Why Do People with Schizophrenia Stop Taking Their Medication?

There are a number of reasons why someone with schizophrenia might stop taking their medication. This video discusses what some of those reasons may be.
If you are having troubles with medication and are thinking about stopping them, please talk with your doctor about your concerns. Hopefully you can work together to figure out a way to approach the situation in a way that feels good for you.
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#schizophrenia #schizoaffective #mentalhealth #mentalillness #medication #antipsychotics

[@LivingWellwithSchizophrenia]

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[@roxannejohnson3998]

I'm surprised side effects wasn't the first thing you mentioned. The side effects of many antipsychotics are intolerable and I would say are the leading cause of people stopping them. Mental health should not be treated at the expense of physical health

[@technoviking4152]

Definately, ppl are not crazy, we probably can sense whats pleasurable or not, and whats healthy or not. You can objectively find many harmful effects of psychopharmacs, i would say they are used just because they are convenient by "society".

[@roxannejohnson3998]

@@technoviking4152 Mental Illness is real. These conditions are 100% real, but the method of treatment is wrong because these doctors don't even read the warnings and precautions in the drug monographs. You may stop a person from experiencing mania but they only go on to die later from hyperglycemia or cardiac arrest. It ain't right.

[@technoviking4152]

I am not saying you re not really unhealthy, definately treatment aint treatment.

[@paulakempe3670]

How many dozen medications I've been on that CAUSE weight gain? Almost all have.

[@roxannejohnson3998]

@@paulakempe3670 Yes, they treat your mental illness only to give you diabetes instead! It's ridiculous and unacceptable

[@stevelevi8327]

I have treatment resistant schizophrenia. I have come off my meds numerous times for several reasons. 1) I was gas lighted into not believing I was sick by relatives who don't believe in mental illness. 2) I would black out much of what occured when in psychosis which led to me not believing I needed meds... at least until my partner explained in vivid detail how I acted or what I said. 3) I thought medication made me "weak" as a result of stigmatizing myself. 4) Delusions convinced me.

[@annetteblackmon9578]

I have major trust issues. I need to see a recording to be able to believe the stories told to me. With the videos, sometimes their reality isn’t true 🤷🏻‍♀️🤦🏻‍♀️

[@greybeardgamer2067]

1) Oh, boy! Been there! 2) Very common. Truthfully, in 20 years you won't WANT to remember any more than it takes to keep you from going down the Highway to Hell again. 3) Not rational, but hey...schizophrenia isn't rational, is it? Hope you're doing well, Steve!

[@rawlife222]

I’d thought I had treatment resistant schizotype disorder but I was only on Seroquel.

[@oussemachortani3079]

What made you go back on meds? As in what kind of arguments were made that got you back on track with your meds. Than kyou for sharing you experience btw

[@billybandyk0720]

Mr. Levi; It's NOT "treatment" resistant. It's MEDICATION RESISTANT!!!!! When PSYCHOTHERAPY becomes ineffective, then (& only then) can the term "treatment resistant" b appropriate.

[@fairygal8223]

I have bi-polar disorder and I quit taking my medication many times in my past, as well. When I finally came to the point where I accepted that I needed my medication like a diabetic needs insulin, I accepted my illness. It was so hard to accept that my illness was real when loved ones believed that it was a weakness of character. I learned through therapy what felt right for me. Self-empowerment, indeed.

[@anabarnes4654]

Hi! I too was diagnosed with bipolar and getting off didn't work because psychiatrists do not really know how to do the taper (simply because these drugs are designed to be taken for life), withdrawal symptoms arise when you go down too fast and that is then often diagnosed as your illness coming back. Truly, this happens more often than not...I shared my experience in more detail under AJ's comment. I then finally found a supportive psychiatrist who did it the right way: for lithium for instance it's going down 5 to max 10% of your previous dose a month.. which takes about three years. And during that time I was finally able to get to the root cause of my "mental illness" and slowly had the chance to heal. I am really glad you are in a good place and accepting things as they are.. just know there actually is another way and there is no comparison of insulin to diabetics with psychotropic drugs to schizophrenics. There is a huge difference. While in the first case there is a direct cause to effect relation, ther is none in the second. Not only is it all trial and error but also, psychiatrists know very very very little about what all of these drugs actually do to the brain. E.g. my psychiatrist had no clue about lithium and yet prescribed it to me for over a decade in huge doses, assuring me it's the best, most effective medication and will save my life...

[@tysonmikel9222]

You need jesus christ (Yahushua)

[@billybandyk0720]

Fairygal 8; Please stop comparing Bipolar Disorder (& other mental health conditions) 2 diabetes. They r NOT THE SAME!!!!! Mental health conditions REQUIRE MEDICATION (per the system); Insulin's OPTIONAL 4 diabetes. Putting medication as "treatment" 4 mental health conditions on par w/insulin 4 diabetes is such a crockashit. As a fellow Bipolar Disorder sufferer; 30+ different psych meds ovr 44 yrs (been psych med-free since 1/1/2017; my DOB: 7/20/1967) AGGRAVATED (NOT HELPED) MY CONDITION!!!!! If u believe in the "chemical imbalance" philosophy RE: mental health & u need psych meds, more power 2 u. Best 2 ya.

