So, This is Life Now (And I'm Okay)

[@Dudettehere]

As a trainee psychiatrist I'm glad to have come across this cause it'll serve the purpose of educating my patients. They're more likely to take another patient's word for it and especially when you've been so transparent. Love that ❤

[@SchizoKitzo]

Oh that’s wonderful! I’m so glad I can help ^_^ Good luck with the rest of your training, and thanks again!

[@boldlyambivalent]

I'd just like to mention that Kit was dealing with this WHILE planning and then recording a long podcast with me, which I find quite impressive. I'm glad the higher dose helped so much.

[@SchizoKitzo]

Whoo!

[@marshalllinenko9265]

I have to tell you what a very good psychiatrist once told me. He said: "It's all chemical and electrical up there...". Finding the right medication at the right dose is what the journey is all about.

[@ourstigma]

I'm glad you're doin better.

[@gckinsey]

This update was such a relief to hear! I'm glad that raising your dose helped with the psychotic symptoms, and that you didn't have the same issues reading, writing, or concentrating that you did before. (I never would have guessed that alcohol could have played a role in that, but that's a good theory and it seems likely... so yay for sobriety!) The body jerks don't sound fun at all - it sucks that you have to deal with that as a side effect. But I also like what you said about how antipsychotic meds are about balancing the good effects vs. the unwanted side effects. It sounds like you and your doctor are doing a great job trying to strike that balance, and I love that for you!

[@UnreliableAdvice4all]

Thanks for sharing. I thought I was the only one with limb jerking at night. I was diagnosed with Peridodic Limb Movement Disorder (PLMD) by one doc, and Rhythmic Movement Disorder (RMD) by another. Stay strong Kit, we're rooting for you.

[@SchizoKitzo]

Tysm

[@fridad2914]

Only half way through but I’m SO GLAD that you talk about alcohol and how it can mess with meds! And that you seem to have found the right meds and dosage for you! I’m so happy for you and hope you can enjoy life without it’s extremes and psychosis for a long time🥹❤️ you go Kitzo!!!❤

[@SchizoKitzo]

I used to be… very stupid 😂 Glad I’m no longer on that path

[@fridad2914]

@@SchizoKitzo we all used to be very stupid 😂 some people still are. It’s me. I’m stupid people. Working on it though!! Thank you for responding btw, I love you and your content so much! I feel so special rn 😭❤️

[@endrecsikos4279]

Great to hear that you are better!

[@SchizoKitzo]

Thank you!

[@jimmyh706]

I like hearing other people’s testimonies of their experiences in the realm of schizophrenia. I really gain so much from these videos. I hear you saying side effects are a lot better than a psychotic episode and you (and I ) would take any side effects from the medication is it kept me away from a psychosis.

[@SchizoKitzo]

Glad to help!

[@BrendaJamesOHagan]

I love how you are putting this trauma out for others. You are a rare human being. I salute you 🎉. You are helping so many others ❤

[@SevenUnwokenDreams]

I am happy that you are okay now. I hope the dystonia improves, that is really distressing especially when you're trying to get some sleep. Thanks for keeping us posted.

[@SchizoKitzo]

I hope so too! Like really do lol. Thanks!

[@emptybelly88]

Hey, I've been subscribed for a while now, and I have Schizoaffective Disorder Bipolar Type. I understand what you're going through. Meds, Hospitalizations, Therapy, The Voice, Mania, Psychosis, etc... But there's a thing called positive deviance. (Look it up) I am a positive deviant. Have you ever tried NOT pissing the voice off? We have a great relationship, but when they give me pills in an attempt to shut him up, he is pissed! So I don't take Antipsychotics anymore because dealing with an angry voice while having intrusive thoughts and tardive dyskinesia is untenable. I take Vistaril to handle my Psychosis and it's working extremely well. The Voice is now my guide, alerting me of dangers before they occur. That is my life now. Living in harmony with The Voice (Spirit/Subconscious) but having trouble with society, because they don't understand what I'm experiencing.

