Schizophrenia - General Discussion

Eric Mitchell55 said:How long does someone usually have to deal with an acute psychotic disorder featuring schizophrenic symptoms before it officially gets diagnosed as schizophrenia?
I’ve had this nagging thought pop into my head a few times now—this fear that people are going to tell me I have schizophrenia.
Just recently, I went through another psychotic episode, dealing with both positive and some negative symptoms.

Honestly, I’m genuinely terrified of being labeled with schizophrenia. I can't help but worry about how that stigma might ripple through my entire life. I'm turning 19 soon, and I’ve spent so much time building up these big dreams that I want to chase at any cost. If they slap that label on me, I feel like everything I've worked for will just vanish, and I'll be forced to pivot to a completely different path in life.

Life really can suck sometimes.

You are an adult now; speak candidly with your psychiatrist and ask them directly.

Besides, consider which scenario is worse:
Living with constant Schizoaffective Disorder and one psychotic breakdown a year, or having Schizophrenia that remains stable and in remission?
It isn't about "labeling" you; it's about how you actually feel, whether you can function, and how well you respond to treatment.😉

driftinggull21 said:You are an adult now; speak candidly with your psychiatrist and ask them directly.

Besides, consider which scenario is worse:
Living with constant Schizoaffective Disorder and one psychotic breakdown a year, or having Schizophrenia that remains stable and in remission?
It isn't about "labeling" you; it's about how you actually feel, whether you can function, and how well you respond to treatment.😉

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there. To be honest, I don't much care what the official diagnosis is as long as I can manage my life reasonably well. My main worry is just how this might affect things down the road, like getting into college or finding a solid career path.

Eric Mitchell55 said:I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there. To be honest, I don't much care what the official diagnosis is as long as I can manage my life reasonably well. My main worry is just how this might affect things down the road, like getting into college or finding a solid career path.

As far as I know, most universities don't require medical clearance.🤷
I just hope you aren't planning on becoming a pilot or an air traffic controller.😬

driftinggull21 said:As far as I know, most universities don't require medical clearance.🤷
I just hope you aren't planning on becoming a pilot or an air traffic controller.😬

Well, it's not quite that extreme... I'm actually looking to get into maritime work.☕

Noah Garcia4 said:He’s been MIA for three days now 🙄🙄🙄, so I finally went ahead and printed out the summons—though why I didn't do that sooner is anyone's guess—and apparently, he’s been cheating on me for three years straight (which he finally admitted)
🙂I'm just trying to hold it together
while dealing with a guy who acts like some two-bit abusive thug
Honestly, I’m genuinely curious what the people reading this think—you know, the ones who are out there doing the exact same thing, whether it's being unfaithful or just being an absolute jerk... or maybe both 🙂🙂☕

And what exactly are you planning to do about it?

Larry Lewis said:And what exactly are you planning to do about it?

He’s been gone for eight days now, so I figured I’d just take it slow... a little bit at a time... it’s not like I’m going to resort to physical force or anything.🤷😉
I must have messed something up... he hasn't been around since January 14th, 2013.👍

Hang in there, honey...😢 I’m reading this and I honestly cannot believe it.😲 What a complete jerk... what a piece of work. Just take a deep breath and try to stay calm. Please don't let him ruin your peace of mind. I know you've been doing so well staying in remission lately, and it would be such a tragedy to let him trigger a setback. I get it, though—it is incredibly hard to keep your cool when someone treats you like this—but honestly? If he ever tries to crawl back, let him go find someone else to bother. He doesn't deserve you, period. Men like that don't deserve forgiveness. I am just so incredibly sorry...😢

William Evans10 said:Hang in there, honey...😢 I’m reading this and I honestly cannot believe it.😲 What a complete jerk... what a piece of work. Just take a deep breath and try to stay calm. Please don't let him ruin your peace of mind. I know you've been doing so well staying in remission lately, and it would be such a tragedy to let him trigger a setback. I get it, though—it is incredibly hard to keep your cool when someone treats you like this—but honestly? If he ever tries to crawl back, let him go find someone else to bother. He doesn't deserve you, period. Men like that don't deserve forgiveness. I am just so incredibly sorry...😢

Yeah, yeah, now that’s a done deal. 👍 Don't sweat it; I'm holding my own just fine.