[@aj32384]

I used to stop meds because of forgetfulness. For the past few years, I've had a psychiatrist who has kept me on antidepressants for unreasonably long periods, e.g., more than 6 months despite a lack of response (i.e., persistent diagnosis of severe depression). I wanted to be compliant so I would keep taking these meds even though they weren't helping... but eventually I'd give up. As an aside, I've also been diagnosed with ADHD and recently expressed concerns to my psychiatrist that I think I might be addicted to my ADHD meds. When I did, she scheduled an in-person appointment (appointments had all been telehealth since covid) and spent much of the appointment encouraging me to switch to another psychiatrist I'd seen for TMS and a few sessions of ECT. She said that it would be good to get a second opinion, and I agree with her. But the fact that this referral is coming 8 years after ineffectively treating my depression and coincides with a potential addiction that she might be liable for... it's a real mind fuck.

[@anabarnes4654]

Wow AJ, I am so sorry to hear about that. In the beginning of the video Lauren says: "Sometimes I get into periods of wellness where I question whether I even have Schizoaffective disorder". Well that's the only moments of sanity actually. So so sad psychiatrist found a label for that as well. Other than Blair Sterling's book suggestion, I would always recommend: " Anatomy of an Epidemic " by Robert Whitaker, it'll blow your mind. When it comes to me, first I was diagnosed with chronic depressive disorder as a teenager and prescribed antidepressants I almost died of because I had lost all sense of danger and wasn't myself anymore ("manic episode"). I ended up in a psychiatric hospital where things we done to me against my will and which traumatized me for life!! Then I was diagnosed bipolar and put on meds which made me become twice my size and suffer memory loss, hair loss, and endless other side effects. Then they decided I might not have bipolar and put me off meds where I experienced the worst psychotic episode with paranoia, after which I once again ended up in hospital not remembering three months of my life except for little snippets (being rolled around in a wheelchair, peing myself because I wasn't able to walk - I to this say wonder what they gave me/ did to me to be in that state but I never found the courage to ask for my medical records). When it comes to Lauren, it seems to have been even worse because she recounts being stripped naked of her clothes etc. I got out of there (now diagnosed with "schizoaffective disorder") and for over a decade I took my meds although I always knew I wasn't sick , instead what was done to me, made me sick. One day I couldnt live with this any longer and stopped all of them at the same time (because I didn't know better), which of course following the official narrative, leads to a "return of your symptomps " when in truth it's withdrawal effects which you would have stopping any drug. In order to not have withdrawal effects and have been able to get off my medication safely, I for instance had to taper Lithium at a rate of 5% per month, that is HOW toxic it is and how long the body needs to adjust after a decade of poisoning. I found a psychiatrist, who helped me and she advocates : "It is an art of no little importance to administer medicines properly: but, it is an art of much greater and more difficult acquisition to know when to suspend or altogether to omit them." - Philippe Pinel To cut things short, after five hospital stays, and so traumatized, the drugs having taken all life out of me and I just wanting to die because nothing made sense, I finally found the courage to look out for like minded people who can help. And I found them, I made friends through the "Withdrawal Project", that I have been tapering with, and it is ultimately the "Vital Mind Reset" program I found online that literally saved my life ... one doesn't have to pay for it, as all can be found in her books, or even on her website for free. It's a simple detox I did for thirty days after which I started my taper of meds. Peter Breggin, mentioned in the other comment also has great books on slowly getting off meds, he's also amazing as one of the precursors of treating humans in distress with love rather than through coercive methods, ECT, etc.). I'll just add one last thing... other than advocating more humane methods, these doctors/ psychiatrists ahead of their time, put very special emphasis on SLOW taper which is the only way it can work after decades of psychotropic drugs the brain got used to live with. It worked for me because I took years and did it very slowly , as you'll hear from others on the "Withdrawal Project" online for instance. What ninety percent of psychiatrist will do though, is go down on the dosis way too fast, e.g. when you google Lithium it'll say "If you need to stop taking lithium, it is best for you to come off it gradually, over at least four weeks, but preferably over three to six months", which is a joke. That is way too fast and if you read from people who've actually gone through it , you'll see none of them "made it", all of them got their confirmation they are mentally ill. When you get withdrawal symtoms (e.g. with lithium you go manic right away), they'll tell you it's your symptomps coming back, put you back on drugs and make you believe there is no healing. Just sharing this in case the recourses might help someone. ..and because "unfortunately," it's the truth . PS. I'm not saying we were all ok in the first place, before starting the meds. For sure though the way to solve them is not life long medication and identifying with a label meant to make you believe you are sick for life and will never recover. A lot has to do with trauma for instance (which can lead to all sort of experience such as halucinations and things conventionally seen as "crazy"). Gabor Mate has great books on trauma and dealing with engrained pain that one day we weren't able to cope with and so went "mentally ill". As in my case, it was because I had a difficult childhood and was miserable all my teenage life. And to be miserable or feel uncomfortable it doesn't have to have been as super traumatic experience, it can be small things too, that on the outside look like no issue, but for a certain person because of sensitivity for instance, might induce trauma. One then needs to go to the root, rather numbing all life..Although of course that is a possibility too, and what will always be advocated by mainstreadm big pharma.

