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I always appreciate your videos. You're very insightful & educated as to your illness & treatment. I wish I had been so at your age. I was diagnosed as schizoaffective at 30...now 68. But, to offer hope to folks, I went off disability.. earned a bachelor's degree, 2 years in grad school ..worked 23 years as a social worker. It was my real passion career wise. Now I'm retired...still receiving treatment & services AND living a good life.
Hiya I was hospitalised last year for 3months they give me the same diagnosis as you put me on injections Every month but I had side effects and switched to tablet Quetiapine 600mg a day
How do you truly stay slim on these meds? A minor dosage? Or some secret? Perfect diet with exercise? All I know is something your doing is a trick because I know many who can't lose weight on meds no matter what
Sometimes I get stuck on a Med, because I may not like the way I feel on a medication but at least I'm stable. Stopping or starting a medication can REALLY throw me off for a long time.
Always impressed with your articulate and thoughtful videos, and today I'm doubly impressed with your wise choice to not name drugs by name on UA-cam. You guys are incredible, thank you for all the good work you're doing!
I work in Mental Health and also have an uncle who has Schizophrenia. I used to be so terrified of this diagnosis but your channel has given me so much insight and peace and understanding. I got a call the other day from a young woman who had been recently diagnosed, she sounded so scared but I was able to confidently wish her well and tell her "you got this". It was a nice, short exchange, but I just wanted to share that with you. You are doing amazing things for the community! THANK YOU!
It’s really courageous of you to share your experience with the world. It really helps so many people as well as their friends and family to understand the experiences of those suffering from mental health diseases. That’s a critical step to overcoming mental health stigma.
You are such an inspiration, Lauren. Thank you for sharing such a private and personal subject. You are helping everyone understand mental health challenges and changing social stigmas around mental health issues. THANK YOU for being so brave and speaking for all of us who struggle! xo
I just want to thank you for bravely sharing your experiences and helping end the stigma attached to mental health. You are truly making a difference and helping others to understand they are not alone. Sincere gratitude!
Lauren, your videos are always so informative and obviously carefully planned and produced. You always communicate your experiences so clearly and effectively. I hope you know how beneficial your videos are. I don't have your diagnosis (I have Bipolar II) but have benefitted from these videos in many ways. Thank you; you're awesome!
Sending you lots of love and hugs Lauren. It was difficult when I changed my meds from an older antipsychotic to a newer one after 23 years. I was not used to having such strong emotions. Thankfully I am doing well now especially with lockdown as able to get adequate rest. Plenty of sleep always makes a big difference for me. Take care 💕💕💕
this is one of those channels that I consider as a DISCOVERY! Regardless of any particular subject, it's great to come across this kind of way of giving the information to people 👌
Thanks little lady for your videos they are extremely informative for a Dad who's daughter suffers from schizophrenia. All the best from Andrew lloyd in England
I don’t have the same mental illness as you but I do have pretty severe Bipolar. I went on medication 15 years ago and man it wasn’t easy to find the right one. We tried soooo many different types of drugs till the doctor and I found the right one. Can’t imagine going off this drug and trying a new one. It’s like a shoe that fits really well. Hey I really love your videos!!
Thank you so much for your honest talk about mental health issues. While I am not Dx w/schizophrenia, I do have several other mental health Dx’s. Your honest talk has helped me a great deal. I HATE medication changes. I was on a medication that was working really well for me, until I got covid. After that the side effects were terrible, and unbearable. My dr. And I began the process of changing my meds. It’s been terrible. Finding a new medicine that works SUCKS! I haven’t felt like myself since covid…and that was Dec of 2020. It’s been a long road, but, one made a little easier with your videos and knowledge. Thank you. ❤
Thank you for being so open sharing your trials and tribulations. I’m so thankful that you are doing these videos. I have a family member with schizophrenia and he didn’t know how to advocate for himself. It has been very painful to watch his journey. Take care of urself!
Just changed meds and was worried. I hope to improve quality of life. Been depressed, hopelessness, struggling with either sleeping too much or not enough. Thank You for being an inspiration, dont really have a treatment plan other than every so many weeks. Wait and see, try that, wait and see. TY
Mood stabilizers and Antidepressants runied my life. The side effects, we're depressed and numb feeling, nausea eating constantly. Weight gain and the mood stabilizers were effecting my kidney and liver. My new doctor took me of all the antidepressants and mood stabilizers. I feel really good now. Lost alot of weight. I hate antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Didn't work for me. I only take Amsulpride and my inhalers for my asthma and side effect tablets, that's all I take. Poison drug antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Made me like a zombie and terrible side effects. Love your UA-cam Channel. Good video content. Keep it up. Love Tasha xxxxxxx.
Hi Lauren! I am new to your channel. I don't have schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder, but I do have other mental health conditions that require anti-psychotic medication and anti-depressants. I have only tried one anti-psychotic so far and I was not myself, was heavily sedated, and experiencing delusions and severe dissociation. I made sure to tell my GP and psychologist how I was feeling (psychiatrist wasn't available) and have discontinued. I am now waiting to hear from psychiatrist what (if any) medication to try next. You are absolutely right; not all medication effects everyone the same way! I have found it is mostly trial and error unfortunately. Thank you for your videos and insight!
I am glad you are doing better. It is crazy that a person can simply have terrible side effects by just eating a food like gluten. I am glad I don't need to take medications but it is a challenge to avoid gluten. I feel so much better though.
Different situation but same idea. I had to switch medications for my chronic migraine disorder. Ny neurologist originally put me on an anti-seizure medication and it didn't help me all that much and the side effects were awful. My limbs would go completely numb at random and I had an unquenchable thirst, plus I was starting to become paranoid. He tapered me off for a week then had me stop. I still had side effects from that medication for well over a month after I stopped taking it. But that was the best decision since we switched to an SSRI. That has helped me out so much. Please don't be afraid to talk with your doctor about any medication you are taking.
That sounds very hard, good to see that you are better now. And I think it was very responsible of you to slow down with youtube during such a time. Makes you a rolemodel in selfcare. :)
I don't have anyone around me directly affected by schizophrenia but I watch all your videos because You are so likable and informative. You promote the kind of honestly and acceptance that is needed across all the differences and challenges we uniquely experience as individual; you promote connection :-) Merci !
I’m still delusional after years on my current meds and I talked to my doctor about switching medications and he agreed to switch my medication finally. I’m switching after this whole pandemic because it requires a lot of blood work and I’m not comfortable going to the lab right now to get my blood drawn.
You are so courageous. I found your channel because I am about to do a med change ( again ). It always frightens me when I change meds because I work and can't afford time off. My health comes first of course.
It took me 10 years to get on Risperdal regularly (had it once before for about a week) and another 10 years to really recognize when I am going into a phase. My symptoms don't entirely go away either.
Phew. I wish I'd seen this before all the times I'd switched meds lol I just recently switched antipsychotics, doubled my antidepressant, and doubled my mood stabilizer. My psychosis got worse so I called my psych nurse and she'd seen my symptoms before in these circumstances and she tripled my antipsychotic and double my antidepressant again. I was really not in a good place. I didn't want help which is really out of character for me. I'm feeling much better now. Love your insightful videos!
