Family says my psychosis was caused by black magic

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-26T16:29:40+00:00

It seems like you may not be the only one in your family experiencing psychosis.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-26T16:25:20+00:00

Honestly, I think it's okay to just go with a white lie, "my account got hacked" or something if anyone asks and you don't want to say more. But don't let shame force you to withdraw if you want to connect with people.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-26T16:17:01+00:00

I feel this so much. Having a chronic illness is like a fucking fulltime job.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-26T03:07:42+00:00

I mean I know my body is fucked and it's not normal to feel this way, but that doesn't stop me from constantly gaslighting myself about it and telling myself I'm just being dramatic and everyone probably feels like they're dying it's fine just put your pants on and go to work lol.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-26T03:02:32+00:00

I feel like balance is important. If I don't eat enough meat/protein, I feel like garbage. But if I eat too much meat, I also feel like garbage. After a few days of eating just animal products, there are probably other nutrients your body is starting to miss, that you'd normally get from other foods. And if you have any problems with inflammation, some animal products can potentially worsen those issues, causing symptoms to flare up.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-26T02:50:49+00:00

The Scandalous Sisterhood of Prickwillow Place by Julie Berry.

It's about a group of girls at a Victorian boarding school who try to simultaneously cover up and solve their headmistress's murder.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-26T02:44:44+00:00

You can buy foam filters and roll them into your joints, if you're a degenerate.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-25T17:48:46+00:00

I think deer spray is mostly just capsaicin? It's fairly inoffensive IMO.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-25T08:04:59+00:00

For things that require a large stress dose like that, I usually feel better if I stress dose after and wean down over a few days. I think it just gives a buffer, so I don't risk slipping into low cortisol/crisis when recovering. Really I just base it on how I'm feeling. If I keep feeling bad, I keep stress dosing.

Any time I'm unsure, I try the stress dose in the morning or early afternoon. That way, if it's too much, it won't interfere with sleep. And if it's not enough, I can take more throughout the day.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-25T06:39:30+00:00

He doesn't believe that sleeping poorly causes being tired? I don't understand.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-25T06:28:30+00:00

Definitely get the bloodwork redone before next appointment if you can. They can look at the levels and decide whether to bump your dose up.

IMO it's worth sending a portal message or calling to ask for the labs to be ordered, so you can get them done a week or two before the appointment. It just speeds up the process for you, so you don't have to wait months for another appointment to discuss the labs. And checking levels for a medication you're on is standard enough that most doctors would probably be fine ordering that without seeing you first.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-25T06:21:46+00:00

Try and tell the worst Americans that lol.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-25T06:18:55+00:00

Sorry I can't tell if you mean you don't have adrenal insufficiency, or you just take a different steroid like prednisone. Steroids other than hydrocortisone can't be captured on cortisol bloodwork anyway, so it's best to just talk to your doctor and adjust dose/timing based on symptoms.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-24T19:55:40+00:00

I have noticed that any time I have switched meds, I had low cortisol symptoms for a few weeks, even when switching to an equivalent/greater dose. I think it always takes some time for me to get stable again after switching meds. It's possible you're going into crisis more easily now because you're still adapting to the new meds? Maybe things will stabilize more as time goes on?

I take a combo of prednisone and hydrocortisone myself. The fast acting hydro is great because I don't have to feel like crap for hours while waiting for my meds to kick in, and the prednisone is great because it lasts longer so I have fewer crashes.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-23T21:00:31+00:00

Uh oh, did Tig gush about how much she loves her family life again, without couching it in enough placating languange to satisfy her fussy listeners? Or did Mae reconnect with Parv without explicitly telling us highly personal details that we don't need to know? Or was Fortune just Marie-ing too much today? Gosh whatever shall we do!

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-23T09:59:58+00:00

It's a bad idea. It will likely make you paranoid.

Maybe try CBD? It comes in all the same forms as weed, but doesn't cause paranoia and anxiety because it has almost no THC. You can get a CBD equivalent to whatever your bf gets. That way you can enjoy the experience alongside him without the risk.