[@anabarnes4654]

@@blairsterling6141 Oh wow, this almost made me tear up. Thank you, you beautiful soul 🙏 I too hope that more people will be able to appreciate and live that truth soon, what a liberation. I will in this life, which truly is a gift as I don't even know how I'm still here, do all I can in my power, to help people prevent having to go through the nightmares I had to experience.

[@anabarnes4654]

@@blairsterling6141 I am so sorry to hear. If there is something I learned it's that one can't convince people of anything . If someone believes psychiatric drugs are the solution and are 100% identified with that opinion without a grain of doubt, no matter what information, proof or facts, nothing will move them. However I do aim at sharing information with those who somewhere deep inside them, do feel something about the whole psychiatry narrative seems to be off and maybe wrong , as well as that there might be another way... Because there is, and we are proof 🙏 and many others I met along the way, except no one here to sponsor them or promote their stories , because no profit is gained from it. Thankfully more and more people opening their eyes to it every day and letting their voices be heard, like Laura Delano who started the Inner Compass Initiative and which as a very similar story to mine . It is thanks to these people that Ifound the strength to get out of hell, and it is thanks to us that other people will too . We just need to stay strong 🙏💕

[@patriciaanndemello4652]

Psychiatric meds take the joy out of life and they're very toxic and dangerous for the body. However, the alternative like ending up homeless, commiting crimes accidently, delusions and hallucinations and ending up in jail may be the result of not taking meds. It's a terrible set of choices.

[@waiting-for-my-shepherd]

So true. My white blood cells, platelets, etc. have been dropping year after year, now within the same month. The specialists believed it's my anti-psychotic medication causing it. For several years already, my psychiatrist allows me to take the minimum doses. Whenever there's a need to increase the dosage, other side effects like not able to smile would show up. It's also hopeless to switch medication as they all have some serious side effects, especially for someone whose WBC and platelets, etc. have been getting lower with each blood test within short time frames.

[@4114715]

You sound like a psychiatrist 🤣

[@catman1353]

This was very helpful, insightful and much need video. My brother is diagnozed with Schizophrenia and he recently stopped taking his meds, I thought it was due to the wieght gain side effect but I realized there were more to the story. Thank you for this!

[@greybeardgamer2067]

Catman, I feel for you. There aren't enough resources or help for friends/family/caretakers. I've been the patient, and had to care for my son.

[@emikobila6712]

Lots of appreciation for sharing your options My sons has dual diagnosis and been locked up I am learning from your experiences to ensure to understand his issues You are so brave

[@MelanieMakesHome]

PSYCH Nurse Practitioner here... thank you for these videos... you are so right about the relationship component with your provider.

[@YesminWahab-bj2bz]

Can I contact you please

[@5thHouse]

Anosognosia. That's a valuable word that everyone here needs to commit to memory. Sums up so much in just one word that helps explain what is going on to family and friends.

[@stoneyvowell1239]

I think she pronounces it wrong though. Every time I did a Google search for the way she says it it won't come up. I think the emphasis is on A_Nos_ognosia.

[@5thHouse]

@@stoneyvowell1239 I confess, I needed auto-correct to help me, but ya know, medical terms be like that

[@stoneyvowell1239]

@@5thHouse I had to use the definition to find it. I agree that a lot of those medical terms can be very confusing and hard to pronounce.

[@cicelybega5419]

I’ve heard it the way she pronounces it. Maybe it’s one of those that changes a bit based on accent. Either way - it is definitely an important thing to know for anyone with this illness or for all of those supporting someone else through it.

[@stoneyvowell1239]

@@cicelybega5419 that's kind of what I thought too. I just know Google won't recognize it like that. When I try to speak it into the phone (I use talk to text) it won't recognize it.

[@campfiremusicbyaegf]

I went off my medicine last night and got right back on it in the morning! :) :) :)

[@osagejon8972]

Another great video, thank you. I have always struggled with medications because of the side affects. When the medication manages a symptom of my schizoaffective it generally gives me a side affect of equal or greater magnitude albeit different. Sometimes different is good, at least for a while. I haven't been on anything for perhaps 11 years but am considering some again as I have been in a long stretch of struggling. Remembering when I went off the joy I had in being able to feel emotions again was wonderful. It's a tough life when we try to fix whats broke with whats broke.

[@saintnobody6637]

i go on and off my meds a lot. it mostly has to do because im an artist and when im on meds consistently i lose my ability and love for drawing and making art. it almost feels forced and just becomes a chore to do. drawing is something thats part of me. so on meds i literally do nothing except stare and sit for hours, but off meds i draw so much even though it causes my psychotic symptoms to flare up.

[@onwardsandupwards7397]

Being in a psychotic state is not good for your health and it's not safe for you, either.

[@Mark-oh7ec]

I understand you completely. I was going to a community college to get an associates in fine art then i was going to move on to university and get the other degrees. Everything was going good for like 2 semesters and then everything changed. I started having psychotic symptoms and felt like I couldn't take as many classes so i dropped a few but kept the art ones cause that's what i love doing. The summer before going back in, i was diagnosed with schizoaffective depressive type and was put on meds asap. I noticed almost immediately strange side effects but the one that hurt me the most was the inability to produce art at the same rate and quality as before. Everything i drew was flat

[@rachelsalex]

You are very articulate Lauren. Thanks for sharing your experience

[@acire8188]

I am happy that I found this channel, I am not diagnosed but I have symptoms that makes me, and people who know me, to think I have Schizoaffective disorder or Schizophrenia. I am going to talk to my doctor about it, and see what can be done. This channel I feel helps alot, even if I might not have the disorder, since I do have symptoms similar to it.

