How do you know if you have schizophrenia if you have no symptoms?

I’ve been reading that healthy people who took APs for a study had reduced cognition. Other studies say APs improve cognition in schizophrenics. When they lower the medication, my memory and thinking and ability to move quickly all improve. I get better at sports, music, school. What does this mean?

We need some context on why they gave you meds in the first place to answer that question

What happened?

They don’t hand them out for no good reason otherwise they’d get in trouble

It’s more of an insurance policy than anything else.

Cheaper than locking us all away, and apparently more humane too. So win win I guess for the budget of healthcare in most places…

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I don’t think I did anything. They just said they thought I was having problems because I wasn’t sleeping a lot and I stood up for myself when people were harassing me. While in the hospital, they said things that weren’t true; the doctor at my clinic told me things they said about me in their notes. Stuff about isolating, seeming confused. I don’t have mood swings or anything, my mood is very stable. I told them this and they told me I lack insight, how do they know what emotions I’m experiencing? Do they have an ability to read emotions from my brain?
I’m very high functioning, I live with roommates I met on craigslist, I work full time, I go to school and get good grades, I socialize, I keep jobs, I pay all my bills. I don’t know why they thought I was schizophrenic. They also said I was one of the worst schizophrenics they’d ever seen.

Hmmmm.

This sounds too complex for anyone not involved to give you a straight answer

However, if you start down the route of ceasing Ap’s then it might bite you back at some point

Just be careful and talk with your family so at least others in your life know what’s going on if you go lower

I am not one to preach, but I learned the hard way

Too much thinking is bad for me. We have hit a sweet spot with the right med and I have enough clarity to work etc

Just a numbers game hence a massively high stakes lottery game we all play

Not trying to deny your voice, but insight is a tricky thing, as I know myself my memory of events was altered beyond my comprehension.

Something to think about

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Ok, I think it’s something to consider.
I’ll go back up if there is any problem.
But that doesn’t seem to be the case.
I’m ceasing only under the supervision of a doctor, if at all.

Fair play

Just be careful.

I was in denial for years

Not saying one way or the other, but some people have a lot of issues with insight that they never conquer

It took me about 10 years experimenting and now I have given in

I am reducing anxiety meds at the moment.

It sounds like you may have had a bout of psychosis… if the doctor asked you how long you feel you’ve been persecuted and you said longer than 3 months then he may have diagnosed you with sz because of that.

Why do you need to see a doctor to begin with

Involuntary commitment.
Right now, I don’r have to see a doctor, but I’m going to appointments and taking medication of my own free will, no legally binding documents involved. Same doctor I saw when it was legally required.

They thought I was getting aggressive and not in contact with reality. I had no delusions about aliens coming to get me or anything, and no hallucinations. They just thought my aggressive behavior was unjustified and required me to be seen by a doctor. I think they see things that aren’t there, the doctor and staff. They are lost in their lens of medical expertise, and see pathology that is not present. When I take what they saw in me, and apply it to other people, just about everyone is mentally ill. I think their methods for detecting this sort of affliction are incongruent with the culture that they exist in. They’re somehow separated from the culture that they say they exist in. Medical education puts people in a place cognitively and culturally that most people do not exist in. They’re a little detached from reality. :slight_smile:

You can always try going off your antipsychotic, if you get put into hospital involuntarily again in 2 years having a relapse, you probably need the medicine for life

I see. I’d rather not go through that. Low doses while being observed by a doctor is my best option, to test out my behavior. Don’t want to go back to making dumb decisions, but being on the medication, I’m unable to work at a level that guarantees my employment. I doubt they’d give me disability benefits after working 2 years straight on the medication. It’s not enough money either.

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From what you said about having no positive symptoms you don’t really need antipsychotic anyway?

It is the meds that hold you sane. Quit meds and you risk psychosis.

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I don’t experience positive or negative symptoms. I had some ideas that didn’t agree with people around me.

Oh, and I think you people should be able to defend yourselves with no repercussions. I don’t like the way people treat you all.

Many studies say that 77% of people labeled schizophrenic relapse on the medication. Be your own person. Even if that means meds.