Schizophrenia - General Discussion

I think I’ve had my fill of this forum for now. Catch you later, alligators. 👋

Alright, let's hear it—who among you actually managed to pull through their illness? Or is everyone just waiting around until we all get drafted for service in Israel?☕

Noah Garcia4 said:I’m facing a different kind of struggle regarding this condition. I’ve made so many foolish mistakes, gone overboard so many times, and hurt or offended so many people—not to mention how often I’ve lashed out with incredibly reckless things to say—that I don't think I could ever truly make amends or fix my reputation in this lifetime. It’s just an inescapable reality. For a long time, I’ve tried to be considerate, to remain as calm as possible, and to be completely transparent about what I’m going through. But the truth is, most people simply don't have the stomach to deal with those volatile phases. So now, where does that leave my social life? I find I have no desire to be around them, and frankly, they have no desire to be around me. It is what it is. I think you all understand what I mean. 😉☕

That isn't on you—you were doing all that while you were sick.

When you're dealing with psychosis, you just lose control over yourself.

David Vaughn75 said:That isn't on you—you were doing all that while you were sick.

When you're dealing with psychosis, you just lose control over yourself.

When we discuss schizophrenia, there is this massive, looming question: who is actually responsible for what happens? It’s a heavy thought, isn't it? The reality is that in certain segments—those who remain more lucid or grounded—some people with schizophrenia still use their diagnosis as an alibi for everything they've done or intend to do.
It is not easy, nor is it simple, to focus on just one tiny slice of treatment or the state of these patients without writing entire books about it!
For instance, if we look at it broadly, the world experience for a neurotic person is essentially driven by fear, but for someone in a state of psychosis... well, it's something else entirely. It's almost like the difference between life and death itself.
Such a patient often places themselves in situations for which absolutely no one is prepared. These patients frequently exhibit a kind of negativity or a total void of communication—a complete lack of interaction—because, first, they don't have it, and second, they simply don't know what is expected of them. And isn't that, at its core, the heart of the problem?
Is it true that psychotic people cannot control themselves? Partially, yes. But through clinical practice, one might argue that it isn't entirely true either.
Any truly attentive therapist will strive to accept, to understand, and to attempt—in their own subjective way—to qualify the patient.
I would argue that in psychotic individuals, the emergence of transference, or perhaps what we might call "meaningfulness," is entirely possible.
The goal is to provide everyone with sufficient time and knowledge. During that preparatory phase of therapy, all that chaos, the incoherence, the frustrations, the terror, and the various forms of resistance and defense... the aim is to eventually use all of that as raw material. Through this, the therapist can extract—working in partnership with the patient, of course—some form of creative insight into understanding and healing. Naturally, when this happens, the therapist's ambitions grow. But in the feedback loop, there often aren't enough answers to validate those ambitions.
The therapist—the doctor—offers the psychotic patient a model of communication and tries to steer them toward a specific goal; this is where transference appears. But the patient resists! They want their own specific way of communicating (for example, a patient might insist on talking about flowers instead of discussing their mother, and so on).
In truth, the patient is placing themselves in a situation for which they are unprepared. And it is right here that we frequently encounter barriers to any further therapy.
Individual therapy for psychosis is arguably one of the most difficult forms of treatment in existence. Doctors say that anyone who hasn't tried treating such a patient doesn't understand the limitless "greed and insatiability" of a patient seeking to satisfy their own needs.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:When we discuss schizophrenia, there is this massive, looming question: who is actually responsible for what happens? It’s a heavy thought, isn't it? The reality is that in certain segments—those who remain more lucid or grounded—some people with schizophrenia still use their diagnosis as an alibi for everything they've done or intend to do.
It is not easy, nor is it simple, to focus on just one tiny slice of treatment or the state of these patients without writing entire books about it!
For instance, if we look at it broadly, the world experience for a neurotic person is essentially driven by fear, but for someone in a state of psychosis... well, it's something else entirely. It's almost like the difference between life and death itself.
Such a patient often places themselves in situations for which absolutely no one is prepared. These patients frequently exhibit a kind of negativity or a total void of communication—a complete lack of interaction—because, first, they don't have it, and second, they simply don't know what is expected of them. And isn't that, at its core, the heart of the problem?
Is it true that psychotic people cannot control themselves? Partially, yes. But through clinical practice, one might argue that it isn't entirely true either.
Any truly attentive therapist will strive to accept, to understand, and to attempt—in their own subjective way—to qualify the patient.
I would argue that in psychotic individuals, the emergence of transference, or perhaps what we might call "meaningfulness," is entirely possible.
The goal is to provide everyone with sufficient time and knowledge. During that preparatory phase of therapy, all that chaos, the incoherence, the frustrations, the terror, and the various forms of resistance and defense... the aim is to eventually use all of that as raw material. Through this, the therapist can extract—working in partnership with the patient, of course—some form of creative insight into understanding and healing. Naturally, when this happens, the therapist's ambitions grow. But in the feedback loop, there often aren't enough answers to validate those ambitions.
The therapist—the doctor—offers the psychotic patient a model of communication and tries to steer them toward a specific goal; this is where transference appears. But the patient resists! They want their own specific way of communicating (for example, a patient might insist on talking about flowers instead of discussing their mother, and so on).
In truth, the patient is placing themselves in a situation for which they are unprepared. And it is right here that we frequently encounter barriers to any further therapy.
Individual therapy for psychosis is arguably one of the most difficult forms of treatment in existence. Doctors say that anyone who hasn't tried treating such a patient doesn't understand the limitless "greed and insatiability" of a patient seeking to satisfy their own needs.