Posts have been moved from the thread about experiences and recommendations.

fadedlynx96 said:How old are they, and how long have they been dealing with a paranoid schizophrenia diagnosis? Also, how many times have they ended up in the hospital?

The silver lining here is that it's actually possible to fully recover (I was diagnosed with it myself, and I'm pretty much back to being my normal self now).

If things don't stabilize within a year, then honestly, medication might be the only real way to help...

Usually, with this kind of diagnosis, most therapists won't even take someone on for psychotherapy (maybe things have changed lately, who knows?). It just doesn't make sense to try...

The diagnosis was made three years ago, and since then, she’s had three major episodes—by which I mean periods where she genuinely believes people are following her and eavesdropping on her. These episodes usually last between a month and two months, and everything settles down if she stays on a regular regimen, though that obviously involves a heavy dose of sleep aids. Right now, she's doing okay and is fully aware of everything that happened; she's facing it head-on. I guess I just wanted to reach out and see if anyone else could offer some insight, maybe get a second opinion from a doctor in a place like Los Angeles, just to see if there's still a chance for a full recovery...

Sandra Myers7 said:Posts have been moved from the thread about experiences and recommendations.

The diagnosis was made three years ago, and since then, she’s had three major episodes—by which I mean periods where she genuinely believes people are following her and eavesdropping on her. These episodes usually last between a month and two months, and everything settles down if she stays on a regular regimen, though that obviously involves a heavy dose of sleep aids. Right now, she's doing okay and is fully aware of everything that happened; she's facing it head-on. I guess I just wanted to reach out and see if anyone else could offer some insight, maybe get a second opinion from a doctor in a place like Los Angeles, just to see if there's still a chance for a full recovery...

I am no psychiatrist, but my understanding is that any case of schizophrenia or psychotic schizophrenia is treated aggressively immediately following the first hospitalization because the whole point is to prevent the next episode from happening.
After three episodes, it's hard to say. I suspect the medication she’s on isn't actually for sleep, but rather antipsychotics, though you should probably ask her doctor to clarify why they aren't.
There is an entire spectrum of typical and atypical antipsychotics designed to manage almost any kind of psychosis, provided they are taken consistently. If one doesn't work, there are more than ten others to try. While many cause drowsiness, those aren't sleep aids. Sleeping pills have nothing to do with treating paranoid schizophrenia or similar conditions.
I personally cycled through various antipsychotics until I finally found one that worked, or perhaps I simply mastered the art of appearing normal.
In her situation, the objective is likely preventing the next breakdown, and it will be up to her doctor to decide if long-term antipsychotic use is necessary or if medication should only be used when a psychotic episode begins.

Sandra Myers7 said:Posts have been moved from the thread about experiences and recommendations.

The diagnosis was made three years ago, and since then, she’s had three major episodes—by which I mean periods where she genuinely believes people are following her and eavesdropping on her. These episodes usually last between a month and two months, and everything settles down if she stays on a regular regimen, though that obviously involves a heavy dose of sleep aids. Right now, she's doing okay and is fully aware of everything that happened; she's facing it head-on. I guess I just wanted to reach out and see if anyone else could offer some insight, maybe get a second opinion from a doctor in a place like Los Angeles, just to see if there's still a chance for a full recovery...

What exactly does "recovery" look like to you?

Typically, after a third psychotic breakdown, lifelong medication is prescribed. But then again, rules are meant to be broken...
A trial period without psychiatric drugs might occasionally be offered to those who’ve experienced only a single psychotic episode with positive symptoms of schizophrenia, provided they remained symptom-free during a year of maintenance therapy. Beyond that, it's usually long-term or lifelong...

Psychotherapy isn't really an option while someone is in an acute phase. Once the condition stabilizes, though, it definitely is recommended...

EDIT: Given the circumstances, you should seek a second opinion from a psychiatrist, not just a psychologist...
Also, it doesn't necessarily have to be a private specialist. You could reach out to state facilities, like those in Queens or similar public hospitals, or even the Mayo Clinic... unless you specifically prefer a private practice...

I’m honestly not even sure how to put what’s going on right now into words, but it’s just heavy... really depressing. There’s this constant, nagging fear of being alone and this overwhelming feeling of being totally abandoned. It leads to a lot of mindless coffee and cigarette consumption, and I honestly don't know if that's even wise given everything else I'm doing with therapy... But basically, after those intense sessions where everything just comes pouring out, it feels like I can sleep through all the chaos that happened and just drift back into some kind of normal again...

