[Crazygrl882]

Hi, I've written on here before but I'm writing again as I'm still having problems with really believing reality I think. I quit my job and now am not working and I moved so now I live alone. I thought this would help a lot and though it helps to not have to be around people all the time who I think are reading my thoughts I joined a dating website and for every person I meet I feel like they become able to come into my body and see everything that I do. I also feel like they can hover around me and watch me all the time. Maybe I shouldn't have tried online dating. I also feel that my ex husband and friends and family are doing the same thing. I'm taking my medication and it helps with the panic attacks but I'm plagued with this feeling of being watched and it's pretty unbearable. I don't know what to do. I try to test reality like a psychologist told me to do and think is this really happening? But I come to the conclusion yes it is happening. My illness has really progressed over the years and I'm afraid of where it will be over the next few years if it's getting this bad. Any support will help. I can't talk to others I know about this because I'm afraid of what they'll think. I also believe other things like the TV sends me messages but those are ok just have to figure them out...

[Sometimes psychotic]

Just out of curiosity what meds are you taking and how much....maybe you could use an adjustment? I think it's super hard to fight delusions just with reality testing...there are often small things that make you believe it's true that aren't even rational to another person. Like I just knew everyone with sunglasses or their window rolled halfway was trying to recruit me into their organization.......there was no logic testing this. If it helps you can make a pie chart with all the logical and illogical reasons for why this is happening...I learned this in cbt. You put down all the possibilities and assign a percentage to them. It's not so much that you won't think there is a 75% or higher chance the delusion is true but that you'll find there is a 1-25% chance it's not true......

[Crazygrl882]

Hi, thanks, I'm on 6mg haldol and 400mg of seroquel. The haldol really calms me down, which I love. I used to always have to use clonazapam.. I feel better than before because I was barely functioning but I'm still having these problems which I suppose are still serious. I moved out of state so i no longer have a psychiatrist.

QUOTE=Sometimes psychotic;5697447]Just out of curiosity what meds are you taking and how much....maybe you could use an adjustment? I think it's super hard to fight delusions just with reality testing...there are often small things that make you believe it's true that aren't even rational to another person. Like I just knew everyone with sunglasses or their window rolled halfway was trying to recruit me into their organization.......there was no logic testing this. If it helps you can make a pie chart with all the logical and illogical reasons for why this is happening...I learned this in cbt. You put down all the possibilities and assign a percentage to them. It's not so much that you won't think there is a 75% or higher chance the delusion is true but that you'll find there is a 1-25% chance it's not true......[/QUOTE]

[Sometimes psychotic]

Don't quote me on this but I believe you can go up to 10mg on haldol ...have you ever tried a higher dose?

Seroquel/quetiapine isn't a very potent AP, so you may need to increase the haloperidol?? Do you have a GP who could sort out your meds whilst you find a pdoc?

It could be that the changes you've experienced eg not working and moving have worsened your symptoms. Reality testing can be hard to do on your own without help. Can you get a T or talk to a trusted friend/family member to help you reality test?

Otherwise I find regulating my emotions helpful so that things don't distress me so much. That would have the added benefit of relaxing you if stress is causing this exacerbation. Eg people watch me through mirrors and cameras all the time. It used to really upset me and creep me out. But then I accepted that it was happening and used distraction techniques/relaxation techniques etc whenever I thought about it and started to get upset, and now it just is something that happens and I rarely get upset about it. In an ideal world, I'd still rather it wasn't happening, but it was doing me no good getting so upset about it. Maybe that approach would help you too, especially as you're between pdocs right now?

All the best

*Willow*

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by WeepingWillow23

Seroquel/quetiapine isn't a very potent AP, so you may need to increase the haloperidol?? Do you have a GP who could sort out your meds whilst you find a pdoc?

It could be that the changes you've experienced eg not working and moving have worsened your symptoms. Reality testing can be hard to do on your own without help. Can you get a T or talk to a trusted friend/family member to help you reality test?

Otherwise I find regulating my emotions helpful so that things don't distress me so much. That would have the added benefit of relaxing you if stress is causing this exacerbation. Eg people watch me through mirrors and cameras all the time. It used to really upset me and creep me out. But then I accepted that it was happening and used distraction techniques/relaxation techniques etc whenever I thought about it and started to get upset, and now it just is something that happens and I rarely get upset about it. In an ideal world, I'd still rather it wasn't happening, but it was doing me no good getting so upset about it. Maybe that approach would help you too, especially as your between pdocs right now?

All the best

*Willow*

I agree that getting upset doesn't help....I had guys watching me (voices) when I had to pee...but I still had to pee so I just did and was eventually like whatever about the voices, they were no more special than any other time.

[ofthevalley]

I think you could benefit from a med change. I was taking 8 Mgs of haldol with 120 Mgs Latuda per day ( and earlier 20 Mgs zyprexa). I don't think 400 Mgs of seroquel is very much.

[Crazygrl882]

I was on higher seroquel but with the haldol and other meds (I have fibromyalgia) I was a complete zombie. So we went down on it. I can't take a lot of antipsychotics. I get that problem where you have the feeling you have to move and it's unbearable even with meds. So that's why the haldol. I could try going up. I'm not against it. Just need to find a doctor right now since I moved. Good advice on just accepting it as a given. That may help if I try doing that. May try that.

[JesusIsLove912]

Originally Posted by Crazygrl882

I was on higher seroquel but with the haldol and other meds (I have fibromyalgia) I was a complete zombie. So we went down on it. I can't take a lot of antipsychotics. I get that problem where you have the feeling you have to move and it's unbearable even with meds. So that's why the haldol. I could try going up. I'm not against it. Just need to find a doctor right now since I moved. Good advice on just accepting it as a given. That may help if I try doing that. May try that.

The feeling where you have to move. That sounds likw panic attack. Try deep breathing when it happens

[joshuas-mommy]

Originally Posted by JesusIsLove912

The feeling where you have to move. That sounds likw panic attack. Try deep breathing when it happens

No, it is akathsia. A very horrible side effect of Haldol.

[joshuas-mommy]

Originally Posted by Crazygrl882

Hi, thanks, I'm on 6mg haldol and 400mg of seroquel. The haldol really calms me down, which I love. I used to always have to use clonazapam.. I feel better than before because I was barely functioning but I'm still having these problems which I suppose are still serious. I moved out of state so i no longer have a psychiatrist.

QUOTE=Sometimes psychotic;5697447]Just out of curiosity what meds are you taking and how much....maybe you could use an adjustment? I think it's super hard to fight delusions just with reality testing...there are often small things that make you believe it's true that aren't even rational to another person. Like I just knew everyone with sunglasses or their window rolled halfway was trying to recruit me into their organization.......there was no logic testing this. If it helps you can make a pie chart with all the logical and illogical reasons for why this is happening...I learned this in cbt. You put down all the possibilities and assign a percentage to them. It's not so much that you won't think there is a 75% or higher chance the delusion is true but that you'll find there is a 1-25% chance it's not true......

[/QUOTE]

Maybe the Haldol is making you psychotic. It made me psychotic.

[flutterfree]

i can garentee you believe this is really happening 100% and i can tell you it really isnt happening 100%, while i am at work, i sometimes hear other people talking about me whatever is on my mind and i realise, its my mind doing it and not them. my psycosis is few and far between. great way to reduce psycosis is with exercise. i do believe you need a higher dose to fight off psycosis, your mind will grow stronger the less psycosis you have and you will be able to battle whatever psycosis is left. common thing about schizophernia is secret messages on tv or newspapers, i had that too while ill.