Schizophrenia - General Discussion

Olivia Bishop8 said:Man, this illness is just brutal... Reading through everything you guys are going through (I'm not the one sick, my son is), it’s honestly pretty terrifying. He’s in remission right now, I guess, but I can't help worrying about his future and what his life is even going to look like. He's 25 now, just stays inside, doesn't work, doesn't go out, doesn't really hang with anyone besides a few close family members. He tells me he feels fine, but after reading all your stories, I suspect he's struggling way more than he lets on.
I don't even know, honestly, who has it worse—him or me as a parent.
How do you even escape this nightmare?

It seems everyone faces their own unique set of challenges. For him, it might be the frustration of not being able to live the life he envisioned, while for you, it's the weight of watching your son struggle against this condition.

Still, I try not to view everything through such a dark lens. With the right treatment plan, there can be significant progress. Globally, about 1% of people live with schizophrenia, which translates to roughly 75 million people—that's almost like the entire population of Germany.
Within those 75 million individuals, the outcomes vary wildly.
Some people, including young adults, end up in residential care facilities where they rely heavily on others and state institutions, whereas others manage to earn PhDs in their respective scientific fields after receiving their diagnosis.
Those are obviously the two extremes, and most people find themselves somewhere in the middle.

The key is to stay active—to get out of the house, try to work or study, and keep up with sports or hobbies just like before the diagnosis. It's so important not to let the pressure of the illness or the side effects of medication cause you to retreat into yourself. I wish I had better advice to offer than that, but it's really what I believe. 🤷

Sandra Lee2 said:If you actually have narcolepsy, talk to your doctor; there are treatments for that.

I’ve got my suspicions about her, but I can’t say for sure. Anyway, I'm currently out in Canada, so none of this really matters.

Harold Anderson3 said:It seems everyone faces their own unique set of challenges. For him, it might be the frustration of not being able to live the life he envisioned, while for you, it's the weight of watching your son struggle against this condition.

Still, I try not to view everything through such a dark lens. With the right treatment plan, there can be significant progress. Globally, about 1% of people live with schizophrenia, which translates to roughly 75 million people—that's almost like the entire population of Germany.
Within those 75 million individuals, the outcomes vary wildly.
Some people, including young adults, end up in residential care facilities where they rely heavily on others and state institutions, whereas others manage to earn PhDs in their respective scientific fields after receiving their diagnosis.
Those are obviously the two extremes, and most people find themselves somewhere in the middle.

The key is to stay active—to get out of the house, try to work or study, and keep up with sports or hobbies just like before the diagnosis. It's so important not to let the pressure of the illness or the side effects of medication cause you to retreat into yourself. I wish I had better advice to offer than that, but it's really what I believe. 🤷

True, but I just can't. I get totally lost in unfamiliar or even semi-known places. There are basic things I simply can't manage on my own. Just recently, I nearly had a complete meltdown. My mom and sister were getting a bit impatient with the neighbor, and that immediately threw me off balance.

Olivia Bishop8 said:Man, this illness is just brutal... Reading through everything you guys are going through (I'm not the one sick, my son is), it’s honestly pretty terrifying. He’s in remission right now, I guess, but I can't help worrying about his future and what his life is even going to look like. He's 25 now, just stays inside, doesn't work, doesn't go out, doesn't really hang with anyone besides a few close family members. He tells me he feels fine, but after reading all your stories, I suspect he's struggling way more than he lets on.
I don't even know, honestly, who has it worse—him or me as a parent.
How do you even escape this nightmare?

What exactly was his diagnosis, and how long has he been in remission? People recovering from psychosis often need quite a bit of time to "wash off" those psychotic thoughts—even if they seem to be doing better right now. Time is such a critical factor, and those around them really need to understand that. It’s vital that the individual moves in a direction that feels right for them, while their support system remains confident that this path is leading toward actual recovery.

Personally, it took me a little over two years to clear out all that psychotic residue. The real tragedy is that this chaos usually hits people right when they are supposed to be finding their footing and carving out their place in the world.

