everyone, CBD oil heals the mind too, provided you use it correctly and at the right times.

My life is hanging by a thread; there's no telling what tomorrow holds. I might be out running and handling complex tasks, or I might be using a wheelchair and dealing with mood swings.

There is one thing I notice occasionally, though. Now I recognize it for what it is: sometimes, suddenly, it feels like a cash register is going off in my head. All my emotions get mixed together, and I realize I've started laughing irrationally. I know it's just a state that lasts a few minutes, caused by the lesions in that specific part of my brain.
I try not to let it carry me away, because those are the lesions talking, not my actual emotions.

All in all, it's nothing to worry about. CBD oil is perfect.

The only thing missing is luck in love, but everything else is going according to plan—recovery is on track, and I'll be starting a job soon.

Hey everyone, I’ve been stuck in the state penitentiary for three weeks now. Got a weekend pass yesterday, but I'm heading back tomorrow. Dealing with some hallucinations again—of all times, right in the middle of summer... Might try to make an appearance in a week or two.

Nicole Barrett76 said:While skimming through some older threads today, I happened upon a truly fascinating debate involving Newman, Delmin, and myself regarding Omega 3 EPA/DHA fatty acids

I stumbled upon this article the other day that really made me stop and think. It was talking about how the meninges—that protective layer around our brain that keeps inflammation at bay—might actually be acting like a bit of a gatekeeper. Apparently, because of how that barrier works, huge amounts of what we take in through Omega-3 supplements might not even be reaching the brain in any meaningful way. If it can't get past that shield, it’s basically just expensive oil sitting in your system without doing its job. It definitely makes you wonder if we're all just swallowing these capsules for nothing.

If you really want to get those essential fatty acids into your system, there isn't some magic shortcut or a secret pill that does it all. Honestly, the only real way to go about it is to just eat foods that are actually packed with them. It’s one of those things where you just have to focus on what’s on your plate.

Rebecca Rivera3 said:Harold Anderson3, I’m really glad to hear you’re doing okay in the end—that you’re holding steady and haven't slipped into a depressive phase or anything like that.

So, after thinking about it for a while, I decided to go see a psychiatrist. She asked me what brought me in, so I opened up about my internal emotions, the anxieties that pop up from time to time, and everything else.
She paused, and she actually looked happy. She told me, "You're doing fine. Your reactions right now are completely normal. There isn't actually anything psychologically wrong that needs treating."

I honestly felt like I might be struggling more than I was, though I wasn't entirely sure. Hearing that... well, it's a relief. I feel proud. I truly thought I would never achieve peace or stability, that I'd always be fighting certain disorders.

To wrap things up, she did mention that because of the brain tumor, unpredictable reactions can occur, though they don't necessarily have to.

Listen, everyone, CBD oil heals the mind too, provided you use it correctly and at the right times.

My life is hanging by a thread; there's no telling what tomorrow holds. I might be out running and handling complex tasks, or I might be using a wheelchair and dealing with mood swings.

There is one thing I notice occasionally, though. Now I recognize it for what it is: sometimes, suddenly, it feels like a cash register is going off in my head. All my emotions get mixed together, and I realize I've started laughing irrationally. I know it's just a state that lasts a few minutes, caused by the lesions in that specific part of my brain.
I try not to let it carry me away, because those are the lesions talking, not my actual emotions.

All in all, it's nothing to worry about. CBD oil is perfect.

The only thing missing is luck in love, but everything else is going according to plan—recovery is on track, and I'll be starting a job soon.

So, how long did it take before you actually noticed a difference after starting the resin? Also, my bad for addressing you as a guy earlier—I lose focus sometimes.

Francis...
To answer you... honestly, I’m a pretty skeptical person by nature.
That resin comes from someone who just works with natural processes.
In fact, when I first received it, I actually refused to use it. I thought, "What nonsense, why would I even need this?"

Truth be told, I didn't know anything about it—how it works, what it affects, or what kind of results to expect. Nothing at all.

Then one day, as my condition was getting worse, I hit a point of desperation and decided, "Fine, I'll try it. I have nothing left to lose." At first, I wasn't consistent because life got in the way, and I was still doubting if it actually did anything.

Once I started taking it every single night, the results finally started showing up. I felt better and better. For instance, I didn't notice much during the first couple of weeks, but the longer I've been using it, the stronger the effect becomes.

