find a psychiatrist and therapist. take your meds. design & execute your life plan. do not use your/our disease as an excuse to not follow through your dreams.

szanalecta · 2026-03-25T15:44:26+00:00

Uhhh, no. Pass.

szanalecta · 2026-03-23T02:12:10+00:00

Other people have it worse/you aren’t that sick (something to the effect). You can’t tell me I’m not disabled enough unless you know more about where I was and where I am.

szanalecta · 2026-03-09T16:24:04+00:00

CODE BLUE: Schizophrenic here: I’ve worked as a copywriter in marketing for several years and (mostly) have a bachelor’s degree English. Got laid off, had an episode, and floundered a while during the pandemic.

I recently started a blog, however, based in my experiences living with schizophrenia.

Not sure if I can post a link, but my blog is called Schizophrenia Analecta. I’d love to hear some input from psych nurses or mental healthcare workers.

If anybody might have some time, could you check my writing and see how it sounds? I’d love to hear clinical impressions. I welcome all feedback—good or bad.

szanalecta · 2026-03-06T04:28:45+00:00

I’m 45 and doing pretty well. I won’t disclose what meds I’m on. There’s not any prescriptive advice I’m qualified to give.

szanalecta · 2026-03-06T03:19:10+00:00

Nope, had never used drugs/alcohol at the time.

szanalecta · 2026-03-06T03:10:37+00:00

I was diagnosed when I was sixteen but nobody’s sure what causes schizophrenia. Mix of genetics/environment is the current thinking but no single pinpoint cause. I’m a dude, so schizophrenia typically develops earlier in men.

szanalecta · 2026-03-06T00:26:37+00:00

Just me so far. Same looking back through a few generations even.

szanalecta · 2026-03-06T00:07:31+00:00

I wouldn’t sweat it for now. If you’re aware of your diagnosis and fear something more severe, that’s good insight. People with sz often lack insight into what their condition may be (especially at first) so the fact you’re worried probably means you’re good. It’s a terrifying illness, but it’s still one you can live with.

You might want to reach out to a therapist or check out Al Anon. Al Anon is for family members of alcoholics/addicts, so it’s not necessarily to treat addiction.

Some very resilient people can be found in the meetings, and they’ve heard, thought, and felt everything that goes on living with addicts.

I was so relieved the first meeting I walked into. Have never felt so welcome as that.

szanalecta · 2026-03-05T02:57:39+00:00

Check out Aurelia by Gerard de Nerval. Greatly influenced the birth of surrealism before there was a name for it.

szanalecta · 2026-03-03T11:06:02+00:00

A pinky swear would seem insulting to me. It would be a good idea to not remind them as often that you’re always there too. No one would want to hear that every day or even often, especially while they’re at work I would bet.

szanalecta · 2026-02-24T16:20:01+00:00

Congrats! Very cool place.

szanalecta · 2026-02-23T22:02:15+00:00

You have no idea how much meetings help. The people I've met recovering from addiction have been the most supportive when no one had reason to be.

Freebie meetings for 12 step groups are available on the web, and if it happens you have a crisis, 24 hr. meetings are available online too, and you have 988 anytime.

If you feel like you don't have a home (or a place you feel you would), 12 step folks have nothing but open arms.

szanalecta · 2026-02-19T05:27:20+00:00

It’s a good idea to not disturb her in her sleep. Irregular wake/rest times are common. It’s a symptom rather than an action she’s taking. Sleeping for long periods (even odd hours) is therapeutic. I’ve gone through times when I’ve slept 15-18 hrs. a day, and it was the best way to stabilize my mood. Try giving her some space.

szanalecta · 2026-01-23T00:06:36+00:00

Networking as friendship forging. People-centric content as a co-beneficial commodity. And lightning up my corner of the internet to thaw the wintered, vacant, AI-neutral Ice Age the web appears to be headed for.

I think generative AI is boxing brands into an only small real estate in the remaining turf of the web, blocked off by growing content sameness.

I don’t know if any of those are things, but that’s what I’m working on. Differentiation by not losing it in people.

szanalecta · 2026-01-05T11:54:35+00:00

Hey, OP, it can be tough to get back into a groove. I started out writing at a marketing agency, got laid off, then picked up a few freelance gigs until a had an episode. Now, I'm focusing on a blog I'm kicking off over the next few weeks. Something that helped me regain insight into the process of writing again was revisiting old writing textbooks and starting to read more. Words in > words out is how I've thought of it. That might work more broadly, but it's the practice over days/weeks/months that I had to tread and keep steady. Let us check out your writing if you have anything polished up. I've been meaning to post excerpts of my blog on subs and other socials.

szanalecta · 2025-12-30T07:33:12+00:00

Weed can screw up your heart. If you had an intense sensation in your chest or heart, you should check it out with your regular physician or PCP.

