Just diagnosed

[pinkputter]

So i was just diagnosed like ... 2 days ago

can't say i could have been prepared for that... definitely not the first thing i thought i'd hear from my doctor.

i've had anxiety, and read up on everything to do with that and pretty much cured it. done every tip for that

i've had depression, same for that, over time cured itself along with staying spiritual.

Now what? schizophrenia? how can i possibly cure that? well the answer is i can't... i'm on medication for now, and praying for remission.

so what do people like us do? i never did too much research on schizophrenia because i always thought it was real 1-dimensional.
but we all know thats far from the truth.
anyway, what iguess i am wondering is how this is going to affect my life. i am 19, and in college, had trouble with classes (largely due to my unknown condition im sure)... how do you move on?

i never thought i'd say this, but i want a close-to-normal life... now ... now, that i have this.

what are ways to not FOCUS and horn in on the fact that i do have this illness, while not completely forgetting it exists? to ignore it isn't exactly healthy, but i dont want to be constantly reminded of it either...

 

[getncloser]

i believe we all wish for those same things...i has schizoaffective disorder. if the medications work for you then stay on them consistently which hopefully will help you maintain as regular a life as possible. my first year back in college, with my diagnosis, i maintained a 4.0 gpa so anything is possible...depends on you with the help of a doctor you trust. my heart and prayers are with you.

 

[rubixcube]

One important thing to realize is that you are not alone. Millions of people have the same condition. There is such a large degree of the disorder that people often relate schizophrenia to crazy people that walk around in circles yelling at themselves, but of course this is not the case 99.99% of the time.

It sometimes helps to go ahead and research it. There's a ton of sites just for schizophrenia with loads of information and answers to almost any question.


Maybe you should see a therapist for help. They can tell you ways to deal with the diagnosis.

I hope this helps! God Bless!

 

[poemtate]

I have schizo affective disorder and have researched and learned through prayer, support and patient education that knowing is half the battle. I administer to the medication requirements from the doctor. I found that self-examination is key. Sometimes you can go places and not know where you are at, so I constantly confered with the Lord. He above all knows me and made me and you. To always remember- that I can do all things through Christ which strenthen me!
So if you need any help just drop a line.

In Christ
poemtate

 

[Jeshu]

I have schizo affective disorder and have researched and learned through prayer, support and patient education that knowing is half the battle. I administer to the medication requirements from the doctor. I found that self-examination is key. Sometimes you can go places and not know where you are at, so I constantly confered with the Lord. He above all knows me and made me and you. To always remember- that I can do all things through Christ which strenthen me!
So if you need any help just drop a line.

In Christ
poemtate

Hi folks I got the same condition. Yes knowledge/awareness is much of the battle that together with medications make a world of difference. Yet knowledge doesn't help much when we are manic/psychotic for madness takes away from the real reality. So medications come first I suppose and then personal knowledge.

 

[lnichols]

I was diagnosed in 1995. I'd like to say it gets easier, but it doesn't. I've found my old home church ostracized me. I found my old friends are not so friendly any more. I find the medications I'm on makes it feel like my brain is bleeding. I have found that any valueable ministry you would start with the Lord falls short, because of the stigma associated with the disease. I have found women don't like me. I have found most of my time is one of total isolation. I have found it doesn't get any easier over time. I found Vitaminds B6, B12, and Folic Acid helps, somewhat. I have found the demonic attacks you endure at so fierce at times, you don't know how to handle them.
I have found many people say to me that I'm demon possesssed, that I have an unclean spirit, all kinds of things about me.

But, I've also found that God gives me grace to endure it all.

But, its' a lonely existence and I find myself praying a lot that I wish God would go ahead and take my life. I can't imagine living 30 more years like this.

 

[Jeshu]

I was diagnosed in 1995. I'd like to say it gets easier, but it doesn't. I've found my old home church ostracized me. I found my old friends are not so friendly any more. I find the medications I'm on makes it feel like my brain is bleeding. I have found that any valueable ministry you would start with the Lord falls short, because of the stigma associated with the disease. I have found women don't like me. I have found most of my time is one of total isolation. I have found it doesn't get any easier over time. I found Vitaminds B6, B12, and Folic Acid helps, somewhat. I have found the demonic attacks you endure at so fierce at times, you don't know how to handle them.
I have found many people say to me that I'm demon possesssed, that I have an unclean spirit, all kinds of things about me.