It truly helps. I'm still honestly surprised myself.

That's great, glad to hear it, and thanks for getting back to me. I’m just naturally skeptical—I don't know anyone in the industry personally, and dropping $333 online on something unverified feels pretty reckless to me. But if you say it works, I believe you. You aren't the only one who's seen results...

Hey there.
Back on April 10th, I felt this sudden click, but it took a few months for me to realize that something else was driving me for the long haul. That click happened at work. It started with my vision—my monitors were pulsing like I was seeing frequency rates... Shadows... I had this feeling like I was being followed, loud footsteps always right beside me, everyone talking about me... Everyone is reading my mind, controlling others and even me. I haven't slept for a while, just have this endless energy. I was messing around with telekinesis and telepathy... Even during a solo conflict, after a long struggle without sleep, a voice said to me following my lead—well, I'm a top-tier telepath—Bravo! I quit working at that company after I woke up and heard a voice telling me—stay home and rest! I didn't call in to work to file for sick leave because it was too hard to talk on the phone, you know, or in person... Besides the tracking chip inside me and the telepathy, the phone was just another tool for them. I stayed quiet for months... When my parents would ask me something, I'd answer via telepathy and they'd get angry because I wasn't responding to them. I thought they hadn't reached that stage of spirit and mind like so many other people have. I was terrified to go to the bathroom or take a shower because I thought everyone was watching me... They see through my eyes... I went to confession and talked to a priest... Such a huge relief! I'm not possessed, but maybe I have schizophrenia... Agoraphobia and all that side stuff is a strange thing. I never thought something like this could happen to anyone, and yet, here I am... I was reading up on bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, and psychosis, and looking at my experience, I realized we remember everything, even if it's subconsciously... In all that chaos, every action and word, even someone else's, once imprinted, becomes my reality, our reality. The only cure is faith, repeating the real, moral good!

Pure garbage. 👍

I was in the middle of a full-blown psychosis, fueled by a cocktail of Kafetin, constant pain, and zero sleep—basically, back when I was tripping out on pretty much everything during those episodes. Honestly, I can’t recall most of it; it’s been nearly a decade since then.

The first one wasn't even that intense. I was actually somewhat lucid—which is saying something, considering you're dealing with pain, Kafetin, and total sleep deprivation—and I ended up getting into this huge argument with the hospital staff. They were trying to lecture me about my hormone levels and telling me to check my blood counts or whatever. My memory is a bit fuzzy on the specifics now.

The second time? That was the real deal. A total psychotic break. I was hallucinating all sorts of things—thinking I was some kind of time traveler or an alien, among other stuff. Luckily, it didn't last forever. I was just as sick as I was during the first time, except I wasn't in a hospital setting; it happened at home, and I ended up bolting out into the street right in front of a car. It hit me, but thankfully, nobody was seriously hurt—not me, not the driver, nobody.

The third time wasn't actually psychosis. I wasn't taking Kafetin for the pain and issues back then. Apparently, they banned me from using it after the second episode because I'm supposedly sensitive to it—like my metabolism handles it really poorly or something. I read about that on Google, though none of my doctors ever actually bothered to tell me.

That third bout was more of a nervous breakdown, triggered by pure stress and family drama.

So yeah, three times now I've been admitted to the psychiatric ward at the local hospital.

As far as getting any actual benefits or assistance goes, nothing has happened yet. 👎 Even though I have a diagnosis of paranoid schizophrenia, and even though both I and my family are considered social cases in need of support. An old psychiatrist who used to cover for my regular doctor actually listened to my whole story. She told me that I'd probably need to be formally admitted to the psych ward again so they could pull all my detailed records and tests to establish an exact diagnosis and determine the full extent of my mental and physical condition. From there, the hospital could start the official paperwork to trigger the process for whatever assistance programs I might qualify for. But she did mention I could look into assisted living if I wanted.

God, the bureaucracy here is such a nightmare. 👎 I'm actually thinking about checking myself back into the hospital just to get the ball rolling. But the timing is tricky—how do I do that now, when I'm actually feeling a bit better mentally, even if I'm still oversleeping like crazy and dealing with physical health issues?

