Did your negative symptoms get better and after how much time? Did you get more energy? I recently stopped meds for 1 month with no increase in energy and a few years ago I was off meds for 2yrs all I did was walking in the streets, talking to strangers and eating in restaurants all day. It seems impossible to be as good as before sz, my pdoc said its impossible to do as there is irreversible damage its depressing
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I’m not off meds, but did you really manage to get off them with no psychosis?
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During 1 month I had no symptoms but I felt agitated which is a sign that psychosis is coming so I went back on meds. During the 2yrs I got psychotic after a few months.
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I’m stable on the minimum dose, if that matters. And my negatives are now manageable.
Probably just gotten lucky, however I don’t fully believe the “irreversible brain damage” theory.
I went through 3 major episodes. Negatives became real bad after the first one, and decreased after each of the later ones.
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I want to take amphetamines to have more energy but no Dr is willing to prescribe it as they say I don’t have Adhd. I read studies it helps negative symptoms. My pdoc thinks it will make me psychotic but also wrote I am very stable and discharged me from psychiatric care. I haven’t seen a pdoc since 2021.
I went off meds for 3 months my negatives disappeared and I was working 12 hr shifts but it was short lived as my psychosis returned then I got on disability and stayed on meds
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Idk if I can make it 3 months without psychosis. The max I did was 1 month. I will soon try again.
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My brother says I am a crack head for wanting amphetamines, its prescribed for adhd so everyone taking Adderall is a crack head?
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My Mom takes prescribed amphetamines I think her body got use to it and she is now sluggish even worse when she doesnt have them
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I was stable off meds for almost eight months until my stress got ramped up (wife’s parents of course) and I started to go downhill. No difference in negs, which was heartbreaking.
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Thats depressing so there is no way to be like before sz or be better?
I’m never going to be like before schizophrenia, I still have 24/7 positive symptoms and the negatives are unshakeable, it appears. I have managed to become functional despite the symptoms, but it’s a helluva lot of work and it is often draining energy wise.
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Before sz I had some negative symptoms and was lazy but was able to force myself to work and go to university and get my degree eventhough I missed lots of classes while sleeping a lot in the library. Now with sz it feels impossible, I want to do stuff but my brain doesn’t want to do anything. Sometimes I hangout with friends and game but thats all I still lay in bed most of the time. Glad you’re able to function well, maybe in the future I can function better I am not giving up.
Aziz, i’m worried over you quitting meds and wanting adhd-meds. I dont think you are a crackhead. I think you’re desperate for a solution and not overseeing the situation. Ampethamines + no antipsychotics = psychosis.
Before, my negatives lessened if I went off meds.
Now, not much. I use haldol only with pms. I use no meds mid-cycle. I have no positives, but still negatives then.
I’m trying out things…raising iron, exercising, diet. I feel the most helpful is to pretend there’s no negatives and do things anyway. Fake it till you make it. 
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That’s 95% of it for me. I’m pretty sure it’s the same for @LevelJ1. Head down, shoulders squared, and bust through the wall even if it hurts like a bugger.
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I really agree with Marian that going of meds and going on stmulants is the highway to Hell for all of us schizophrenics.
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Yeah. That.
For me, I find it works better with external motivators. My home is more clean if I have a visitor. I’m more active at my volunteering job than at home. I’m better at doing my chores when I’m with my help. I feel the negatives less when I’m distracted by other people and activities. I build such things into my life.
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Yes @anon21280033 !! Every time I host a volunteer meeting in my home, I clean like crazy. My volunteer job and my Church and my doctors appointments force me to get out of my apartment.
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Doing that precisely today at work. Struggling to do stuff but i just go super basic and start with 1 small item, then i got to the next small item and eventually the momentum continues.
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I dont really have any internal motivation. So i have to create external ones ive learned. I actually read some short notes on why im suppose to be at work each morning. Still tough as â– â– â– â– to keep at it though but the reminders and other strategies get me through the more trying days. Thank goodness my job is low key.