[grandmaof3]

Hi. After years of having bipolar 1 with psychotic features I started hearing voices, seeing things that weren't real, feeling things touching me that weren't there. My friends and family have noticed that my thought patterns were beginning to be different from normal and that I have been somewhat paranoid. I went to my psychiatrist 10 days ago because my husband urged me too because I had mowed the lawn at 0400 because I was afraid the neighbors would see me if I did it in daytime and because I was seeing my father who has been dead for 30 years. After telling my psychiatrist all these things he suggested I check in to the psych ward for some med adjustments. I respectfully declined because I didn't think I was crazy. He very politely told me I had no choice and the next thing I knew he had a TDO and 2 sheriffs deputies were kind enough to escort me to the psych ward in handcuffs which I found very traumatic. I was so uncooperative when I got there I had to be sedated. After 2 or 3 days I resigned myself to cooperate so I could go home. The psychiatrist at the psych ward diagnosed me with schizophrenia. He said that doesn't mean that Im not bipolar also. He says he suspects I had very mild schizophrenia all along but its now gotten worse. He put me on a med called Fanapt which I had never heard of before. He told me to continue taking all the meds Ive been taking for bipolar disorder. I started thinking more clearly a few days ago and they finally let me go home today. SO my questions for you are 1. How to you stay in touch with reality on a daily basis without people knowing anything is wrong with you ? 2. Has anyone had any experience with Fanapt ? Good or bad?

Originally Posted by grandmaof3

Hi. After years of having bipolar 1 with psychotic features I started hearing voices, seeing things that weren't real, feeling things touching me that weren't there. My friends and family have noticed that my thought patterns were beginning to be different from normal and that I have been somewhat paranoid. I went to my psychiatrist 10 days ago because my husband urged me too because I had mowed the lawn at 0400 because I was afraid the neighbors would see me if I did it in daytime and because I was seeing my father who has been dead for 30 years. After telling my psychiatrist all these things he suggested I check in to the psych ward for some med adjustments. I respectfully declined because I didn't think I was crazy. He very politely told me I had no choice and the next thing I knew he had a TDO and 2 sheriffs deputies were kind enough to escort me to the psych ward in handcuffs which I found very traumatic. I was so uncooperative when I got there I had to be sedated. After 2 or 3 days I resigned myself to cooperate so I could go home. The psychiatrist at the psych ward diagnosed me with schizophrenia. He said that doesn't mean that Im not bipolar also. He says he suspects I had very mild schizophrenia all along but its now gotten worse. He put me on a med called Fanapt which I had never heard of before. He told me to continue taking all the meds Ive been taking for bipolar disorder. I started thinking more clearly a few days ago and they finally let me go home today. SO my questions for you are 1. How to you stay in touch with reality on a daily basis without people knowing anything is wrong with you ? 2. Has anyone had any experience with Fanapt ? Good or bad?

Try and communicate where and when you can. Know whats going on in the world. The radio and tv are good reference points. Note that in severe psychosis people complain that the radio and tv are talking specifically to them. If this is happening try to get over it. And do stuff you enjoy.

Originally Posted by grandmaof3

Hi. After years of having bipolar 1 with psychotic features I started hearing voices, seeing things that weren't real, feeling things touching me that weren't there. My friends and family have noticed that my thought patterns were beginning to be different from normal and that I have been somewhat paranoid. I went to my psychiatrist 10 days ago because my husband urged me too because I had mowed the lawn at 0400 because I was afraid the neighbors would see me if I did it in daytime and because I was seeing my father who has been dead for 30 years. After telling my psychiatrist all these things he suggested I check in to the psych ward for some med adjustments. I respectfully declined because I didn't think I was crazy. He very politely told me I had no choice and the next thing I knew he had a TDO and 2 sheriffs deputies were kind enough to escort me to the psych ward in handcuffs which I found very traumatic. I was so uncooperative when I got there I had to be sedated. After 2 or 3 days I resigned myself to cooperate so I could go home. The psychiatrist at the psych ward diagnosed me with schizophrenia. He said that doesn't mean that Im not bipolar also. He says he suspects I had very mild schizophrenia all along but its now gotten worse. He put me on a med called Fanapt which I had never heard of before. He told me to continue taking all the meds Ive been taking for bipolar disorder. I started thinking more clearly a few days ago and they finally let me go home today. SO my questions for you are 1. How to you stay in touch with reality on a daily basis without people knowing anything is wrong with you ? 2. Has anyone had any experience with Fanapt ? Good or bad?

As far as i know fanapt has medium efficacy in terms of antipsychotic effect. Dont let that put you off though , im on seroquel again a drug with medium efficacy but the side effects are tolerable so i can take a therapeutic dose. So i wish it was better but am thankful for it. But looking at your regimen you have enough psychoactive substances so all you may need is a small dose.

