Schizophrenia - General Discussion

Jamie Lewis, thanks... I agree that it's...

Hello everyone! I truly hope you’re all doing wonderful—or, if things are a bit rough, that they're at least heading in a better direction. Rebecca Rivera3, please do try to stay consistent with your medication schedule!
It seems to be regulating my system quite well—everything feels much more balanced! I have noticed a bit of a hand tremor lately, which has caused me a tiny bit of concern, but I’m staying positive and truly believe it's just a temporary side effect that will settle down soon. Cheers!

Hey there.
The real issue for Rebecca Rivera3 is that she hasn't received a definitive diagnosis yet; one doctor tells her one thing, while another says something completely different... and honestly, that uncertainty is the absolute worst part.
She’s been posting here, but it isn't even certain if she's actually dealing with schizophrenia.
If you ask me, living in that state of limbo is actually more taxing than the condition itself. I truly believe that poorly managed depression or anxiety can end up being much harder to handle than schizophrenia that is being treated correctly. And if you're taking antipsychotics when you don't actually have the condition, you'll likely feel much worse than if you weren't on any medication at all. There's a good rule to live by: don't try to fix what isn't broken.

Hmm, well, I haven't even finished reading the whole thing yet—there is just so much written here!—but if that’s the case, then we are definitely looking at a more complex situation. Regardless, it’s my firm belief that when a medical condition is present, pharmacotherapy is a real help. That's just how it is! Is that you, Harold Anderson3? Sending a special hello to Rebecca Rivera3!

Angela Stewart6 said:Hello everyone! I truly hope you’re all doing wonderful—or, if things are a bit rough, that they're at least heading in a better direction. Rebecca Rivera3, please do try to stay consistent with your medication schedule!
It seems to be regulating my system quite well—everything feels much more balanced! I have noticed a bit of a hand tremor lately, which has caused me a tiny bit of concern, but I’m staying positive and truly believe it's just a temporary side effect that will settle down soon. Cheers!

Have you considered increasing your intake of B-complex vitamins? Even if it doesn't provide the relief you're hoping for, it certainly won't do any harm to try. There is actually historical precedent for this approach, as psychiatrists in Saskatchewan and researchers at the Linus Pauling Institute have previously utilized high doses of B-complex vitamins when treating mental health conditions, particularly schizophrenia.

Thank you all for the warm wishes and support... I actually went through psychological testing in the meantime.
I don't suffer from anxiety or panic attacks... but I do deal with occasional depressive episodes that feel quite intense. These episodes are just symptoms of something deeper. We'll see how things progress as I move through therapy.

Right now, I don't feel anything at all... just total emotional numbness.

@Nicole Barrett76, honestly, that’s exactly what I need right now—I've been leaning quite heavily toward anemia lately because my diet is pretty light on meat. Well, mostly light! I was taking them for a while and definitely felt a boost, but I’ll admit I got a little lazy about actually going out to restock. Anyway, since I’ve noticed such a massive difference when I take them, do you have any specific recommendations on which ones would be the absolute best?

@Rebecca Rivera3, personally, I don't really struggle with that emotional numbness, so I don't have much to add there—but it really seems to me like you have a very positive outlook regarding your treatment and how you're embracing it. It’s not that I’m downplaying depression compared to schizophrenia, of course, but depression is something you can navigate through and eventually find your way back to your old self from.

My diagnosis is Schizoaffective Disorder Type II. I am currently undergoing treatment, and my main symptom involves recurring depressive episodes.
Despite all of that, I’m pushing through without medication and am currently finishing up my final year of college.

Angela Stewart6 said:@Nicole Barrett76, honestly, that’s exactly what I need right now—I've been leaning quite heavily toward anemia lately because my diet is pretty light on meat. Well, mostly light! I was taking them for a while and definitely felt a boost, but I’ll admit I got a little lazy about actually going out to restock. Anyway, since I’ve noticed such a massive difference when I take them, do you have any specific recommendations on which ones would be the absolute best?

