I wasn’t sure where to categorize this so i chose the lounge. Felt like the safest area.
I found this group while searching “high functioning schizophrenia” and came upon a thread from’15. Since i have no concept of time i figured i might as well join the conversation.
I was diagnosed12-5-2001 by a Harvard Neurologist. He was fascinated by my adaptation of my ::whatever we call it these days::
I guess you can say im "very high functioning"
I use my voices to my advantage. The help me. Im not saying they dont turn on me from time to time, but we have an understanding.
It started when i was on ton meds and they shut off completely. It was the first time in life i had peace and quiet. I honestly didn’t know what to do.
I eased off the Seroquel and they slowly came back. As soon as they started their ■■■■ i started the meds again. We played this game for months.
It wasn’t easy, I’m not trying to say that, i recited the Lords Prayer HUNDREDS of times over and over until the meds kicked in, it was absolute hell.
But finally we came to an “agreement” i let them stay, they work with me.
I work in a very technical field and troubleshoot critical problems all day every day.
The other day my supervisor caught my arguing with myself and mentioned how everyone talks about it, but obviously im doing something right because im always right.
(Btw i DON’T trust the ADA so NO ONE at my work knows)
Im not knocking anyone still struggling, just sympathizing is bringing me back to a place i fought for years.
But im curious if anyone else here has made peace with their voices and found a way to work together?
mine are all negative. no peace here
WTG I’m not sure what it is but it seems like some people do have positive voices. Fortunately you can work, I went catonic and haven’t worked since. At this point I’m just hanging back, as I think if the stress picked up I’d be catonic again. Who knows. Glad to hear you’re in a good spot
Welcome to the forums ThatSideOfNormal. When I’m off meds I hear voices. When I’m on meds I don’t. I tend to be more productive off meds until the voices become unbearable. I made peace with the voices when I was off meds though I ended up getting depressed over hearing them. I’ve been on meds for about two and a half years now. I am not high functioning. I hope you don’t mind me asking but do you still take meds?
i hear voices and they are just annoying most of the time like i dont get scary spiritual like hallucinations i mainly hear what sounds like actual people where ever i go talking about me and i have only had this for almost 2 years i have gotten used to what its like when im at home but it changes when i go outside and to different places
i dont know if i am high functioning or not because when i dont take meds i dont leave the house because i worry alot about what people think about me and if they are talking about me so stuff like going to the grocery store where everything i hear is warped to sound like people talking about me and listening to my thoughts its hard
i am actually hearing voices right now but thu are quieter than they are off meds so they arent as bad when i go out in public
They’re only positive when it comes to technical stuff. Equations, frequencies, troubleshoot, everyone comes together.
Did you?
Yes you know we did!
Ok how about this?
No ignore that, did you try this?
The f=x so xl must be y
Sh!t you’re right! Go try that!
Agreed?
Thats my head.
It it comes to my wife, family, co-workers, childhood, my dad… Its all bad
Im sooooo happy i found this group!
Ohhhhhh believe me! I’m literally balancing on the edge of reality every single day
Welcome to the community.
I’m very high-functioning. I pass for normal. I have a family, career, etc. I’m med-compliant. My voices have never been useful to me. I push them aside and do my best to ignore them. They become all too real and utterly terrifying when I am off meds for a long period and lose my insight. And then there is the delusional thinking. Ugh.
I’m never going off meds again for as long as I live.
Self medicated. I dont want to encourage anyone to do the same so im not saying what, bit NOT WEED. .
My story is similar to yours, right down to the prayers. I also have some voices that are helpful. I’m considered high functioning since I can go to school and have a job. Welcome to the forum.
Im sorry:( i prayyou make peace
Fair enough. I’m not judging. I was only curious because sometimes I want to try life without meds again as dumb as that may be.
I have the paradoxical effect lime you read about. Opiates make me work 12hr days, come home and landscape then clean the pool, fall asleep memorizing a circuit.
Without them im in the corner of my property staring at a fence fighting with someone who doesn’t exist about something that never happened…
That’s interesting. One of the most common side effects of opiates is drowsiness. I wonder why it affects you like that. Maybe I don’t know enough about opiates.
I think it’s nice to force yourself to stay awake so you can enjoy the high.
I mean other people not me
My pdoc says I am the most high functioning patient he has met who has such a high symptom load. I am going to college and I manage to work. I dont feel high functioning but there it is. I have specific positive voices, or rather voices that can be positive. I miss these as I felt even their negative treatment of me could sometimes motivate me to be “better”…but that kind of “better” wasn’t exactly hinged in reality.
I was pretty high functioning after 1 year of diagnosis. I went to university, got a full time and another part time job. It lasted a short time. Now seems to be good again, who knows? Hope I won’t relapse. And I am happy for you!
high functioning too here.
my voices are sometimes mean and other times playful & funny.
What is ADA?
I bet your medications have allowed you to make peace with your voices. I commend you.
I use my ideas of reference to my advantage too. I also am fairly high functioning. Although I don’t hold down a paying job, I do work at a volunteer job for the last 9 years.