[@jesseburley8349]

Before I started taking meds my body was attractive and my mind way less cloudy. It's heavier to think more effort. The price of not feeling like a joke I'm not in on all day seems worth it. Besides there's more of me to love now

[@fumctoni1343]

Thank you for your videos and openness. My daughter had first pychosis episode in August..she went through 3 medications until she found the right one for now. She is smiling again..but like you said she feels that she is doing fine. She feels that she is 100% and wants to go off meds. But I remind her daily to take meds to continue her progress. She still has a long road.

[@cicelybega5419]

Glad she’s doing well. It’s hard as a parent. Just hard all around actually.

[@benjaminsolomon3807]

Just make her to always take her meds because schizophrenia sometimes make people believe that they don't have the illness

[@milkyway-ol7lx]

I stopped taking mine, because I believe my psychiatrist gave me the wrong meds to make me crazy

[@4114715]

I also experienced this, it was like I was going mad after 2 wks of taking it(aripiprazol). Good u stopped but take care of yourself, don't lose the fight

[@alienreggaeradio]

For a long time my medication didn't seem to do much at first. As I got older I realized that I was very manic without it. I added a medication to my regular dose and now for 2 years since november and now I dont hear voices. I also pray to God alot. Finding goodness amongst the evil is good.

[@meganlampa3293]

Thankyou for your videos. I'm a Support Worker and have been watching ever sence starting work with one of my clients who is living with Schizophrenia. It really, really helps me to learn from someone else who has lived experience. Also I love seeing how everyone is different.

[@bellajean6731]

Such a needed discussion. Good job.

[@mariapetras5835]

Yes indeed! 👏💜👏👏👏👏🙏✨

[@patrickochinski6754]

💯💯💯

[@donnawilson8633]

Agreed 100 percent.

[@Ozisl]

Side effects would be the primary... I am a little surprised that you didn't mention more of the cause->effect, where paranoia/delusion leads to complete distrust of meds or the care team, since I recall you having some of this happen in the past. But great vid, thanks as always!

[@boblevey]

You are a very compassionate individual. Thank you..

[@apryllshowersm6669]

I did it because of weight gain from meds. I went below weight to obesity in a short amount of time. I wish they educated me before it happened on what kind of diet to be on while taking antipsychotics

[@lmarshall4098]

Yes I gained over 50 lbs on meds before just in a couple of months. It happens every time.

[@bearclaus2676]

@@lmarshall4098 same.

[@aleksandracatt]

Can you please share what type of diet you are on. I’m on zyprexa and I gained so much weight over time and I can’t lose it. I used to be skinny now I’m overweight. Honestly, I’m going to try to change this medication too.

[@apryllshowersm6669]

@@aleksandracatt low calorie and eating small frequent meals, low to no sugar and rarely have bread helps me a little. Some recommend weight watchers but I havent tried it.

[@aleksandracatt]

@@apryllshowersm6669 i heard that keto diet plus intermittent fasting is the best, especially for people with schizo. I tried it and I did lose like 5 pounds in just two first days. But it’s hard because I crave for sweets often but I will try it again. Ty for your reply.

[@kaylaj4417]

weight gain was the only reason i took myself off all my medications in the past. having an eating disorder complicated the medications i would even consider taking for fear of weight gain. something providers seem to skip over but it was huge for me.

[@frankieharvey4353]

Hearing you talk about not accepting medication advice from one psychiatrist, but accepting it from the other reminds me of my experiences with my doctor and the mental health liaison team at hospital: he was telling me what to do, but the liaison team actually explained WHY I should do it. It made it a lot easier to make decisions.

[@lizett3465]

Thank you for the insight. I have someone in my family who is schizophrenic, and they are struggling with both lack of insight and side effects. They are actually doing really good on meds psychologically, but the reluctance to accept the fact that they are ill and the dissatisfaction with side effects are a huge barrier for them. It is impacting the whole family very negatively, but the person is of age and can't be forced into treatment against their will. Your explanations shed a little bit of light on their struggle, so thank you again for sharing. Makes it easier for me to be more empathetic towards my relative.

[@silly.sarbear955]

I have insurance that I can barely afford and I still can’t imagine being able to finance a “treatment care team…” Great video!

[@h0stile420]

I stopped them because they made me depressed, numb, flat I got anhedonia and had no feelings, since I stopped them I can feel dopamine again after 2 months.

[@maryplacencio6350]

Take care

[@ThulungaBasumatary-cq5qi]

How is your condition now after stopping medication?