@Rebecca Rivera3, personally, I don't really struggle with that emotional numbness, so I don't have much to add there—but it really seems to me like you have a very positive outlook regarding your treatment and how you're embracing it. It’s not that I’m downplaying depression compared to schizophrenia, of course, but depression is something you can navigate through and eventually find your way back to your old self from.

The KAL B100 is an option, though I am unsure if it's easily available in the US anymore. It has a mint flavor, which helps mask that distinct B-vitamin smell. A 60-count bottle once cost me about $43. They are likely a little more expensive now.

A slightly pricier alternative, though I doubt they are widely stocked in the US either, is the NW Ultra B100, or something similar. The main difference is they lack the mint flavor and come in 30-count bottles, which cost me $25 back when I used them. When you do the math, they end up being a bit more expensive than the KAL brand.

As far as I can tell on iHerb, neither of them is currently listed, so perhaps it would be wiser to look for a third option that provides these vitamins in capsule form. I have tried both KAL and NW, and I must say, I only truly felt a surge of energy once I started taking 2x100 tablets a day.

@Rebecca Rivera3, I’m not really taking sides here—I’m certainly no doctor, so I wouldn't dream of making any definitive claims! From my own personal experience, though, medication has definitely been a huge help for me, but of course, it’s never just about the pills alone. 🙂

@Nicole Barrett76, those options you mentioned are a bit pricey for my current budget—though I truly do believe they're worth the investment, so I’ll have to weigh my options carefully. Perhaps I can find a way to mix some more affordable supplements with the ones you suggested! I plan on heading down to the pharmacy to get some professional advice soon. On a related note, iron supplements used to be my absolute lifesaver, but my doctor stopped prescribing them since my last blood work came back looking perfectly normal—though, given that I don't really eat much red meat to get that specific B vitamin, my levels might be fluctuating more than I realize. I occasionally struggle with looking quite pale and dealing with dark circles under my eyes. Honestly, we haven't been able to pin down the cause of the dark circles at all, even after several different tests! Does anyone happen to have any insight into what that could be? I did notice a cream at the drugstore that claims to fix that exact issue 🙏, but it costs about $30. I'd love to find a solution so I don't have to rely on layers of concealer every single day...

Angela Stewart6 said:@Rebecca Rivera3, I’m not really taking sides here—I’m certainly no doctor, so I wouldn't dream of making any definitive claims! From my own personal experience, though, medication has definitely been a huge help for me, but of course, it’s never just about the pills alone. 🙂

@Nicole Barrett76, those options you mentioned are a bit pricey for my current budget—though I truly do believe they're worth the investment, so I’ll have to weigh my options carefully. Perhaps I can find a way to mix some more affordable supplements with the ones you suggested! I plan on heading down to the pharmacy to get some professional advice soon. On a related note, iron supplements used to be my absolute lifesaver, but my doctor stopped prescribing them since my last blood work came back looking perfectly normal—though, given that I don't really eat much red meat to get that specific B vitamin, my levels might be fluctuating more than I realize. I occasionally struggle with looking quite pale and dealing with dark circles under my eyes. Honestly, we haven't been able to pin down the cause of the dark circles at all, even after several different tests! Does anyone happen to have any insight into what that could be? I did notice a cream at the drugstore that claims to fix that exact issue 🙏, but it costs about $30. I'd love to find a solution so I don't have to rely on layers of concealer every single day...

There is a massive selection of cheap B-complexes out there with barely any actual vitamin content. For instance, a basic NW Ultra B100 supplement with minimal doses comes in a hundred-count bottle for less than ten dollars.

But what is the point if you end up having to swallow sixty different pills just to get the same amount of B vitamins found in a single tablet where every vitamin is dosed at 100 milligrams—with B7, B9, and B12 measured in micrograms—all while still far exceeding the bare minimum daily requirements?

Those "minimum recommended daily allowances" were actually established back during World War I simply as a baseline to ensure soldiers on the front lines received enough nutrients to function and avoid diseases like pellagra or beriberi. It is quite staggering how Big Pharma clings to those outdated standards like a lifeline.