I was lucky enough to have some self-control. I actually toyed with some pretty dark, perverse content and practically drove myself to the brink of madness. Once I realized how destructive that was, I did the exact opposite. I suppose I was lucky enough to succeed at being paradoxical—just as I had turned health into sickness, I worked to turn my illness back toward health because I knew what was hurting me. Despite spending two incredibly important years in a near-vegetative state, I eventually landed a great job, enrolled in another college program, and started working as someone who cares for others. I say all this with a grain of salt, though, because psychosis is a brutal thing and there is no guaranteed cure or outcome. But there is always hope. 🙂

Hey everyone, it’s been a while. I've been struggling through hell with a certain friend, but he's incredibly psychotic. On top of that, he has this Oedipus complex involving some old, unattractive woman he just won't leave alone. I finally had to cut him off even though I love him, and honestly, it's been a brutal period.
To make matters worse, I've dealt with a heart attack and a blood clot recently, along with leukopenia.

I'm taking Wellbutrin for my mental health—I can't quite recall what you all mentioned earlier—and I've also started taking Kvetiapin entirely on my own. My family at home creates such a chaotic circus that I'd rather be anyone else than a person living in that house. I'm taking about 300mg... I actually called the police yesterday to report the abuse, but they basically told me they couldn't see any physical evidence of being hit and wouldn't do anything. Meanwhile, the people in my own house are tearing me apart; my father is an old alcoholic who uses everything he has to destroy me both mentally and physically. I reached out to a guy today for help, and he's looking into a local shelter for me; I'm hoping to head there tomorrow if I can manage to wake up.

Everyone will be there today to witness it. Yesterday, because my family was busy moving things around, I wasn't even allowed to pay my respects to my friend who took her own life; they denied me that chance.
Today, I'm going to overdose on Kvetiapin. I don't know how many tabs it will take, but I just want to be pinned to the floor. If God is willing, maybe I'll wake up and fall, and then I can tell them that my family really did hit me... I just can't do this anymore. My Psychic is supporting me and is going to write a report regarding the abuse, but my family still insists they have the right to stay in my space and torment me.

Hi there!
I hope I’m posting this in the right place. I’m really worried about a family member; I’m scared she might be dealing with schizophrenia, and I honestly don't know what to do.
She was always an unusual kid—very introverted, spent most of her time holed up in her room, and struggled to maintain friendships. She also tended to blame everyone else for her problems. She had these intense outbursts of anger and would just scream. At the time, we all thought it was just part of her "difficult" personality, so we didn't think much of it. She grew up in a small town and eventually moved abroad for work after college. It hasn't been easy for her, especially since her parents always stepped in to handle everything on her behalf.
Things really took a turn during the lockdowns. After being stuck at home for over six months, her behavior changed. Since she was working remotely, she started claiming people were stalking her online and that everyone at her company was mocking her. Once she went back to the office, those delusions intensified; she insisted her colleagues were malicious and were psychologically harassing her. Now, she claims she’s being followed through the city. Sometimes she sends us messages saying she wants to end her life, implying we somehow know what she's talking about, even though we have no idea. She still has those angry outbursts, complains of constant headaches, and says she feels completely empty inside. The problem is, she refuses to see a psychologist or a psychiatrist, and she won't even quit her job. Her parents are at a total loss. One relative even flew out to meet her overseas to try and talk some sense into her, but I have my doubts about whether that will work. Please help! Based on your own experiences, what could this be, and how can we help her? I know she needs to see a therapist, but how do we even convince her? Please.