[@SchizophrenicCathy]

I remember the first time I went off my meds w/o talking to my doctor. I was on Risperidone. It was giving me severe Akathisia. I didn't know what Akathisia was, and the sheer restlessness was giving me panic attacks. I wish I had talked to my doctor because if I had, I would've not only known what Akathisia was, but I would've also known that there was a simple additional medication that would completely take care of it! I also hate other side effects, such as fatigue, weight gain, etc. But now I know to talk to my doctor first, and there may be a solution, whether it's an additional medication or switching meds. I recently started Caplyta, and so far, the only side effect I've dealt with is dry mouth, which isn't a big deal to me since I'm always drinking something. And now that we're slowly reducing my Zyprexa, I'm losing a little weight! Bonus!

[@stoneyvowell1239]

I don't deal with the Positive symptoms very often. It's the cognitive symptoms I struggle with the most. Some of the antipsychotics could help with the bipolar side, but I keep that fairly well regulated through diet, actual self care and mindfulness as well. That is why I still refuse the medications at the moment. If my positive symptoms get worse, I may consider them.

[@stoneyvowell1239]

@Io's moonlight 🌙 I can try. I try to eat a decent sized salad at least every week day at work. I quit eating so much processed crap. A handful of vitamins and supplements. Cut back dramatically on my caffeine intake. I talked to the wife into making more homemade Chinese dishes along with other things like the Mediterranean diet, which has helped the whole family out a lot because we are a schizo family from both sides. I need to exercise more. But mainly all the good advice I've gotten on this channel and others.

[@trixieloo]

Stigma. I’ve had a significant other make fun of my “pile of pills.“

[@Bananabagel123]

My friend described the meds to me as them making him feel like he had a sneeze in his brain that he just couldn’t get out.

[@arctic_desert]

that is so so accurate!

[@crazyeyes666]

im pretty sure ive had this thought before

[@nsanahtee]

I stopped my meds because they made me dizzy. I would lose my balance and fall. Which in itself was scary. It would also make me hungry all the time. I had back surgery and the extra weight causes me pain. On the plus side I slept good and it helped me control my anger. I've sinced learn to control my anger on my own.

[@sharonmchugh7730]

Thank you Lauren, great to see you. Again very valuable information.

[@Henock556]

I stop taking my medication because I wanted to have kids.

[@tysonmikel9222]

They had me on injection for 16 months or they were threatening to take my driver's license if I refused ... I've been off for 6months never plan to go back..they forced me.. now they want to do follow up appointments for 6 months to 1 year.. I wonder what Dr. Will ask at these appointments?

[@tysonmikel9222]

How long were you on meds?

[@greybeardgamer2067]

I stopped taking Stellazine because I was showing symptoms of Tardive Dyskinesia. Sometimes you get so far down the rabbit-hole that meds are necessary, but real healing starts by re-ordering your thinking, nutrition, music therapy, and about a thousand other things. Mental health takes a lot of work for some of us, but 'sane' is worth it. Problem is, there don't seem to be any alopathic tests one can take to determine the correct meds/dosage, so the psychiatrists guess a lot. And the side-effects get MORE meds to combat them, which have MORE side-effects. It was aweful...my heart goes out to you all.

[@scottlarson1548]

Some people don't have _chronic_ schizophrenia and only have the symptoms from time to time. One person I knew in college only took medications when she felt symptoms coming on. People scolded her for not taking them all the time but her doctor told her that it was her decision.

[@coprographia]

Seriously, people who tell others to take their meds really ought to either become doctors or shut the fuck up

[@deathwaiting9931]

This sounds like me. After 6 months of taking respiridone my doctor wanted me to take my meds only if the symptoms are coming. But I didn't believe thats going to be safe. That's why I continue my medication.

[@rawlife222]

@@deathwaiting9931 usually it’s the other way around

[@peterboyd7149]

As a depression and Anxiety sufferer the side effects would make some stop. I had an depressants that left me emotionally numb I felt nothing. I have been told by no doubt well meaning people. They know what I am going through and I should come off my meds. I have learned from having a friend with schizophrenia who sadly took his life. To my wife having Two strokes in her 20's and having depression everyone's experience with mental illness is different. Take Care Stay Safe.

[@benjaminsolomon3807]

So sad to hear someone took his life for schizophrenia but for me schizophrenic deserves a big support from family and friends

[@nursejill1474]

I have severe anxiety and OCD. Was misdiagnosed for ever until I took the hard step of calling a psychiatrist. With the right questions, she diagnosed me. My medicine saved my life. I will not go off them. I went down in dose. But, will not go off as mental illness is like insulin dependent diabetes, usually lifelong.. decades ago I worked in he biggest mental institution in the world. Before modern psychiatric meds were available. What I saw! Thank goodness for these meds. No shaming.

[@kaylamdruken]

I’ve been known to stop my meds, several times before. My bigger reasons are either the side effects are too bad or the meds work so I don’t think I need them. Right now my combination of meds is starting to help. I know I need to keep taking them though. Anyone in the same boat, it can be hard to stick with but many times sticking with it can be worth it! Hang in there ❤️

[@Amelamel-bl3mu]

❤️❤️❤️❤️ keep going you are strong

[@reneepowers638]

I hav3 the same problem

[@vikimoody8783]

Thank you. Your videos are so thoughtful and considerate of others. Bless you 🙏

[@neelaparmar3444]

This has been so helpful. My mum has been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia and she has never accepted her illness so in return refuses meds and results in her being sectioned. I couldn't understand why she would refuse meds that Make her well but this vid has given me insight to reasons why. Thank you so much.

