Schizophrenia - General Discussion

I'm using Google translate.
I'm not from America.

It’s like I don't even have free movement in my eyes or face. Everything feels frozen...

driftingpuma28 said:I'm using Google translate.
I'm not from America.

It’s like I don't even have free movement in my eyes or face. Everything feels frozen...

In English, this specific phenomenon is referred to as "extrapyramidal side effects." Just copy and paste what I've bolded, including the quotation marks, into Google to find more detailed information.

Did your psychiatrist perhaps suggest taking B-complex vitamins to help mitigate these symptoms, and if so, in what dosage? Are you planning to work with them to adjust your medication, or might you consider returning to the hospital to determine which medications suit your needs best?

My parents blindly trust every single thing the psychiatrist says. I’m skeptical—honestly. It bothers me that they don't actually spend any real time with me; every session feels rushed, lasting barely ten minutes. He just writes prescriptions and moves on... he doesn't seem to care about how I'm actually feeling.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to manage this illness?

And yeah, the weight is the hardest part—it feels like it could eventually hit a really serious number.

I've got an appointment with a new psychiatrist scheduled for June 6, 2021.

driftingpuma28 said:My parents blindly trust every single thing the psychiatrist says. I’m skeptical—honestly. It bothers me that they don't actually spend any real time with me; every session feels rushed, lasting barely ten minutes. He just writes prescriptions and moves on... he doesn't seem to care about how I'm actually feeling.
Does anyone have any ideas on how to manage this illness?

And yeah, the weight is the hardest part—it feels like it could eventually hit a really serious number.

I've got an appointment with a new psychiatrist scheduled for June 6, 2021.

In my opinion, would it not be most beneficial for you to seek inpatient care or perhaps enroll in a day hospital program to ensure a swifter and more precise adjustment of your medication dosage and type?

I finally got the decision, though the actual checks haven't hit my account yet. It’s a Category II disability rating, 136 miles, which comes out to about $110. Category I is a bit more, sitting just over 249 miles, maybe around $220. We'll just have to wait a year and see how things shake out. My dad passed away recently—he had a stroke. Just collapsed right in front of me while I was sleeping. Between all that and everything else, I ended up being hospitalized twice last year.

It forced me back onto my old medication regimen—Metoten, Moditen, and that Unknown stuff—the same routine I used for over three years and felt actually okay on.

Life's a grind, honestly. It just keeps churning you up if you let it.

A friend of mine mentioned she married a widower whose wife passed away years ago, and apparently, his daughter has been diagnosed with acute psychosis. However, she’s living in constant fear that this might actually be a precursor to schizophrenia.

She says the girl believes some TV host—I can't recall who—is making segments about her on national television, claiming her college degree is worthless because she's spent her life lying to everyone. She’s experiencing auditory hallucinations, strange and uncomfortable physical sensations all over her body, and seeing things that simply aren't there.

The poor girl is barely in her twenties. She has her entire life ahead of her, yet she's been struck down by this illness. Can we truly hope that it remains "only" an acute psychotic disorder?

Nicole Barrett76 said:A friend of mine mentioned she married a widower whose wife passed away years ago, and apparently, his daughter has been diagnosed with acute psychosis. However, she’s living in constant fear that this might actually be a precursor to schizophrenia.

She says the girl believes some TV host—I can't recall who—is making segments about her on national television, claiming her college degree is worthless because she's spent her life lying to everyone. She’s experiencing auditory hallucinations, strange and uncomfortable physical sensations all over her body, and seeing things that simply aren't there.

The poor girl is barely in her twenties. She has her entire life ahead of her, yet she's been struck down by this illness. Can we truly hope that it remains "only" an acute psychotic disorder?

Hey Nicole Barrett76, how have you been? Are you working, or are you still dealing with those health issues? Any plans to head down to Washington, D.C.?

darksurfer4 said:Hey Nicole Barrett76, how have you been? Are you working, or are you still dealing with those health issues? Any plans to head down to Washington, D.C.?

I am doing alright. I am not currently working.

I rarely travel to Washington, D.C. nowadays. I only head that way when I absolutely have to attend medical checkups, which happens maybe once or twice a year. Honestly, I haven't felt much reason to visit since my sister, who used to live in Washington, D.C., moved away to work in Germany.

For those of us living with severe visual impairments or total blindness, we represent one of the most difficult categories of people with disabilities to employ. Out of every hundred of us, only six actually hold jobs. It wouldn't even be that number if the European Union hadn't pressured our government to finally address the issue. Before we joined the European Union, our employment rate was a mere two percent.