I was diagnosed about a week ago with schizophrenia. I had my first episode about 2 years ago it took 3 hospitalizations for me to openly talk about my condition with a few friends life's hard I hope it gets better
Hi MegaUnknow012, I'm sorry to hear that you were recently diagnosed with schizophrenia. I actually have helped many people who suffered from schizophrenia in my healing ministry. If you would like, by any chance, to receive any help from me, please let me know. As long as you're willing, I would be happy to lend a hand free of charge since it's a ministry to me. Anyways, let me know if you're interested by any chance!
I suffer from major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder and ADHD which is getting way better on the 3rd week of Vyvanse and antidepressants, if I have being on the brink of suicide more than once in my life because of this, I just can't phantom how suffering from schizophrenia let alone schizoaffective must be, you are seriously a hero in our eyes, you and everybody suffering from this, I'm sending you my best wishes
Luckily, I found the best medication for me a while back. It took about 10 years but I'm on medication I feel comfortable with. The struggle was realizing I should keep taking it. It was really difficult because my symptoms are so mild but after about 8 months to a year off meds I start to isolate and have unrealistic thoughts. Thank you for your videos. It was really hard the past ten years navigating on my own.
Is it possible to find peace again once you have completely forgot how peace felt like? Is it possible to smile again from your heart, mind and soul? Is it possible to regain positivity?
I am diagnosed with major depressive disorder and phobic anxiety and have come down from 50mg of Paxil to now 10mg, down 10mg every 3-4 days. Terrible terrible withdrawals from 50mg to 30mg but then I leveled out for about a week at 30mg before starting decreasing again. I had a gene test done to find out what psych drugs work best for my DNA/genes and have been switched to Wellbutrin which was at the top of my “good” list, but I can’t start taking it until I fully come off of the Paxil so about a week from now. Another 3 days of 10mg, then one day with nothing, then I start the Wellbutrin. I’m also on klonopin as needed and have been for years but I had it upped during this medication change to help. It’s been very very rough and while I’m fairly well over the sweating through my clothes, skin flushing, breathlessness, hot and cold flashes, nausea, dizziness, flu like symptoms, etc, but I have had a cold for a solid 2 weeks and it isn’t getting better and I don’t typically have allergies, and the worst is now that I’m almost off my anti anxiety/antidepressant I am feeling much higher and more severe amounts of anxiety and depression and have been having panic attacks and crying at the drop of a hat, ugh. I’ll be so glad to start the new med!
Hello Lauren, I feel for you and right now you are doing a great job making this video for example. Well done and I just want to say I'm incapable of making videos like yours. I'm almost 67 and I take Dolmatil with the chemical name sulpiride and it works perfectly for me with no side effects. It's like taking aspirin. I was prescribed this drug back around July 1987 after I was injected with a massive overdose of a drug called Largactil in early May of that year and I can say with confidence that had I continued taking this tablet from then on I would not have had the two subsequent psychotic episodes in 1988 and 2007. Let me leave that with you. Maybe you could talk to your doctor about Dolmatil. Say hello to Rob. All the best, Peter Nolan. Ph.D.(physics). Dublin. Ireland.
hiya,ive ben doin sum of my own xperiments wih medicationson myself n i hav schizophrenia since 2003 n onli startd takn clopixol in 2007 , prior to dat i was on lissperdal n i wud still have breakdwns wth lisperdal frm 2003 to 2007 bt even with takn clopixol in 2007 i wud hav alil of paranoia,delusional thinkn n hear voices bt nt often n seldom hallucinations on d clopixol, so bout 4 mnths ago i stoppd takn clopixol n replaced it with daily intake of n illegal drug,n i wud injest it by smkn it,n i was shockd coz dis illegal drug removed all d syntoms i was sufferin with,in fact,ima frelance tattoo artist n have been n artist for ova 10 yrs n afta stoppn d clopixol 4 mnths ago n takn dis illegal substance ive increase my earnin n revenue as a tattoo artist,increased my client base ,divesified my bizniz into desiignin tattoo style t shirts,stickers,posters n clothin accessories n bcum alot mor happier n able to slp beta n also bcum mor motivated n enlightd as well wer i nw meditate with crystals n i noticed my behaviour change almost immeditality afta uusin d illegal substance,bt i checkd on it first n ppl wu suffer wih schizophrenia hava lack of dopeimne chemical in d brain n d illegal substance which i startd usin 4 mnths ago increases d dopeinmine in d brain,so i was curious to c d reslts n afta onli 4 mnths i tried it n it completely made me into n normal fully functionin person wu is much mor motivated n also nt sufferin wih any syntoms of schizo n ders onli 1 dwnside to dis illegal drug whichis it is highly addictive n i wud suffer wih xtreme withdrawals bt nxt mnth i goin off dis illegal drug n takin another med to counteract d withdrawals of d illegal substance n take my schizo meds which is clopixol 400mg injection bt onli for 4 mnths i will take d methadone n clopixol n den afta 4 mnths i will stop d clopixol n jus take methadone , n methadone is takn for heroin withdrawals,d illegal drug i takn in place of my schizo med,clopixol is smkn heroin,n i smkn heroin for 4 mnths n nw i gna stop smkn heroin n take methadone n clopixol for 4 mnths n stop d clopixol n jus take methadone for 4 mnths to c wat happens,aniway , good luck on ur journey,i was happier n found peace away frm d syntoms with smkn heroin n afta testin heroin for 4 mnths i believe it reali does take away schizophrenia bt i will keep takn dis journey of me n my schizo n meds,n i knw society is quick to judge ppl wu use heroin bt it is n amazin drug bt onli amazin for ppl sufferin with schizophrenia,good luck n njoy
@@dhirendrasamdhan7299 Hello Dhirendra, Wow! That's fascinating. However no way, no possible way, will I ever smoke heroin. I have never taken any illegal drug but believe it or not I smoked cigarettes for a total of 13 years for 8 years when I quit but then for another 5 years. I haven't smoked cigarettes since 1993 27 years ago. Because you have done so well smoking heroin and increasing your business making more money you should tell other people about this. I know that some people who take heroin can lead normal lives and I think all illegal drugs today should be made legal. You know all about the problems. It's headline news all over the world. I wish you the very best and I hope you can smoke heroin in the future and stay well. However I have never and will never take an illegal drug. God Bless you, :) Peter. Dublin. Ireland.