[@JaneDoe-ij4ls]

THANK YOU!

[@cicelybega5419]

Anosognosia is such a sneaky component to schizophrenia for those who experience it. It can also be really hard to understand for caregivers and family. It’s like the brain puts up a mirror with things going on behind it that aren’t showing in the reflection. It bugs me when others think it is the same as denial. Like all things related to this, it is complicated. But it can be one of the hardest things to tackle when trying to achieve wellness.

[@hwhefnbebe3030]

Bro I’ve been needing this FOREVER. My father had schizophrenia and that’s what drove my parents to divorce at 6. I’ve never truly experienced hearing voices till I was older. Probably 18. I’m 22 now. Now as I get older I find videos like this that make me realize what my father had and how it affects my life and now how I see these actions you talk about happening in my life as well. Just rocks you to the core I guess.

[@BlairPittams]

Here we have combined the mental health services with drug and addiction. You mentioned the effects of anti psychotics, this seems to me the main source of my issues now, the confusion and brain fog

[@the.seeds.of.change]

Ok so I've been on meds for schizzoaffective since I was 23. I'm 49 now. When I was 30, my husband left and I became a single mom of 2 toddlers and a newborn who was ill. There was no money. He took it all. And I was on disability but it was very little. It was a rough 3 years until I remarried. I was off meds for 5 years total and although manic, I managed. I think back and remember that I used coping skills. I often think I can do that again. I've tried. It all ends badly. I'm in a place where I want to try again but I'm finally in a really good place and I'm scared to. Ugh..

[@DannyD-lr5yg]

You are an amazingly strong person. Wow. 💝

[@the.seeds.of.change]

@@DannyD-lr5yg omgosh thank you. It's only bc of the Lord. He's held me together.

[@milagrosmena6938]

You are very strong women.God bless you.

[@the.seeds.of.change]

@@milagrosmena6938 thank you ❤️

[@benjaminsolomon3807]

Are you still on meds? Tracy?

[@Mandragara]

I have MDD with Psychotic features and I struggle with irrational panic that my meds are poisoning me. I know it's not true but it comes from the same part of my brain that vertigo or creepiness of spiders etc comes from. So I keep taking them and am doing well, but it's very tiring to ignore something like vertigo all the time. It's something a lot of people don't understand, I think you need to experience it first hand to understand it.

[@fatimamatus1612]

Blessings for you an family 🤗

[@DannyD-lr5yg]

Question: *What would happen if your husband played this video for you WHILE you are in the throes of poor insight, whether from a delusion or from a false sense of security?* - Would you be reminded of why the medication is important, and thus feel it is important? - If you still didn’t feel you needed the meds, would you decide to just go ahead and believe/trust that this version of you knows what you’re talking about, and thus take the meds whether you “believe” you need them or not? - Would being confronted with your perspective in this video generate so much distress and/or cause some kind of psychotic break, dissociative event, new delusion (that this version of you isn’t real, that this version of you was deceived, etc)?

[@mygirldarby]

She would probably just think she was wrong before and now knows she doesn't need it anymore. Or she might think she was fooled by her doctors or husband before and now knows the truth.

[@jaynpenny]

Well for me paranoia would tell me he’s just trying to get me, or he was just trying to get his way tricking me into doing something I didn’t want to do. These feelings and visions are so real.

[@arctic_desert]

It depends on what my reason is, but if it was delusion or wanting to feel good, then I would probably ignore it tbh. If I stopped for a more common thing like not believing I needed them anymore or being annoyed about the side effects, then seeing something like a positivity video about loving treatment or good outcomes would help me more to convince me into logic

[@WVMothman]

When my sister has that grin her face and says "It's gonna be ok now, I'm getting a job and a new apartment, what's been going on?". Days before she was just laying around talking to herself.

[@marymiss7827]

you seem well , I have been following you for a long while....God bless.. my daughter is off her meds again, it is so hard everytime she does.... heartbroken mom

[@Lovin9Lives]

This is one of the hardest things as a family member to watch happen. My brother keeps trying to go off his medication and we have him formed now. This will probably need to be a life long process of having him on form. He has zero insight still to this day…it’s so incredibly hard. He doesn’t believe the things we say he did, or what the doctors say or even what he was having as delusions are false. This is only going to get worse once he turns 25… He refuses to take oral meds so we have him on injections, which is going to be incredibly expensive moving forward.

[@jdevisri88]

I pray things will go smoothly for you and your family as time goes by. Lots of love ❤

[@tysonmikel9222]

Let him free and pray for him daily only meds make it worse

[@bismillahalemi4473]

the same all my family including my old my is dying seeing my brother like this he is 25 as well

[@4114715]

I hope one day you don't wake up and find that your brother has left home and is not coming back. These meds are not the only way!

[@marianm7468]

It’s not just anosognosia. Patients have valid reasons. Please stop the apologetics for what is often a coercive and oppressive psychiatric profession. Psychiatry is reasonable and fine when consensual. It rarely is in psychotic disorders.

[@Hellakiddie]

💯

[@tysonmikel9222]

You have a voice u need to use.. its clear u know psychiatry is oppressing ppl

[@mackm1094]

Thinking that I'm healed, side effects, and having delusion and not trusting my team are all the reasons why I usually stop taking my meds.