I secured my disability benefits a long time ago; frankly, if I hadn't, I fear I might have done something desperate, either against myself or someone else. I receive $500.

It gives me chills just thinking about how Carol Barrett2 managed to get her income sorted out starting from only 75 miles.

Generally speaking, I believe an individual in America can only live a decent life on $3,000-$$1167, and that is assuming they aren't burdened by any credit card debt or loans.

bluejackal2 said:Hey there, my fellow Unknowns, I’ve got a question for you all, but please, take a second to really sit with it and give me an honest answer: Do any of the antipsychotics you're taking have any kind of impact on how you experience your religious or spiritual thoughts?

That breaking point is actually the breakthrough moment for a conscious, awakened being.
Antipsychotics don't define who we are; they simply serve as a safeguard against relapses and the illness becoming chronic.
After all, anyone can experience a mental breakdown or a psychotic episode if the outside world pushes them hard enough.

steelskipper9 said:That breaking point is actually the breakthrough moment for a conscious, awakened being.
Antipsychotics don't define who we are; they simply serve as a safeguard against relapses and the illness becoming chronic.
After all, anyone can experience a mental breakdown or a psychotic episode if the outside world pushes them hard enough.

I’ve noticed quite a few of my "colleagues" and friends dealing with various forms of psychosis have had episodes rooted in religious experiences. While thinking you actually are Jesus Christ is a pretty extreme example, some psychiatrists tend to view any kind of belief in God—whether it's through prayer or seeking help and finding fulfillment—as nothing more than an escape from reality.

In a book I read once, 'The Road Less Traveled' by Morgan Scott Peck, it mentions

The path to holiness is paved with maturity. There are no easy shortcuts. If we try to take those "shortcuts," we are much more likely to end up facing schizophrenia rather than reaching true sanctity.

That is exactly how it's phrased in the book.

Nicole Barrett76 said:I am doing alright. I am not currently working.

I rarely travel to Washington, D.C. nowadays. I only head that way when I absolutely have to attend medical checkups, which happens maybe once or twice a year. Honestly, I haven't felt much reason to visit since my sister, who used to live in Washington, D.C., moved away to work in Germany.

For those of us living with severe visual impairments or total blindness, we represent one of the most difficult categories of people with disabilities to employ. Out of every hundred of us, only six actually hold jobs. It wouldn't even be that number if the European Union hadn't pressured our government to finally address the issue. Before we joined the European Union, our employment rate was a mere two percent.

I secured my disability benefits a long time ago; frankly, if I hadn't, I fear I might have done something desperate, either against myself or someone else. I receive $500.

It gives me chills just thinking about how Carol Barrett2 managed to get her income sorted out starting from only 75 miles.

Generally speaking, I believe an individual in America can only live a decent life on $3,000-$$1167, and that is assuming they aren't burdened by any credit card debt or loans.

What are me and my old lady supposed to do with such tiny incomes? My disability is Category II, and she’s on the lowest possible pension. With what we make, God forbid, we might end up at a soup kitchen one day.

Luckily, she's still mobile and resourceful enough to work and pull us through. But she’s also struggling with her own health issues—she's been told she has a brain tumor.

Between my Category I disability and her rock-bottom pension, if she also had disability status as an oncology patient, we might barely scrape by. Even then, money would be tight.

Technically, we aren't considered a "social case" according to the state, so we don't qualify for utility subsidies. Meanwhile, they hit us with interest and fees, just ballooning the debt and threatening to seize our studio apartment.

When my wife passed, they almost took her entire pension to cover those utility debts, while the interest just kept piling up regardless.

Unfortunately, I'm not working, and it's unlikely I ever will. I struggle in unfamiliar areas—I lose my sense of direction and everything—especially in places I don't know.

I can manage to move around my own neighborhood on my own, but anywhere else? No way. I need someone with me; heck, they practically have to give me directions just to move.

My vision has been failing for years now, and it’s possible I’ve been sick since I was a kid. Maybe I had some form of high-functioning autism that morphed into schizophrenia, or maybe it was always schizophrenia.

Is it actually possible for someone to record me through my laptop webcam without my explicit consent? Usually, the system asks for permission first.

Sent from my Redmi Note 9 sa via Tapatalk

cosmiclynx79 said:Is it actually possible for someone to record me through my laptop webcam without my explicit consent? Usually, the system asks for permission first.

Sent from my Redmi Note 9 sa via Tapatalk

Unless you're dealing with a high-level hacker, but even then, a decent firewall should keep that from happening...

Thanks. You really helped me out.

