Hey guys haven’t been on this site since something like April and I’m wondering if anybody has any good news on their steps to recovery. Six months is a long time so what’s new?!
For me, I’m still working on the ambulance full time. Quit my part time job at the hospital so I could pick up more shifts at my other job. working 12hr shifts 60hr weeks now. It’s super stressfull But I love it! Also going to school taking a premed class doing great just got a 96 on the last exam. Social life has been improving too and I’ve been lucky enough to have met this wonderful girl who is very supportive and thinks highly of me. Things have been going great between us since about June. I’ve also been going to church a bit more regularly, and I’m pretty thankful for that.
I’ve found, staying busy and holding so much on your plate everyday truly helps one get better. Continuing to strive forward and take on new challenges really helps one overcome the reality of what we’ve experienced each in our own ways. I know that in the back of my mind each and everyday I could just fall but you know what I’m going to keep on fighting and continue to take this one step at a time!
Aloha
I’m so happy you’ve been doing well! I always wonder about people when I haven’t seen them in a while.
Good news for me. I’ve started a new internship helping other people with schizophrenia get access to services and supports. It’s a lot of fun and I feel like it’s the place I’m meant to be.
I’ve been posting about my recovery since around July but you say you’ve been away for longer than that, so I’ll summarize here:
With my pdoc’s support I was able to taper off and eventually quit taking my antipsychotic, after 3 years of stable remission of positive symptoms. I was surprised and thrilled when my negative symptoms diminished too after quitting the AP. I’ve also started practicing a rudimentary form of CBT and it helps loads too. Some negative symptoms like avolition and poverty of speech are now cut in half. Sadly I still struggle with some anhedonia and flat affect. Anyway I am able to communicate properly again with my friends and family, I can concentrate on studying a few hours daily, I plan on looking for a part-time freelance job soon.
That’s it in a nutshell. Let’s spread the light of hope on this forum, Chris !! God bless.
When I was first diagnosed I thought this was the end, now after continuing to hear about progress and people moving forward I’m beginning to find there’s hope & I’ve been trying harder, failing then succeeding and trying even harder. & I slowly began seeing results @Andrey that’s great news to hear your functioning without the need of medication. I definatly needed it to get me through the roughest times, but I started on the same path. My doctor has been weening me off invega 800mg down to just 100mg once every 6weeks. Ive also been taking high doses of niacin about 2-3g a day (time release tho), vit c 2500mg/dy and krill oil amongst other homeopathic remidies. The niacin really seems to be helping, tho the research/studies on its efficacy are very arguable and controversial. I’d advocate it from the bias of personal experience. Not sure what the CBT acronym means but I can relate to the anhedonia. I’ve found repetition with a positive mindset goes a long way!
Hi @808chris do you live in Hawaii? I’m from there too and join some support groups and am thinking about joining the Diamond Head Clubhouse. Do you get involved? You seem busy. I made friends with other high functioning schizophrenics in Hawaii and they live independently and are involved in part time work or school. I still don’t concentrate well and tire out easily but I enjoy life and am generally very responsive towards my environment. I might take it slow and go to some part time jobs soon or take 2 classes. I’ve only been on meds for a year but my doctor and therapist both have been documenting that I improved dramatically. If I continue to improve this year, I’d eventually like a stable job with middle class wage. If not, this illness is a full time job and I do have something to be busy with every day. I’m very glad you can do so much! Keep it up, you really don’t let sz hold you back!
Hey @anon62973308 that’s awesome to hear your doing good. You definatly cant let it hold you back. Got to keep fighting! I was just reading up on that support group, Ive looked before for such but never knew about it until you brought it up. That sounds fun, I’d totally be interested in getting involved, my case manager keeps encouraging it. The only one I knew about was nami I think they have a walk event coming up this month or last. The other sz’s you’ve met through that group what are they like? I bet I could learn a lot from them. How do you go about signing up that application looks intense haha
Some good news would be that after I made the switch from abilify to invega, my tiredness has gone down, my concentration has gone up, and I have way less positive symptoms than before
Yeah, I’m doing great too. I keep getting kicked off the site and I’m pretty ticked off about that but other than that, I’m doing pretty good. I’m doing yoga, meditating every day, practicing keyboard and getting better all of the time. Still volunteering. I feel and look great. Keeping my weight within normal limits. I’m due for a diagnostic colonoscopy in two weeks, so, see how that turns out.
The support group I go to is with United Self Help. It has a class on Tuesday and schizophrenia group every first and third Thursday. You just walk in! I met two other girls about my age who are high functioning. There are events like fourth Fridays where everyone goes out for food, yoga,etc. It’s probably the largest support group around here. Hope to see you there!
My good news is I showered after putting it off for 7 days! Feeling discouraged and a little ashamed my negative symptoms have been so hard to deal with lately but I guess we have to celebrate the small things, especially when it’s so hard accomplishing normal tasks.
Seem to be doing well on my 22 supplements with no pharmaceuticals. This is a process in progress with constant tweaks and experimentation with new natural herbs. Looking for the perfect mix and love the results so far.