The real kicker is: can a patient in remission actually control themselves? Personally, I think they can, and if they can, they should absolutely own up to what they do.

Because psychosis isn't the whole person; there’s still our underlying nature underneath it all.

David Vaughn75 said:The real kicker is: can a patient in remission actually control themselves? Personally, I think they can, and if they can, they should absolutely own up to what they do.

Because psychosis isn't the whole person; there’s still our underlying nature underneath it all.

At its core, this issue has a very straightforward answer.
They can.
And why? Well, because if the regression hadn't already been treated, it wouldn't even be considered a regression in the first place, would it?
Every single course of treatment creates this specific type of anxiety within the psychotherapist, fueled by narcissism. This belief—this desperate striving—that "I" can achieve what someone else failed to do... it introduces a form of countertransference where the actual effectiveness is highly questionable. The treatment just stalls out. It fails to provide the patient with any meaningful motivation to move forward, regardless of the methods used.
Not every instance of psychosis is schizophrenia, and not every case of schizophrenia manifests as psychosis. Is that clear?
When it comes to diagnostics, we are essentially living in the Stone Age, and our approach to treatment is just as primitive... it’s basically "cure them or kill them."
We throw neuroleptics at the problem, yet the actual therapy itself is missing entirely. Sure, some attempts are being made to foster better understanding, but when you look at the big picture, treating psychosis in general remains a massive, looming question mark.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:At its core, this issue has a very straightforward answer.
They can.
And why? Well, because if the regression hadn't already been treated, it wouldn't even be considered a regression in the first place, would it?
Every single course of treatment creates this specific type of anxiety within the psychotherapist, fueled by narcissism. This belief—this desperate striving—that "I" can achieve what someone else failed to do... it introduces a form of countertransference where the actual effectiveness is highly questionable. The treatment just stalls out. It fails to provide the patient with any meaningful motivation to move forward, regardless of the methods used.
Not every instance of psychosis is schizophrenia, and not every case of schizophrenia manifests as psychosis. Is that clear?
When it comes to diagnostics, we are essentially living in the Stone Age, and our approach to treatment is just as primitive... it’s basically "cure them or kill them."
We throw neuroleptics at the problem, yet the actual therapy itself is missing entirely. Sure, some attempts are being made to foster better understanding, but when you look at the big picture, treating psychosis in general remains a massive, looming question mark.