@@goertzpsychiatry9340 Hello Dr. Peter, I just watched your video and subscribed to your channel. I emphasised to Dhirendra that I have never, and will never, take a drug like heroin or cocaine or say cannabis. Ironically I smoked cigarettes but quit over 27 years ago. It's still not clear if I will get away with doing that without health consequences when I have high cholesterol that can lead to hardening of the arteries that smoking can make worse. Nowadays I take a statin everyday. When I developed psychosis for the first time in April 1987 aged 33 and hospitalised quickly in early May 1987 I was injected with a massive overdose of a drug called Largactil(chlorpromazine) called as far as I know Thorazine in the States. My life as I knew it up till then ended when the psychiatrist withdrew the hypodermic syringe from my right buttock. I'm sure you know that Largactil is described as a chemical strait jacket or chemical cosh. It's only today this present me 67 last July that I am feeling well again and in a normal configuration for me at this more advanced age. Now let me jump ahead. When I was doing a postdoc in the Marine Sciences Institute now the Department Of Marine Sciences in the University Of Connecticut 1988 I had a second psychotic episode for no other reason than that I had stopped taking the prescribed drug Dolmatil(sulpiride). It's a long story but I was taken into Allentown State Hospital in Allentown Pennsylvania on Sunday October 9 1988. This is when it gets really interesting in hindsight. My doctor was Dr. Ralph Zaroff who died June 2005 and I had to take Navane at a low dosage. This time I was being treated very gently with consummate care and I maintained my energy levels. In other words just to be clear I had not been overmedicated or overdosed and heavily sedated like I had been in May 1987 here in Dublin and I was delighted that it all worked like that. My health insurance ran out and I had to leave the hospital December 7 1988 while Mikail Gorbachev was visiting NYC l and flew back to Dublin on Sunday 22 January 1989 after George H. W. Bush had been inaugurated as the POTUS on the Friday the 20th of January. I was still suffering from delusions the only symptom of schizophrenia that I ever had and then one morning here in Dublin around the middle of the following February I woke up to find myself completely recovered and free from the delusions. I had the presence of mind the insight to think to never again stop taking Dolmatil. Years passed by and I became cocky till I reduced my intake of Dolmatil to one tablet 200mg per day from the two tablets I was prescribed. Lo and behold when I stayed well free from psychosis I figured I was now completely well and stopped taking the Dolmatil altogether. I was wrong and slowly but surely throughout 2006 dating back to around April 2006 I deteriorated mental health wise. I became truly psychotic around say August 2007 and was then hospitalised November 8 2007 here in Dublin in Tallaght University Hospital's psychiatric unit where I had to take 20mg of Zyprexa(olanzapine) per day and overdosed I know in the ratio of 4 to 1. I would be one of the living dead for the next three years. Let me finally get to the point I want to make to you. This video, Lauren's video, is about forced medication and what a truly terrible experience this is but I know from the beautiful gentle treatment I got in Allentown that it's possible to be treated gently, yes, confined in a hospital but not wiped off the face of the earth with a drug that happened to me twice here in Dublin. Thank God Lauren is doing really great now full of energy and able with her husband's support and help to make these many and great UA-cam videos but she wants to be treated more gently and that's the point I guess she is making. In my case just about all I ever needed - all I ever really needed - is the physical confinement in a psychiatric unit such that at least in my case I know where I am and even having full blown delusions I have enough insight to see what is happening to me. It's as if I can flip between the delusional state and reality the reality that the confinement is. All the best and many thanks, Peter.
What’s the amount ? Is it the shot ? And does it make u think slower ? My don have been on it now 2 months they just lowered the amount but he says it makes him think slow he does not like it
@@joansmith6844 like lauren has said it's always worth considering that medications affect everyone differently, if something isn't working or you're not sure, talk to a doctor. I know It's frustrating there isn't one medicine that works perfectly for all. Most antipsychotics slow your thinking down to a certain degree, i find most of them slow me down to some degree, but most people find something that works best for them, and if it's affecting your sons quality of life this much, he should be offered alternatives.
@@joansmith6844 yea it is the shot 100 mg.i use to be on 150.it makes me think and move slow but my thoughts are very clear with almost no symptoms of scitzophrenia.
The side effects of the medicine I take for schizophrenia are horrible. I have gained somewhere around 100lbs, got diabetes, and increased cholesterol. But my symptoms are rather severe. I have thoughts that people are trying to read my mind. That there is a or multiple groups of people trying to get me to commit murder, or threaten me with being killed. Even with the medicine I have symptoms sometimes of hearing voices and messages. I have talked to my Dr. about it multiple times, but he is adamant that the specific medicine I am on is best for me. He is considering raising the dose with the late increase of some of my symptoms. but he said the weight gain isn't dependent on dosage. But I have lost around 20lbs this year from diet and exercise. But I still have much to loose, and the meds make it much harder to do so.
I recently started watching your videos becuz I've had a similar journey. Same illness, different circumstances. I'm 29 and for the last 5 years I've been doing what I can to obtain stability. Your videos are helping me gain perspective and seeing you and the possibility for happiness is very helpful at this point in my life. P.S. There are drugs that counter the TD side effects. I forget what it was called but an alternative is diphenhydramine (allergy medication)
Great vid, thank you so much for sharing, Lauren! I have a question to your subscribers: would somebody be so kind to explain to me the difference between depressive symptoms and negative ones? I can't tell them by the description, they sound exactly the same? This was so friendly, thanks. 🧡 🙂
I take a great regiment now. After years of trying a bunch of different kinds. I added an additional med and now i hardly ever hear anything from my schizoaffective. It's mumbled now. if i don't take it, it goes all bad.
@@summer7529 I can take up to 15 mg of Haldol if things are going bad but I take 5mg. I take Lamictal, Benztropine. I used to take Abilify but I traded it in for Seroquel because my insurance was giving me issues. Adding a Seroquel made all the difference. I take half of Seroquel though because I can't wake up early enough if I take a full one. So all together that's four different kinds of medication and I don't get any problems with it. I was just recently going with an episode but then my doctor said that I can raise the dose of Haldol. Which really helped. I could be taking a lot of other meds but my doctor says this is a pretty Lowkey set of medications. Not too strong.
Thanks for the great videos. I don’t know what meds you are on but I tried an antidepressant a couple of days ago called mirtazapine. It made me so sleepy but it was not real sleep I awoke so groggy and felt horrible for a couple of days like someone had smashed my temporal lobes to bits. I had a blinding headache and felt like death. I don’t know how anyone takes these drugs. I can well understand any “issues” you might have with taking them there are a lot of convincing very well educated people shouting they are a fraud and deadly. I’ll try never to touch them again if I can. All the best to you I just watched your latest clip...how scary it must be having schizophrenia sometimes. Thanks
As a pharmacist who is on antidepressants for severe anxiety I can say from a clinical and personal point of view that when ever starting,stopping or adjusting doses of antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilisers that you always need to give a new routine time for your body to adjust sometimes especially when taking antidepressants it can take up to a month before things settle down. 100% also agree about never stopping something cold turkey always do dose adjustments in anyway up or down under medical supervision.
I was sorry to see the overwhelming emotion in your face near the beginning of the video. I am currently going through a managed process of coming off meds completely, as I am medication-resistant. I am in the UK, so my Psych and my meds options are subject to the NHS, there just aren't many options for dealing with both positive and negative symptoms. So, I'm just coming off meds. I was diagnosed with Schizophrenia 15 years ago.
I’m also diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenic I’m in the middle of an anti depressant change as I also suffer low mood and bad anxiety due to paranoia
Was there ever an alternative to just reduse the dosage of the first medication? With some meds that will eliminate the side effects, but still be effective with your symptoms.
Early on when changing any med or adjusting the dose - I used to get orthostatic hypotension - that is I would feel dizzy and nauseated if I get up from a sitting or lying position. Even now I have to adjust my everyday movements to avoid suddenly standing up. Sometimes I worry that would look like an old person of me to others. Another thing I had to experience with early med changes was rebound REM dreams - those are extremely vivid and super realistic - yet could be surrealistic, enigmatic or symbolic depending on your own inner psyche. This happened when I had to take meds that change norepinephrine. But most of those gets better with time.
during my initial stages of treatment,due to the side effect of medication I was losing balance when i walk and I was falling unconscious following seizures. So i had to consult nuerologist and take medication for the problem. I am taking antidepressants only.
hi, thank you for sharing, but this is so vague. can you share your "negative symptoms" and i understand how you dont want to share the name of the meds, but the signs, symptoms, negative symptoms, and side effects mightbe shared??