Personally, I didn't feel any real difference until I finally knocked back two 100mg B-complex tablets.

@Nicole Barrett76 I totally hear where you're coming from—I really do—but at the end of the day, a deal is a deal! I'm just going to wait and see which ones I decide to go with. Honestly, having something to work with is definitely better than being left with absolutely nothing at all.

Hi everyone,
I apologize for jumping in here out of nowhere like this, but there's something on my mind and I figured someone in this community might be able to shed some light on it.

What I'm wondering is: if someone has been living with schizophrenia for over 10 years (I'm not entirely sure about the specific diagnosis or type), and they stop taking their medication for about three months and start acting out or doing things they wouldn't normally do, do they actually remember those actions? For instance, if they restart their meds and everything settles down, but then three months later they stop again and go back to that behavior, will they remember what they did the last time, or is it just a completely different set of episodes every time?

I'll try to use a hypothetical scenario to make my question a bit clearer.

Let's say a person takes their medication consistently and stays stable. Then, they slowly taper off, and after about three months without it, there's a massive shift in their behavior—they almost seem like a totally different person (whether intentionally or not) and, say, get into a physical altercation with someone. They end up in the hospital, get back on their meds, and stabilize again. But then, three months later, the behavior shifts once more and they basically "lose it" again. In that situation, would that person act out of spite, or would they remember exactly what happened during their previous episode?
Or is it something that varies from person to person, perhaps depending on the specific subtype of the illness?

Thanks to everyone for your help. 🙂

John Garcia2 said:Hi everyone,
I apologize for jumping in here out of nowhere like this, but there's something on my mind and I figured someone in this community might be able to shed some light on it.

What I'm wondering is: if someone has been living with schizophrenia for over 10 years (I'm not entirely sure about the specific diagnosis or type), and they stop taking their medication for about three months and start acting out or doing things they wouldn't normally do, do they actually remember those actions? For instance, if they restart their meds and everything settles down, but then three months later they stop again and go back to that behavior, will they remember what they did the last time, or is it just a completely different set of episodes every time?

I'll try to use a hypothetical scenario to make my question a bit clearer.

Let's say a person takes their medication consistently and stays stable. Then, they slowly taper off, and after about three months without it, there's a massive shift in their behavior—they almost seem like a totally different person (whether intentionally or not) and, say, get into a physical altercation with someone. They end up in the hospital, get back on their meds, and stabilize again. But then, three months later, the behavior shifts once more and they basically "lose it" again. In that situation, would that person act out of spite, or would they remember exactly what happened during their previous episode?
Or is it something that varies from person to person, perhaps depending on the specific subtype of the illness?

Thanks to everyone for your help. 🙂

Whether they retain those memories depends entirely on the severity and intensity of the mental health crisis. Just as one might experience physical illness—ranging from a minor cold to a severe injury—mental health conditions also exist on a broad spectrum of intensity.

Consider how a person might first lose their sense of time or focus when their cognitive functions begin to slip. As the disruption of consciousness deepens, they may lose their sense of orientation in space. Only at the most profound levels of consciousness impairment does a person lose their very sense of self. It can reach a point where they are so detached that they cannot even respond to their own name.

It is possible for a person to remember their actions during a period of deep psychosis, yet recovering those specific memories often requires significant time and clinical stabilization. In many cases, individuals have no recollection whatsoever of what they did while their consciousness was profoundly altered.

Ultimately, these experiences vary immensely, not just between different individuals, but even within the same person from one episode to the next.

thanks for clearing that up 🙂

I also had one more question if anyone happens to know: what’s the maximum amount of time someone can stay at a hospital like Mayo Clinic, and are they allowed to discharge a patient if nobody from their family shows up to sign the paperwork and they have to do it themselves?

Hello, could someone please describe how an individual living with schizophrenia actually behaves? Are they typically aggressive, or prone to physical attacks? Do they tend to blame or verbally abuse those around them without provocation? Furthermore, do they fabricate situations to manipulate people, or perhaps experience disorientation and speak incoherently?

