I stopped meds for 2yrs and I still had negative and cognitive symptoms. I was never the same as before sz. I thought it was the meds so I stopped them but its not the meds.
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How to become like I was before sz?
Darned if I can tell you. It changed me. I’m functional and I have a good life, but I still have to manage the SZ. Same with my substance abuse issues. Maybe stop trying to be who you were and be the best you can be now.
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I think there’s enough evidence with loss of cognition with indicators like iq drop commonly reported. My shrink tends to think Depression is also something that damages the brain. Still. I think better with meds so whether there’s any upwards progress is probably debateable.
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I think you will find a variety of opinions on whether or not psychosis causes permanent brain damage. The fact is probably that no one knows for sure. The evidence seems to weigh in favor of some cognitive loss early in the prodrome to psychosis in schizophrenia, however. I believe my cognitive abilities declined somewhat but I don’t feel that they are declining significantly since. I think it’s probably not best to dwell on the possibility though. I think @shutterbug 's advice in the above post is good advice. Just try to be the best you can be now.
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The condition I have causes cognitive deficit- so you’re not alone there.
Many people, after they’re diagnosed, no longer feel alert like other individuals. I’m just trying to let you know that cognitive deficit is not exclusive to sz, but happens in a lot of illnesses.
And sometimes the cognitive issues are not even viewable on mri. Physically, the brain is fine, but maybe the wiring of the brain is a bit weird? I don’t know. I’ve had like 3 mri’s at this point and my doctor says he can’t find anything, nor he expects to find any abnormalities.
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The more I think about it though, for me personally, I think I noticed negative and cognitive symptoms, both prior to my first psychosis(Not being able to enjoy things and concentrate) and during my INTITIAL psychosis. During my initial psychosis I noticed forgetting things and actually thought someone was poisoning me and damaging my brain. I did not notice any cognitive losses later on in my psychosis. So maybe I still had some brain changes going on in the early stages of psychosis? IDK. Anyway, you got me thinking on the subject so I thought I would interject my personal experience.
edit: I’m not sure if the cognitive changes were due to psychosis itself or changes already going on in my brain, as, like I said, I did not seem to notice cognitive differences later on in my psychosis, just the early period.(it took me awhile to get fully compliant on meds.)
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It’s a tragic time in someones life to go through SZ, but best look forward, and try to re-build your life
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I don’t think it’s permanent, because our brain, especially in the hippocampus shrinks with SZ and all, but it is tested that it can be reversed. Some say antidepressants can induce adult neurogenisis and elicits enlargement of the area of the cortex.
And also rehabilitation works as well. We can train our brains visually inputting new data and so on
For me it started with many years of withdrawal from society and activities, I probably have myself to blame for that, but my psychiatrist told me it may have been prodromal. But at some point I changed.
The meds are a different story, they change me also.
I was different in different years. Which year to pick? Every state is still present and may come back.
I probably should be looking for something new.
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I think to Become who you were before schizophrenia, I think you just have to follow your gut and do the things that you believe in and keep pushing
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I found quitting meds damaged my mind permanently though I got somewhat better again. Don’t go off your medicine. I have a friend who takes a very small dose of medicine but his doctor weaned him off meds over many years.
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I really like your answer
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I think there is a range of sz severity. Some may be permanent damage
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Damage or no damage what else can you do but to keep going?
If you have an accident and need a wheelchair you would first assess the damage and then accept it.
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I went back on the meds.
Thanks and yeah sz hits everybody differently I agree. But it doesn’t mean you cannot surmount it. And not reverse some damage, but change or maybe"grow".
Take a look at Eminem. He’s been saying he’s had brain damage and psychotic. He changed ALOT. Now he’s almost have flat effect, changed ALOT but he is basically sitting on a throne in rap music.
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Yea we all have potential. It’s a beautiful thing
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Yeah I wish I was smart like Aziz sometimes
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Me too lol 
Abise you are smart in your own way too though
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