Newly diagnosed with shizophrenia

[lugo]

I was recently diagnosed with schizophrenia at 38 which is a bit rarer and came as a shock. When I was deep in psychosis at the start it was so scary and confusing and confronting I didn’t know what was going on. 
I’m on medication which helps with the hallucinations and delusions but still have some pretty bad negative symptoms I’m trying to get help with.

anyone else out there with some similar experiences? Would love to hear your stories and some of the things you’ve done to help with coping.

[tacocat]

Welcome to the forums @lugo 

I just wanted to make a quick stop to say hello and welcome. 

I'm sure some of our friendly members will be along shortly to support you 🙂

[lugo]

Thank you for the welcome. I look forward to seeing all the value I’ll get from this service ☺️

[StandingStill]

Hi @lugo 🙂 I'm StandingStill.

I'm also somewhat new to these forums. 

Wow, reading your post was a bit like looking in a mirror. I got diagnosed with schizophrenia last year, though I did have psychotic episodes earlier in my adult life. 

I totally hear you surrounding the confusion and confrontation of psychosis. It's just horrific. It's actually, to tell you the truth, still really triggering and upsetting to look back on for me. 

I'm also stable on medication, and I'm grateful for that. But, like you, the negative symptoms are a serious struggle and I get really frustrated over that... I used to be a very motivated and proactive individual and there was definitely a shift in that after the episodes. I am doing fairly okay though, I go to university and I work at the moment. I suppose what helped me with the negative symptoms is psychoeducation, meaning a bit more of a thorough personal understanding, for myself, that the negative symptoms I experience are due to the schizophrenia and not a moral failing. But I guess I tried not to lose touch with my passions and identity in life. I still have hobbies and interests and they're a little harder to maintain but they're still there. For example, I still am very passionate about my studies and outside of that, creative pursuits. I still make time for that and they genuinely bring me a lot of joy, even if it's fleeting.

What kind of things do you enjoy doing? 🙂

It was nice to have the opportunity to read your post and to comment. Schizophrenia I find is still unfortunately hugely stigmatised so I never really get the opportunity to talk about it in my circle in life.

Have a lovely day!

[lugo]

Nice to meet you @StandingStill. I play video games to bide the time (a lot of time actually lol) but it gives me some joy and distracts me enough from worrying about voices or anything else creeping in. I’ve been reading a bit more as well, again think it helps with the escape and distraction.

I work from home so try to squeeze in a walk on lunch or after work. I’m not as physically active as where I’d like to be but sometimes the motivation to even leave the house is a bit much.

I haven’t experienced severe episodes since my new medication and I wouldn’t ever want to go through episodes like that again. I journaled everything early on and it’s crazy the amount of stuff my brain came up with that made a lot of the things I was hearing as being plausible or real, so much so that I wrote about it in detail. I think it helped a bit too just writing all out, kinda reminds me of where I don’t want to end up again and keeps me disciplined (to an extent).

One thing I’ll be taking back up is making home made kombucha so I’m picking up a scoby and starter kit tomorrow. It’s a slow process brewing kombucha but gives me something to focus on and nurture for a few weeks.

Hope your week has been treating you wel!

[Circlegame1]

Hi I have had psychosis but branded with the labell of schizophrenia I have been through it all you said circle of life which caught my attention as I now recoverd call myself a circle was wondering if circle of life had any further emphasis which would be unlikely but thought I would ask

[Jynx]

Hi @Circlegame1 just a lil tip, if you want other members to be notified that you've responded, you can tag them - use the @ symbol and a drop down will appear, and you can choose their name. If their name isn't there, you can type it out and it should then appear for you to select, then it will show up in blue, like this: @lugo @StandingStill 😊

More How-to's here!! 💜

[Circlegame1]

I have had schizophrenia for twenty years I have been down the rabbit hole I was 30yo when first diagnosed mine was very dangerous I had to be very careful

TW: Abuse

Content/trigger warning

was beaten on a couple of acasions

I survived it but medication was the only thing that helped keep reality in check but I have spoken to anyone that has been affected 

[Jynx]

Just letting you know @Circlegame1 I have put a trigger warning on your post! Just for others reading along, part of our Community Guidelines ask we limit graphic descriptions - you can also do so yourself if you like

When writing a post, hit three dots to expand toolbar, then highlight text you'd like to conceal behind a TW, and hit the triangle with an exclamation point in it!

Anyway, all that aside, thank you for sharing your story. Sounds like you've been on quite the journey, but really found your way through. Love that! Sounds like meds have really given you a sense of stability. 

Glad to have you with us 😁

[Circlegame1]

Hi @StandingStill I have had psychosis for 20 years now on medication you said circle of life was wandering if it had another meaning is most unlikely but I thought I would ask it’s just since my psychosis I call myself a circle