Schizoaffective disorder/bi polar recovery story

G'day

I just wanted to share my experience with others to show there is hope for recovery no matter how bad your mental illness may be.

Around two years ago at 27 I started to experience anxiety and delusional thoughts. I was a high functioning offshore oil rig worker holding down a job offshore and running my own company when not offshore. I had only ever suffered from mild anxiety in the past.

My symptoms became worse after at a party I took two ecstasy tablets. I woke up the day after taking the ecstasy suffering psychosis and suffering auditory and visual hallucinations.

After seeing numerous doctors and psychiatrists I was diagnosed bi polar and schizoaffective depending on which doctor I spoke to.

My hallucinations began to diminish with the medications. However I started getting thoughts of violence towards my self and others. I could not escape these terrible thoughts no matter what I tried. They made me very uneasy and anxious. I couldn't feel joy at all and I put on 20 kg of weight from all the medication. I was suicidal and thought of ending my life often.

I spent time in two different psych hospitals trying to free my mind from these thoughts and voices.

I was put on anti depressants, mood stabilisers and two different anti psychotic medications.

It took me around 1.5 years to get my medication right and find a psychiatrist I trusted who got my dosage just right.

Now two years after this all started I can feel joy again. I can feel excitement. Voices and violent intrusive thoughts do not control my day. I consider myself recovered 80% better than what I was and still improving. I have now dramatically reduced my prescription medication.

I would like to share what I think may have helped with my recovery............

Time- I believe over time with the help of my medication my brain or chemical imbalance has balanced out.

Family/friends/girlfriend- having support from all these people has helped so much. Reach out to people close to you if you need help. If they don't understand call someone like lifeline. I called them a few times.

A psychiatrist- who you trust/ can connect with. I went through multiple different doctors before I found a doctor that could help me. Online many doctors have reviews nowadays.

Sunshine- it just makes me feel good 🙂

Dog or pets- having a 4 legged friend adds joy, a reason to go for a walk, and routine.

Orthomolecular medicine- after reading the book by dr abram hoffer called "Orthomolecular medicine in the treatment of schizophrenia" I started vitamin therapy for around three months. I felt marginally better, and I'm not sure if this helped cure me or not but I thought I should add it as it could have helped my recovery. I also added high doses of glycine to my vitamin regime. After 3 months taking all those supplements became too much and I couldn't take them any more due to nausea. I am no longer taking high doses of vitamins.

Fish oil- my physciatrist recommends it so do many studies on brain health.

Slowly getting back into routine- start working again part time if you can't handle full time.

Hope- things can get better no matter how stuck and low you may feel with your mental illness. There are professionals who can help you, there are millions of other people going through a mental illness.

Hope this helped someone:) I'm off to bed, working early tomorrow 😄