Negative is a category of symptoms that was proposed by Bleuler and Kraepelin (psychiatrists from not too long ago), they refer to the lack of initiative, social inability, an absent mood and a "depressive" state often seen in patients with schizophrenia. They are addressed with medication, that includes antidepressants (newer ones have been found to be more effective), mood stabilizers (the ones with some antidepressant effect), antipsychotics (there are a few that can be slightly useful) and psychotherapy. Mood stabilizers can often make you feel drowsy when initiated, but more often than not, just as Lauren said, it fades away and it's dose dependant which she descrives too. Hope this was helpful
Could you explain what is meant by "medical supervision" when changing medications? I think some people think that means just going to a doctor to get the prescription and think that's 'obviously' medically supervised. I don't think it's obvious how the dr will know your history and understand what side effects are possible. It's not just having someone to call if you're feeling strange, but having someone that will know exactly what the next steps/options are for you as an individual. I think many people discount the idea of 'medical supervision' because they think a dr is like a call-center opertor just going down the recommended list of drugs.
Bill Baran as a pharmacist I would want you to discuss your treatment plan thoroughly with your prescribing doctor but also make sure you fully understand when to ask for help and who you can turn to for help if things suddenly get worse. Also certain medications need to be monitored with blood tests to ensure that you liver, kidneys and blood counts are all staying stable on the current dosing, sometimes extra blood tests are needed when titrating up and down and so if you increased or decreased your dose without getting those levels checked that could mean that things get missed until permanent damage is done.
Have you ever tried Clozapine? I was put on it recently after a psychotic break and spent 3 months in hospital. It seems to be doing well. I have schizophrenia and bipolar.
I don't like it when psychiatrists adjust more than one medication at a time because it's hard to tell where the problem is if there is a problem. But sometimes it is necessary.
Most of the time my PDoc would stop one medication cold turkey or fast-taper-down and quick taper-into the new medication if it is on the same class. If it is a stronger dose/med the taper in would be slower and longer than the previous taper-off. That's my personal experience with my PDoc. Only once when it was a complected med change on complected times she took me inpatient to adjust some meds - but that was only once.
I have been advised to change my oral meds ,which I don't want to do , as the transitional period is very bad ,paranoia and extreme fear ,off the chart, I am also on a depot injection once a fortnight ,when I went through a higher dose of injection it took 6 months to really level off for 8-10 weeks I was going to bed at 8 pm as I was getting too paranoid , 3 months in to it I was stabilising ,but I was actually 6 months till the whole change took place ,
What do I need to look out for In the last 17 years I have had a constant depression and struggle with myself, They haven’t changed the meds for they believe it’s working
It might be a good idea to get a journal and start writing down all your symptoms on a daily basis. *Any* symptom at all that you have, mental or physical, write it down. Each page could be for each day. This can help you notice patterns, and you can also bring the journal to your doctor so they can see what you’re experiencing on a daily basis. This might help them determine if and when you might need a medication change, to add an additional medication, etc. I suggest tracking physical symptoms too because this way, you can identify side effects you might be experiencing, and make the decision with your doctor about whether you feel you can live with them or not. I’m very sorry you’re struggling and I hope things get better for you soon.
@@blueowl8928 I cannot recognise my symptoms because I'd never heard vioces or seen things my schizophrenia is got to do with a preoccupation with self analysis as I have just yesterday found out
I've been to the LWwS website looking for hoodies. I want a black one with the "living well with schizophrenia" around the split brain. Will you ever have one of these on sale for like $20-25? Cause they're kinda expensive and I really want some merchandise.
I find it so interesting how meds effect everyone soo differently when combining with our own personal chemicals. For example Claritin for allergies does literally NOTHING for me and I can’t use it even if Zyrtec is out but Zyrtec works soo well for me for allergies. I know for some people it’s reversed!
It's kind of how for some people, coriander tastes delicious and for others, it tastes like soap. They've actually found a genetic marker that defines whether you're gonna experience the soapy taste or not !! Maybe some of it is genetic for meds too.
That’s why I think it’s mandatory that we are able to do a genetic test for medications. I’m not sure why medical providers will let us go through so many trials before resolving through these symptoms.
Yeah your right about that, but why does it make us suffer? Something is not supposed to be in us that's in the meds, I've always wondered what's in the pills, does anyone even know? I'll stick with nicotine, coffee kratom and weed, take it when I want and feel super good . But my only issue is that society looks down on these substances, why not these unknown pills? Why are they excepted? Alot of people don't even realize there is a medicine for every illness that nature can help, and yet we trust little money hoarding ppl in lab coats and we don't even get the truth.. everything is so twisted the meds and everything, I hear people say that they wouldn't have a right mind but what about your health? Kidneys heart and fat? What's the point of living a good life thTs making every day feel like dying anyway?
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I have so much admiration for your articulateness, courage, and honesty in sharing your journey. It is truly a gift to all of us.
I always appreciate your videos. You're very insightful & educated as to your illness & treatment. I wish I had been so at your age. I was diagnosed as schizoaffective at 30...now 68. But, to offer hope to folks, I went off disability.. earned a bachelor's degree, 2 years in grad school ..worked 23 years as a social worker. It was my real passion career wise. Now I'm retired...still receiving treatment & services AND living a good life.
susan Ritchey ua-cam.com/video/55NpfNzdwMY/v-deo.html
Blessings to you enjoy your retirement
Wow! You inspire me! May I asked what age you started working as a social worker and what age you retired at.
I'm 50 with schizoaffective disorder and I just was hospitalized. New meds again so I am going to start a journal. Thank you young lady
Hiya
I was hospitalised last year for 3months they give me the same diagnosis as you put me on injections Every month but I had side effects and switched to tablet Quetiapine 600mg a day
How's your day been so far tell me about it
I also thought that was good advice about the journal
Did that to me, 600mg had high bp with it.@@philipalmond6908
How do you truly stay slim on these meds? A minor dosage? Or some secret? Perfect diet with exercise? All I know is something your doing is a trick because I know many who can't lose weight on meds no matter what
Sometimes I get stuck on a Med, because I may not like the way I feel on a medication but at least I'm stable. Stopping or starting a medication can REALLY throw me off for a long time.
Always impressed with your articulate and thoughtful videos, and today I'm doubly impressed with your wise choice to not name drugs by name on UA-cam. You guys are incredible, thank you for all the good work you're doing!
I work in Mental Health and also have an uncle who has Schizophrenia. I used to be so terrified of this diagnosis but your channel has given me so much insight and peace and understanding. I got a call the other day from a young woman who had been recently diagnosed, she sounded so scared but I was able to confidently wish her well and tell her "you got this". It was a nice, short exchange, but I just wanted to share that with you. You are doing amazing things for the community! THANK YOU!
It’s really courageous of you to share your experience with the world. It really helps so many people as well as their friends and family to understand the experiences of those suffering from mental health diseases. That’s a critical step to overcoming mental health stigma.
You are exceptionally well presented and functioning so well. Congratulations on all you are achieving in life.
You are such an inspiration, Lauren. Thank you for sharing such a private and personal subject. You are helping everyone understand mental health challenges and changing social stigmas around mental health issues. THANK YOU for being so brave and speaking for all of us who struggle! xo
You're so reflective and articulate! I often recommend your channel to my own patients. Insightful video! Good luck.
