Schizophrenia - General Discussion

slystag43 said:You're wasting your breath. You know the world is headed toward a Star Trek future where love won't even be necessary... 🙂

So, apparently my luck has finally turned—everything is suddenly coming up roses. Now I’m supposed to believe that some big-shot specialist at one of those fancy clinics is going to fix me right up? And to top it all off, the doctor is supposedly stunning... and here's the kicker—she actually *likes* me, precisely because of this gut—this "extra padding" I've been carrying around lately. Honestly, it feels like a bad joke.🙂

Larry Lewis said:So, apparently my luck has finally turned—everything is suddenly coming up roses. Now I’m supposed to believe that some big-shot specialist at one of those fancy clinics is going to fix me right up? And to top it all off, the doctor is supposedly stunning... and here's the kicker—she actually *likes* me, precisely because of this gut—this "extra padding" I've been carrying around lately. Honestly, it feels like a bad joke.🙂

Go ahead and perform your own self-analysis; you have plenty of damn room to do it...
Technically, a psychiatrist isn't permitted to practice psychotherapy until they have completed their own training in it...

Sigmund Freud was a pioneer of psychoanalysis, fundamentally altering how we perceive the human subconscious... his theories remain both controversial and foundational to modern psychology.

Nice.

☕

🙂

I really can’t bring myself to sit through any more psychological evaluations—honestly, I have no idea if I’m actually losing my grip or if I’m perfectly sane, and besides, I don't exactly find my own internal monologue to be that riveting anyway.🙂

Larry Lewis said:It’s all highly individual, really—you basically have to play a long game of trial and error until you find something that doesn't make you feel like a zombie. My diagnosis is F20.0.

As for Zyprexa—well, it works, and there's plenty of evidence to back that up—but Solian? I can't say for sure. It kept me steady for a little while, but then it just... fizzled out. It became completely ineffective, so after talking it over with my doctor, we decided to switch gears.

From what I can gather, a massive number of patients are on Zyprexa and find relief; the one big caveat you have to watch out for is how easily it can cause weight gain. It's a real struggle.

And regarding Solian—I know a few people who were put on it as a therapy, only to have it pulled from their regimen almost as quickly as it was started, much like my own experience.

Thanks! I don't take it anymore, but a friend of mine does. I've noticed she’s constantly sleepy—like, you could say almost anything to her and she wouldn't even flinch—plus she seems forgetful and just totally numb to everything going on around her. She takes two 400 mg tablets a day.

I was on Zyprexa for a while and honestly, besides putting on a few extra pounds, I didn't deal with any side effects... but this Solian stuff? Never even heard of it. 🤷

Fine then, I’m out. My husband thinks this forum is messing with my prognosis, so I'm leaving... see you one day eventually. 👋

slystag43 said:Fine then, I’m out. My husband thinks this forum is messing with my prognosis, so I'm leaving... see you one day eventually. 👋

Best of luck!

What happens when someone diagnosed with schizophrenia is prescribed an antidepressant, like Lexapro? Does it actually lead to any noticeable improvement, or is Lexapro completely ineffective in these cases?

Question number two: what is the typical duration for manic episodes versus periods of stability? Is it possible for a person to remain stable for months while the psychotic episodes only last a few days? Or does schizophrenia typically involve much longer bouts of instability?

Thanks for the insight.

Timothy Cruz6 said:What happens when someone diagnosed with schizophrenia is prescribed an antidepressant, like Lexapro? Does it actually lead to any noticeable improvement, or is Lexapro completely ineffective in these cases?

Question number two: what is the typical duration for manic episodes versus periods of stability? Is it possible for a person to remain stable for months while the psychotic episodes only last a few days? Or does schizophrenia typically involve much longer bouts of instability?

Thanks for the insight.

1. Lexapro alone certainly won't yield significant improvement for true schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is treated with antipsychotics; antidepressants are introduced only extremely rarely, very cautiously, and on a highly selective basis.

2. There is no set rule. It is entirely possible for a period of good remission to last months or even years, while an acute phase might last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. Everything depends on how the patient responds to treatment.

driftinggull21 said:1. Lexapro alone certainly won't yield significant improvement for true schizophrenia. Schizophrenia is treated with antipsychotics; antidepressants are introduced only extremely rarely, very cautiously, and on a highly selective basis.

2. There is no set rule. It is entirely possible for a period of good remission to last months or even years, while an acute phase might last anywhere from a few days to a couple of weeks. Everything depends on how the patient responds to treatment.

I don't get why you're acting like it's weird that people can stay in remission for years. Honestly, if the treatment 🙂
is working right, I think someone could stay in a "normal" phase for decades.