So what happens when science only treats the symptoms of psychosis instead of the actual cause—especially since we don't even know what the damn cause is yet?😢

David Vaughn75 said:So what happens when science only treats the symptoms of psychosis instead of the actual cause—especially since we don't even know what the damn cause is yet?😢

Exactly.
There are certain indications—well, more like theories, really—that people are trying to prove through practical application: the idea that a patient's social standing plays a role in psychosis right from the onset and throughout their entire treatment process.
So, one of the potential causes (of which there are countless, mind you) might actually need to be sought within the realm of social psychology.
And goodness, that is a massive, complicated subject all on its own.

Kevin Nguyen3 said:Exactly.
There are certain indications—well, more like theories, really—that people are trying to prove through practical application: the idea that a patient's social standing plays a role in psychosis right from the onset and throughout their entire treatment process.
So, one of the potential causes (of which there are countless, mind you) might actually need to be sought within the realm of social psychology.
And goodness, that is a massive, complicated subject all on its own.

Look, having a low social status is definitely a risk factor that bumps up the odds of psychosis hitting, but it isn't the smoking gun. Everyone knows psychosis has a genetic component—it's that classic cocktail of DNA mixed with whatever kind of environment you're thrown into.

David Vaughn75 said:Look, having a low social status is definitely a risk factor that bumps up the odds of psychosis hitting, but it isn't the smoking gun. Everyone knows psychosis has a genetic component—it's that classic cocktail of DNA mixed with whatever kind of environment you're thrown into.

It serves as one of the triggers for disease progression. And really, when we talk about "environment," aren't we just talking about social circumstances? They mean the same thing here.
But, fine, I suppose I can agree with you on that point.🙂
That is what the literature states. Then again, there isn't a massive amount of definitive data out there, so what else is there to do besides essentially confirm what is already more or less accepted knowledge?😉

My primary care physician is practically triggering a psychotic break, but my Rispolept prescription is keeping me grounded. See, my mom and I share the same doctor, and she loves to corner my mother to ask how "her son" is doing. When my mom tries to give her an update, the doctor just shrugs and says, "Who knows what God has in store for your son?" 😲 Honestly, she even went so far as to suggest I attend a spiritual retreat. 😲 It’s wild—it's like none of this is my fault; it's all just divine providence that I'm apparently too oblivious to understand. 😲

Robin Lopez2 said:My primary care physician is practically triggering a psychotic break, but my Rispolept prescription is keeping me grounded. See, my mom and I share the same doctor, and she loves to corner my mother to ask how "her son" is doing. When my mom tries to give her an update, the doctor just shrugs and says, "Who knows what God has in store for your son?" 😲 Honestly, she even went so far as to suggest I attend a spiritual retreat. 😲 It’s wild—it's like none of this is my fault; it's all just divine providence that I'm apparently too oblivious to understand. 😲

That doctor is truly something else. A complete expert, a real specialist... though, honestly, she’d probably be just as skilled at rolling up a perfect cinnamon roll at a local bakery!
Doctors aren't some kind of programmed robots, are they? They aren't. They’re just people—plain and simple. And like any other human being out there, they’re subject to all the same messiness and chaos that life throws at us. They deal with the same struggles, face the same symptoms, and feel the same weight as their patients do. But then, the institution steps in. The system grants them a title, a label... "Doctor." And suddenly, within our local community, they become something almost untouchable. Especially when you're just sitting there in a local family practice clinic, looking up at someone who seems elevated by a mere designation. Isn't it strange how a title can change everything?
"My Rispolept therapy is actually working against her..."???
What exactly does that even mean?😕

Kevin Nguyen3 said:That doctor is truly something else. A complete expert, a real specialist... though, honestly, she’d probably be just as skilled at rolling up a perfect cinnamon roll at a local bakery!
Doctors aren't some kind of programmed robots, are they? They aren't. They’re just people—plain and simple. And like any other human being out there, they’re subject to all the same messiness and chaos that life throws at us. They deal with the same struggles, face the same symptoms, and feel the same weight as their patients do. But then, the institution steps in. The system grants them a title, a label... "Doctor." And suddenly, within our local community, they become something almost untouchable. Especially when you're just sitting there in a local family practice clinic, looking up at someone who seems elevated by a mere designation. Isn't it strange how a title can change everything?
"My Rispolept therapy is actually working against her..."???
What exactly does that even mean?😕

I meant that Rispolept helps me stop dwelling on religious questions or any kind of spirituality; it keeps me grounded in reality.