There are actually several different types of schizophrenia, and losing touch with reality can happen whenever someone slips into a psychotic episode....
For instance, I don't deal with paranoia or aggression or anything like that. I suffer from simple schizophrenia, which mainly involves a lack of interest in my surroundings and social isolation—often accompanied by a certain numbness. This also includes phases of depression, apathy, and indifference, which means I don't get out of the house much. As for hallucinations, I haven't really struggled with them; I had them twice, and they just went away on their own.
But again, there truly are many different types of schizophrenia....you should look it up online....but these people aren't dangerous; they just have a sick soul.

@Kenneth Vaughn20: You know, when you start worrying that you might actually be dealing with schizophrenia, you're probably looking at some kind of disorder—though honestly, there are so many diagnoses floating around these days that it’s hard to keep track. It even gets to the point where you wonder if everyone around you is somehow unstable, which eventually makes you feel like part of the problem yourself. When I take a step back to look at my own surroundings and my own headspace, I often find myself thinking that we’re all just a little bit broken.

You touched on that person's behavior, but it might help if you could describe some of those specific incidents—just to give us a clearer picture. Maybe it isn't schizophrenia, but rather something like borderline personality disorder or something else entirely. Most things can be managed through therapy and professional help, provided there's an accurate diagnosis and, more importantly, a genuine willingness from the individual to do the work. That last part... well, that's usually the hardest hurdle to clear.

Angela Hayes56 said:@Kenneth Vaughn20: You know, when you start worrying that you might actually be dealing with schizophrenia, you're probably looking at some kind of disorder—though honestly, there are so many diagnoses floating around these days that it’s hard to keep track. It even gets to the point where you wonder if everyone around you is somehow unstable, which eventually makes you feel like part of the problem yourself. When I take a step back to look at my own surroundings and my own headspace, I often find myself thinking that we’re all just a little bit broken.

You touched on that person's behavior, but it might help if you could describe some of those specific incidents—just to give us a clearer picture. Maybe it isn't schizophrenia, but rather something like borderline personality disorder or something else entirely. Most things can be managed through therapy and professional help, provided there's an accurate diagnosis and, more importantly, a genuine willingness from the individual to do the work. That last part... well, that's usually the hardest hurdle to clear.

To clarify, I am actually talking about myself. I am not quite sure how to describe it in greater detail, but everything is fine now and I am fully aware of what happened. There were periods where I felt like I had completely lost touch with reality; I was essentially lost. I bought a motorcycle, led the police on chases, and insisted I was going to become a professional racer. I was drinking alcohol almost every single day in massive quantities and rambling incoherently, insulting anyone who crossed my path. I moved house frequently, calling ten different people a day for no reason, sending endless messages to various women, and spending money uncontrollably. I even started a major home renovation project. I totaled my car, then a truck as well, and eventually quit my job because I looked and acted as though I were on drugs, which is exactly what everyone assumed. I live in a small town, and now I have become the primary target of local gossip, with everyone convinced I am an addict. This period of "madness" lasted about a month and a half. Prior to that, I had various outbursts as well, though those were strictly under the influence of alcohol; when sober, I remained within the bounds of normalcy. For context, I am 21 years old. I hope this provides enough information for you to draw some conclusions.

You definitely have plenty of energy to spare. When you channeled that into renovating the house, you were heading in the right direction. That other kind of wild behavior—well, you know better than anyone that it wasn't.
Everyone here is going to offer their own perspective, but if you're looking for an actual diagnosis, you really need a professional opinion. As for that small town you mentioned, it shouldn't be much of a hurdle. If things get serious, you're more than capable of making it to a clinic in Houston. I mean that without any malice or ill intent.😁
It’s actually a good sign that you're worried about your outbursts and your aggression—that’s usually the first step toward fixing anything.
Regarding the people in your life: is there anyone who is steady, positive, but brutally honest? Everyone needs someone like that. Whether you have someone like that right now or not, you should work on becoming that person for yourself. Try to forgive yourself for past mistakes, though I suppose it’s equally important not to repeat them. Seek out some professional help—don't expect an overnight fix, obviously, but try to actually apply what you learn.