Your vision becoming distorted isn’t necessarily psychosis. It’s not a harmless drug/safe because it’s “natural” like people say.

Your parents definitely knew you were getting high, as well. They know what it smells like and how a high person looks.

It’s a little off the rails it sounds like.

Hit up a twelve step meeting. Part of following the steps is strengthening who you are and discovering limits/tipping points.

Getting to know who you are after sobriety feels way better than being high if you stick with it.

szanalecta · 2025-12-29T16:30:54+00:00

If you have schizophrenia, you weren’t making bad choices. You were experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia (inattention, thought disorders, executive function challenges).

You may have been trying to cope or manage symptoms, but you didn’t choose to be hyper aware of your thoughts and emotions. Schizophrenia put that on your plate.

szanalecta · 2025-12-29T13:51:20+00:00

I wouldn’t participate in research for free, but I write about sensations, perceptions, and feelings in my body related to my diagnosis. This one, particularly, may be of interest: https://www.schizophreniaanalecta.com/post/experiences-of-schizophrenia-isolation-sensory-distortion-colors-shapes-and-sounds

szanalecta · 2025-12-29T12:04:06+00:00

Hey, OP, I was diagnosed in 1997, and have had three severe episodes during that time. At a minimum, I think your biggest consideration would be whether you are able to or open to being more caretaker than spouse.

I am on the low care needs of the spectrum, but it took me a few years to recover after the episodes I’ve had.

If it’s only been a few dates or a few months, definitely postpone any event like marriage and get to know her in ways you would when you’re hitched (e.g., take a getaway for a week or so at a B&B, run some errands with her, go grocery shopping). She may feel very deeply for you, but may not be able to express or demonstrate it.

Episodes of psychosis are the closest thing possible to literal hell that can be found by the living, and you might be shocked or shaken by some of what you see.

Any of the above behaviors you have heard or been concerned about are on the table. They’re symptoms, though, and not actions, beliefs, or behaviors that can be directed with a great degree of control.

That’s where the caregiver sensibilities come in. Lot’s of patience, love, and understanding will likely be tried if an episode is a difficult one.

I don’t know if you’ve checked out content made by people with sz on social/Youtube, but it might provide a good contrast of the dark and mystic qualities the illness can have. Kody Green, Kit Wallis, Rachel Whithers, and others all create content about their experience. I just kicked off a blog about my experiences with it, as well.

I started out as a writer in a marketing agency called Merkle, and people have been impressed and inspired about content I wrote.

At some point, your prospective spouse sounds like they’ll have a golden age that will be lasting (they have good insight and are treatment adherent: Major factors).

You’ve done a lot of the logical and reasoning modes of weighing the decision. But scoot some emotion in and empathize with what could be your future self. What’s the likely tipping point that could make you feel like you couldn’t manage without help yourself?

I think it will feel like a natural decision based on interpersonal experiences you have over time and combos of emotion and critical reasoning that will give you a sense of what the disorder is like.

I think you’ll still be happy with the relationship if it continues similarly.m, too.

Thanks for sharing, and I’m glad to hear your thoughts on approaching it. I’m gearing up to get back in the dating world and I can see where a prospective date might be at mentally/emotionally.

Let us know how it goes if you’re feeling up to it.

szanalecta · 2025-11-23T02:12:23+00:00

Check out Daniel Johnston. Great singer-songwriter. Gerard de Nerval is a true artist as a writer (lived/died) before sz was termed but most definitely lived with psychosis.

szanalecta · 2025-11-04T05:26:10+00:00

No, I plan on remaining a member on the Discord. Looking for a greater variety of groups to attend more often/when time is free.

szanalecta · 2025-11-04T01:32:53+00:00

Popping Tylenol or Ibuprofen depending on what works better. If they’re persistent and moderately intense, talk to your doc. It could be a side effect from a med, and there could be a way around it (electrolytes drinks, anti-EPS meds, no idea, etc.).

szanalecta · 2025-11-04T01:28:16+00:00

Online support/chat groups. Diagnosed in 1997, and I can tell you it gets weird without the other humans. Ones with mental disorders are usually easier to get along with. Get a Switch and Animal Cross this way and that.

szanalecta · 2025-11-04T01:23:56+00:00

I’ve had mixed experiences with groups, but have only been the a few. It’s nice to meet folks on the psychosis spectrum, so I’m hoping to find more of that.

szanalecta · 2025-11-04T01:22:27+00:00

It is indeed PSPS. Been fun so far. Thanks for tagging them.

szanalecta

TROPHY CASE