Schizophrenia - General Discussion

Michelle Smith8 said:I mean, things are technically "better" since the psychosis has cleared up, but honestly? I feel pretty terrible. My appetite is nonexistent and I’ve just been retreating into my own shell lately. Really hoping I can start feeling like a functioning human being again soon.

Psychosis is a trip—it’s like being trapped in a maze where you either need meds to find the exit, sheer willpower, or just someone to hold you and offer some warmth. It's that constant struggle to drown out the delusions—which aren't even real, just noise—by trying to focus on something beautiful while the madness keeps clawing at your brain...

Take my latest episode, for example: I walk into a Starbucks, order a coffee, and just stand there chatting with the baristas for a bit. Then, about five minutes later, the paranoia hits. Everything feels off, like something is looming, and suddenly I'm spiraling. I try to pull myself back, and right then, my buddy Mike calls me—all happy because he's heading out—and I end up telling him why I was tripping. I just told him it was "bad vibes," so now I avoid places where I pick up those bad vibrations and the onset of psychosis...

I could go on forever☕ but you also have to pray🙏 that it passes—while staying disciplined with the meds, of course...👍

Michelle Smith8 said:I mean, things are technically "better" since the psychosis has cleared up, but honestly? I feel pretty terrible. My appetite is nonexistent and I’ve just been retreating into my own shell lately. Really hoping I can start feeling like a functioning human being again soon.

Are you taking any antidepressants right now? Because that could definitely be what's happening when you combine them with Lipitor. Just whatever you do, please don't stop the Lipitor and switch solely to antidepressants, since those can actually trigger more psychosis on their own. It might be a great idea to see if you can get switched over to Prozac, because if Lipitor works for you, they're made by the same pharmaceutical company. And look, it’s actually pretty standard to hit this depressive slump once the psychosis starts to settle down.🙂 Everything is going to turn out fine.

milo- if an antipsychotic just isn't working for you and the side effects are hitting too hard, why don't you just sit down with your psychiatrist and lay it all out? tell them everything... there are plenty of other options and different meds out there, you know?

That’s exactly how it works. You really can't afford to shy away from those tough conversations, and it is absolutely vital that you stay incredibly specific when you're describing your symptoms to your doctor because that is truly the only way they can accurately gauge what kind of treatment you actually need. ☕

...even if you feel like your psychiatrist just isn't on your side or doesn't really know their stuff, you've totally got the right to find someone else.

I’ve been on paroxetine for a bit now, and man, the dry mouth is no joke. It’s gotten to the point where I can barely even eat anything. Honestly, I feel my best once night rolls around and I can just crash and sleep through it.

Does anyone else find themselves sleeping through the day because of their meds... I’ve been out for hours at a stretch lately

Some nights I can sleep for ages, but other times I’m basically reaching for the Xanax just to get some shut-eye

Michelle Smith8 said:Some nights I can sleep for ages, but other times I’m basically reaching for the Xanax just to get some shut-eye

I’m right there with you—sleeping for ages and still feeling like I can't wake up. It makes you wonder why we get stuck in that trance—is it the meds? Or maybe the insomnia caused by the meds themselves? I've noticed that when I'm truly exhausted, my brain just refuses to shut down. Everything feels completely out of sync...

Hey, have you tried just praying consistently before bed? It works for me—I usually lie there clutching my rosary, praying until I finally pass out.👍 🙏 Just drifting off peacefully...

Do you guys deal with those brutal nightmares? The kind where you wake up drenched in sweat, heart racing, or just totally spooked—maybe even seeing things that aren't there...
I usually have to smoke a few cigarettes just to settle my nerves when that happens. It’s a regular occurrence for me.

crimsonjackal1 said:That’s exactly how it works. You really can't afford to shy away from those tough conversations, and it is absolutely vital that you stay incredibly specific when you're describing your symptoms to your doctor because that is truly the only way they can accurately gauge what kind of treatment you actually need. ☕

Yeah, just like you said—being upfront with a psychiatrist is better for everyone involved. It leads to actual treatment instead of guesswork.

