[LostMom3]

When my family thought I was just depressed, they were there to cheer me up. When they found out about the hallucinations, anxiety, social phobia and the other things associated with schizoaffective. They said there was no such disorder, that I was hearing ghosts, and that I just needed to learn to cope with stress.I am off all my meds except clonopin, because boyfriend says it keeps me to doped up. So, I have breakdowns a lot and have no one to turn to. Therapy didn't help, tried it for 3 years. Triied group therapy, but I don't like being in strange places with stange people asking me qurstions avout my life. How do you cope without some sort of support?

Hi there LostMom3 - welcome to PC

Support networks are very important and often times they make all the difference in terms of recovery rates. Im sorry your family haven't been very supportive - a lot of people here can relate to that so i hope you continue posting and consider us as a source of support, most of us will go out of our way to provide advice and comfort so im glad you've found PC As for coming off meds - i hope this was your decision, no one should come off meds because others don't like certain side affects - i would rather you be 'doped up' so to speak then experience severe breakdowns and feel very low. I would try and contact another therapist - one who has the expertise to treat your disorder and see if building a relationship with them is beneficial to your recovery. Most of the group therapy ive encountered focused more on learning skills and how to apply them so that the traits of our conditions are easier to deal with. We didn't go into details about our personal lives or agonise over feelings etc so maybe a disorder specific group would be more appropriate for you? The truth is most don't cope very well without some form of support, i would get into contact with someone who can reassess your current condition, suggest the right meds as well as dosage and set up a treatment programme that may involve group therapy or OT. All the best.

[dailyhealing]

My short answer would be that I couldn't cope without support... I can't allow people fully into my life if they do not accept me as I am. Of course I have acquaintances and other people who aren't overly supportive, including family members, but I choose to not have them as part of my support system.

It sounded like you were saying that you got off meds because your bf said that it made you too "doped up". This concerns me. If you need medication to function better, which it sounds like you do, then I don't think your bf is being very supportive of what is best for you. I don't know the whole story, so sorry if my perception of your writing is off.

For me I was extremely uncomfortable in group therapy, but I stuck with it because I thought it might help. Eventually I stuck it out long enough that it did start to help. I have found that I have had to push myself out of my comfort zone in order to work through some of my issues regarding depression, family, and other things.

Not sure any of this is helpful, but your post struck me so I thought I would put in my opinion. I hope you keep posting and that you start getting some support in your life.

[here today]

I'd been in and out of therapy for 40 years, had a breakdown 10 years ago, and wouldn't try more therapy because I had felt myself falling apart and therapists hadn't helped. Miraculously I remembered hearing about an emotional support peer group and I cannot possibly imagine how I could have managed without that. Maybe gone full-blown hopelessly insane. Even with the group I was seriously out of it for several years, contemplated suicide daily for 9 months one time. The group was my connection to life and some semblance of sanity/stability -- eventually one of the members recommended a specialist therapist who has been able to help with some dissociation/personality issues. Difficult stuff -- why minimally trained, generalist therapists think they're qualified to take that on is . . . well, awful and I hope they hurry up and realize that. But it might threaten their status and income? First things first. PC and similar internet groups are helpful, too. We're a social species -- that's just part of our biology.

Support groups and peer support are being pushed in Georgia for people with severe and persistent mental illnesses, just not the "walking wounded" with private insurance yet.

Advocate for yourself, if you can, and try to find something -- it will help us all, the more of us who can speak up and find what we need. Then maybe eventually some in "the system" will take notice, too.

[LostMom3]

Originally Posted by dailyhealing

My short answer would be that I couldn't cope without support... I can't allow people fully into my life if they do not accept me as I am. Of course I have acquaintances and other people who aren't overly supportive, including family members, but I choose to not have them as part of my support system.

It sounded like you were saying that you got off meds because your bf said that it made you too "doped up". This concerns me. If you need medication to function better, which it sounds like you do, then I don't think your bf is being very supportive of what is best for you. I don't know the whole story, so sorry if my perception of your writing is off.

For me I was extremely uncomfortable in group therapy, but I stuck with it because I thought it might help. Eventually I stuck it out long enough that it did start to help. I have found that I have had to push myself out of my comfort zone in order to work through some of my issues regarding depression, family, and other things.

Not sure any of this is helpful, but your post struck me so I thought I would put in my opinion. I hope you keep posting and that you start getting some support in your life.

You were right in thinking that I came off meds for my bf. I am planning on talking to PSod wenesday and see if he can lower dosages where I can take meds and still function. I have been looking for new therapist to try out hope doc can help with that also

[Krose]

Hi LostMom3,

I agree with all the posts. Please continue to find a therapist or a group that you connect with and that can help you. There are many out there that are good and some not so good. It is important to hang in there until you find that right mix.

Over the years, I watched my mom go off and on of her medication because my dad did not like her being on meds. I watched her yo yo with her depression and it was so difficult to see her that way when she was so much better on her meds. My dad is very controlling of my mom. Finally, he saw how much better she was on her meds and finally quit having her stop and she has been so much better.

By your name, I have to assume that perhaps you have children and if you are not on your medication, your actions may be unpredictable and that may be very distressing for your kids. Please consider staying on it until you can find the right type and kind of medicine.

Staying in touch with PC is certainly helpful. There is a lot of support and wisdom shared by many.