I just want to thank you for bravely sharing your experiences and helping end the stigma attached to mental health. You are truly making a difference and helping others to understand they are not alone. Sincere gratitude!
Lauren, your videos are always so informative and obviously carefully planned and produced. You always communicate your experiences so clearly and effectively. I hope you know how beneficial your videos are. I don't have your diagnosis (I have Bipolar II) but have benefitted from these videos in many ways. Thank you; you're awesome!
Sending you lots of love and hugs Lauren. It was difficult when I changed my meds from an older antipsychotic to a newer one after 23 years. I was not used to having such strong emotions. Thankfully I am doing well now especially with lockdown as able to get adequate rest. Plenty of sleep always makes a big difference for me. Take care 💕💕💕
Hi sleep seems to be my self help going to bed early and finding a restful bedroom.
I miss strong emotions. They'd be really useful to me.
Hiya how are you today
Thanks for your message
Suzanne Alsop ua-cam.com/video/55NpfNzdwMY/v-deo.html
You’re looking great and super healthy Lauren!! 💞💞💞💞
this is one of those channels that I consider as a DISCOVERY! Regardless of any particular subject, it's great to come across this kind of way of giving the information to people 👌
Thanks little lady for your videos they are extremely informative for a Dad who's daughter suffers from schizophrenia. All the best from Andrew lloyd in England
Me too....my daughter. She has been strong and brave. Long road for her.....and me too. Thanks for the info. So important and reassuring.
Andrew Lloyd ua-cam.com/video/55NpfNzdwMY/v-deo.html
I don’t have the same mental illness as you but I do have pretty severe Bipolar. I went on medication 15 years ago and man it wasn’t easy to find the right one. We tried soooo many different types of drugs till the doctor and I found the right one. Can’t imagine going off this drug and trying a new one. It’s like a shoe that fits really well. Hey I really love your videos!!
Thank you so much for your honest talk about mental health issues. While I am not Dx w/schizophrenia, I do have several other mental health Dx’s. Your honest talk has helped me a great deal. I HATE medication changes. I was on a medication that was working really well for me, until I got covid. After that the side effects were terrible, and unbearable. My dr. And I began the process of changing my meds. It’s been terrible. Finding a new medicine that works SUCKS! I haven’t felt like myself since covid…and that was Dec of 2020. It’s been a long road, but, one made a little easier with your videos and knowledge. Thank you. ❤
Thank you for being so open sharing your trials and tribulations. I’m so thankful that you are doing these videos. I have a family member with schizophrenia and he didn’t know how to advocate for himself. It has been very painful to watch his journey. Take care of urself!
Failed med changes in my past...were the main reasons for my hospitalizations....
Sorry for the negitve comments earlier I'm a schizophrenic living with meds. And experience no side effects. Good luck and thank you
Just changed meds and was worried. I hope to improve quality of life. Been depressed, hopelessness, struggling with either sleeping too much or not enough. Thank You for being an inspiration, dont really have a treatment plan other than every so many weeks. Wait and see, try that, wait and see. TY
Mood stabilizers and Antidepressants runied my life. The side effects, we're depressed and numb feeling, nausea eating constantly. Weight gain and the mood stabilizers were effecting my kidney and liver. My new doctor took me of all the antidepressants and mood stabilizers. I feel really good now. Lost alot of weight. I hate antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Didn't work for me. I only take Amsulpride and my inhalers for my asthma and side effect tablets, that's all I take. Poison drug antidepressants and mood stabilizers. Made me like a zombie and terrible side effects. Love your UA-cam Channel. Good video content. Keep it up. Love Tasha xxxxxxx.
Natasha Day ua-cam.com/video/55NpfNzdwMY/v-deo.html
Glad you're off of your meds...i dream about getting of my meds too...
What does amsulpride do for you how has it helped you?
I've been having the same symptoms with my new medication, it was too much. But now I'm taking my old meds again.
Hi Lauren! I am new to your channel. I don't have schizophrenia or schizo-affective disorder, but I do have other mental health conditions that require anti-psychotic medication and anti-depressants. I have only tried one anti-psychotic so far and I was not myself, was heavily sedated, and experiencing delusions and severe dissociation. I made sure to tell my GP and psychologist how I was feeling (psychiatrist wasn't available) and have discontinued. I am now waiting to hear from psychiatrist what (if any) medication to try next. You are absolutely right; not all medication effects everyone the same way! I have found it is mostly trial and error unfortunately. Thank you for your videos and insight!
Changing meds can be so difficult. I’m going through something similar right now. Thanks for the video. 🙂
Thank you so much, Lauren! Your videos help so many people..❤️
u look really well lauren now .
I am glad you are doing better. It is crazy that a person can simply have terrible side effects by just eating a food like gluten. I am glad I don't need to take medications but it is a challenge to avoid gluten. I feel so much better though.
Different situation but same idea. I had to switch medications for my chronic migraine disorder. Ny neurologist originally put me on an anti-seizure medication and it didn't help me all that much and the side effects were awful. My limbs would go completely numb at random and I had an unquenchable thirst, plus I was starting to become paranoid. He tapered me off for a week then had me stop. I still had side effects from that medication for well over a month after I stopped taking it. But that was the best decision since we switched to an SSRI. That has helped me out so much. Please don't be afraid to talk with your doctor about any medication you are taking.
That sounds very hard, good to see that you are better now. And I think it was very responsible of you to slow down with youtube during such a time. Makes you a rolemodel in selfcare. :)
I don't have anyone around me directly affected by schizophrenia but I watch all your videos because You are so likable and informative. You promote the kind of honestly and acceptance that is needed across all the differences and challenges we uniquely experience as individual; you promote connection :-) Merci !
i wish i could express my problems like you laruen...god bless you
I feel bad, I commented on another video about your blinking, I apologize. This is a very educational video!
I’m still delusional after years on my current meds and I talked to my doctor about switching medications and he agreed to switch my medication finally. I’m switching after this whole pandemic because it requires a lot of blood work and I’m not comfortable going to the lab right now to get my blood drawn.
You are so courageous. I found your channel because I am about to do a med change ( again ). It always frightens me when I change meds because I work and can't afford time off. My health comes first of course.
I take Lamictal and Bupoprion and that's what has worked for me after being on so many medications. 💊
It took me 10 years to get on Risperdal regularly (had it once before for about a week) and another 10 years to really recognize when I am going into a phase. My symptoms don't entirely go away either.
You really have a way with words. I can’t talk like this most of the time, although I once could before I got ill.
Yeees lauren so happy for the new updates love your channel
Phew. I wish I'd seen this before all the times I'd switched meds lol I just recently switched antipsychotics, doubled my antidepressant, and doubled my mood stabilizer. My psychosis got worse so I called my psych nurse and she'd seen my symptoms before in these circumstances and she tripled my antipsychotic and double my antidepressant again. I was really not in a good place. I didn't want help which is really out of character for me. I'm feeling much better now.
Love your insightful videos!
I was diagnosed about a week ago with schizophrenia. I had my first episode about 2 years ago it took 3 hospitalizations for me to openly talk about my condition with a few friends life's hard I hope it gets better
Hi MegaUnknow012, I'm sorry to hear that you were recently diagnosed with schizophrenia. I actually have helped many people who suffered from schizophrenia in my healing ministry. If you would like, by any chance, to receive any help from me, please let me know. As long as you're willing, I would be happy to lend a hand free of charge since it's a ministry to me. Anyways, let me know if you're interested by any chance!
