I feel sometimes like I’ve had to reconcile to the fact that I lost a lot of time that I could be productive by working. There was a period of time in my life when I was put on the wrong medication. From about the age of 22 to 45 I was on a drug called Haldol. Haldol is a major tranquilizer and it zoned me out for those 23 years. I was like a zombie but I thought it was the schizophrenia that was making me feel that way. The clinicians thought that too. It wasn’t until I switched to a better medication \that I realized that it was due to the Haldol that I was zombied out. I probably should have been more assertive and asked the psychiatrist why I was so sedated but I thought this is sthe way I was supposed to feel if I was diagnosed with schizophrenia and need medication to manage the symptoms. So it you feel like you’re on the wrong medication don’t be afraid of asserting yourself with you psychiatrist and change the medication to something more constructive.
I agree. We need to feel empowered enough to speak out to our care team when we need to. A change in meds can make a huge difference.
Those 1st generation anti psychotics were horrible!
Ive been on a 1st generation for 5 or 6 years it is my best one ive been on
That’s great that you have one that’s working for you 
I hope it continues to work out! We all have different brains! So I suppose the appropriate med is a function of the brain!
The thing is all antipsychotics have a different effect on the individual we can’t be anti a certain med because it might work wonders for one person and not for the next
You are so right
That is so true. I don’t know if I can even work. I want to sometimes, but lack the ability and skills anymore. This illness sucks.
Have you tried a different med? I was zombied out for a long time but switched to one my psychiatrist suggested!
Yes. I don’t think I can work even on meds.
I lost a few years to dysfunction for sure. Sucks, but what can you do?
I lost 23 years. And I’ve thought a lot about how to reconcile such a long period of time lost to being on an old antipsychotic, Haldol. Like I’ve said it before the stuff just zombied me out. The clinicians just thought it was the symptoms of the schizophrenia but it was the Haldol. I realized this when I started taking Abilify and within three days I was thinking much better and clearer. I’ve just had to move on and make the most of the time that I have left on this planet!
Maybe you could learn a skill!
I try to keep my brain active. I read books and tried coursera and edx.
I am much slower now.
I’m physically inactive.
I should work on my health and be happy with what I have.
I agree though. I should learn a skill. I beat myself up a lot.
I remember I used to go negative on myself a lot too.Tony 1969. But I was one of the fortunate ones to have a powerful support system. So I had some help getting back to work. I became a peer support specialist which I love to do. I love helping other get their lives back on track. You might want to check out the WRAP. The acronym stands for Wellness Recovery Action Plan. You might want to google it. I tried it many years ago and it was very helpful in getting my recovery process going.
I told my doctors early on that medicating me into a lump was unacceptable. I had a recovery focus and I wanted them to have one, too. I would be med and treatment compliant, but I needed meds and doses that didn’t just turn me into a drooling lump. Things got better after that.
Right on Bug! Way to go!