But, I've also found that God gives me grace to endure it all.

But, its' a lonely existence and I find myself praying a lot that I wish God would go ahead and take my life. I can't imagine living 30 more years like this.

Yes much of what you are saying here I second. Our decease is not seen in a very positive light by people.
Yet God gives us the more strength. I do hope for you that you may find a friend in life. Often we have to break through the defences people have set up and that can be hard work.

God bless.

 

[lvbeads]

I am schizoaffective, medicated since 2003. I have been told that I will never go into remission and can never stop my meds. I trust them because I can't trust my own mind. Work with your doc to find a "cocktail" of meds that work for you without unbearable side effects. Your perfect cocktail is out there if you are honest with your doc. If you have too many side effects, speak up or you will risk getting frustrated and quitting your meds. If you don't like your doc, get another - you are the customer. God bless you for getting help early on.

 

[revolutio]

what are ways to not FOCUS and horn in on the fact that i do have this illness, while not completely forgetting it exists? to ignore it isn't exactly healthy, but i dont want to be constantly reminded of it either...

Learn as much as you can about schizophrenia. While I recommend this for any disease, disorder, or affliction, I've found it particularly helpful in the case of pervasive illnesses. The more you know about it, the more you will be able to accurately assess your own situation. This can get rid of some of the awful self-questioning that arises out of uncertainty of schizophrenia's symptoms. You can assuage yourself with the knowledge that having trouble with a particular school assignment or developing symptoms of some minor cold/allergy/virus is normal and unrelated to schizophrenia. Likewise learning about it will help you prepare for times when schizophrenia might be particularly hampering.

As lvbeads said, work closely with your doctor. Possibly the worst thing you can do is spurn treatment. People are sometimes discouraged from going to a doctor frequently, not wanting to seem like a hypochondriac or overly dramatic about problems. Don't be; go see your doctor if you have problems. Most practitioners' offices have some sort of hot-line where you can leave questions for doctor or nurse. Do this; don't rely on some pamphlets about "Living your life with Schizophrenia" that have pictures of fields with puppies in them. If you want the exact facts, go to a medical professional.

I wish you luck. Keep active outside of classes and listen to Monty Python's "Always Look On the Bright Side of Life" at least once a day.

 

[lvbeads]

listen to Monty Python's "Always Look On the Bright Side of Life" at least once a day.

Absolutely wonderful advice, LOL!

 

[zaksmummy]

One other thing is to try to minimise the stressful things in your life.

Schizophrenia is a physical as well as mental illness. One of the things that people suffer with is anxiety. Your tolerance to stress is less than a person without schizophrenia so you need to try to minimise the things in your life that cause you stress.

Another thing you could do is decide on the people in your life who you trust and then listen to their advice, good friends, family members can often help you when you start to become ill and dont realise it.

If you are coming out of a psychotic state try to remember the things you were doing just before you became ill, often people dont sleep or their sleep pattern changes from night to day, they might spend more, feel that the TV/radio is talking about you, shut themselves away from everyone etc.

If you can write this stuff down, you may be able to recognise it if and when it happens again and alert you doctors to it.

Catrin xx

 

[Jenafer]

Dear Inichols,

Please don't say that your life is worthless, because it makes me sad. Yes, all those things you said about society and people are probably true.. society can be so unkind towards mental illness.. many people are sacred of schizophrenia.

And life will probably not be perfect for you ever again.. but do try to enjoy the little things that make you happy.. the tele, books, the beauty of nature, etc. You must know from this forum that others are struggling with the illness too.. and you have as much right to walk this Earth as any other person.

Wish I could make it all better for you.. but I can't.. just like I can't make my dear son better.

Chin up and soldier on, Jenafer

PS Please come to the forums often so you can get some support and have some company..