E
I suffer from major depressive disorder and generalized anxiety disorder and ADHD which is getting way better on the 3rd week of Vyvanse and antidepressants, if I have being on the brink of suicide more than once in my life because of this, I just can't phantom how suffering from schizophrenia let alone schizoaffective must be, you are seriously a hero in our eyes, you and everybody suffering from this, I'm sending you my best wishes
Luckily, I found the best medication for me a while back. It took about 10 years but I'm on medication I feel comfortable with. The struggle was realizing I should keep taking it. It was really difficult because my symptoms are so mild but after about 8 months to a year off meds I start to isolate and have unrealistic thoughts. Thank you for your videos. It was really hard the past ten years navigating on my own.
Thanks for sharing. Glad you're feeling more settled 😊
Is it possible to find peace again once you have completely forgot how peace felt like?
Is it possible to smile again from your heart, mind and soul?
Is it possible to regain positivity?
You are doing such important work helping others and I so admire your resilience and strength. Wishing you good health always. Xo
I am diagnosed with major depressive disorder and phobic anxiety and have come down from 50mg of Paxil to now 10mg, down 10mg every 3-4 days. Terrible terrible withdrawals from 50mg to 30mg but then I leveled out for about a week at 30mg before starting decreasing again. I had a gene test done to find out what psych drugs work best for my DNA/genes and have been switched to Wellbutrin which was at the top of my “good” list, but I can’t start taking it until I fully come off of the Paxil so about a week from now. Another 3 days of 10mg, then one day with nothing, then I start the Wellbutrin. I’m also on klonopin as needed and have been for years but I had it upped during this medication change to help. It’s been very very rough and while I’m fairly well over the sweating through my clothes, skin flushing, breathlessness, hot and cold flashes, nausea, dizziness, flu like symptoms, etc, but I have had a cold for a solid 2 weeks and it isn’t getting better and I don’t typically have allergies, and the worst is now that I’m almost off my anti anxiety/antidepressant I am feeling much higher and more severe amounts of anxiety and depression and have been having panic attacks and crying at the drop of a hat, ugh. I’ll be so glad to start the new med!
It might be worth reading studies about vitimin B6 for TD side effect symptoms.
Hello Lauren,
I feel for you and right now you are doing a great job making this video for example. Well done and I just want to say I'm incapable of making videos like yours. I'm almost 67 and I take Dolmatil with the chemical name sulpiride and it works perfectly for me with no side effects. It's like taking aspirin. I was prescribed this drug back around July 1987 after I was injected with a massive overdose of a drug called Largactil in early May of that year and I can say with confidence that had I continued taking this tablet from then on I would not have had the two subsequent psychotic episodes in 1988 and 2007. Let me leave that with you. Maybe you could talk to your doctor about Dolmatil.
Say hello to Rob.
All the best,
Peter Nolan. Ph.D.(physics). Dublin. Ireland.
hiya,ive ben doin sum of my own xperiments wih medicationson myself n i hav schizophrenia since 2003 n onli startd takn clopixol in 2007 , prior to dat i was on lissperdal n i wud still have breakdwns wth lisperdal frm 2003 to 2007 bt even with takn clopixol in 2007 i wud hav alil of paranoia,delusional thinkn n hear voices bt nt often n seldom hallucinations on d clopixol, so bout 4 mnths ago i stoppd takn clopixol n replaced it with daily intake of n illegal drug,n i wud injest it by smkn it,n i was shockd coz dis illegal drug removed all d syntoms i was sufferin with,in fact,ima frelance tattoo artist n have been n artist for ova 10 yrs n afta stoppn d clopixol 4 mnths ago n takn dis illegal substance ive increase my earnin n revenue as a tattoo artist,increased my client base ,divesified my bizniz into desiignin tattoo style t shirts,stickers,posters n clothin accessories n bcum alot mor happier n able to slp beta n also bcum mor motivated n enlightd as well wer i nw meditate with crystals n i noticed my behaviour change almost immeditality afta uusin d illegal substance,bt i checkd on it first n ppl wu suffer wih schizophrenia hava lack of dopeimne chemical in d brain n d illegal substance which i startd usin 4 mnths ago increases d dopeinmine in d brain,so i was curious to c d reslts n afta onli 4 mnths i tried it n it completely made me into n normal fully functionin person wu is much mor motivated n also nt sufferin wih any syntoms of schizo n ders onli 1 dwnside to dis illegal drug whichis it is highly addictive n i wud suffer wih xtreme withdrawals bt nxt mnth i goin off dis illegal drug n takin another med to counteract d withdrawals of d illegal substance n take my schizo meds which is clopixol 400mg injection bt onli for 4 mnths i will take d methadone n clopixol n den afta 4 mnths i will stop d clopixol n jus take methadone , n methadone is takn for heroin withdrawals,d illegal drug i takn in place of my schizo med,clopixol is smkn heroin,n i smkn heroin for 4 mnths n nw i gna stop smkn heroin n take methadone n clopixol for 4 mnths n stop d clopixol n jus take methadone for 4 mnths to c wat happens,aniway , good luck on ur journey,i was happier n found peace away frm d syntoms with smkn heroin n afta testin heroin for 4 mnths i believe it reali does take away schizophrenia bt i will keep takn dis journey of me n my schizo n meds,n i knw society is quick to judge ppl wu use heroin bt it is n amazin drug bt onli amazin for ppl sufferin with schizophrenia,good luck n njoy
@@dhirendrasamdhan7299
Hello Dhirendra,
Wow! That's fascinating. However no way, no possible way, will I ever smoke heroin. I have never taken any illegal drug but believe it or not I smoked cigarettes for a total of 13 years for 8 years when I quit but then for another 5 years. I haven't smoked cigarettes since 1993 27 years ago.
Because you have done so well smoking heroin and increasing your business making more money you should tell other people about this. I know that some people who take heroin can lead normal lives and I think all illegal drugs today should be made legal.
You know all about the problems. It's headline news all over the world.
I wish you the very best and I hope you can smoke heroin in the future and stay well. However I have never and will never take an illegal drug.
God Bless you, :)
Peter. Dublin. Ireland.
Peter Nolan ua-cam.com/video/55NpfNzdwMY/v-deo.html
@@goertzpsychiatry9340
Hello Dr. Peter,
I just watched your video and subscribed to your channel. I emphasised to Dhirendra that I have never, and will never, take a drug like heroin or cocaine or say cannabis. Ironically I smoked cigarettes but quit over 27 years ago. It's still not clear if I will get away with doing that without health consequences when I have high cholesterol that can lead to hardening of the arteries that smoking can make worse. Nowadays I take a statin everyday.
When I developed psychosis for the first time in April 1987 aged 33 and hospitalised quickly in early May 1987 I was injected with a massive overdose of a drug called Largactil(chlorpromazine) called as far as I know Thorazine in the States. My life as I knew it up till then ended when the psychiatrist withdrew the hypodermic syringe from my right buttock. I'm sure you know that Largactil is described as a chemical strait jacket or chemical cosh. It's only today this present me 67 last July that I am feeling well again and in a normal configuration for me at this more advanced age.