[@OldChannelNoSee]

I was on a set of meds that controlled my bipolar swings but wasn't helping with the auditory interactions I get. So my doc wanted to change me over to another medication. That med flat out didn't work and also made me jittery like I had to move my body or I was in pain. Somewhere along the way I went into a manic episode and begun to think my doctor was poisoning me. Found the right combination now to see clearly but when you are waving in the wind it can be hard to see any path for your future.

[@DjPrespley]

Ive been diagnosed schizo affective under shady circumstance have been off meds for 2 months and nothing happened yet I feel more mentally balanced than I ever was not that I think stopping them changed much either. I may have been misdiagnosed

[@DjPrespley]

I drink 5+ coffees a day and smoke insane amounts of weed I should be in a psychosis or a mania right now

[@DjPrespley]

how stealthy can schizophrenia be? It's ironic commenting this on this video, because I do imply the diagnosis was a result of abuse

[@kareendeveraux1847]

This is commonly misdiagnosed, because for this diagnose you need one component of affective issue (like agitation) and schizophrenic (thought disorder). You can diagnose anybody with sza. Say bye bye to your human rights and get forced on drugs. ;)

[@user-xu5hy5bb3m]

Can you add English subtitles to your video? Because some people only know a little English

[@syleenadawn2038]

[@sarahshapegarbs5514]

Medication has alot of side effects you loose emotions you dont enjoy intimacy and hard to have relationships with loves ones

[@kurshay3101]

I don't like taking something that isn't good for my health and atm I believe medication is helpful but is a bandaid to which the long-term effects are.. we don't really know. So at the moment I'm not taking any 5 months now and I am functioning at work paying bills living life okay. But when it comes back, if it comes back I imagine I'll be debilitated in some way .. my doctor told me it's like a sand in marble if I don't take it , each time it will get worse .. idk what to believe , but Im thinking about seeing a new psychologist soon to be safe 💗 I'm sure he'll just tell me to go to therapy. Based off of my first Dr. But he is an older man and has so many patients. stay safe everyone

[@onwardsandupwards7397]

Your doctor is right. Every time you relapse, your health becomes worse. Believe it.

[@layotheleprechaun]

I recovered from a drug induced psychosis in 1 year without anti psychotic med$. My psychiatrist told me I would only be able to recover with med$ and it would take roughly 3 years. The lesson I learnt? Trust your intuition.

[@lundsweden]

What is your source?

[@momentslive1154]

lol i call bull. a drug induced psychotic episode is a thing.... and no I would think no medication would help but detox and a lot of luck that you get to come back from that.

[@silviamiller5332]

@@blairsterling6141 Im agree !There are others treatments

[@tysonmikel9222]

They had me on injection for 16 months or they were threatening to take my driver's license if I refused ... I've been off for 6months never plan to go back..they forced me.. now they want to do follow up appointments for 6 months to 1 year.. I wonder what Dr. Will ask at these appointments?

[@kareendeveraux1847]

Recovery is possible, even in case of drug induced psychosis. But that's not something shrinks and big pharma want to hear.

[@study_success212]

U r doing sach a good work

[@sumo8279]

After many years of my sister being prescribed the wrong meds, she finally found the right one. Just need to have blood drawn once a month. Clozapine has made her much more stable and grounded. My sweet sister did everything right in life and got diagnosed after college. It seemed she was going through over the top stress and has never been the same.

[@DopamineSchizo]

can you do another interview with other patient(s) with schizo affective or schizophrenia

[@peachywoozi4432]

One of my reasons is because the voices tell me its poison and that they're for mind control... other times I simply forget to take them. Its a long journey but I'll get there

[@rayturp6742]

My very first answer would have been the side effects. I hated how many of the meds made me feel like a zombie or just blah. My emotions were so flat.

[@justinhumphreys8407]

I've never missed an appointment or jab.

[@xmasgrump2398]

My daughter has schizophrenia and in shambles

[@jordannns2511]

Most importantly are u doing ok

[@infinitelyconciousness]

I read somewhere in the internet that one of the side-effects of antipsychotics is 10 - 15 years less of life... But the main-reason why i stop medication is the thing that i sometimes think im healthy and the schizophrenia was just in my head. So i stop taking medication... but the voices come back after some weeks. But i really dont like the medication. Makes me tired. And so on and so on... AAAH! And In my research i saw that the most people that get recovered from schizophrenia stopped the medication. Also I noticed that the so-called voices arent imaginaire but spoken or thought thoughts by others.

[@clairesundman10]

I love your videos thank you so much

[@joshuaharrington3951]

Very informative info

[@jcarr200481]

Thanks!

[@wasblindbutnowsee]

I received " Treatment " for schizophrenia from the Veterans Administration for more than 40 years and then healed miraculously in 2017 when someone prayed for me. I took every antipsychotic available. If you want to know why anyone would stop taking these drugs, YOU take some of these drugs, and then I guarantee your question will be, " WHY WOULD ANYONE TAKE THESE DRUGS?" Have you heard of people selling the medications the government gives them? No one has ever sold any antipsychotic drug to anyone, because no one in their right mind will take them.