Robin Lopez2 said:I meant that Rispolept helps me stop dwelling on religious questions or any kind of spirituality; it keeps me grounded in reality.

Maybe you need a little dose of Rispolept? It’s an antipsychotic designed to help you grasp reality more effectively. Not that it hands you "the truth" on a silver platter—because let's be honest, reality is entirely subjective to every single individual, isn't it? Take your own claim, for instance... that you don't dwell on matters of faith or spirituality. That is merely your perspective!
Why on earth wouldn't you give that some serious thought? And more importantly... what exactly is Rispolept *doing* there? What is the actual function? Is it truly providing value, or is it just noise? One really has to wonder about the specific mechanics at play!
Nothing. Absolutely nothing.
While you’re taking that medication—and I truly hope you need it—you really ought to take a moment. You simply must. It is a time for introspection, isn't it? One should question everything and anything that crosses the mind! And what about the spiritual side of our nutrition? The very essence of what we consume internally? Every single human being possesses an inherent, fundamental right to believe in something, or perhaps, to believe in no one at all. Is that not the most basic liberty of all?
To truly grasp the profound depth of any faith... isn't that really the ultimate Holy Grail? Something we have been chasing in vain for centuries? To actually comprehend one's own relationship with God—or, more fundamentally, to understand exactly who it is you believe in... isn't that the most vital pursuit of all?
There are simply no taboos here! Honestly, why should there be? It feels like some sort of fabricated rule, a phantom restriction cooked up just to stifle free thought and keep people from thinking for themselves. Why would anyone invent such a thing? To forbid the freedom of the mind? No, thank you! There is no such thing in this country.
Be open, truly open—but please, for heaven's sake, stay wary of those who seek to criticize just for the sake of it, or worse, those who peddle nothing but self-serving misinformation! You must constantly work to sharpen your own intellect and bolster your understanding. Isn't that the goal? To grow? I firmly believe that knowledge alone is the only way to confront any problem life throws our way. Without it, what are we left with? Nothing. Ignorance is a heavy burden; it drags you down into a pit of pure despair and anxiety. Why settle for confusion when you can pursue the truth? Knowledge is everything.

I think I was being a bit vague before. I wasn't raised in a religious household; I was just baptized and took communion, though I never did my confirmation. For forty years, I lived a completely secular life without any concept of faith. That changed when I hit my first psychotic episode—one where I genuinely believed I was Jesus. Later, after I stopped taking my medication, I had a second episode where I felt I actually possessed the power to shift the frequency through which people communicate with God. I chose not to change it, though, because if I had, the believers here on Earth would have been left wandering lost. I decided to leave things exactly as they were. It was thanks to my therapist that I finally managed to get back to the person I was before that first breakdown at age forty. Now, I can actually approach the ideas of faith and spirituality with a clear, realistic mind.

Robin Lopez2 said:I think I was being a bit vague before. I wasn't raised in a religious household; I was just baptized and took communion, though I never did my confirmation. For forty years, I lived a completely secular life without any concept of faith. That changed when I hit my first psychotic episode—one where I genuinely believed I was Jesus. Later, after I stopped taking my medication, I had a second episode where I felt I actually possessed the power to shift the frequency through which people communicate with God. I chose not to change it, though, because if I had, the believers here on Earth would have been left wandering lost. I decided to leave things exactly as they were. It was thanks to my therapist that I finally managed to get back to the person I was before that first breakdown at age forty. Now, I can actually approach the ideas of faith and spirituality with a clear, realistic mind.

To be perfectly honest, I am struggling to wrap my head around this, though I suspect I grasp the general sentiment. But rather than me just guessing at your meaning, could you perhaps elaborate? What "frequency" are we talking about precisely? And what did you mean by the idea that "believers on Earth" would end up lost?
You seem to be speaking from a Christian perspective regarding a religion that, from our specific viewpoint, is massive and monumental, yet when viewed through the lens of all humanity, it’s almost negligible—or even non-existent in certain parts of the world.
So, I ask you: which believers, and in what part of the country?😕
In truth, I am inclined to believe this is all tied to some form of psychosis, so I would be genuinely interested to hear how you managed to resolve such... dilemmas.