Sandra Myers7 said:I’m honestly not even sure how to put what’s going on right now into words, but it’s just heavy... really depressing. There’s this constant, nagging fear of being alone and this overwhelming feeling of being totally abandoned. It leads to a lot of mindless coffee and cigarette consumption, and I honestly don't know if that's even wise given everything else I'm doing with therapy... But basically, after those intense sessions where everything just comes pouring out, it feels like I can sleep through all the chaos that happened and just drift back into some kind of normal again...

I assume this is a commentary on paranoid schizophrenia rather than simple anxiety.

Everything needs to be laid bare before a psychiatrist. You have to disclose every detail, every symptom, and every underlying issue, because a doctor can't possibly guess what's happening behind closed doors. It's the same story with medication side effects; one person might feel nothing while another struggles significantly. You absolutely must talk to the doctor instead of just quitting the treatment mid-stream, as they are the only ones equipped to evaluate all the variables and decide which medication is appropriate and for how long.
If my memory serves me, coffee and cigarettes aren't nearly as damaging as alcohol or marijuana, though chronic sleep deprivation remains a massive obstacle for these types of conditions.

fadedlynx96 said:I assume this is a commentary on paranoid schizophrenia rather than simple anxiety.

Everything needs to be laid bare before a psychiatrist. You have to disclose every detail, every symptom, and every underlying issue, because a doctor can't possibly guess what's happening behind closed doors. It's the same story with medication side effects; one person might feel nothing while another struggles significantly. You absolutely must talk to the doctor instead of just quitting the treatment mid-stream, as they are the only ones equipped to evaluate all the variables and decide which medication is appropriate and for how long.
If my memory serves me, coffee and cigarettes aren't nearly as damaging as alcohol or marijuana, though chronic sleep deprivation remains a massive obstacle for these types of conditions.

What does a "normal" amount of sleep even look like here? For example, she goes to bed around midnight, wakes up around 8 AM, and then takes a two-hour nap in the afternoon. But honestly, she can't get by without Normabals. She’s the only one who can skip them at night, but she has to take them during the day to sleep, otherwise, if she doesn't nap in the afternoon, she just spirals into a deeper depression...🤷

Sandra Myers7 said:What does a "normal" amount of sleep even look like here? For example, she goes to bed around midnight, wakes up around 8 AM, and then takes a two-hour nap in the afternoon. But honestly, she can't get by without Normabals. She’s the only one who can skip them at night, but she has to take them during the day to sleep, otherwise, if she doesn't nap in the afternoon, she just spirals into a deeper depression...🤷

That’s a question for a psychiatrist; I’m certainly not one.

Personally, I find ten hours of sleep a day to be excessive, and if someone has to rely on medication just to force a two-hour nap in the afternoon, that doesn't strike me as a sustainable solution. There are plenty of medications out there designed to treat depression or schizophrenia without making sleep an issue.
Usually, sedation is reserved only for those critical cases where nothing else works; sleeping through the day because of heavy medication isn't actual treatment, it's just buying time until a drug finally kicks in. But based on everything you’ve laid out, she isn't exactly a critical case if she's just sitting at home.
Then again, if surviving on a two-hour afternoon nap is enough to get you through the day, maybe there simply isn't a better way to live.

Met a girl on a dating app recently and she told me she’s living with schizophrenia... we're around the same age... her story really hit me hard, she says she's only hanging on for the sake of her brothers... I offered my friendship and I truly care, I feel like I can actually help her somehow... She's beautiful, and honestly, I've never had any trouble finding a girlfriend myself, but that's not the point here... Her life is just so heavy, and knowing everyone abandoned her after she got sick at 18... I want to fight for people like this... I want to help... I just don't know what I'm getting myself into... After talking for a bit, she already told me she loves me... well, of course she would say that given everything she's going through... I spend so much time talking to her... sometimes I'm actually scared to be Salty with her because I don't know how she'll react.... But I'm never going to walk away from her as a friend... I'd even give her more than just friendship... I believe every illness can be cured because sickness doesn't come from God, it comes from Satan... I lived in Lourdes once... and I saw with my own eyes that healing is possible... If I could only take her there... maybe a miracle would happen, maybe not... but anything is possible....