quietrider25 said:Hi there!
I hope I’m posting this in the right place. I’m really worried about a family member; I’m scared she might be dealing with schizophrenia, and I honestly don't know what to do.
She was always an unusual kid—very introverted, spent most of her time holed up in her room, and struggled to maintain friendships. She also tended to blame everyone else for her problems. She had these intense outbursts of anger and would just scream. At the time, we all thought it was just part of her "difficult" personality, so we didn't think much of it. She grew up in a small town and eventually moved abroad for work after college. It hasn't been easy for her, especially since her parents always stepped in to handle everything on her behalf.
Things really took a turn during the lockdowns. After being stuck at home for over six months, her behavior changed. Since she was working remotely, she started claiming people were stalking her online and that everyone at her company was mocking her. Once she went back to the office, those delusions intensified; she insisted her colleagues were malicious and were psychologically harassing her. Now, she claims she’s being followed through the city. Sometimes she sends us messages saying she wants to end her life, implying we somehow know what she's talking about, even though we have no idea. She still has those angry outbursts, complains of constant headaches, and says she feels completely empty inside. The problem is, she refuses to see a psychologist or a psychiatrist, and she won't even quit her job. Her parents are at a total loss. One relative even flew out to meet her overseas to try and talk some sense into her, but I have my doubts about whether that will work. Please help! Based on your own experiences, what could this be, and how can we help her? I know she needs to see a therapist, but how do we even convince her? Please.

Basically, pay for sessions with a local psychiatrist near her and have whoever traveled to see her just take her there without making it a whole thing. That's how you handle it.

It might not be schizo, but she clearly needs professional help regardless.

Nicholas Bailey3 said:Basically, pay for sessions with a local psychiatrist near her and have whoever traveled to see her just take her there without making it a whole thing. That's how you handle it.

It might not be schizo, but she clearly needs professional help regardless.

Thank you all so much for the advice! We're honestly really worried about her. I'm just hoping we can find a way to help. Thanks again for stepping up.

quietrider25 said:Thank you all so much for the advice! We're honestly really worried about her. I'm just hoping we can find a way to help. Thanks again for stepping up.

Don't mention it. Honestly, though, that’s usually the best way to get someone to see a psychiatrist for the first time—otherwise, they just shut you out.

Nicholas Bailey3 said:Don't mention it. Honestly, though, that’s usually the best way to get someone to see a psychiatrist for the first time—otherwise, they just shut you out.

Yeah, it's going to be tough. They're incredibly stubborn and set in their ways, but we aren't giving up. We have to help them, and we're going to.

quietrider25 said:Yeah, it's going to be tough. They're incredibly stubborn and set in their ways, but we aren't giving up. We have to help them, and we're going to.

Glad you guys are here.👍

People really need to get an MRI before jumping to psychiatric diagnoses. I was actually misdiagnosed with schizophrenia, but it turns out my symptoms were caused by brain lesions located right in the area that triggers those specific behaviors. It wasn't a mental illness; it was purely organic. I didn't see any real progress until I started receiving neurological treatment rather than psychiatric intervention.
Many neurological conditions can manifest as psychological outbursts depending on the circumstances, so it is always worth investigating further.

So, I was chatting with this guy in the medical field—I think he’s a lab tech or something, honestly hard to tell—and based on what I was telling him, he mentioned it might be toxoplasmosis. But then he goes on about how finding a place to actually get tested for that here in the States is apparently a massive headache. I don't know... I've been complaining about narcolepsy for years now, too, so where am I even supposed to go in America to get a straight answer on this stuff?

Get this paradox: in America, you see
Look for answers in high places, ancient pyramids, or even just a bowl of beans. You’ll probably end up with an official diagnosis first..

Brandon Foster7 said:Get this paradox: in America, you see
Look for answers in high places, ancient pyramids, or even just a bowl of beans. You’ll probably end up with an official diagnosis first..

That’s basically how they say it here, too. I don't know about all that mystical stuff—I trust medicine—but finding a real cure for myself? That’s going to be a long shot.

My old Psychiatrist told me to take Moditen in the morning, Prazine at noon, and then both Moditen and Aripiprazole at 3 PM. There is absolutely no way in hell I can swallow that last combo together. It wipes me out so hard I'm barely getting four hours of sleep and waking up feeling like a zombie.

So, I decided to follow his daughter's advice instead. Now I'm doing Moditen plus half a dose of Prazine in the morning and afternoon, and I added the Aripiprazole at lunchtime on my own. I told my old doctor that she actually knows what works for me better than I do—after all, I'm the one living with the side effects.