Sam Wright21 said:Pure garbage. 👍

Sure, things went down like that, but there's more to the story than just that. It's all pretty interesting actually. During those few months, I was playing out every possible scenario in my head... Just sitting there, completely motionless, just running through it all mentally...

It’s honestly such a fascinating phenomenon to me—the way consciousness and mental function operate during a psychotic episode. There’s this striking correlation in the symptoms; specifically, the hallucinations experienced by patients seem to follow a pattern where, for most people, they are actually pretty much the same. Given how incredibly complex the human brain is, I personally would have expected those hallucinations to be completely unique to every individual.

I can't speak to hallucinations since I’ve never actually had them. What I dealt with was either delirium or a delusion—maybe the first time was delirium, and the second was a delusion. By the third time? Total nervous breakdown.

Back then, I was physically sick—liver issues, vision problems, all that stuff. I needed deep dives and extreme testing over at the internal medicine ward at Mayo Clinic. But, well, everything just went sideways because of that mental fog.

But again, it wasn't hallucinations. Never happened. Yet, I'm still dealing with those physical symptoms—serious vision trouble, maybe lingering liver issues, who knows.

Psychosomatic symptoms are quite common among patients with mental health conditions. Most deal with liver issues, whether due to genetics or side effects from medication.
I personally struggle with fatty liver disease. It’s an incurable condition. Doctors often dismiss it because they believe the liver can just regenerate itself.

Regarding vision, everything depends on the specific diagnosis provided by the ophthalmologist.
In my case, there was damage to the macula and optic nerves, a condition known as neuritis.

Throughout my time working in neurology, I've encountered many patients with psychiatric disorders. I specifically remember one girl who dealt with severe bipolar disorder; she was on heavy medication, but it didn't seem to help much. She had brain MRIs done because she’s been treated for lesions for years. She deals with both neurological and psychiatric illnesses simultaneously.

Some mental illnesses stem from lifestyle factors and trauma, while others clearly arise from physical brain damage. Even if there isn't visible damage, there is almost certainly a disruption in neurotransmitter transmission.

Before I started treatment for my actual condition, I experienced intense psychological symptoms—ranging from psychosis to things I can't even name. Then came the physical symptoms: paralysis, spasms, and numbness. Ultimately, it was determined that once we began treating the lesions, both my psychological and physical symptoms started to recede. The root cause was in the brain, confirmed by imaging.

Because of this, I feel vulnerable to developing some kind of mental disorder—you never know when it might happen—though I have been mentally very stable for a long time now. However, the physical symptoms have persisted. If I hadn't sought medical help sooner, I might have lost my motor skills entirely.
Since then, I’ve become much more proactive about my health. I trust my intuition and I make sure to listen to what my body is telling me.

My liver took a hit about a decade ago. It wasn't because of any psych meds, though—back then, I didn't even have a formal diagnosis, let alone a prescription or anything. They never actually figured out what went wrong, but somehow, it cleared up on its own.

I was physically a wreck at the time. But, honestly? I basically caused my own chaos at the hospital, which ended up landing me in the psych ward over at the local University Hospital. They didn't really have much of a choice in the matter, even if I kept volunteering to stay on the psychiatric unit myself.

It was never forced hospitalization, either. Every single time, it was my call. On the third occasion, I actually called the police on myself just to have them take me in.

I was dealing with issues long before the psychosis and schizophrenia treatment kicked in—liver stuff, vision problems, needing colonoscopies, those endoscopies where you swallow the camera... you name it. I’ve had plenty of health struggles, and frankly, there are some I won't even get into.

I still remember what the internist said back then: "The kid isn't doing well."

I was only weighing 140 pounds back then, dealing with all that pain and whatnot. Even now, I'm pretty thin. I'm maybe 165 or 170 pounds, which doesn't go far when you're nearly six-foot-something. I look like Rodney from that show Muck.

My cousin and I both grew up with liver issues. They told us it was genetic.
It’s not something you can cure. There is Silymarin available for drinking.
Doctors don't seem to take liver enlargement seriously at all.

Later on, my condition worsened slightly due to certain medications. But honestly, whether I'm taking them or have been since I was young, it stays the same. To be truthful, I've stopped worrying about it too much.

Yes, I also have upcoming gastrointestinal tests scheduled, though I try to avoid them because my blood work suggests potential internal bleeding in the digestive tract.