[@ella5452]

Very glad to hear that. Going through something like that- esp. when its related to stress around death can be so hard to cope with- feels like being stuck in molasses in my experience.

[@katryonkelly3772]

I'm glad you're doing better! Yeah when I was on 100mg I was always exhausted. Its really important to get the dose right. Keep your head up and stay awesome!👍🔥

[@SchizoKitzo]

Thank you! Will do!

[@Dudettehere]

Thanks!

[@SchizoKitzo]

Thank you so so much!!!!

[@elizabethbarmann5361]

So glad you are feeling better Kit!! Thank you for sharing the good the bad and the ugly of mental illness 💜😘🙏

[@JWEmbry-wc7qi]

Even tho we haven't met you in person, their are a great number of us that love you very much and appreciate your honesty about these matters; I so very very glad to hear that you are doing better!! Thanks again for sharing with us to help us better understand this.

[@rosalindwebb7729]

I’m sorry you have such nasty episodes best wishes to you feeling unwell sucks I’m glad this episode has gone sorry you have a continuing problem . I’m glad your showing everyone how this illness can make people feel because it gives people an idea what living with this does to you. as I have schizoaffective disorder and anxiety and schizophrenia so I know it’s not easy. Wishing you the best take care best wishes your a lovely lady .❤

[@SchizoKitzo]

This is so kind. Thank you!

[@Viktorious13]

This is wonderful news! I'm sorry you have to deal with the dystonia and sleep issues. I hope it gets better. ❤ I appreciate your content very much.

[@jamesmckenzie3532]

Thanks for the lengthy explanation of your current situation and what the meds are doing to and for you.

[@bookswithcrys]

I come from a family of alcoholics. My theory is that they were self-medicating similar symptoms to what I have (bipolar type 2). For that reason, I’ve never done much drinking. And with my meds (seroquel, Wellbutrin, depakote, klonipin) alcohol makes me ill. I guess that’s a good thing. 😊

[@Catlily5]

You are so right about the balancing act with medication! Side effects can suck. I hope the dystonia subsides!

[@silmarilasmr6801]

I'm pleased that you're okay now! Awesome.

[@NavigatingthePeriphery]

So good to hear you are better. I so relate to the movement issues! If you have watched my videos you can definitely notice it. It is not fun, but sadly it's a byproduct of my meds like you stated. Thanks for addressing dystopia. Not many platforms talk about it.

[@lmg88.80]

Keep on speaking your truth. Very happy to see you in good spirits and very capable now. The brain is very plastic. We can bounce back from alot. Keep on fighting the illness❤

[@MarkFive-ec7ig]

Glad you are feeling better.

[@nutterts]

And it's you and you alone that took the steps to handle it! Happy to hear your doing well. And from personal experiance, alcohol is form of self medication if you really think about it, it's a depressive. Not that it's bad to drink, but how much can certainly a red flag if that makes sense.

[@SchizoKitzo]

Makes sense to me!

[@noctusion2392]

I'm glad you're doing better take care ❤😊

[@xronald619x]

Olanzapine and carbamazepine works wonders. No need for lithium. Great your doing better

[@shelseaturner9062]

Hi! I have bipolar 1 w/ psychotic episodes + schizotypal, so I feel very connected with a lot of your content. I feel like our dx’s might be cousins but I’m not a doctor. I was wondering if you ever tried Spravato therapy? I’m on it now going on my 2nd week. I’ve refused to take the antipsychotic so far, but I’m getting movements in my jaw and I can’t tell if it’s from mood stabilizers(lamictal gang!) or not eating (mounjaro). Anyways, it’s inspiring that you can work and function. I’m in the trenches with ya - hugs if you want em ❤

[@missdrool]

I'm so happy to hear you're doing a lot better now! ❤ And I hope that the dystonia will get better soon.

[@SchizoKitzo]

Me too meeeee toooooo

[@grahamelliott9506]

me too lately! i'm actually happy for once ... in I don't know how long. I look so different in pictures (not a fan of pictures but someone took one of me and I saw it) now I just need to get myself out of the house lol

[@lisatomihiro3488]

I am glad things are bet. I hope you side effects also get better as time progresses. 🙏❤️

[@Catlily5]

Glad to hear that you are doing better!

