Confession from a dark master

[quote=“btrfly36, post:20, topic:13307”]
I’m amazed that society has such a misguided view of mental illness[/quote]

You know more about mental illness than the people in this thread? Bold words coming from someone without the illness.

Some states are proposing legislation that would mandate mental health treatment (read: medicine) for the mentally ill, willingly or otherwise. I think treating the mentally ill as second-class citizens, incapable of making decisions for themselves, is probably not the best approach. Half of schizophrenics don’t take medication; it’s not surprising that we would find a similar make-up on a forum devoted to schizophrenia.

When not in an actively psychotic state, it’s possible to differentiate between paranoid and rational thought. I know because I’m not taking any antipsychotics either (glycine doesn’t count) and I recognize when I’m being irrational and when I’m not.

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@malvok-I haven’t been on here in some time as I have been struggling to deal with many things.This site has always been a source of comfort and understanding.All I’m trying to say is that the society that I live in has little tolerance for mental illness,no funds to help,few resources for those who need it.I just don’t see the need to bash people.I assume most people come here to connect and get support.I try to get answers to help my son,but never said I didn’t have any mental health issues of my own.You never know a man until you walk in their shoes.

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They should. They should call us into clinics each month and do blood work. If you don’t show up or the meds don’t show in your system then they should hunt you down and inject your butt with a month worth of medication.

I used to believe the opposite, but I grew up.

They wouldn’t need to resort to tyranny if the medicine available was less dangerous and more effective.

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I had read your original post to mean the people in this thread were misguided. My misunderstanding.

They could be sugar pills and most people wouldn’t want to take them, many would still claim all sorts of side effects.

Writing in general terms here, not about anyone here.

I take my meds as directed by my doctor. I also make sure my doctor knows EVERYTHING that I do in terms of managing my illness. Coping strategies, vitamins, exercise, etc. If El Sith has something that is working for him, it’s not my business. I’m happy for anyone who lives with our symptoms that can attain any degree of recovery. It’s too rare as you well know.

I would for sure be happier without meds and the slow thinking and extra weight they bring, at least until I fall apart and get involuntarily committed. Been thrown off that merry-go-round enough times, thanks.

10-96

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I think your humor and keep light of a tough situation is a great coping mechanism

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That’s an exercise in fortune-telling and mind reading. The reality is the side effects are very real and arguably just as bad as the symptoms they’re meant to treat. It’s ironic because while on medication (haldol) I traded one form of negative thought (paranoia) for another (suicidal ideation).

Those who choose not to take medicine don’t do so because they enjoy living with their illness, but because current medication is, in many ways, a form of mental and emotional imprisonment. Until this is resolved, and positive as well as negative symptoms are treated, I’ll continue relying on alternate treatments.

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I wouldn’t judge all meds by Haldol. Haldol is some rough stuff. I know meds have side effects but people often exaggerate them. Current medication is “mental and emotional imprisonment”? That’s an exaggeration.

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I feel the exact same way. no voices, no paranoia, no hallucinations, no invisible bugs crawling on me…what a life that would be. <3 Someone tried to tell me once that the negative voices I hear are the same thing that everyone tells themselves but it’s not. I can’t control them. I can’t just shut them off when I’m in a good mood. They’re not just self doubt, they’re not just me. if it was me I could control it a lot better. I wouldn’t get so depressed after hearing it because it was just me.

Just reading the thread titles in the medication forum:

Emotional numbness, impotence and decreased libido, anxiety, akathisia, dyskinesia, lack of concentration, weight gain, sleepiness.

Surely not everyone is exaggerating.

If there was a miracle cure, everyone would be taking it. It’s a cost-benefit analysis. Why be surprised if some people choose to stick with the schizophrenic symptoms without adding the symptoms from less-than-ideal antipsychotic medications.

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Just important to note that SZ comes in many flavours, some of them more unpleasant and stronger than others. Whereas some people may be fortunate enough to function without medication, the fact that they are doing so is no guarantee that YOU will be able to do the same. Heaven knows I’ve tested that theory enough on my own.

Can I sort of function without meds? Yeah. Do you want to live with me when I’m in that condition. No, you really don’t. Trust me on that.

10-96

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This is what…the 3rd time you’ve said this to someone? Maybe you should think more before saying such hurtful things…

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Hope things are an improvement for you today Darksith. As for everybody else…

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Rick Mayall was awesome.

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I’m so sorry Darksith that you had to deal with this crap so young.
I can so relate to your story (not by my parents, but 2 family members) from ? birth? to age 16 when the authority took me from my home for being Neglected.

This rings so true with me, especially about “teaching myself coping mechanisms at an early age”.
This is how children survive when parents fail.
Verry happy you are here with us today Darksith, you have done a wonderful job of taking care of yourself.
Please stay and enjoy this cup of hot coffee, and plate of delicious cookies baked for you.

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the title sounds like a porno except with light sabers lol

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I have been on antipsychotics for 23 years and mood stabilisers for 22 years. They are not wonder drugs but I would stop well short of calling them a ‘form of torture’ as some do.
I have to say side effects have been fairly mild to moderate for me and I do realise some have had very bad side effects. In their position I might feel very different about medication.
Although I can see the need for forced medication, in certain circumstances, there is the issue of whether forced medication detracts from focussing on producing better meds that people would be more compliant with.
There are those who accept they have a problem and are ok going down the meds route. There are those who accept they have a problem but, for one reason or another, prefer not to go down the meds route. Finally there are those who object to any form of treatment because they can’t see they’re ill.

Confronted by a person in the third category what is psychiatry to do if that person is a danger to others/himself and resisting all forms of treatment(meds or talk)?
Should it just run the risk of doing nothing and letting a tragedy occur or should it take action?

People here talk about knowing the difference between rationality and irrationality off meds as though being in a constant non psychotic state is a given. Yet there are many here who have done well for a time off meds only to slip back gradually into psychosis and the need for a hospital stay. There can come a time when the ability to rationalise and reality test fails and delusional thinking takes over but the individual can not see they are delusional/irrational.

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