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Medication or not?

StuContributor09 Oct 2016, 4:26 pm AEDT

Medication or not?

Hi I have been off my meds for about 10 months and everything was going great with my head and most importantly my family? So the thing was I have lost just over 10kg I was 70ish- my doc said it was ok ran a few tests etc he was surprised I hadn't been taking my medication as I take a high doses? Anyway I decided to start the meds again as I usually had a good appetite.
I started a lower dose with anew pill which has a antidepressant in it instead of taking my other antidepressant together? Starting to hear voices again which is concerning as I am schizophrenic?
I know it usually takes afew weeks to stabilise? But I don't want to lose myself again? The thing is it's the same med?
I have also had another child only 4 months old and I feel a little bit like a deja vu as I had the same thing happen with my other 3 children? I thinking to stop the meds? But it may be too late? Any suggestions?😢

6 replies

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In response to: Medication or not?

Unknown userMember09 Oct 2016, 4:38 pm AEDT

Re: Medication or not?

Hi Stu,

I'm sorry to hear that you are going through a tough time but unfortunately we discourage people from providing medical advice and we recommend you to seek advice from your treating doctor. This is to protect you and others from getting advice that could be harmful for your treatment and/or health.

How are you coping with it? Maybe other members will have some ideas how to get through this?

In response to: Medication or not?

QueenieSenior Contributor09 Oct 2016, 4:40 pm AEDT

Re: Medication or not?

Hi Stu, not everyone who hears voices is schizophrenic mate, although it is a common misconception and must be very concerning for you. Schizophrenia usually has disordered thinking and cognitive problems as well as delusions and hallucinations which form the basis of a diagnosis.

Sometimes it is possible with other mental health conditions to hear voices (such as depression and PTSD).

You say this occurred with the birth of your 4th child and it also occurred with your other children. Is it possible that there is a connection here? If you were female, I'd be getting checked out for post natal depression. But Stu sounds like you are male (am I right in this assumption?).

In any case, if you're concerned about your mental health state, speak to your GP about a referral to a psychiatrist and take care of you 🙂

In response to: Re: Medication or not?

AppleblossomSenior Contributor09 Oct 2016, 5:38 pm AEDT

Re: Medication or not?

I agree with @Queenie and @Former-Member

While you are working things out with health professionals .. what is BEST for YOU and BABY... dont get overly frightened about voices and madness and human biochemistry.

I did want to say that I totally understand the desire to have majority of your pregnancy and early lactation (if you are feeding) without meds. The juries appear to still be out re effects on child in utero and through breast milk.

Maybe look at website called Intervoce .. they have various approaches to the hearing of voices .. that may reduce your fear and give strategies.

I come from a family where shizophrenia was diagnosed a lot .. but maybe it isnt all quite what it seems.... scientific and social advances being what they are ... you may have more options.

I believe in psychotherapeutic methods and meds only when combined with them.

I took on care of a 6 wk baby who had exposure to high dosages of antipsychotics as biological mother had an episode and was hospitalised but didnt know she was heavily pregnant ..

There is more than way to get to Rome.

Take care of you and bub and the rest ...

In response to: Medication or not?

StuContributor09 Oct 2016, 5:57 pm AEDT

Re: Medication or not?

Thank you for your comments, I was diagnosed with schizophrenia at a late age of 27 and have been living with it for over 18 years now? On and off through good and the bad times? Having a supportive partner who has seen it all? She's my rock💖 Keeps me grounded these last 11 years .
10 months without any meds or any sign of voices? I work with primary and secondary children, have done for 20 years now? Yep sort of stressful but I love it with a passion? Although teenage kids today certainly ain't what they used to be? That's for sure.
I feel like I'm slipping into the wave and that scares me the most? I don't want to be that person who hurt myself again like before- and as the voices get worse so does the damage to myself. Never others. I try to deal with it myself and I withdraw usually. Just hard and tired of this journey? Have redirected pain probably due to anther hernia that pop up on Friday the week before last when I visited the doc and started my meds again.could be just stress causing a relaps? As I have many times on my journey to here. I haven't told anyone that it's starting again?

In response to: Re: Medication or not?

AppleblossomSenior Contributor10 Oct 2016, 4:21 pm AEDT

Re: Medication or not?

My journey as been a tough journey too ... but we are the ones that do need to keep going. maybe try and do some work on the voices ... there are some movements on the net .. eg Intervoice.... and not only see the voices as a full symtom .. but a warning sign needing attention but not obedience .. if they are negative.

I love the way you use question marks .. it is a sign that you accept uncertainties in life .. of which there are many.

In response to: Medication or not?

StuContributor10 Oct 2016, 9:03 pm AEDT

Re: Medication or not?

Thank you for kind words and yes I do use headspace and other self monitoring techniques and am fluent in meditation? I was a 1st Dan black belt at 11 years of age- the art of fighting without fighting so to speak. I struggle with my parents as they thought it was funny that I am the way I am? My brothers took the piss out of me and they just laughed about it- they say hearing voices is normal and there's nothing wrong with me? I left home at 14 because I wasn't like them. It makes me sad but I have my own family now and they taught me not what to be like? I've always hated bullies! But it made me who I am today and wouldn't trade that for anything in the world? I just hate hearing his voice in my head when I get like this- others too but I'm ok with it and I will keep being me? Children are the best things on the planet not corrupted by society or parents yet but at least I see it in there eyes each day at home and work 😀 I found that if I converse with the voices (shrink advise) they seem to subside but sometimes it can last months and usually I'm so doped up on meds I miss what's going on right in front of me/ I miss those special moments? I'll be ok it just takes a little time you know but thank you again? I get more outa talking here than any other place in the system! Be kind to your mind I try to be and love ❤️ will guide you- I try so hard to be? Doesn't always work but the philosophy is sound enough 💖 Love and light to you☀️There is beauty in the world sometimes it's hard to see but it's there usually right in front of us?

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