[@rushman2k3]

So glad you to hear you are doing better!

[@SchizoKitzo]

Thank you!

[@QueenBee-dj4wv]

You are amazing Kit. Your videos inspire me to never give up. Wishing only good thing for you. 😊😊😊

[@SchizoKitzo]

Thank you so much!

[@Riley_sd]

Wonderful news. We're so happy your doing well ❤

[@d14551]

It's great that you are feeling so much better; your sparkle is back. And I hear that you have to deal with the increased dystonia, which sounds very not fun.

[@SchizoKitzo]

It’s not fun but I’ll survive. I feel like I have the sparkle back too. Thanks!

[@ThomasMuethingDotCom]

Dystonia does suck! (I have dystonic CP). there are some older anti-depressants that can take nightly that have anti-chollinergic property's. I think class called tricyclic/tetra-cyclic antidepressents. Ask ur doc. They are also use for sleep sometimes.

[@waceyseufer7083]

Glad you're doing better. Keep going. You got this 🤘

[@SchizoKitzo]

Always!

[@MarjanKaykavoosi]

There is a new treatment for mental health with magnetic stimulation in the hospital from what I have heard. Mayo hospital and the VA have this program.

[@kinzhe83]

So glad you're okay now :) But that dystonia sounds really bad, especially if you can't sleep properly, and you know how important sleep is for, well, everyone. I'm on 7,5 mg of Zyprexa and have literally zero extrapyramidal effects but I have huge weight gain (which I gave up fighting long ago, probably making a mistake there), and when I can I tend to sleep until I become tired of sleeping, to put it this way. I really wish your extrapyramidal effects improve over time and you get used to this new dose, say what you want about Zyprexa but it completely changed my life for the better and perhaps even saved it, it's that good in my case when it comes to everything mind related. Ty Kit for your videos as usual and take care.

[@SchizoKitzo]

Oh yeah I totally think zyprexa is awesome! I think it will get better over time, that’s what’s happened with other extrapyramidal effects, it’s just a pain right now ya know? Thanks for the comment!

[@germainedenon311]

how did it help u? just started it. do you have inner auditory hallucinations or random images in mind eyes!

[@kinzhe83]

@@germainedenon311 Nope, completely symptoms free. Also gained much less sensitivity to things, way less impulsivity, can sustain attention now and can handle stress much better. However - gained about 120 pounds over 16 years and I tend to sleep way too much, both of those things I don't manage very well. Good luck with your Zyprexa journey, I hope side-effects won't be unbearable to you and you stick with it, because believe me, it's that good.

[@germainedenon311]

@@kinzhe83 how long it took for yr symptoms to go? what are your kep symptoms?

[@kinzhe83]

​@@germainedenon311 Well I was hospitalized in 2008 for severe case of mania coupled with schizoaffective symptoms, and I was in hospital for 2 months. When I was released I was in severe depression and on haldol, but in about 4-5 months I was put on zyprexa, lamictal and venlafaxine. It took me a full year or maybe even more (can't really remember now) to get to euthymic mood and ever since then I had zero hallucinations/delusions/mood changes, but I started to gain weight rather quickly and my sleeping became very long. So I'd advise you to be patient, give it some time for brain to recover if you were in a manic episode and now in depression, in case you were like me, and eventually you'll achieve euthymic mood.

[@taylorsteiner9273]

Awesome news!!!

[@paulsixtus4926]

If you don't mind, When did you start using alcohol and when did your problem started to come out? Can you see any correlation? Are you not addicted to alcohol, just pondering. .? Wish you all the best, happy when you are! 🌞☮️✌️🌼💕

[@horizonblack]

Welcome back.

[@LaCosa973]

The religious demands get wildddd dont they🤣🤣🥂 i hear ya bro.. Glad you made it out of the woods.

