Roll Call Twelve

Hi everyone! We had to start a new roll call since we are so talkative haha

How is everyone doing today? I'm signing up for classes for the spring semester atm

im trying to quit regular cigs and go back to ecigs. not too hard. but when i dont have ecigs around it easuier to get reg cigs. cheaper too

I am presently working on a gravimetric lab for my chemistry class.

What classes have you signed up for? I am taking microbiology, chemistry and biological psychology next semester.

I loved micro and chemistry, but my all time favourite class was anatomy and physiology.

I'm taking abnormal psychology and a math class next semester since they're easy classes. I generally get manic during the spring so I need to be easy on myself until I find better coping skills. Every year I'm getting better which is promising

forgive me
buut im surprised how anyone here is able to do work or school. either/or or anything when having a disorder like this. do u guys not have cognitive issues going on? or is it just psychosis stuff?

I took three anatomy and physiology classes when I was in community college and really enjoyed it. How our bodies work is fascinating.

My time management skills need a lot of work. They seem to improve with every passing semester. During my first year of university, I had to drop a few classes because the workload was heavy. I had such a hard time staying on top of my assignments and readings.

I don't ever take anymore than three classes per semester. It is all my body and mind can cope without adverse effects.

What academic skills have you learned to mitigate stress?

I do have cognitive issues at work and at school (I work and go to school). I hallucinate at work such as hearing music, seeing shadows, etc. but my crystals help me feel safe so I try not worry about it. Sometimes I word salad at work and when I do I just tell the cna that is taking over my shift that I'm tired from being up all night. I take online classes so I don't always have to be around people and my professors know I have schizoaffective and are very understanding. They allow me to pass in work late and I'm trying to get better about that since I probably can't do that when I'm in radiology. Psychosis is hard for me, but upping my risperidone helps me get out of it.

I've been wondering the exact same thing. My cognitive issues are bad to the point of preventing me from doing stuff like that, and of course the psychotic stuff too.

I just have psychosis issues. I do online schooling though and am not currently employed. When I was employed the stress of the environment was so much that I began suffering depression, self harm, an eating disorder, and eventually audio hallucinations and paranoid delusions.

I'm a bit worried how I will be when I return to work. Will I just fall apart again?

As soon as I'm notified about homework or a particular project I start to work on it as soon as possible, but little by little. I don't complete a homework assignment in one night unless I'm very fixated on it such as my pathology report. Also knowing limits helps a lot, such as not taking 5 classes at once like what my peers do. I generally stick to two or three a semester. Also my boyfriend helps with my English homework by rephrasing a question so I can understand it. I have difficulties with English since it's generally metaphorical, you must know such difficulties.

Also xanax helps a lot and several kinds of teas meant for easing tension. I am able to study better and do homework more efficiently if I am calm and not in a panicked state of mind.

Thanks for the advice.

Yes, I know those difficulties. They are the reason why I am not an English major. Metaphorical and verbose writing is like reading a foreign language. The life sciences are so much more concrete and easier to grasp.

I cannot learn and get work done when I feel panicked.

My anxiety seems to be my biggest impediment right now. Getting it under control will definitely help me feel more competent. My auditory processing difficulties and scatterbrain feeling (ADD) would definitely improve too. My medication helps with the anxiety and attention but it isn't perfect.

I drink a lot of orange spice tea when I study. It definitely has a calming effect.

You're welcome!

Yes I understand science based course very well and they are like second nature to me. I hold a lot of interest in science subjects which makes radiology a good choice to major in.

I find listening to music drowns out the music that I hear all the time which improves my focusing. I recommend listening to classical music since it's very calming or a particular genre you enjoy. Do you have good coping skills for your anxiety? If you do not want to increase your does in anti anxiety medication you could try natural ways to help your anxiety. I find that being timely and prepared for homework/reports decreases anxiety significantly and mediation helps too.

i was just wondering

i have ongoing psychosis and both cognitive and negative issues. mostly the first two.

i cant seem to see living day to day when i cant live hour to hour basically.

i have thought about school again but failed 5 years of school and my reality is that i just cant hold up school neither work with this disorder. which is why im on disability. and food stamps...

so i always wonder how some people with this disorder fare. i see more who cant than can tho. its good u can. both of u.

Sometimes I listen to classical music or longplayer when I work.

I get stuck on little details. A minor assignment can take long to complete because of that. Do you struggle with that too? I wish, I could overcome this common ASD limitation.

My coping skills are not very effective. My anxiety is ruling my life. I try to remain calm and relaxed but I always seem to feel very tense. A lot of it has to do with my overactive senses. The stimuli I take in is overwhelming. I don't think increasing my antidepressant won't help that. What I need is a way to deactivate my senses.

Keeping organized is an issue. I have been trying different things but without much success. What works for an ASD individual?

Assignments take very long for me too complete too. I have accommodations at my school to allow me more time than the average student for testing thankfully.

Do you take an anti anxiety med? If not maybe you should ask your pdoc for one. I too have overactive senses and I found the anti anxiety meds helped me cope with a lot of them. I don't mind being in a classroom now, but I need to sit all the way in the back to avoid people though and to have space. My overactive senses in social situations would give me panic attacks and it would be very obvious which increased the amount of anxiety I was facing. I haven't had a panic attack in school this semester which is a huge step for me

Schedules work best for ASD individuals. Getting into the habit of doing certain tasks will eventually become habitual to a individual. I carry a notepad and paper at all times to write everything and anything down that is important. I also set up a window of time during the night to do homework and to study. I take breaks frequently and I do a little bit at a time so I don't overwhelm myself.

I think everyone here is different and everyone learns to cope with their symptoms differently. Some can manage their symptoms long enough to do what they have to do at work. I don't think it's easy for any of us.

i cant imagine really
but forgive me

I'm wondering if the age of onset might have something to do with this stuff. I had an early onset like you did newtus, and I have a lot more cognitive problems. Maybe there's a connection there? I don't know, I'm just thinking out loud.

No worries Newtus

I know quite a few people with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. Some people struggle to even not be homeless and maintain someplace to live. Some people work full time, have families, etc, most people would never guess they have mental illness at all. And everything in between. It varies wildly. And where people are varies a lot in their lifetime. Some people live at many points on that spectrum across many years.
I hope you don't think you are "supposed" to be any particular way. You just live the way that's best for you.

Yes it's very very hard, but I have a lot of goals that I strive for which is why I think I can face so many things. I've never had a safe home in my entire life and I want a good job so badly so I can live in a clean safe environment. I know I have the power to do so, it's just harder for me than the average person.

Don't feel bad that you aren't able to work or go to school. I had to quit several jobs before due to manic episodes and I failed two whole years of college. All my friends have bachelor degrees and are in amazing schools while I'm still doing prereqs at a community college. Life can be hard, but if you remain positive it's a lot less harder

thanks.

i figured id be taken wrong
- as i cant understand most everyones life and i dont u nderstand anyones technically. so...i cant understand from my POV so much how u do what u do.

yea i have no job or school. i have no friends.

thank you for sharing that.

i couldnt remain positive if it tried to kill me.

@newtus - I don't see that you were taken wrong at all. (???) Maybe you are taking thr response wrong? Or maybe I am? (Confused)

@atypical - how are you, is it okay to ask? Are you doing any better?

i just figured i might be taken wrong. figured.

all i meant was i cant understand. its ok now.

Okay totally unrelated but I just saw the most enormous fat oppossum climbing up a skinny tree and bending it over!