SzAdmin
September 16, 2015, 4:38pm
5
Hi Anna - this sounds like what are called “negative symptoms” - and they are frequently a difficult issue to deal with when you have schizophrenia, but there are things that you can do that will improve things.
Check out these posts and let us know if this is what you’re talking about.
I became psychotic 10 months ago and have come a long way in recovery. The positive symptoms (mainly visual hallucinations and paranoia) have been brought under control by the medication (risperidal) and a lot of work on my part to find stability.
I am very much afflicted by the negative symptoms which were never present in the early psychosis, which I am wondering about.
My mind is blank 90% of the time and when thoughts do enter my head I have difficulty steering them or they slip away. No inner monologue.
Complete lack of emotion and passion
Anhedonia - cannot feel physical pleasure whatsoever, even sexual.
Do not have any feelings toward people I once loved.
Etc.
I am trying to fi…
and here are some things that might help:
People with schizophrenia frequently complain of fatigue and excess sleep, especially when on medications.
One medication that might help is Modafinil the drug that helps you stay awake - especially in the mornings.
Here is a study that looked at this:
“We conclude that ar/mod (200 mg/day) is safe and well tolerated in the short-term treatment of schizophrenia. Ar/mod reduces negative symptoms with a small effect size; the absolute advantage is also small, and the advantage disappears when chronically ill patients or those with high negative symptom burden are treated. Ar/mod does not benefit or worsen other symptom dimensions in schizophrenia.”
Sarcosine
and
There has been quite a bit of good research over the past 8 years on a dietary supplement called Sarcosine (or N-methyl Glycine). It is a natural amino acid that you have already in your body.
Sarcosine seems to be the only thing that has some good clinical research data showing that it can help people who have schizophrenia and who suffer from some negative symptoms (the cognitive/focus issues, lack of motivation, and negative mood/depression issues that are common with schizophrenia.
We have a new summary of this research here that we encourage you to read:
http://www.schizophrenia.com/glycinetreat.htm
It is available from a number of online stores at different prices. BrainVitaminz a…
D-Serine
N-Acetyl cysteine (NAC)
B-Vitamins