Earlier in the year I had an episode of psychosis.

I was seeing and hearing things, I believed there were people trying to kill me, that I was meant to be dead. I thought magpies were out to conspire against me and Id hide in my house with the curtains closed and often hiding behind furniture. I would feel spiders crawl all over my skin and in my ears and Id feel someone tapping on my shoulder.

I ended up in hospital for a couple months before I evened out enough to go back home.

Im very fortunate to be on a medication that has helped a lot. I now only occasionally hear things. Im on Olanzapine.

My care coordinator tells me Im feeling better because Im on the medication rather than Im feeling better so time to stop the meds. She says I need to stay on them for about a year, but Im so scared of coming off them again. What if I relapse? Im scared about the symptoms catching up with me as I decrease my meds.

Im having to redo my final year of uni because I had to suspend my studies due to the psychosis.

as Ive only had one episode theyve diagnosed me with first episode psychosis. I read paranoid schizophrenia on my hospital notes, but they didnt diagnose me, I think you might need to have several episodes before that diagnosis.

Has anyone else been through something similar? Id be interested in hearing how a decrease in medication went for you.

-RJ