We’ve gotta figure out the right balance for me. I got the Prazine from a different Psychiatrist who replaced the old one, even though I specifically asked for something to help with calming down and mood swings. And the Aripiprazole? That came via the old doctor's daughter.

I requested both drugs myself. Honestly, my mood was all over the place. Prazine is usually for psychosis, but Aripiprazole is more for those mood shifts. My moods were shifting constantly because of everything else going on and how people were treating me.

And yeah, things weren't exactly great. 🥱

Olivia Smith2 said:What exactly was his diagnosis, and how long has he been in remission? People recovering from psychosis often need quite a bit of time to "wash off" those psychotic thoughts—even if they seem to be doing better right now. Time is such a critical factor, and those around them really need to understand that. It’s vital that the individual moves in a direction that feels right for them, while their support system remains confident that this path is leading toward actual recovery.

Personally, it took me a little over two years to clear out all that psychotic residue. The real tragedy is that this chaos usually hits people right when they are supposed to be finding their footing and carving out their place in the world.

I was lucky enough to have some self-control. I actually toyed with some pretty dark, perverse content and practically drove myself to the brink of madness. Once I realized how destructive that was, I did the exact opposite. I suppose I was lucky enough to succeed at being paradoxical—just as I had turned health into sickness, I worked to turn my illness back toward health because I knew what was hurting me. Despite spending two incredibly important years in a near-vegetative state, I eventually landed a great job, enrolled in another college program, and started working as someone who cares for others. I say all this with a grain of salt, though, because psychosis is a brutal thing and there is no guaranteed cure or outcome. But there is always hope. 🙂

The diagnosis is F20.0.
He got sick 7 years ago, when he was 18. Those first three years were a total disaster. Then things got slightly better for the next two years; he even worked those two seasons (barely, and only because I talked him into it). He didn't work this season. He had hallucinations, then claimed they were gone, so at one point he just stopped taking his pills on his own (stuck with the injections), and claims he hasn't had hallucinations since. His doctor cleared him from the pills. So yeah, it's been about two years like that.
He's put on a ton of weight. I know it's a side effect of the meds, but this is getting ridiculous (maybe around 170-175 lbs?), and now I'm worried he'll develop other issues because of the weight. He hardly goes anywhere because he doesn't feel like walking around town. He just stays at the vacation house because he likes walking in nature, but mostly he just plays computer games.
And so life goes on...

For those of you on antipsychotics, when are you actually taking yours—morning or night?

The Psychiatrist who first put me on Risperidone told me to take it in the morning, but then the private Psychiatrist I saw later suggested switching to nighttime.

Right now, I'm taking 1mg of Risperidone at night.

Joshua Parker76 said:For those of you on antipsychotics, when are you actually taking yours—morning or night?

The Psychiatrist who first put me on Risperidone told me to take it in the morning, but then the private Psychiatrist I saw later suggested switching to nighttime.

Right now, I'm taking 1mg of Risperidone at night.

I take Seroquel right before bed, so definitely in the evening.
Personally, I think nighttime is the better option since drowsiness is pretty much the main side effect with almost all antipsychotics.
Though, honestly, 1mg of Risperdal is such a tiny dose that it might not even be enough to make you sleepy. 🤷

Harold Anderson3 said:I take Seroquel right before bed, so definitely in the evening.
Personally, I think nighttime is the better option since drowsiness is pretty much the main side effect with almost all antipsychotics.
Though, honestly, 1mg of Risperdal is such a tiny dose that it might not even be enough to make you sleepy. 🤷

Alright, thanks.

Joshua Parker76 said:For those of you on antipsychotics, when are you actually taking yours—morning or night?

The Psychiatrist who first put me on Risperidone told me to take it in the morning, but then the private Psychiatrist I saw later suggested switching to nighttime.

Right now, I'm taking 1mg of Risperidone at night.

So, here’s the breakdown for today: two in the morning, one at lunch, one in the afternoon, and one before bed—that makes five doses of Abilify in total. 😵