As for your vision, I'm not sure exactly what you're dealing with.

I am truly sorry that you haven't received the proper care and everything you deserve to help you feel physically better.

And regarding mental health—the door is always open. My advice is to stop checking yourself into psychiatric facilities.
Work on yourself and attend therapy sessions instead. When a crisis hits, just take stronger medication, sleep it off, and once things settle down, you'll be back to where you were before the episode.
Have you all noticed what actually happens when you check into a psychiatric ward?

I am very curious to hear your answers. I already know the answer myself, and I will tell you... unfortunately, it isn't the help you went in looking for.
They hit you with heavy drugs, and then you spend days just trying to figure out what is real.
And does anyone actually sit down and talk to you to explain things? No...
That’s why, in my opinion, it's better to just take a dose yourself when things get bad and sleep. Once the mind calms down—and it eventually will, it's just a matter of when—you just have to endure it. Then everything goes back to normal.
It's likely because of the mental symptoms that they don't take you seriously, which is tragic. You aren't alone in this, either. I really dislike those prejudices. If it's mental, they lock you up immediately, but if it's physical pain or other illnesses, they just brush you off.

Good luck with your treatment... if you don't mind me asking, what is your specific psychiatric diagnosis? And why are you so underweight? Do you have an idea why? Is it a lack of appetite, or perhaps the medication you're taking is suppressing your appetite instead of helping it?

I deeply empathize with everyone going through depressive episodes; it is a profound pain. A pain in the soul that is worse than any physical ache.
And with everyone dealing with paranoia, delusions, unpleasant manias, and whatever else... because when that happens, you realize it isn't normal, but it carries you away because it is stronger than anything else.
It is truly sad that people have to endure such mental struggles.

Rebecca Rivera3 said:My cousin and I both grew up with liver issues. They told us it was genetic.
It’s not something you can cure. There is Silymarin available for drinking.
Doctors don't seem to take liver enlargement seriously at all.

Later on, my condition worsened slightly due to certain medications. But honestly, whether I'm taking them or have been since I was young, it stays the same. To be truthful, I've stopped worrying about it too much.

Yes, I also have upcoming gastrointestinal tests scheduled, though I try to avoid them because my blood work suggests potential internal bleeding in the digestive tract.

As for your vision, I'm not sure exactly what you're dealing with.

I am truly sorry that you haven't received the proper care and everything you deserve to help you feel physically better.

And regarding mental health—the door is always open. My advice is to stop checking yourself into psychiatric facilities.
Work on yourself and attend therapy sessions instead. When a crisis hits, just take stronger medication, sleep it off, and once things settle down, you'll be back to where you were before the episode.
Have you all noticed what actually happens when you check into a psychiatric ward?

I am very curious to hear your answers. I already know the answer myself, and I will tell you... unfortunately, it isn't the help you went in looking for.
They hit you with heavy drugs, and then you spend days just trying to figure out what is real.
And does anyone actually sit down and talk to you to explain things? No...
That’s why, in my opinion, it's better to just take a dose yourself when things get bad and sleep. Once the mind calms down—and it eventually will, it's just a matter of when—you just have to endure it. Then everything goes back to normal.
It's likely because of the mental symptoms that they don't take you seriously, which is tragic. You aren't alone in this, either. I really dislike those prejudices. If it's mental, they lock you up immediately, but if it's physical pain or other illnesses, they just brush you off.

Good luck with your treatment... if you don't mind me asking, what is your specific psychiatric diagnosis? And why are you so underweight? Do you have an idea why? Is it a lack of appetite, or perhaps the medication you're taking is suppressing your appetite instead of helping it?

I deeply empathize with everyone going through depressive episodes; it is a profound pain. A pain in the soul that is worse than any physical ache.
And with everyone dealing with paranoia, delusions, unpleasant manias, and whatever else... because when that happens, you realize it isn't normal, but it carries you away because it is stronger than anything else.
It is truly sad that people have to endure such mental struggles.

My cousin and I both had liver issues from a young age. They said it was genetic.
There isn't really a cure for it. There's just milk thistle you can take.
Doctors don't even pay much attention to an enlarged liver.