Donna Sullivan7 said:...even if you feel like your psychiatrist just isn't on your side or doesn't really know their stuff, you've totally got the right to find someone else.

You hit the nail on the head there—definitely true.👍

Lucius, so what’s the official diagnosis on your end?

I’ve got an F20 diagnosis and some F43 mixed in there—I know exactly what the first one covers, but the second one is still a total mystery to me...

What's your situation, man?

Is F-43 considered PTSD?

Donna Sullivan7 said:Is F-43 considered PTSD?

How do you handle it when people bring up the Gulf War—do you get contacted by old vets? For me, some days I can watch stuff about it, and other days I just can't. I was scrolling through YouTube recently, watching clips from back then, and man... you wake up drenched in sweat. The scenes stay in your dreams. You find yourself reliving the whole thing—the grenades, the sound of a truck idling that hits just like a tank or a heavy firework... there's too much to even list, honestly.

Eric Brown23 said:How do you handle it when people bring up the Gulf War—do you get contacted by old vets? For me, some days I can watch stuff about it, and other days I just can't. I was scrolling through YouTube recently, watching clips from back then, and man... you wake up drenched in sweat. The scenes stay in your dreams. You find yourself reliving the whole thing—the grenades, the sound of a truck idling that hits just like a tank or a heavy firework... there's too much to even list, honestly.

-Yeah, same thing. Different packaging, same old story. Honestly, what gets to me most are these fake war heroes and people pretending they were injured in service... you see them all over the neighborhood... while sometimes my own indifference feels almost like I've gone numb...

...I’ve seen my fair share of combat and I was forced into retirement way too early, but honestly? The war got under my skin way deeper than any drug ever could... if they called me back tomorrow, I’d be there in a heartbeat, no hesitation at all...

...I just can't find the drive for anything. I can't seem to pull myself out of this total rut, and honestly, I don't see a future or any real goals anymore. I’m just existing, like a houseplant, except even they get photosynthesis... ever since the war, I haven't been the same person. There's just so much piled up on me, making everything feel heavy and pointless... I ended up with a pituitary injury—brain damage—so having kids is off the table, and on top of that, I contracted Hepatitis C during a blood transfusion when I was wounded. It just drains me, limits what I can physically do, and on top of the depression and all that other stuff, it just makes dealing with being sick feel even more overwhelming...

briskgull27 said:This condition is honestly so overwhelming that even doctors hesitate to officially write down an F20 diagnosis on your medical records.
I personally can't wrap my head around what exactly makes my experience so "abnormal," and truthfully, I don't even want to find out since it's a lifelong journey.
I've been dealing with this for ten years now.
People often compare managing it to living with diabetes.
It’s such a heavy burden that you'll occasionally run into someone offering "alternative" cures just to get their foot in the door.
A doctor friend of mine once explained that it's sometimes referred to as "cancer of the soul."
As for me, I don't really have any desire to fully embrace that "reality."
That's all for now! 👏
Would you actually want to have a close friend or a family member living with schizophrenia?

Looking back at several of your posts, it seems like you're really preoccupied with how everyone around you perceives you, isn't that right?
Why does it weigh on you so much—whether they judge you, accept you, or reject you? You have to realize that even "normal" people deal with these exact same questions and dilemmas. I know plenty of people in my circle who aren't fully accepted by those around them, but why let it bother you? That's just how society functions. Then again, there's another group of people who don't give a damn; they accept their environment exactly as it is and refuse to be rattled. You mentioned once wondering what would happen if you moved to a new neighborhood—how people would point fingers and whisper, "Look at that crazy person..." But honestly, the same thing would happen if it weren't you. If some guy from a different background, or someone of a different race, or anyone else perceived as an "outsider" by the status quo moved in, the reaction would be identical.
In this day and age, making a real friend is hard. We don't need hundreds of acquaintances; we just need one true friend. You already have your brother, your husband, and a few good friends—you're practically wealthy in social capital!
What more could you possibly want?