Now let me jump ahead. When I was doing a postdoc in the Marine Sciences Institute now the Department Of Marine Sciences in the University Of Connecticut 1988 I had a second psychotic episode for no other reason than that I had stopped taking the prescribed drug Dolmatil(sulpiride). It's a long story but I was taken into Allentown State Hospital in Allentown Pennsylvania on Sunday October 9 1988. This is when it gets really interesting in hindsight. My doctor was Dr. Ralph Zaroff who died June 2005 and I had to take Navane at a low dosage. This time I was being treated very gently with consummate care and I maintained my energy levels. In other words just to be clear I had not been overmedicated or overdosed and heavily sedated like I had been in May 1987 here in Dublin and I was delighted that it all worked like that. My health insurance ran out and I had to leave the hospital December 7 1988 while Mikail Gorbachev was visiting NYC l and flew back to Dublin on Sunday 22 January 1989 after George H. W. Bush had been inaugurated as the POTUS on the Friday the 20th of January. I was still suffering from delusions the only symptom of schizophrenia that I ever had and then one morning here in Dublin around the middle of the following February I woke up to find myself completely recovered and free from the delusions.
I had the presence of mind the insight to think to never again stop taking Dolmatil. Years passed by and I became cocky till I reduced my intake of Dolmatil to one tablet 200mg per day from the two tablets I was prescribed. Lo and behold when I stayed well free from psychosis I figured I was now completely well and stopped taking the Dolmatil altogether.
I was wrong and slowly but surely throughout 2006 dating back to around April 2006 I deteriorated mental health wise. I became truly psychotic around say August 2007 and was then hospitalised November 8 2007 here in Dublin in Tallaght University Hospital's psychiatric unit where I had to take 20mg of Zyprexa(olanzapine) per day and overdosed I know in the ratio of 4 to 1. I would be one of the living dead for the next three years.
Let me finally get to the point I want to make to you. This video, Lauren's video, is about forced medication and what a truly terrible experience this is but I know from the beautiful gentle treatment I got in Allentown that it's possible to be treated gently, yes, confined in a hospital but not wiped off the face of the earth with a drug that happened to me twice here in Dublin. Thank God Lauren is doing really great now full of energy and able with her husband's support and help to make these many and great UA-cam videos but she wants to be treated more gently and that's the point I guess she is making. In my case just about all I ever needed - all I ever really needed - is the physical confinement in a psychiatric unit such that at least in my case I know where I am and even having full blown delusions I have enough insight to see what is happening to me. It's as if I can flip between the delusional state and reality the reality that the confinement is.
All the best and many thanks,
Peter.
Peter Nolan Hi Peter, Thank you for your candid and thoughtful comment. Peter
I take Invega sustena it is a good medication.
What’s the amount ? Is it the shot ? And does it make u think slower ? My don have been on it now 2 months they just lowered the amount but he says it makes him think slow he does not like it
@@joansmith6844 like lauren has said it's always worth considering that medications affect everyone differently, if something isn't working or you're not sure, talk to a doctor. I know It's frustrating there isn't one medicine that works perfectly for all. Most antipsychotics slow your thinking down to a certain degree, i find most of them slow me down to some degree, but most people find something that works best for them, and if it's affecting your sons quality of life this much, he should be offered alternatives.
@@joansmith6844 yea it is the shot 100 mg.i use to be on 150.it makes me think and move slow but my thoughts are very clear with almost no symptoms of scitzophrenia.
Im on invega sustena too! It's a good medication no symptoms of schizophrenia too buuuuuuut i've been having issues with my heart cus of it
Thanks, that was helpful.
Her eyes look soooo clear. She does not look like she is on meds at all. What's her secret?
Such a beauty too!
I have read that meds can help positive symptoms but not negative ones. Would be good to know which neg symptoms they were. Thanks for the video.
I have the same disorder and this is very helpful. Thank you for this video!!!
ua-cam.com/video/cEfilXV_BxQ/v-deo.html
The side effects of the medicine I take for schizophrenia are horrible. I have gained somewhere around 100lbs, got diabetes, and increased cholesterol. But my symptoms are rather severe. I have thoughts that people are trying to read my mind. That there is a or multiple groups of people trying to get me to commit murder, or threaten me with being killed. Even with the medicine I have symptoms sometimes of hearing voices and messages. I have talked to my Dr. about it multiple times, but he is adamant that the specific medicine I am on is best for me. He is considering raising the dose with the late increase of some of my symptoms. but he said the weight gain isn't dependent on dosage. But I have lost around 20lbs this year from diet and exercise. But I still have much to loose, and the meds make it much harder to do so.
I recently started watching your videos becuz I've had a similar journey. Same illness, different circumstances. I'm 29 and for the last 5 years I've been doing what I can to obtain stability. Your videos are helping me gain perspective and seeing you and the possibility for happiness is very helpful at this point in my life.
P.S. There are drugs that counter the TD side effects. I forget what it was called but an alternative is diphenhydramine (allergy medication)
Great vid, thank you so much for sharing, Lauren!
I have a question to your subscribers: would somebody be so kind to explain to me the difference between depressive symptoms and negative ones? I can't tell them by the description, they sound exactly the same? This was so friendly, thanks. 🧡 🙂
I take a great regiment now. After years of trying a bunch of different kinds. I added an additional med and now i hardly ever hear anything from my schizoaffective. It's mumbled now. if i don't take it, it goes all bad.
Whats your regiment
@@summer7529 I can take up to 15 mg of Haldol if things are going bad but I take 5mg. I take Lamictal, Benztropine. I used to take Abilify but I traded it in for Seroquel because my insurance was giving me issues. Adding a Seroquel made all the difference. I take half of Seroquel though because I can't wake up early enough if I take a full one. So all together that's four different kinds of medication and I don't get any problems with it. I was just recently going with an episode but then my doctor said that I can raise the dose of Haldol. Which really helped. I could be taking a lot of other meds but my doctor says this is a pretty Lowkey set of medications. Not too strong.
I really feel for you and I wish you all the very best x
I'm scared to change meds...
Tell everything to your doctor to feel better do not be scare Is hard but it could be good to change.
I have sza, keep up the good videos. I'm on clozaril, and it really has helped me.
Thanks for the great videos. I don’t know what meds you are on but I tried an antidepressant a couple of days ago called mirtazapine. It made me so sleepy but it was not real sleep I awoke so groggy and felt horrible for a couple of days like someone had smashed my temporal lobes to bits. I had a blinding headache and felt like death. I don’t know how anyone takes these drugs. I can well understand any “issues” you might have with taking them there are a lot of convincing very well educated people shouting they are a fraud and deadly. I’ll try never to touch them again if I can. All the best to you I just watched your latest clip...how scary it must be having schizophrenia sometimes. Thanks
As a pharmacist who is on antidepressants for severe anxiety I can say from a clinical and personal point of view that when ever starting,stopping or adjusting doses of antidepressants, antipsychotics, and mood stabilisers that you always need to give a new routine time for your body to adjust sometimes especially when taking antidepressants it can take up to a month before things settle down. 100% also agree about never stopping something cold turkey always do dose adjustments in anyway up or down under medical supervision.
ua-cam.com/video/cEfilXV_BxQ/v-deo.html
You are wonderful !!! Thank you so much for your videos!!!
I was on a strong dose of citalipram and arripriprizole in the past.
I was sorry to see the overwhelming emotion in your face near the beginning of the video. I am currently going through a managed process of coming off meds completely, as I am medication-resistant. I am in the UK, so my Psych and my meds options are subject to the NHS, there just aren't many options for dealing with both positive and negative symptoms. So, I'm just coming off meds. I was diagnosed with Schizophrenia 15 years ago.