[@mjlove6574]

I am so happy you are doing better! ❤❤

[@cindyg.4309]

Hi Kit I’m glad you are doing better. I also noticed alcohol mix with medication and my illness made my mental situation completely worse. I’m proud to say today I’m 172 days alcohol free. I recently took a brief medical leave at work to get adjusted to my new medication. I had a psychosis break down and hallucinations. Can you please share with me how you deal with all this while working full time? It’s been so rough for me recently, Thank you.

[@SchizoKitzo]

How I deal with my disorder and work is a video I’m working on, so stay tuned for that. And yay for sobriety! 172 days is awesome; here’s to more!

[@matthewwilson5357]

Wisdom.

[@roberttravers7587]

Great video! glad things are doing better😁😁

[@SchizoKitzo]

Yes! Thank you!

[@Aissakur]

Have you tried Abilify? I have no side affects & my symptoms seem mostly if not completely gone. It's a popular drug. 👍

[@avfc2025]

Hey my sister has schizoaffective disorder, she was on meds for over 10 years but decided to stop taking them last year. She been on a downward spiral since she won’t go outside or even see me or my parents do you have any advice ?

[@JeffreyWilliams-dr7qe]

Have ever had mild or lite even low Cal Psychosis? Meds not completely on the ball?

[@MarjanKaykavoosi]

I think most medication have no alcohol drinks with them

[@fridad2914]

Ok watched it all now and I have a question: does the dystopia movements physically hurt? Or are they just annoying and wake you up too much? For anyone reading this without that side effect, what I guess it feels like is: you know when you’re falling asleep and dream that you’re falling and suddenly you’re awake? I think it’s like that x100. But does it hurt? And does it hurt when you’re awake? When I’ve been a dumbass and quit SSRI’s cold turkey, i got these electric jolts in my joints, esp elbows and wrists, and they hurt like 5/10. Is it like that? Anyways I’m so happy that you’re doing better!!!❤

[@SchizoKitzo]

I should make a video talking about them more but it doesn’t hurt no. Just like I have this tingle and then boom! muscle contraction full force. I hope that makes sense but that’s kinda how it is for me.

[@fridad2914]

@@SchizoKitzo oh you should absolutely make a video about that, and other side effects! So glad it’s not painful to you, so it’s like your brain is like “hmm…let’s give a little heads up for my surprise party…okay tingles…SURPRISEEEE!!!”? Is that it?

[@fridad2914]

@@SchizoKitzo oh btw I had a friend (we lived in this treatment place, young women 16-26 with social and/or psychological problems) who was schizophrenic, and after she got butt shots every month, she used to faint A LOT for about a week after. I caught her so many times during breakfast. So glad that the dining area was carpeted. I think she was on Risperidone but not sure, this was in 2014. Have that happened to you or anyone you know? I hope not!

[@LaCosa973]

Oooooooo.... dude.. ps.. i used to drink before i was dignosed and bugggg out on people at the bar🥊🥊🤣 this october november will be three years since i quit.. never goin back! My head has been wayyyy less angry since!

[@faithfullyyourshappilyheat5689]

How do you convince a schizoaffective patient that their hallucination never took place?

[@TheUrbanAdventurer]

Great

[@jeff-el5ne]

im not anti-alcohol but for me im better off without it

[@cspiderm]

Took about 14 years to find 3 little pills that actually work.And no more 18pks of beer a day😊

[@professorJorge11]

I'm so happy 😊 , I take one half pill every day 👍 ( but still fat😂😂)

[@thenomothete]

Really glad your dose now is helping you and that you're also able to still do the things that make you happy. It's important to be able to do normal, everyday things when dealing with schizoaffective disorder. Being able to do things we love helps us not relapse into psychosis. Glad to see you still making content. Your content has helped me make better content for my own channel and shows me I'm not alone. Thank you so much for that and I'm so happy you're doing better.

[@SchizoKitzo]

So glad to hear what you’ve mentioned here. Thanks!

[@thenomothete]

@@SchizoKitzo anytime!

[@bobbybobsen]

What are you taking?

[@MarkFive-ec7ig]

❤😊❤

[@athena5862]

Can you say which medication has helped you with delusions.