Ronald Wilson2 said:Met a girl on a dating app recently and she told me she’s living with schizophrenia... we're around the same age... her story really hit me hard, she says she's only hanging on for the sake of her brothers... I offered my friendship and I truly care, I feel like I can actually help her somehow... She's beautiful, and honestly, I've never had any trouble finding a girlfriend myself, but that's not the point here... Her life is just so heavy, and knowing everyone abandoned her after she got sick at 18... I want to fight for people like this... I want to help... I just don't know what I'm getting myself into... After talking for a bit, she already told me she loves me... well, of course she would say that given everything she's going through... I spend so much time talking to her... sometimes I'm actually scared to be Salty with her because I don't know how she'll react.... But I'm never going to walk away from her as a friend... I'd even give her more than just friendship... I believe every illness can be cured because sickness doesn't come from God, it comes from Satan... I lived in Lourdes once... and I saw with my own eyes that healing is possible... If I could only take her there... maybe a miracle would happen, maybe not... but anything is possible....

When dealing with schizophrenia, medication is the only real answer. Please don't bring up Satan or God; religious themes can actually make things worse for certain types of schizophrenic patients.

The reality is that medication is the only thing that works, and the hardest part is when they start making statements about only living for their family or some other external reason instead of themselves.

If you actually want to be helpful, make sure she stays consistent with her meds and attends all her appointments at places like the Mayo Clinic. Just talk to her like a normal person; don't spend the whole time treating her like a patient. There are plenty of other topics to discuss besides her diagnosis.

And whatever you do, don't take advantage of her vulnerability for your own physical gratification.

fadedlynx96 said:When dealing with schizophrenia, medication is the only real answer. Please don't bring up Satan or God; religious themes can actually make things worse for certain types of schizophrenic patients.

The reality is that medication is the only thing that works, and the hardest part is when they start making statements about only living for their family or some other external reason instead of themselves.

If you actually want to be helpful, make sure she stays consistent with her meds and attends all her appointments at places like the Mayo Clinic. Just talk to her like a normal person; don't spend the whole time treating her like a patient. There are plenty of other topics to discuss besides her diagnosis.

And whatever you do, don't take advantage of her vulnerability for your own physical gratification.

I couldn't agree more. Look, Tony, I understand that faith is important to you, but please, for the sake of her safety, do not even indirectly suggest that she can skip her medication because a trip to Lourdes will somehow cure her. Or worse, don't imply that there is some presence of Satan dwelling within her—I truly don't want to imagine the psychological fallout that kind of suggestion could trigger in someone battling psychosis. It’s clear that you care and genuinely want to help, but I urge you to be more pragmatic here. If you aren't careful, you'll end up causing far more harm than good, and I am certain that isn't your intention.

I officially filed my divorce papers today at the Los Angeles County Superior Court 🙂 ☕

Ronald Wilson2 said:Met a girl on a dating app recently and she told me she’s living with schizophrenia... we're around the same age... her story really hit me hard, she says she's only hanging on for the sake of her brothers... I offered my friendship and I truly care, I feel like I can actually help her somehow... She's beautiful, and honestly, I've never had any trouble finding a girlfriend myself, but that's not the point here... Her life is just so heavy, and knowing everyone abandoned her after she got sick at 18... I want to fight for people like this... I want to help... I just don't know what I'm getting myself into... After talking for a bit, she already told me she loves me... well, of course she would say that given everything she's going through... I spend so much time talking to her... sometimes I'm actually scared to be Salty with her because I don't know how she'll react.... But I'm never going to walk away from her as a friend... I'd even give her more than just friendship... I believe every illness can be cured because sickness doesn't come from God, it comes from Satan... I lived in Lourdes once... and I saw with my own eyes that healing is possible... If I could only take her there... maybe a miracle would happen, maybe not... but anything is possible....

It's commendable that you want to be a friend and support her. Most people run from that kind of responsibility. I don't want to scare you, but since you admitted you don't know what you're stepping into, you need to hear this: schizophrenia, like most mental illnesses, is incurable, and 50% of patients commit suicide. No matter how attractive she is, do not initiate sex. People with these conditions often have a lowered libido due to the illness itself or the medication; you have to let her decide when it happens. If you aren't being honest and you're just looking to get under her skirt, you will only make things worse.