Lately, I’ve been having some problems. Paranoia keeps creeping in, and it’s getting seriously obtrusive in my daily life. No voices or overt hallucinations yet, but that unrealness keeps coming back. My negative symptoms are slowly getting worse too, which I know the meds won’t help but it would be easier to manage without the positive symptoms getting in my way. I’m sick of feeling like I have to distrust and suspect everyone, when I know there’s nothing going on, but I can’t quite get myself to believe it. I don’t understand how people can function without meds, I feel terrible trying to deal with all of this, and I’m at least on a low dose! How did I survive my major psychotic episode last year without them?
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It’s good that you’re open to increasing your dosage. There is no need to suffer. Call up your doc and get the help you need.
I started feeling an increase in my symptoms some time ago. I called my clinic to see if my doctor would increase my meds a bit to help nip this in the bud before it got worse. They refused to do anything unless I came in to their walk-in clinic.
Time has passed and I missed my latest doctor visit. I’ve decided to start increasing my meds myself, regardless of what the clinic will or will not do. I’ll call them Monday and tell them what I’m doing and inform them that if they don’t go along with it and prescribe me increased meds then I’ll just run out faster, and we’ll see what happens then.
My clinic has really turned into garbage. What’s the point of having a doctor if they won’t do their job?
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Do talk to your pdoc on it. But you can get to the stage of understanding that they are just irrational thoughts and when you start fighting them although most times it’s ineffective. That’s half the battle and where I found therapy helpful on learning skills to combat them better.
I sometimes wonder how in the world I even held a tiny part time job when I was in my deepest of negative swing. I guess the only explanation I could come up with is… the body can do some amazing things despite the brain.
I am always in awe of your insight… I sure wish I had your strength of mind when I was at my worse… All the heart ache I would have avoided… I would have been more level much sooner.
I’m glad your keeping an eye on this and are thinking of talking to the doc and getting all this head circus under control. It’s hard for me to up my dose when I need it… I really hope to med free someday.
But if it keeps a break from happening and it helps the mind stay level… then it’s worth it… (he says begrudgingly)
I’m always wishing the best for you…
I was very paranoid on Abilify - it increased my anxiety levels to the roof - but this was me.
Abilify is extremely activating for some - most of my paranoid - anxious thinking subsided when I switched over to another antipsychotic. I think that it would be wise to have a talk with your pdoc and let him know.
I thought that the paranoia would get better once I raised the Abilify dose - for me it did not get better, it actually worsened.
This is a new med for you, only time will tell if its the right med for you - I personally found that Abilify was way too activating for me - causing my paranoia, suspiciousness, and anxiety to worsen
Good luck! 
@Malvok I would be wary about increasing your dosage on your own, especially if you take other medications along with the psych meds.
Glad you are thinking of increasing your dosage.
I’m on a pretty high dose.
my voices have even stopped.
that is amazing for me i’ve had them all my life since first episode
I’ve forgotten what it’s like to be used to them.
I’ve gone with the higher dose because i wasn’t quite stable at a lower dose and these meds are the best i’ve been on.
i’m normal now