I have seen spirits and that is what it is to me.So why do people say I am a nut?
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Q: why am I diagnosed with paranoid scizophrenia and I just take 20 mg. a day Lexapro?
Answers (3)
7/11/09 2:43pm
Hello becky12377777,
It is possible you are in the minority of people who don't need SZ meds. I wouldn't call yourself a nut if I was you. That is your own perception. People diagnosed with SZ are not "nuts," so I would refrain from calling us that. You do not have to identify yourself with your symptoms. I suspect no one has called you a nut directly to your face and that you think you're a nut because of the diagnosis of SZ. Please, you probably didn't mean anything by using the word nut but I can't help but respond this way when you use that word.
People with SZ are not "nuts." SZ is a real, treatable medical condition. Only a qualified psychiatrist can give a person the diagnosis of SZ. So I'm not sure who you're referring to when you say "people" say you're nuts. Please be strong and walk proud and refrain from worrying that you're a nut in the eyes of someone else.
The reality is, stigma exists and we all have to be careful what we disclose to others about our symptoms.
Regards,
Christina
7/11/09 9:12pm
Hello,
My friend tells me to quote her when people stop taking their meds because of the weight gain. She says she chose sanity over vanity. From what you've told me I'm not sure going without meds is the way to go. People can have questions about God and the bible that have nothing to do with SZ, especially if they are religious.
The drug I'm on is Geodon which has not caused any weight gain. Abilify is the only other drug that doesn't cause much weight gain. With your family history of SZ and the symptoms you revealed just now, quite frankly I'm surprised you didn't want to take any medication.
By the way, my friend carries a few extra pounds because of the Zyprexa, yet she is a beautiful person inside and out and dresses rather stylishly and has also lost 20 lbs through diet and exercise.
I know how it is to be overweight because at one point, after I received the diagnosis of SZ, I was so depressed I ate everything in sight, including a tub of Ben & Jerry's every week. The Stelazine, my first drug, didn't cause weight gain but I ate too much so gained weight. I refused to buy a pair of jeans or pants until I lost the weight. Ironically, I would wear mini skirts.
So I want to urge you to consider your options. With a little time and careful shopping you can find clothes that will flatter you, whatever your size. My friend who carries a few extra pounds is one of my closest friends, by the way.
Best regards,
Christina
7/12/09 3:17pm
I have been big and little and really happy with the looks thing either way,I carry weight well in looks anyways,but I feel better a little smaller. If I quit the smoking thing it would help my problems if I do gain weight.My father just died of COPD and I smoke too and I can feel the effects so I really struggle with this issue.I feel like I sufficate with weight but the guys hahaha like the extra pounds.I am not one to worry about the looks thing too much it never has helped me all that much anyways hahaha.It is more of a feeling thing I guess.I do alot better working and keeping busy,like I said I have no job for 8 months now and it is driving me up the wall.I am going to see someone this week and check some options out with treatment.I hate to really do the couseling thing but sometimes it does help.I have addiction problems as well that is a weakness in my personality I guess and if I get back on meds and couseling seems to help me with my addictions I guess I try to even myself out by myself if this makes since.I do know I was doing really good for awhile then fell back down the tubes again.Thank the good Lord we can have people like you to talk to.Thanks again and I will explore these options.Becky
7/12/09 10:03pm
Hi Becky,
Please be kind and gentle to yourself.
I'm a fan of the SZ meds because taking meds is an act of love towards yourself, that's how I feel. Most people with SZ need some kind of medication. If you've gone without meds for awhile and feel you're unable to function, talk with the new counselor or doctor about that. You deserve to go back to work and working will pump up your self-esteem. I know that I feel more productive when I'm working.
Counseling isn't for everyone, not everyone feels they're helped by it though, too, it could be a matter of finding the right therapist. I was lucky I've had two good ones in my life.
Have a good night.
Regards,
Christina
7/10/09 10:01pm
Hi becky, If you ignore the "spirits" or basically not believe in them (or their power), they will not bother you.
3/11/11 7:35am
Hi becky, I feel just the same way as you do. I have been diagnosed with schizophrenia because of something they call a delusion. To me it was not a delusion, it was a real experience. Mine has got to do with religion and I'm not gonna go too far into that because no one would believe me anyway. I believe I had a special experience with God and because I told the people closest to me, they immediately thought there was something wrong with me. So now I have been having a battle with the doctors for three long years because of what I believe in. They say I have a lack of insight because I do not believe it is a delusion and they just keep adjusting the dose higher or prescribing other meds. Which to me it is all poison and does not alter the way I think at all. I am adamant that what I saw and heard that specific night was not a hallucination of any type. So you can say that this is a persecution for believing in God (which drs are not supposed to believe in) and if I have to suffer with doctors tormenting me all my life for this belief then amen. I will never deny my experience with God because I know He is listening. All I have to say to you is: your not suffering with schizophrenia. You are not a nut at all. I believe spirits are more real than God and I really believe in God now after the experience. Though to be diagnosed with sz you must have more symtoms than just seeing things surely. But me I do not hear voices, see things that are not there, disorganised speech or disorganised behaviour or anything else assosiated with sz, except for this suppose of "delusion". And if you are the same as me well I'm with you all the way. Plus once your admitted as a schizophrenic patient, you may have to stay on meds for the rest of your life. I believe drs are in some way working together, diagnosing people wrongly so that they can always ensure jobs for each other. Lets face it, more patients more jobs and more money. Doctors do not really want you to get better, just stable. Especially them mental health ones. So be careful and good luck with your future.
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Ya your right they are not nuts I didn't mean to alarm anyone or hurt anyone.I really do think I need more meds myself.I took risperadal for a year with prozac and that worked good.Then I got pregnant and never took anything while pregnant was dumped pregnant too.So I did have problems after the baby so they wrote it off as depression cause I didn't want the anti-psychotic meds cause they make me gain alot of weight.My grandma was paranoid scizophrenic too so was her sister.She tried to kill my mom when she first had her and was sent o a place called Millegeville in GA.She was a great woman but if she wasn't on meds she would be very physically harmful not to others but to herself.I found I had this when I quite drugs after years of it all and tried to cut my hand off in front of my son cause I thought I was the black horseman in the bible and was going to hell if I didn't do it.I have had the TV talk to me like Bill Oraily said through the TV we don't care about your soul.It scared me at first but now it is very interesting.My problem is that I over analize things way too much like things like trucks have meanings to them for me and sometimes it has to be more than a consedense however ya spell it.I am very verbal about all this which may cause more harm than good really.I joke alot about it all but it is really serious and it seems to be real to me.No I have some friends who are scizophrenics too well one really and it seems we are usually very intellegent people.My teachers in school used to tell my family I was gifted with a vivid imagination now I am starting to think a curse.I am really confused spiritually cause you are not suppose to add or subtract from the bible and in all this I did but didn't know it on account of ignorance.Is this part of this disease too?I know I used to not be this way it is like I am two different persons.Is their meds that don't make ya gain weight?