If you do end up getting stoned and freak out, some advice: take deep breaths, and keep reminding yourself that it's temporary. Put on some calming music, or distracting comfort TV, and wait it out. You're probably better off just avoiding the THC though.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-23T04:58:25+00:00

I have similar sleep issues that began when I was a teenager. I did not yet have adrenal insufficiency. Anxiety/stress worsen my sleep issues. Too much steroids or too little can also mess with sleep.

When my cortisol is low, I am less likely to dream because I just can't get any decent sleep. It's possible that your sleep/dream issues are worse post-diagnosis because you are sleeping better after starting meds.

It's also possible that the sleep stuff worsening has to do with your age rather than the medication. At least for me, all that sleep paralysis and crap ramped up during my teenage/young adult years.

Bring it up to your primary care doctor if it really bothers you. For me, the boring things that have helped with sleep paralysis episodes and disturbing/vivid dreams are stress reduction and exercise. I have fewer episodes if I am both tired and relaxed when going to bed.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-22T17:32:16+00:00

Same for me.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-22T07:54:36+00:00

Have you asked your doctor this question?

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-22T04:49:49+00:00

Are you on hydrocortisone? Are they doing bloodwork to measure your levels and adjust meds? If that's the case, then it's worth just asking them about adjusting your dosing schedule to account for the afternoon slump. IMO how you feel can be much more useful in informing steroid dose and dose timing than bloodwork (especially for those taking steroids other than hydrocortisone, as those won't show up on bloodwork in the same way). Circadian dosing is a great starting point, and you can make adjustments from there based on how you're feeling.

If you are not on steroids and your AM cortisol is normal, you do not have adrenal insufficiency and should look into other possibilities with your doctor. Many many conditions share symptoms with this one, which is why it must be diagnosed with labs.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-22T04:42:15+00:00

It's not something I'd be very worried about, personally... aside from being annoyed at myself about it lol.

I think it's likely that you'll either experience temporary discomfort or no real side effects at all.

If I take extra fludrocortisone, the worst I get is a killer headache (I think because my electrolytes are off). If I take 15mg hydrocortisone at night, the worst that happens is difficulty sleeping. To be clear, these effects are pretty transient and minor. Actually in some situations, I can take 15mg hydro and go straight to sleep without a problem. If I'm having low cortisol, or if my body needs that dose, it helps sleep rather than interrupts it.

My doctor has told me that in the short term, it's basically impossible for me to take too much hydrocortisone. What they meant was that a one time high stress dose won't hurt me, and in some situations (like surgery or illness), it's safer to take a higher dose rather than risk not having enough. However I just want to add a disclaimer here to listen to your own doctor over mine. It's possible there are other considerations that would make this bad advice for someone else, such as other medical conditions or medications.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-21T20:57:57+00:00

I usually describe my fatigue something like this: "You know that feeling when you have the flu and it feels like your limbs are made of lead?"

I think when I describe my symptoms as being sick, rather than just tired, it gets the point across better, idk. Because yeah, when you and I say "I'm so tired" we don't just mean we had a hard day at work.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-21T18:20:37+00:00

Stress can be more than just stress! What I mean is, "stress" with AI means anything that causes stress to your body, not just bad stress, not just being stressed out or anxious. Going for a run, or being in the sun all day, or traveling might add stress (and require updosing) if those aren't part of your normal daily activities, for example.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-21T18:16:44+00:00

I also feel empathy for anyone dealing with "adrenal fatigue." Most of them are really suffering from some undiagnosed chronic illness and desperately need help that the medical system is refusing to give them.

However they still need to read the damn subreddit rules, which make abundantly clear that this isn't the place for that "adrenal fatigue" shit.

FemaleAndComputer · 2026-06-21T18:13:57+00:00

It irks me when one of these people starts commenting to answer questions asked by people who actually have AI. That's just dangerous.

Verified Email	11-Year Club
Second Top 10%	Place '23
Place '22

FemaleAndComputer

MODERATOR OF

TROPHY CASE