Henry Garcia9 said:I don't get why you're acting like it's weird that people can stay in remission for years. Honestly, if the treatment 🙂
is working right, I think someone could stay in a "normal" phase for decades.

It is likely a result of professional bias. 😉However, you are correct; remission can last for decades. The issue arises when patients abruptly cease their medication under the false impression they are cured, leading to decompensation within two weeks.😢

Spot on. It’s a messy situation. But maybe once they get burned, they’ll finally realize they can't just wing it without medication... though some people probably spend years living in total denial, basically just sabotaging themselves at this point.

Take me, for example. I stopped my meds once, got hit hard by the symptoms, and I haven't even thought about pulling that stunt again. Now I'm just living a normal life—thank God—totally symptom-free thanks to staying on my therapy. And honestly, I think this stability is here to stay, since I've been feeling this good for a couple of years now. 🙂

Henry Garcia9 said:Spot on. It’s a messy situation. But maybe once they get burned, they’ll finally realize they can't just wing it without medication... though some people probably spend years living in total denial, basically just sabotaging themselves at this point.

Take me, for example. I stopped my meds once, got hit hard by the symptoms, and I haven't even thought about pulling that stunt again. Now I'm just living a normal life—thank God—totally symptom-free thanks to staying on my therapy. And honestly, I think this stability is here to stay, since I've been feeling this good for a couple of years now. 🙂

Good for you; you're setting a great example by following the right path.
I actually went through something similar myself, though back then my diagnosis was just an F-22, which isn't technically classified as true scleroderma, before I eventually got the official F-20.0 diagnosis in writing.🙂
I know a colleague of mine who's a bit older, well over 40, and he's certainly a bright guy, but he keeps stopping his medication every two or three years and ending up back in the hospital, and he's been stuck in that cycle for years.🤷

Does anyone have any information regarding the Poreč Urios Association?
I’m asking on behalf of my brother, who is currently battling this illness...

Harold Anderson3 said:Good for you; you're setting a great example by following the right path.
I actually went through something similar myself, though back then my diagnosis was just an F-22, which isn't technically classified as true scleroderma, before I eventually got the official F-20.0 diagnosis in writing.🙂
I know a colleague of mine who's a bit older, well over 40, and he's certainly a bright guy, but he keeps stopping his medication every two or three years and ending up back in the hospital, and he's been stuck in that cycle for years.🤷

What's the long-term outlook for a 20.0? I guess I'm wondering if things tend to stabilize as you get older, or if it's just something you struggle with for life. Also, is it possible to qualify for some kind of disability if someone can't work for three days straight? Thanks for any insight.

neontrucker23 said:What's the long-term outlook for a 20.0? I guess I'm wondering if things tend to stabilize as you get older, or if it's just something you struggle with for life. Also, is it possible to qualify for some kind of disability if someone can't work for three days straight? Thanks for any insight.

This is a chronic, lifelong condition.
Disability claims are handled by USA Swimming (provided you meet their specific criteria), so you should contact them directly.

Look, I’m not out here hunting for a disability check, but what kind of specific hoops do you actually have to jump through? Besides just being sick, obviously. Is it common for these claims to get tossed out? Because my take is that if someone is actively getting treatment, they can usually hold it together pretty well... I mean, nobody stays in a full-blown psychotic break 24/7 while they're dealing with an illness. Plus, for most other issues, there's a whole pharmacy of meds out there to keep things steady...

Henry Garcia9 said:Look, I’m not out here hunting for a disability check, but what kind of specific hoops do you actually have to jump through? Besides just being sick, obviously. Is it common for these claims to get tossed out? Because my take is that if someone is actively getting treatment, they can usually hold it together pretty well... I mean, nobody stays in a full-blown psychotic break 24/7 while they're dealing with an illness. Plus, for most other issues, there's a whole pharmacy of meds out there to keep things steady...

You have to pass a medical evaluation by a board to establish total disability. Generally, this requires a severe impairment or significant, permanent changes to one's health, whether physical or mental.
There is also an income threshold to consider (I am not certain of the exact amount, but I believe your income cannot exceed $600 roughly—I would need to verify the specifics with USA Swimming). Personal disability benefits are $417/month.
Additionally, there is an allowance for caregiver assistance which is $350 or $167/month. This benefit is granted more frequently than standard disability. The process is identical: a formal evaluation by a medical board.

Hey, you absolute lunatics—where have you all been hiding? How are those crazy heads of yours doing?🙂

Larry Lewis said:Hey, you absolute lunatics—where have you all been hiding? How are those crazy heads of yours doing?🙂

Hey friend, I'm doing alright over here—just riding a bit of a hypomanic wave, I suppose. 🙂I just hope this lasts. So, when are we finally grabbing a drink? And please, don't go thinking I'm asking that rhetorically. 😉