I'm not sure if hers was actually enlarged—I think she just had some kind of scarring. But thankfully, she recovered. It wasn't like my situation, which I'm pretty sure is genetic. It was never clearly diagnosed, so I have no idea what exactly is going on, and I still deal with occasional issues with it.

Things actually got a little worse for me after I started taking those pills. But honestly, whether I'm on them or haven't taken any for a while, it’s always been like this. At this point, I've stopped worrying about it too.

I hadn't heard that before.

I don't know what exactly is going on with your vision.

I've got floaters and I see white blood cells—well, I realized they're white—plus I still have bad distance vision in one eye. None of this was ever officially confirmed, though. They basically told me not to bring it up because of my schizophrenia diagnosis. They said if I mentioned it, the ophthalmologists would just claim it's all psychosomatic. That's regarding the floaters and the spots.

My advice is to stop checking yourself into psychiatric hospitals.

Unfortunately, it looks like I won't have much choice. It's for filing disability claims and stuff like that. That's what my psychiatrist told my mother.

Work on yourself and stick to therapy. When a crisis hits, take the stronger meds, sleep it off, and just wait until things settle back to where they were before the episode.

I'm working on it. I've completely flipped my sleep schedule upside down. Now I'm up before dawn like some farmer. Then I'll crash early in the evening. And I've finally found a rhythm with my meds. I make sure to space out the Aspirin and the Azolar. I don't take the Azolar first thing in the morning anymore; I wait a bit.

Have you guys noticed what happens when you check into a psych ward?

I'm really curious to hear your thoughts. I know the answer, and unfortunately, it's not the help people go in looking for...
They hit you with drugs, and then you spend days just trying to figure out what's real and what isn't.

Exactly. I’ve been through the exact same thing—they give you a dose via IV or some other method, then they taper you off slowly... and it lasts for days. You just can't function.

And does anyone actually sit down and talk to you to explain things? No... not really.
That's why, personally, if things get bad, I'd rather just take my dose myself and sleep it off. Once the brain finally quiets down—whenever that happens, hopefully soon—you just have to hang in there. Then everything goes back to "normal."

Nick didn't say anything specific. Honestly, they don't even let you talk. They just lecture you during rounds. If I had actually tried to speak up and explain that things aren't quite how they think they are, they probably would've moved me from a semi-open ward straight to a locked unit.

It's likely because of the mental health aspect that they don't take it seriously, which is honestly tragic. And you're definitely not alone in this. I hate those prejudices. If it's psych, they lock you up immediately, but if it's physical pain or something else, they just shrug their shoulders.

For sure. They probably just assume you're crazy, making stuff up, or that you don't know what you're talking about.

Good luck with the treatment... if you don't mind me asking, what's the diagnosis? And why are you so underweight? Any idea why? Is it because you lack an appetite, or is it maybe that the medication you're on is suppressing it instead of helping where it's needed?

Thanks. I'm doing okay now, considering how bad I was. They slapped me with paranoid schizophrenia, even though I've never had hallucinations or any paranoia about being followed or anything like that. I think it's Bipolar, and I told the psychiatrist at the hospital that myself. Maybe it is schizophrenia, but just some non-specific version. I've suspected that for a while. As for being underweight, it's always been like this. I eat plenty, but it doesn't stick. Just a fast metabolism, I guess. I'm naturally tall and thin. At the hospital, they kept swapping out my psychiatrists every time I was admitted. Probably because they don't want the hassle of dealing with me. Luckily, the psychiatrist here at the VA seems decent, so maybe she'll help. The previous guy wasn't too bad either, but it's hard to really talk to him about all this since he's basically one foot out the door toward retirement. And they just don't make time for actual conversations.

I feel so much empathy for everyone going through depressive episodes; it's such intense pain. A soul-crushing ache that feels worse than physical pain.
And for everyone dealing with paranoia, delusions, weird manic phases, and whatever else... because once that hits, you realize things aren't right, but it carries you along because it's stronger than anything else.
It's just sad that people have to deal with these kinds of mental struggles.

I feel for everyone. It seems like everybody is fighting some kind of battle. Hopefully, things work out. I'm hoping I can qualify for some kind of survivor benefits. Though, looking at how things are, it's going to be a struggle. This system—and frankly, this whole country—is a mess.

But I have to try, what choice do I have? I think I might be entitled to survivor benefits after my parents pass away. Or so I've been told.