Harold Anderson3 said:I’ve noticed quite a few of my "colleagues" and friends dealing with various forms of psychosis have had episodes rooted in religious experiences. While thinking you actually are Jesus Christ is a pretty extreme example, some psychiatrists tend to view any kind of belief in God—whether it's through prayer or seeking help and finding fulfillment—as nothing more than an escape from reality.

In a book I read once, 'The Road Less Traveled' by Morgan Scott Peck, it mentions

The path to holiness is paved with maturity. There are no easy shortcuts. If we try to take those "shortcuts," we are much more likely to end up facing schizophrenia rather than reaching true sanctity.

That is exactly how it's phrased in the book.

Some psychiatrists and psychotherapists are atheists, while others are believers—and they naturally react according to their own worldview and ideology. Consequently, they often hand out diagnoses based solely on how they perceive things.
If schizophrenia typically manifests around age 23 or 26, depending on gender, it’s hardly a surprise that some psychoses are religious in nature—since this is the stage of life where people are searching for themselves as spiritual beings. Of course, not everyone goes down that route; some might mistakenly think they are Mary Magdalene, while others might think they are a Hollywood celebrity.
If you possess true spiritual intelligence, you will remain a spiritual being regardless of the illness. The illness is merely a path, never the destination.
We are shaped by our experiences—and that includes being shaped, in part, by our struggles.
Through illness, we can actually grow and mature—sometimes even more deeply than those who haven't endured such intense and painful experiences.

steelskipper9 said:Some psychiatrists and psychotherapists are atheists, while others are believers—and they naturally react according to their own worldview and ideology. Consequently, they often hand out diagnoses based solely on how they perceive things.
If schizophrenia typically manifests around age 23 or 26, depending on gender, it’s hardly a surprise that some psychoses are religious in nature—since this is the stage of life where people are searching for themselves as spiritual beings. Of course, not everyone goes down that route; some might mistakenly think they are Mary Magdalene, while others might think they are a Hollywood celebrity.
If you possess true spiritual intelligence, you will remain a spiritual being regardless of the illness. The illness is merely a path, never the destination.
We are shaped by our experiences—and that includes being shaped, in part, by our struggles.
Through illness, we can actually grow and mature—sometimes even more deeply than those who haven't endured such intense and painful experiences.

Great post. I agree with everything here. 👍

steelskipper9 said:Some psychiatrists and psychotherapists are atheists, while others are believers—and they naturally react according to their own worldview and ideology. Consequently, they often hand out diagnoses based solely on how they perceive things.
If schizophrenia typically manifests around age 23 or 26, depending on gender, it’s hardly a surprise that some psychoses are religious in nature—since this is the stage of life where people are searching for themselves as spiritual beings. Of course, not everyone goes down that route; some might mistakenly think they are Mary Magdalene, while others might think they are a Hollywood celebrity.
If you possess true spiritual intelligence, you will remain a spiritual being regardless of the illness. The illness is merely a path, never the destination.
We are shaped by our experiences—and that includes being shaped, in part, by our struggles.
Through illness, we can actually grow and mature—sometimes even more deeply than those who haven't endured such intense and painful experiences.

I find myself agreeing with most of this, though I do feel that psychiatrists shouldn't let their own religious leanings bleed into how they view a patient's spirituality—which is admittedly tricky if the doctor is a believer and the patient is an atheist, or vice versa.
Beyond that, I don't think we should be judging anyone's character based on how religious they are.

Personally, I'm an atheist (or if you want to use the more modern, polite term—agnostic), but if someone is a believer and that faith helps them navigate life, I have absolutely nothing against them. In fact, I almost envy them in a way, because I feel like I'm missing out on that specific dimension of personality, but that’s just my philosophy on life. You can't force yourself to be a believer, and it's even worse to pretend to be a saint or a person of faith when you simply aren't 🤷

cosmicdriver42 said:Great post. I agree with everything here. 👍

Thanks! :-)