During my second psychotic episode, I was convinced God was broadcasting messages on a specific frequency. I truly believed I was the first person to ever tune into it, and that I actually had the power to alter it. In my mind, I’d reached enlightenment. I thought if I changed that frequency, everyone else claiming to hear from God would suddenly be cut off, so I decided to leave things alone to avoid causing more harm than good.

I eventually worked through those delusions by realizing, through therapy, that my thoughts were nothing more than complete nonsense.

Robin Lopez2 said:During my second psychotic episode, I was convinced God was broadcasting messages on a specific frequency. I truly believed I was the first person to ever tune into it, and that I actually had the power to alter it. In my mind, I’d reached enlightenment. I thought if I changed that frequency, everyone else claiming to hear from God would suddenly be cut off, so I decided to leave things alone to avoid causing more harm than good.

I eventually worked through those delusions by realizing, through therapy, that my thoughts were nothing more than complete nonsense.

Which part am I supposed to validate here? The first part or the second?🙂
Fine, I will concede this much: enlightenment is a deeply personal thing. It is about perceiving reality in whatever way we choose, and we certainly have the right to our own perceptions.
But there is a massive catch when dealing with psychosis; it stops being just a personal matter and becomes the responsibility of your attending physician.
Honestly, I would love to meet just one person who claims to communicate with God in a way that wasn't already decided by the council in Nice back in 325 AD. And why on earth do you think people would lose their connection just because you decided to change the frequency?
Besides, everyone operates on their own frequency anyway, don't they?
Ultimately, hallucinations are just one way reality becomes slightly skewed. It happens when your perception—or anyone's perception—simply fails to align with the reality of the environment, or rather, the reality shared by the majority.
I find it fascinating when things are documented; it’s possible during certain phases of psychosis, though the struggle is that during lucid periods, it can be incredibly difficult for someone to distinguish current reality from past events. They often drift back into "their" version of reality, which frequently has very little to do with the "here and now."
What is your actual stance regarding God? What is your subjective view, or more specifically, how do you personally communicate with the Divine?

How is everyone doing? I truly hope you all are faring better than we are right now. 👎
Some of you might be familiar with our current situation, while others might not be quite as aware.
To put it bluntly, we are all completely broken. My mother-in-law’s condition has taken a devastating turn; she is suffering from residual schizophrenia. After months of battling doctors, navigating the hospital system, and struggling alongside her, we have reached a breaking point. This past Saturday, she was finally hospitalized at Mayo Clinic, specifically in the emergency psychiatric ward. These last few months have been nothing short of a nightmare for our entire family. The medication she was on wasn't helping her one bit. She was taking 100 mg of Faverin at night, 10 mg of Olanzapine at night, 10 mg of Risperdal at night, and then another half of a 10 mg Risperdal tablet in the morning. While the hallucinations had subsided, she was still in a terrible state. She would just smoke and lie there. She refused to eat or engage in any activity whatsoever. She has wasted away physically. Mentally, she has deteriorated so much that she barely speaks; she can't even bring herself to laugh anymore, and she rarely even cries. Despite our endless pleas and constant running around trying to get her doctor to adjust her treatment, we haven't felt heard even five percent of the time. She also underwent psychological testing which revealed extremely high levels of psychotic ideation... and so on. To make a long story short, the results were dire. We met with her psychiatrist, who was supposed to call us once a room became available, but unfortunately, nothing happened. He hasn't called in over a month, despite our agreement that he would reach out within seven to ten days. We even showed up at the hospital with a referral from her primary care physician, and they wouldn't even admit her. Since I am not currently working, I have been staying home to care for her. She looked so frighteningly unwell that my son was actually scared of her and would run away. I have poured everything I have—every ounce of strength—into trying to help her improve, but it simply wasn't working. I have been pushed to the very edge of a nervous breakdown. And after everything, it culminated this past Saturday when she nearly jumped from the balcony because she just cannot endure living like this anymore. She is just existing, not living. I feel such profound sadness and bitterness because absolutely no one in the medical profession responded to our requests or acknowledged how much she is suffering and how bad her mental state has become. She was taking her medication religiously right before my eyes, yet there was zero progress. I didn't expect an overnight miracle, but does a person really have to wait six or seven months until they reach a point where they simply cannot go on? For the last few days, she had been calm—she wasn't being aggressive—but apparently, people have to become violent or threaten those around them just to get the help they need. She was a walking ghost, unable to help herself, and we couldn't help her either... because we aren't doctors. I tried talking to her, I fought for her, but it was futile. Now, she is in the hospital, and they started her on a new medication regimen yesterday. I haven't even gone to see her because I simply cannot handle it mentally. She looks awful; she doesn't talk, and she is almost completely immobile, unable to even get out of bed. My husband... it has hit him incredibly hard. I apologize for such a long, rambling post... but I truly don't know who else to turn to for support, as no one besides my husband understands what we are going through. 😢