[krishnork]

That's a sad thing they had to take you in in handcuffs. I don't think that's fair treatment for people experiencing psychotic episodes. Part of the nature of a psychotic episode is that you believe the paranoia is real. I just don't think it's appropriate for people to use force to coerce anyone into a medical regimen.

How to stay in touch with reality on the daily? My best bet is to stay in touch with people who are close to you. Hopefully you have a good support network of friends and family. These people can be grounding wires. You pick up their philosophy and realize that your own ideas of what's real aren't grounded in the common shared reality. Don't isoloate too much. Stay in touch. I wouldn't personally recommend TV or radio, as they can be too intense for my tastes in a psychotic episode (everything is a message speaking directly to you). But do stay in touch, talk to people who care about you, and if you don't have that resource, sometimes it's good to just find someone on the street or at the coffee shop or bus stop and initiate a conversation about how people see the world. You'll pick up other ideas and remember that your way of seeing isn't universal. This can be very grounding and a good reminder that some of what you're experiencing may in fact be delusional.

Read a good absorbing book, do things that bring you some joy, whether it's writing, painting, singing, whatever. Stay in touch with that positive side, whatever else you do.

Originally Posted by krishnork

That's a sad thing they had to take you in in handcuffs. I don't think that's fair treatment for people experiencing psychotic episodes. Part of the nature of a psychotic episode is that you believe the paranoia is real. I just don't think it's appropriate for people to use force to coerce anyone into a medical regimen.

How to stay in touch with reality on the daily? My best bet is to stay in touch with people who are close to you. Hopefully you have a good support network of friends and family. These people can be grounding wires. You pick up their philosophy and realize that your own ideas of what's real aren't grounded in the common shared reality. Don't isoloate too much. Stay in touch. I wouldn't personally recommend TV or radio, as they can be too intense for my tastes in a psychotic episode (everything is a message speaking directly to you). But do stay in touch, talk to people who care about you, and if you don't have that resource, sometimes it's good to just find someone on the street or at the coffee shop or bus stop and initiate a conversation about how people see the world. You'll pick up other ideas and remember that your way of seeing isn't universal. This can be very grounding and a good reminder that some of what you're experiencing may in fact be delusional.

Read a good absorbing book, do things that bring you some joy, whether it's writing, painting, singing, whatever. Stay in touch with that positive side, whatever else you do.

All of this is not unreasonable. But the goal should not be to adopt other peoples point of view or lifestyle , it should be to foster ones own voice and opinions that are conducive to better functioning.

[krishnork]

Materly, agreed. What I'm getting at is the reminder that one's perspective isn't the only perspective. Which can be hard to understand in the middle of an episode. "consensus reality" being the key. However we see the world, there is this 3-dimensional space we all share, and each of us has our own idea of how to navigate it.

[Katieissweet]

There's nothing wrong ,psychiatrists are typically aetheist,left brained and rational with no familiarity or belief in the spiritual world so they dismiss and suppress it at once ,it's their hedge to deal with,if you weren't born in the west seeing your dead father would be cause for celebration even for your ancient ancestors it was normal occurrence ,being paranoid comes with the terrority the spiritual world isn't only kind and easy,it's chaotic and scary with cruel spirits and tricksters as well as fascinating features.

I'm so sorry you had been handcuffed and locked up,the same thing happened to me and it pushed me into the same sort of powerless submission ,I equate it all with the witch hunts and hangings of the past,I'm sorry you went through it truly.

You should read What a Shaman Sees in A Mental Hospital | Earth. We are one.

Originally Posted by grandmaof3

Hi. After years of having bipolar 1 with psychotic features I started hearing voices, seeing things that weren't real, feeling things touching me that weren't there. My friends and family have noticed that my thought patterns were beginning to be different from normal and that I have been somewhat paranoid. I went to my psychiatrist 10 days ago because my husband urged me too because I had mowed the lawn at 0400 because I was afraid the neighbors would see me if I did it in daytime and because I was seeing my father who has been dead for 30 years. After telling my psychiatrist all these things he suggested I check in to the psych ward for some med adjustments. I respectfully declined because I didn't think I was crazy. He very politely told me I had no choice and the next thing I knew he had a TDO and 2 sheriffs deputies were kind enough to escort me to the psych ward in handcuffs which I found very traumatic. I was so uncooperative when I got there I had to be sedated. After 2 or 3 days I resigned myself to cooperate so I could go home. The psychiatrist at the psych ward diagnosed me with schizophrenia. He said that doesn't mean that Im not bipolar also. He says he suspects I had very mild schizophrenia all along but its now gotten worse. He put me on a med called Fanapt which I had never heard of before. He told me to continue taking all the meds Ive been taking for bipolar disorder. I started thinking more clearly a few days ago and they finally let me go home today. SO my questions for you are 1. How to you stay in touch with reality on a daily basis without people knowing anything is wrong with you ? 2. Has anyone had any experience with Fanapt ? Good or bad?