Psychosis

It all started during a season when I began experimenting with psychotic symptoms. After being away for about a month, the hallucinations finally made their appearance, which led me straight to the psychiatric ward at the Mayo Clinic. During my four-week stay there, they had me on a regimen consisting of an antipsychotic, an anxiolytic, and an antiparkinsonian medication. According to my medical records, the diagnosis is F23.2, an acute psychotic disorder similar to schizophrenia. I find myself wondering if my condition is actually curable. To be honest, I’m struggling to return to work right now; neither my doctor nor I can quite determine if what I'm feeling is genuine lethargy or just a lack of motivation. I have been on Abilify Mainten 400mg for about a year and a half now, along with Duloxetine—which started at 60mg before my doctor bumped up the dosage when he didn't see much progress. I am really curious to know if this is something one can fully recover from. Has anyone else here dealt with this specific diagnosis or these particular medications? I would truly appreciate any insight or experiences you might share.

George Wood?

I suspect the folks over on the psychology subforum will have more insight into this matter.

Kate Phillips71 said:It all started during a season when I was experimenting with psychotic episodes. After being away for a month, I came home and hallucinations just... began. I ended up in a psychiatric ward in Indianapolis, where they treated me with antipsychotics, anxiolytics, and antiparkinsonian medication. The treatment lasted four weeks. Well, according to the paperwork, my diagnosis is F23.2, an acute psychotic disorder similar to schizophrenia. Is my condition curable? And, frankly, I can't bring myself to work—I don't know if it's laziness or something else, neither I nor my doctor can say for sure—so I have been on Abilify Mainten 400mg for a year and a half, plus duloxetine, which started at 60mg before the doctor increased the dose when he saw no progress. Now I am wondering, is this curable? Does anyone have experience with this diagnosis or these medications? Please, help.

Are you dealing with visual or auditory hallucinations? Generally speaking, I would advise you to avoid any kind of drugs, because they can only intensify psychotic symptoms or accelerate the onset of more severe illnesses, like schizophrenia. A four-week stay is pretty standard for any psychiatric hospitalization, regardless of the specific illness; they call it being "under observation."

"Is my condition curable?" I think it isn't quite that simple. The most important thing is that you aren't currently in that acute phase of psychosis—that you aren't experiencing hallucinations and such. Personally, I have an F23.0 diagnosis. My thought is that once you receive a diagnosis, it cannot be cured in the traditional sense of the word; rather, it is something that can be kept under control through various medications. I know a friend who received an F23.1 diagnosis because he developed psychosis due to excessive marijuana and speed use. So, I am telling you, any psychoactive substances are a massive "no-no" for those with mental health conditions. That is just my own experience with psychological illnesses.

With that diagnosis, you have to learn how to live with it. You shouldn't tell everyone about it, because it is still a major taboo in our society. Regarding medication, I am currently taking Zalasta, Zoloft, and Xanax. Since receiving my diagnosis three or four years ago, I have gained 30kg. I sleep a minimum of 12 to 15 hours a day... I also struggle with what feels like laziness....

There isn't much left for you to do except take care of yourself and fight for your health.

nimblemaker5 said:Are you experiencing visual disturbances or more of an auditory issue? Just as a bit of friendly advice, I would strongly suggest staying far away from any kind of recreational drugs; they can easily intensify psychotic symptoms or even accelerate the onset of more serious conditions like schizophrenia. In my experience, when someone is admitted to a psychiatric facility here in the States, a four-week stay is pretty much the standard protocol regardless of the specific diagnosis—it's simply what they refer to as the "observation period."

Is there hope for my condition to be fully resolved? I don't think it's quite that simple, really. In my view, the most critical factor is simply ensuring you aren't currently trapped in that acute phase of psychosis—meaning you aren't dealing with active hallucinations or anything of that nature. I personally live with an F23 diagnosis, and if there is one thing I have learned, it is that once you receive a diagnosis like this, it isn't something you "cure" in the traditional sense of the word. Instead, it is about managing the condition and keeping everything under control through various medications. I actually have a close friend who was diagnosed with F23.1 after he developed psychosis following heavy use of marijuana and speed. Based on what I have gathered from my own experiences navigating mental health issues, I can tell you that any kind of psychoactive substance is a massive "no-no" for anyone dealing with these types of conditions.

With a diagnosis like yours, you really have to learn how to navigate life on your own terms; there’s no need to go around sharing it with everyone you meet, especially since people can be quite judgmental. I’ve been thinking quite a bit lately about how certain topics remain strictly off-limits in polite conversation, almost like unwritten rules that everyone follows without even questioning them. It’s fascinating, really, how we navigate these social minefields just to keep things running smoothly. I remember back when I was living in Indianapolis, I once found myself in a situation at a local coffee shop where someone accidentally brought up a topic so sensitive that the entire room seemed to collectively hold its breath for a second. It was such a quiet, heavy moment, yet it perfectly illustrated how much power these unspoken boundaries actually hold over our daily interactions. There is something deeply intriguing about the way society constructs these invisible walls to protect itself from discomfort, wouldn't you agree? In my current circle, I’ve been managing things with a combination of Zalasta, Zoloft, and Xanax. Ever since I received my diagnosis about three or four years ago, I’ve struggled with some significant physical changes, most notably gaining about 65 pounds. On top of that, I find myself sleeping at least 12 to 15 hours a day, and I’ve been dealing with a persistent sense of lethargy that makes everything feel like quite an uphill battle.

At this point, you really don't have any other choice but to look out for yourself and fight tooth and nail for your own health.

About two years ago, I was dealing with both visual and auditory hallucinations, but thankfully, that part of my life is firmly behind me. My period of substance use only lasted about two months before I decided to stop entirely.
Regarding the possibility of full recovery, my doctor mentioned that it is actually quite achievable to taper off all medications entirely, provided I remain symptom-free for a solid year and a half.
I’ve been on Abilify Mainten at the 300mg dose for a while now, having previously been on 400mg, and I have to admit that the weight gain has been quite a struggle; I ended up gaining about 90 pounds in just a single year. Because of that, my doctor is finally pivoting my treatment plan. I’ll be starting Zeldox, which I'm supposed to take in the evening with a meal, and they are planning to phase out the Abilify Mainten injections entirely.

Kate Phillips71 said:It was both visual and auditory hallucinations nearly two years ago. I am no longer using those substances. That period of drug use lasted only about two months.
Regarding recovery, my doctor mentioned it is possible to taper off all medications entirely, provided I remain symptom-free for a full eighteen months.
Currently, I am on 300mg of Abilify Mainten, though I was previously at 400mg; in just one year, I managed to gain roughly 90 pounds. My doctor is now adjusting my treatment. I take Zeldox in the evening with food, and he plans to discontinue the Abilify Mainten injections.

It is good to hear there is some progress toward getting better. 👍