William Evans10 said:How is everyone doing? I truly hope you all are faring better than we are right now. 👎
Some of you might be familiar with our current situation, while others might not be quite as aware.
To put it bluntly, we are all completely broken. My mother-in-law’s condition has taken a devastating turn; she is suffering from residual schizophrenia. After months of battling doctors, navigating the hospital system, and struggling alongside her, we have reached a breaking point. This past Saturday, she was finally hospitalized at Mayo Clinic, specifically in the emergency psychiatric ward. These last few months have been nothing short of a nightmare for our entire family. The medication she was on wasn't helping her one bit. She was taking 100 mg of Faverin at night, 10 mg of Olanzapine at night, 10 mg of Risperdal at night, and then another half of a 10 mg Risperdal tablet in the morning. While the hallucinations had subsided, she was still in a terrible state. She would just smoke and lie there. She refused to eat or engage in any activity whatsoever. She has wasted away physically. Mentally, she has deteriorated so much that she barely speaks; she can't even bring herself to laugh anymore, and she rarely even cries. Despite our endless pleas and constant running around trying to get her doctor to adjust her treatment, we haven't felt heard even five percent of the time. She also underwent psychological testing which revealed extremely high levels of psychotic ideation... and so on. To make a long story short, the results were dire. We met with her psychiatrist, who was supposed to call us once a room became available, but unfortunately, nothing happened. He hasn't called in over a month, despite our agreement that he would reach out within seven to ten days. We even showed up at the hospital with a referral from her primary care physician, and they wouldn't even admit her. Since I am not currently working, I have been staying home to care for her. She looked so frighteningly unwell that my son was actually scared of her and would run away. I have poured everything I have—every ounce of strength—into trying to help her improve, but it simply wasn't working. I have been pushed to the very edge of a nervous breakdown. And after everything, it culminated this past Saturday when she nearly jumped from the balcony because she just cannot endure living like this anymore. She is just existing, not living. I feel such profound sadness and bitterness because absolutely no one in the medical profession responded to our requests or acknowledged how much she is suffering and how bad her mental state has become. She was taking her medication religiously right before my eyes, yet there was zero progress. I didn't expect an overnight miracle, but does a person really have to wait six or seven months until they reach a point where they simply cannot go on? For the last few days, she had been calm—she wasn't being aggressive—but apparently, people have to become violent or threaten those around them just to get the help they need. She was a walking ghost, unable to help herself, and we couldn't help her either... because we aren't doctors. I tried talking to her, I fought for her, but it was futile. Now, she is in the hospital, and they started her on a new medication regimen yesterday. I haven't even gone to see her because I simply cannot handle it mentally. She looks awful; she doesn't talk, and she is almost completely immobile, unable to even get out of bed. My husband... it has hit him incredibly hard. I apologize for such a long, rambling post... but I truly don't know who else to turn to for support, as no one besides my husband understands what we are going through. 😢

I am so, so sorry for what you and your mother-in-law are going through.

If it helps at all, just know that for about a third of patients, the first round of meds misses the mark entirely—that’s just how psychiatry works sometimes. I had a buddy back in 2006 who was hospitalized three times in a single year—he spent about 10 months total in facilities—but he eventually pulled through and is working a steady job now.