[@danielhilderbrand7393]

What do you think about people who don’t want to be medicated and want to handle it in different ways?

[@danielhilderbrand7393]

Treat it

[@justinhumphreys8407]

Listen to your heart and conscience. Not doctor

[@Doroshi7]

I went off my medication because I did not like my care team and my psychiatrist told me that I was stubborn (which I think was bullshit because why would you call your patient stubborn?) and my counselor didn’t see me very often, I think once I didn’t see them for 1 month and lost trust in them.

[@dmgsoultogetherness6667]

🥰🥰🥰🥰🥰loving the hair x

[@elmalee4262]

I have stopped taking medication in the past because I believed it blurred my sense of reality. Like, if hallucinations are what I have when I'm "clean", then that's the way reality really is, right? Like what the universe naturally wants me to be like. I felt like medications put a blanket on my brain, not allowing me to see what is really true. I also mistrusted my doctors and psychiatrists, so I secretly stopped taking them, and went straight into psychosis again. Nowadays, I have a loving husband who reminds me to take my meds regularly, and he helps me believe that I'm better off taking them. I have gained 30kg because of it, but mentally I feel much better than before now.

[@marlenebtagelman2451]

Very good info.

[@saysoco]

Love your outfit 😍. You're so stylish! 🌈❤️🤗

[@user-lq5ir2oy7r]

For me because it has alot of side effects. The main side effect is shaking.

[@markreamer5113]

At first, I, of course didn’t understand whether or not I had schizo-affective disorder. I learned, before ever taking meds, that psychiatric meds were a bad thing, but it wasn’t as if I had an alternative! It took me very long to see for myself the necessity of meds in order to embrace the idea that maybe I don’t agree with the modality of drug therapy, but she” the doctor” was and is part of a larger collective of doctors compassion and wisdom. They are here to help in their own way and who am I to argue with them and at the end of the day it doesn’t make sense anymore to fight and or argue with them!! The side effects suck, but there are a lot of things that suck and we do get by, and situations do change the hopefully help us see a better state of health and work into that!

[@MrsbVSG]

I think the reason I've gone off meds in the past was because I'd get to a place where I either thought it wasn't working anyway or the opposite where I think it cured me and I don't need it anymore.

[@Rhanyra]

My sister is off hers right now and the ramifications of it are completely devastating. Her own 12 year old daughter is terrified of her.

[@astrid5522]

I don't want to draw attention away from your brilliance but YOUR HAIR IS RAD:)

[@charleshall9629]

More often than not the reason they go off the medications is because they can still hear the biofeed loop.

[@charleshall9629]

If the ATP synthase is allowing more protons through the modulation or the macrophage and cell is disturbed. More or less energy to the cell.Does not really matter about the electron transport chain. Anyway.

[@smallnapoleon3594]

What

[@charleshall9629]

@@smallnapoleon3594 cytokine is what causes schizophrenia.

[@charleshall9629]

@@smallnapoleon3594 Also their is no medication that can properly modulate the flow of cytokine. That has to do with the macrophages in our cells. See there are elevated levels of cytokine in the cerebral fluid. The pressure from that is what causes modulation of sounds in the brain. Its just like in the macrophages with the electron transport chain. The electrons transport is what guarantees protons to work themselves out of the matrix and outside. Then the same electrons force protons back in through atp synthesis. That is basically what keeps you alive. Without the molecules of hydrogen and oxygen. This process could never occur. Oh but I am sure there is nothing to worry about. Most psych patients have been mislead for decades. Made to believe they are the problem and not the illness they have. Which there is no cure for. We are just programmed through what enters are cell. This in turn creates cytokine that then gets transfered to cerebral fluid to try to protect the brain. This is what causes the same thing as what was experience with Havana Syndrome but who am I? I did not stay in a holiday express last night.

[@hayleyprice8345]

Yeah all of them

[@johnarmlovesguam]

There is a lot of that going around among the general population.

[@arctic_desert]

One of my delusions is people wanting to poison me or trick me so I've stopped multiple times thinking my doctor was sneaking something into me

[@nibussss]

One is u realize u been screwed and throw pills off.....gotta wait it out brook..

[@paulakempe3670]

The times I think I should stop taking my medication are when I'm going through a bad patch and having symptoms from schizoaffective Disorder so I think it's not working. OR when I'm going through an easy patch, and think I'm fine and don't even need medication.

[@13elad49]

Cost, especially in America.

[@benjaminsolomon3807]

Am taking risperidone and it giving me lower testosterone meaning less muscle when am lifting also I don't feel a lot of vibes toward females,when I purposely don't take the meds I feel the vibes around females

[@tysonmikel9222]

Stay off brother and praise TMH don't look back

[@avelution7133]

What medication do u take for schizophrenia or bipolar?

[@WWS322]

I wanted to go to the hospital recently but got better. I believe I have dissociative identity disorder along with schizo affective but because he's never taken over while sober my pdoc doesn't agree. Lately, he's become so unacceptable he was pushed into the subconscious darkside. I am medicine compliant.

[@ashleypavia4234]

Please do a video on how you manage life with kids.

[@livingwellwithbipolardisor3173]

Hopefully as my channel grows we could collaborate. I think it would be fun. I have bipolar disorder with periods of psychosis.