I don’t know if I’ve fully accepted it still, fully believe it. My mind doing this to me. It makes no sense.
I try to remind myself I’m sick, try to convince myself. Tell myself they’re all fake, lies, untrue…not real.
I think I’m always going to have episodes, always have voices, always see things. Always be like this. I don’t know if full recovery is possible for me. I’m doubting it today.
What helped you come to terms with the Illness? To accept it? To be comfortable with it?
It’s good that you’re staying on top of reminding yourself that you have an illness-- it’s not easy to do, especially on the tough days when things can seem so real.
Still coming to terms with it myself, but talking it out with my therapist has helped a ton.
I see my therapist next week, maybe I’ll make this the topic of our talks.
Good idea, thank you
I feel like you have to learn to cope with your remaining symptoms as they may never really go away with medicine.
Like mentioned before, therapy really helped me too.
CBT helped me over come some of my more OCD symptoms and delusions.
I have yet to get my voices/visual hallucinations under control.
In a lot of ways I think you have to adjust to a new normal.
I think that’s particularly hard for people who had onset of symptoms as adults vs people that always had symptoms like me.
When did you start getting psychosis?
First voices at 12, first break at 14. Undiagnosed til I was 32, been two years on meds.
Through my own admission I coped with it in unhealthy ways, and may have unrealistic expectations on the efficacy of the meds.
My symptoms got much worse around puberty age, too.
And I coped, still cope, in some unhealthy ways.
I had high expectations for meds and have been chronically disappointed.
They help a lot, but there’s those pesky residual symptoms you have to just learn to live with.
It sounds like you’re taking all the right steps, doing all the right things,
It’s just a lot to contend with.
Don’t lose hope in further recovery, we can always get better, it takes effort.
Thank you Mr. Gable, I’m just having a weak day, few days.
I’ve got to just keep trying.
You’re right about it being a lot to contend with.
Sometimes it seems insurmountable, specially with voices picking on me still.
Wishing you well in the fight.
One thing I do to remind myself the illness is real is look at bizarre conspiracy theories, like Birds Aren’t Real, Flat Earth, or Time Cube. I laugh at how absurd they are, then realize that some people believe these things as deeply as I believe my delusions. It is a good reality check for me.
Hrm, I’ll try that. Thank you ninja.
But for the record the earth rides on the back of elephants and a turtle, Birds ARE just hallucinations, always, no exceptions, and time isn’t a cube, It’s a wedge like Stilton or Bree. 
I don’t know how, but there’s always hope.
Mmm, Last thing Pandora found was hope, after she’s experienced all the evils in the world. Was the only thing that saved her.
I should hold hope more closely. Thank you Chordy
There were times when I realized that more than likely I was going to be in this condition for the rest of my life, with all the problems associated with that. I guess it was a form of despair. Personally, I got okay with it. Every situation has its good points and its bad points.
Perhaps that’s part of it, being symptomatic has left me with some despair. I don’t want the next 30 years of my life to be like it is right now in my head.
Have to remember it gets better
It does. Don’t think all the good things in life are lost to you. There is still a lot you can do to enjoy life.
Thank you crimby, I shall try
Also, don’t forget Australia is a hoax and anyone claiming to be an Aussie is a paid actor to keep up the ruse
Sounds like it’s time to bring back my most popular post!
It was very difficult the first time around. I was still slightly delusional but the medications were hell. I put on 30lbs was sleeping 16 - 17 hours a day, felt sedated and didn’t know what or why this had happened. I was still trying to get some normalcy in my life and pushed myself to go to the gym, started reading again and was doing my best to hold on.
Long story short the second time around the new medication I got put on has helped the most. I still have bad days and some symptoms but my mind is a lot more clearer and I’m thinking straight. I came to terms with my illness and learned that this is a lifetime thing. I will be on medications for the rest of my life and hopefully my symptoms and depression go away with time.
I’ve also come to terms with the fact that I am going to be on disability for the rest of my life which is a huge help but financially very limiting. I do my best everyday and try to stay optimistic but I still think psychologically I’m in the grieving process which has made my mood fluctuate.
I still have 30 more years to go so we shall see how things unfold. Hang in there and I wish you all the best!!!
I hope I don’t get flagged, but I don’t view meds as the end all cure for sz.
And I think a lot of the people in the anti-psych movement are a little nutty.
There has to be some middle ground.
Like take a little meds, and do some Yoga or something. Does that make sense?
Definitely exercise, take meds, try and exercise your brain, and ultimately: Keep an extremely positive outlook.
Does this all make sense?
I apologize if I sound a little weird with my ideas, 
.
A holistic approach, I don’t see that as flagworthy.
And you’re right, meds are just one piece of a larger puzzle. You don’t sound weird. Sounds like a healthy look at it.
I should try to find my positivity again.