Thank you so much for this!!
Could emotional support, awareness, diet work, too?
Interesting video, thank you making these for us all :-). Currently discussing my meds with my team....
It was good to work with your doctor.
Very helpful as a caregiver. Thanks
I’m also diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenic I’m in the middle of an anti depressant change as I also suffer low mood and bad anxiety due to paranoia
Was there ever an alternative to just reduse the dosage of the first medication? With some meds that will eliminate the side effects, but still be effective with your symptoms.
Early on when changing any med or adjusting the dose - I used to get orthostatic hypotension - that is I would feel dizzy and nauseated if I get up from a sitting or lying position. Even now I have to adjust my everyday movements to avoid suddenly standing up. Sometimes I worry that would look like an old person of me to others.
Another thing I had to experience with early med changes was rebound REM dreams - those are extremely vivid and super realistic - yet could be surrealistic, enigmatic or symbolic depending on your own inner psyche. This happened when I had to take meds that change norepinephrine.
But most of those gets better with time.
during my initial stages of treatment,due to the side effect of medication I was losing balance when i walk and I was falling unconscious following seizures. So i had to consult nuerologist and take medication for the problem. I am taking antidepressants only.
My son had seizures after antidepressants/ new once/.When he stoped, seizures gone.
OH MY GOSH I LOVE THIS OUTFIT! working for youtube
Great video. Thank you.
hi, thank you for sharing, but this is so vague. can you share your "negative symptoms" and i understand how you dont want to share the name of the meds, but the signs, symptoms, negative symptoms, and side effects mightbe shared??
I think she said blinking too often
Look up negative symptoms in Schizophrenia. They are very similar to major depression. Horrible.
Negative is a category of symptoms that was proposed by Bleuler and Kraepelin (psychiatrists from not too long ago), they refer to the lack of initiative, social inability, an absent mood and a "depressive" state often seen in patients with schizophrenia. They are addressed with medication, that includes antidepressants (newer ones have been found to be more effective), mood stabilizers (the ones with some antidepressant effect), antipsychotics (there are a few that can be slightly useful) and psychotherapy.
Mood stabilizers can often make you feel drowsy when initiated, but more often than not, just as Lauren said, it fades away and it's dose dependant which she descrives too.
Hope this was helpful
@@ameliorated Blinking often is not a negative symptom, but instead a side effect from a medication, as stated in the video
Kathy Notaro ua-cam.com/video/55NpfNzdwMY/v-deo.html
WOW! That's a fast taper!
I found Depakote,Zyprexa and Remron work really well.Haldol and Risperdal bring depression.
Are you at a healthy weight?
Could you explain what is meant by "medical supervision" when changing medications? I think some people think that means just going to a doctor to get the prescription and think that's 'obviously' medically supervised. I don't think it's obvious how the dr will know your history and understand what side effects are possible. It's not just having someone to call if you're feeling strange, but having someone that will know exactly what the next steps/options are for you as an individual. I think many people discount the idea of 'medical supervision' because they think a dr is like a call-center opertor just going down the recommended list of drugs.
Bill Baran as a pharmacist I would want you to discuss your treatment plan thoroughly with your prescribing doctor but also make sure you fully understand when to ask for help and who you can turn to for help if things suddenly get worse. Also certain medications need to be monitored with blood tests to ensure that you liver, kidneys and blood counts are all staying stable on the current dosing, sometimes extra blood tests are needed when titrating up and down and so if you increased or decreased your dose without getting those levels checked that could mean that things get missed until permanent damage is done.
I mightve been misdiagnosed. Also, the meds made me extremely sick. I wonder if I have a case.
Thanks Lauren! :)
I have never had a medication adjustment that didn't cause vomiting for the first month.
Have you ever tried Clozapine? I was put on it recently after a psychotic break and spent 3 months in hospital. It seems to be doing well. I have schizophrenia and bipolar.
I don't like it when psychiatrists adjust more than one medication at a time because it's hard to tell where the problem is if there is a problem. But sometimes it is necessary.
Most of the time my PDoc would stop one medication cold turkey or fast-taper-down and quick taper-into the new medication if it is on the same class. If it is a stronger dose/med the taper in would be slower and longer than the previous taper-off. That's my personal experience with my PDoc. Only once when it was a complected med change on complected times she took me inpatient to adjust some meds - but that was only once.
👏💪 Proud of you Lauren! I atleast can tell you are feeling better....🙏.
❤️❤️👍
I have been advised to change my oral meds ,which I don't want to do , as the transitional period is very bad ,paranoia and extreme fear ,off the chart, I am also on a depot injection once a fortnight ,when I went through a higher dose of injection it took 6 months to really level off for 8-10 weeks I was going to bed at 8 pm as I was getting too paranoid , 3 months in to it I was stabilising ,but I was actually 6 months till the whole change took place ,
What do I need to look out for
In the last 17 years I have had a constant depression and struggle with myself,
They haven’t changed the meds for they believe it’s working
It might be a good idea to get a journal and start writing down all your symptoms on a daily basis. *Any* symptom at all that you have, mental or physical, write it down. Each page could be for each day. This can help you notice patterns, and you can also bring the journal to your doctor so they can see what you’re experiencing on a daily basis. This might help them determine if and when you might need a medication change, to add an additional medication, etc.
I suggest tracking physical symptoms too because this way, you can identify side effects you might be experiencing, and make the decision with your doctor about whether you feel you can live with them or not.
I’m very sorry you’re struggling and I hope things get better for you soon.
@@blueowl8928 I cannot recognise my symptoms because I'd never heard vioces or seen things my schizophrenia is got to do with a preoccupation with self analysis as I have just yesterday found out
I've been to the LWwS website looking for hoodies. I want a black one with the "living well with schizophrenia" around the split brain. Will you ever have one of these on sale for like $20-25? Cause they're kinda expensive and I really want some merchandise.
can you make a video talking about your experience with mania?
great video
I find it so interesting how meds effect everyone soo differently when combining with our own personal chemicals. For example Claritin for allergies does literally NOTHING for me and I can’t use it even if Zyrtec is out but Zyrtec works soo well for me for allergies. I know for some people it’s reversed!
It's kind of how for some people, coriander tastes delicious and for others, it tastes like soap. They've actually found a genetic marker that defines whether you're gonna experience the soapy taste or not !! Maybe some of it is genetic for meds too.
That’s why I think it’s mandatory that we are able to do a genetic test for medications. I’m not sure why medical providers will let us go through so many trials before resolving through these symptoms.
Yeah your right about that, but why does it make us suffer? Something is not supposed to be in us that's in the meds, I've always wondered what's in the pills, does anyone even know? I'll stick with nicotine, coffee kratom and weed, take it when I want and feel super good . But my only issue is that society looks down on these substances, why not these unknown pills? Why are they excepted? Alot of people don't even realize there is a medicine for every illness that nature can help, and yet we trust little money hoarding ppl in lab coats and we don't even get the truth.. everything is so twisted the meds and everything, I hear people say that they wouldn't have a right mind but what about your health? Kidneys heart and fat? What's the point of living a good life thTs making every day feel like dying anyway?
I have found using medications that are extended release has really made a difference
Winnie Woodland ua-cam.com/video/55NpfNzdwMY/v-deo.html
Doctors have to be more careful about side effects and especially in preparing the patient for them.