Well hello guys! Long time no chat. I ended up at a psych hospital again for 11 days. It’s been rough but I’m glad I’m back in the real world and using my healthy coping skills. I learned an awesome new coping skill and it was writing down what I feel. I made a sloppy card when I was hearing voices. But it felt relieving to release all the anxiety.
The doctors doubled up my meds and I now take 12.5 mg of abilify, 112.5 mg of Effexor, and 150 mg of Trazodone. It’s kinda scary to me. But I was on the verge of having a psychotic episode and I caught it before it progressed.
Overall, I’m not happy, but I’m not sad either. I feel…calm. Hopeful. When I first got hospitalized, I thought I was “cured”. I thought being inpatient will make me happy again. I learned another new thing from the second admission. You’re not going to leave the psych hospital feeling 100% (if you do, please share) You’re still going to struggle. You’re still going to have bumps in the road. The key is to catch your warning signs and talk to a loved one or your pdoc about it. I should’ve told the truth. And that was my mistake.
Lastly, I was put on Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) for 6 weeks to prevent another relapse. Anyone was or is in IOP? I hope y’all are okay! Much love!
The doctors doubled up my meds and I now take 12.5 mg of abilify,
So you were on a sub therapeutic dose before? (< 10mg)
Yup! If it wasn’t for this forum, I wouldn’t have known that less than 10mg of Abilify was just a therapeutic dose. Hopefully with this new change, I’ll have some peace.
Doctors who prescribe sub therapeutic doses should be struck off the register. They’re prescribing placebos to psychotic patients.
Welcome back ! 11115111115
I love that feeling of re entering the world after a hospital stay.
Glad u found a new coping skill
Well glad that you are okay. I was wonder where you were. I hope that you are doing better now. It took a while after getting meds in inpatient for the meds to start working. I hope that you feel better and can do things without going to inpatient so much. Hopefully your coping skill work and that you continue to feel better.
Welcome back, glad you got help and are feeling better
Glad to hear you’re back and safe. I entertain the idea sometimes of going into the hospital as well. I am not feeling very good these days. 
Good on you that you made the hospital visit a positive experience.
Glad your feeling better. I did intensive outpatient twice. It isn’t too bad but I didn’t get much out of it. Hopefully you get good results. Good luck. 
Good to have you back! I hope you start feeling better soon.
I have a bipolar friend who went on IOP and it really helped her. Never done it myself though.