THIS IS MY STORY

Dear Ms. Rounds,

I can relate to your story. I've never gone to college.  The family never supported me, even until this day. In high school I had good grades, trying to get the family to be proud of me it never happened. I started doing drugs, my grades fell. At 17 I started hearing voices. I had delusions. I was committed to a hospital.

Going off meds is never a good idea. I used to go off them years ago, and always ended back at the hospital. You are fortunate that your family supports you.

Here at the Connection you will find a kind, caring, supportive community.

Keep coming back,

Dave

Hi Cassandra,

Without having read the other comments posted to your SharePost, I can tell you this:

please stay on the medication.

I care about you and don't want to see you get sick again.

You got help immediately, and as a result, you are doing well.

Also, you are doing well because of your own determination to fight to have a good life.

Read my SharePosts, read the one where I interviewed my mother, Mary Ann Bruni  http://www.healthcentral.com/schizophrenia/c/120/39300/interview-mary

She drove me to the hospital within 24 hours of my breakdown, and the first drug I was given took away the symptoms.  When I stopped taking the medication, I got sick again within three months.

The majority of people diagnosed with schizophrenia need to be on medication.

Ask your doctor if Geodon or Abilify is a drug you could try.  Both cause little or no weight gain.  I went on Geodon a year ago and had no weight gain.

You are lucky you go help immediately.

Please, stay on your medication before your symptoms come back.  One day, the longer you've been off your medication, you won't be able to tell what's real and what's not.

I want only the best for you.  Please, consider what I've said.

Best wishes,

Christina