Greetings. I have a friend who underwent a total transformation back in 2015—suddenly diagnosed with schizophrenia. When I ask him if there was a specific trigger that set everything in motion, he says no. He’s been a lifelong stoner. His brother passed away in a horrific accident involving the local police department—a notorious case that hit the news a few years back. After that, his other brother also "cracked." Basically, he started using meth around the clock, driven by this desperate need to avenge his brother at any cost. But mind you, all of this—the death, the trauma—happened later. It wasn't the trigger. He claims he just woke up different. He walked outside near a crowded coffee shop, heard voices, and became convinced everyone was talking about him. He went home, and then three old ladies were gossiping about him right after he left. For that, too, he says, "Yeah, I was tripping." He grabbed an axe and headed back to the cafe to smash everything. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but he ended up in the psych ward. He was discharged with a diagnosis and a cocktail of meds: one yellow pill, two 5mg Diazepam in the morning and evening—which makes zero sense to me, though I'm no expert—plus Ryspolex. They had him on Haldol once, but they pulled it because things actually got worse. Now, he hasn't heard those voices since, but he isn't okay. I've known him since we were kids; we practically grew up on the streets. Our childhoods were messed up, just like his and my brother's, just in different ways. Nowadays, he rants constantly about extremists, historical figures, and God. He talks about it incessantly. He insists he doesn't want to be on medication anymore. He wants to get off the pills so he can be "normal" and hold down a job. That's his own words. But then, when he stops taking his meds, he starts obsessing over joining Special Forces and avenging his brother again. Then he admits, "Yeah, I'm tripping." He is self-aware enough to know when he's losing it. He doesn't have hallucinations anymore, but there is clearly a disorder present. You can see it. You remember him as a normal, decent guy, and now look at him. Regarding his desire to quit his meds—he keeps mentioning Remar—my question is: can someone actually get off these psychiatric drugs and live a normal life? I successfully got clean from heroin and Xanax, so I'm speaking from experience, even if I'm not a professional. But schizophrenia is a long-term illness. Can you really just "get clean" from it like you can from a substance? Or am I wrong? I read a lot about this, but I can't find any information about a hospital where you go in and suddenly, *poof*, the schizophrenia is gone. Does such a thing even exist? He values my opinion immensely, so I want to know if I should show him proof that it's impossible, or if there's actually hope. Thank you.

Gerald Lopez94 said:Greetings. I have a friend who underwent a total transformation back in 2015—suddenly diagnosed with schizophrenia. When I ask him if there was a specific trigger that set everything in motion, he says no. He’s been a lifelong stoner. His brother passed away in a horrific accident involving the local police department—a notorious case that hit the news a few years back. After that, his other brother also "cracked." Basically, he started using meth around the clock, driven by this desperate need to avenge his brother at any cost. But mind you, all of this—the death, the trauma—happened later. It wasn't the trigger. He claims he just woke up different. He walked outside near a crowded coffee shop, heard voices, and became convinced everyone was talking about him. He went home, and then three old ladies were gossiping about him right after he left. For that, too, he says, "Yeah, I was tripping." He grabbed an axe and headed back to the cafe to smash everything. Thankfully, no one was hurt, but he ended up in the psych ward. He was discharged with a diagnosis and a cocktail of meds: one yellow pill, two 5mg Diazepam in the morning and evening—which makes zero sense to me, though I'm no expert—plus Ryspolex. They had him on Haldol once, but they pulled it because things actually got worse. Now, he hasn't heard those voices since, but he isn't okay. I've known him since we were kids; we practically grew up on the streets. Our childhoods were messed up, just like his and my brother's, just in different ways. Nowadays, he rants constantly about extremists, historical figures, and God. He talks about it incessantly. He insists he doesn't want to be on medication anymore. He wants to get off the pills so he can be "normal" and hold down a job. That's his own words. But then, when he stops taking his meds, he starts obsessing over joining Special Forces and avenging his brother again. Then he admits, "Yeah, I'm tripping." He is self-aware enough to know when he's losing it. He doesn't have hallucinations anymore, but there is clearly a disorder present. You can see it. You remember him as a normal, decent guy, and now look at him. Regarding his desire to quit his meds—he keeps mentioning Remar—my question is: can someone actually get off these psychiatric drugs and live a normal life? I successfully got clean from heroin and Xanax, so I'm speaking from experience, even if I'm not a professional. But schizophrenia is a long-term illness. Can you really just "get clean" from it like you can from a substance? Or am I wrong? I read a lot about this, but I can't find any information about a hospital where you go in and suddenly, *poof*, the schizophrenia is gone. Does such a thing even exist? He values my opinion immensely, so I want to know if I should show him proof that it's impossible, or if there's actually hope. Thank you.

Look, there’s no such thing as an instant "poof, I'm cured" fix. That doesn't mean if someone actually *wants* to be functional and live a normal life, they can't get there. It just takes actual, genuine willpower—like, say, actually kicking a drug habit. Until a person truly commits to it, nothing happens. You can't just wish it away. If someone needs medication for a condition, just like a diabetic needs insulin, then yeah, they might need specific meds for the rest of their lives due to their biology. But without that real drive... nothing...