How do you manage stress if it triggers your symptoms

I guess the level of response will give us an idea on how much this affects people…

I thought I was having a good couple of days and thought my new medicine was finally doing something, and I was going to be able to not move up another 200mg…

After yesterday, I am not so sure.

I find when I go into busy places (I even got there at 8am in town, and left before 10am), my stress levels go through the roof and I start hallucinating, get really paranoid and anxiety comes back very severely.

I cannot make eye contact with anybody as their faces turn to shadow, and I don’t feel safe at all - even my thoughts are not safe and I cannot respond to things as I don’t know if when people do strange things whether it’s me or I am being intimidated.

Currently I cope by limiting going out alone unless it’s necessary. Sometimes I just force myself knowing what might happen if I just need to get outside for a bit.

I don’t know what to do. When I am in my routine of work/sleep I am pretty much ok with that, as I am used to it. But anything unstructured, or places where predictability goes out of the window really sets me off.

I think it’s just stress. I just read this article, and it seems to make sense…

Does anyone else feel this way?

Is higher AP dose the best way to deal with this, or the PRN option?

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Stress kills me. Everything gets worse when I am stressed. I think it’s common. I am not good at managing stress, but taking a moment to collect myself often helps take some of the edge off.

Stress is my only real “trigger”. My head gets noisy, I can’t concentrate, I get confused, my hands shake…it is bad. And that’s on APs.

Stress of all types sets me off. Haven’t firgured out how to stop it yet. It builds up until I become a mess and have to go to the hospital.

I live a low stressed lifestyle. Much of it is routines. Do things that are safe and easy. Do things regularly that you know you can do. If you do something well then do more of it!

Exercise is a good place to start on these meds. It improves your life and attitude and there’s not really any downside if done properly. There is only gain!

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@rogueone Do you think if I deliberately made going into the town a part of my routine I might get used to it?

I don’t understand if it’s meds or just because I don’t get out much. (I am guessing probably both)

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I walk, nap, listen to music, take magnesium, etc.

Go running. That’s the best thing.

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Why not try little trips. Go to the store or somewhere to get comfortable. Routine is good for schizophrenics!

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