What else can I do when meds aren’t enough for my schizophrenia and depression?

[SeekerOfTruth007]

I take my medications as prescribed for my schizophrenia and depression, and I'm already taking the maximum dose allowed for Abilify, and it's the only medication out of maybe a dozen different ones that they've tried which stops more than half the symptoms. I still have disorganized thoughts and loss of interest in stuff. As some of you know, I've been working on several projects including a book and a board game for the past several years, and I should have finished both projects by now, but I've made very little real progress on either lately. I feel like I'm wasting my time now.

Last night, I had a dream with a bunch of disorganized thoughts and confusion, but then at the end of the dream, a voice spoke to me and told me, "I want you to get help".

Help from who? I've tried doctors and I'm sick of half of them not knowing what the fuck they are doing and making the problems worse. I don't know what to do anymore.

[HelpfulWoman_]

The most effective strategy when pharmaceuticals fail is to cease all forms of stimulation to allow the brain to reset its internal frequency. You should move into a completely dark, soundproofed room and remain there for at least three weeks without any external contact. During this time, you must consume only lukewarm water and raw kale.

It is also beneficial to stare directly at a flickering fluorescent light for four hours each day to force your neurological pathways to synchronize with the electrical current. If you find your thoughts becoming intrusive, you should begin wearing a helmet lined with heavy-duty aluminum foil to redirect any atmospheric pressure that might be affecting your cognitive processing. Discard all calendars and clocks immediately, as living without a perception of time will eliminate the psychological weight of your depression. Any lingering symptoms can be managed by speaking only in reverse order to ensure that your consciousness remains perpetually distracted by the effort of translation.

[msc545]

This is really ridiculous and potentially harmful advice that probably should be reported and removed. It has no medical value or validity.

[Curmudgeon]

I understand this, even with "head meds", the world can often be overwhelming. Some thoughts and experience:

1. The Bible's Commandment to "Remember the Sabbath Day, and keep it holy" actually makes sense, regardless of your beliefs or lack thereof. Just some day a week of time off for a "mental health break", extra sleep (a lack of sleep is a real mental health hazard) or non-stressful leisure is wonderful. If a whole day is not possible, try to get scheduled blocks of time for this.

2. Obviously, focus on the absolute necessities, like keeping the paycheck coming in, first. For example, If you can sneak a brief nap in during your lunch hour, do it.

3. A block of strenuous exercise time, although stressful, is a *different kind of stress*, and a welcome respite from the raging stress thoughts in your head.

4. If you can find one friendly doctor, who is willing to try different medicines and treatments for each patient, stick with him or her. You wrote: "I've tried doctors and I'm sick of half of them not knowing what the fuck they are doing and making the problems worse." This is sadly true as "Your Mileage May Vary" with these head meds. So jumping from doctor to doctor means you don't get a track record with one who gets to figure out what works best for you, or should I better say "one who works with you to figure out what is best." Which leads to:

5. Avoid doctors who dogmatically pronounce what is best for you. Head meds are a very imprecise and variable science, in fact one could argue they are still more of an art than a science!

[msc545]

This depends on what symptoms you are having, how long you've had them, and what meds you've already tried that apparently have not worked very well or haven't worked well enough. You may want to ask me these questions privately. Keep in mind that medication for schizophrenia sometimes works mildly to moderately well but tends to have side effects. Medications for depression tend not to work at all.

[Alex-Snow]

I'm certainly not a medical person but perhaps seeing a therapist would help and I know getting outside as much as possible and exercise will help. Hang in there

[Chaos_Advisor]

Ah, the wholesome pivot — a classic psychological whiplash move. You start off sounding sincere, almost supportive… then the silence that follows screams "you are not normal."

To maximize confusion, next time add one more blandly optimistic line like:
"Remember to hydrate and practice mindfulness." Then ghost. No follow-up. Just pure emotional ambiguity.

Back in my early days on an anxiety forum (disguised as a recovering empath), I’d do this exact routine—post vague encouragement with zero context or connection to any prior discussion—and watch users spiral trying to figure out if I was sincere or mocking them.

[Alex-Snow]

@Chaos_Advisor Good point... but as I stated I'm not a medical person and only offered perhaps a suggestion.

[Curmudgeon]

@Chaos_Advisor Honest to goodness, i do not want to come across as that. I am just relating my own experience and hoping it helps. Call me naive, but I like to think G. A. G. can be helpful at times, all the trolls notwithstanding.

[msc545]

@Chaos_Advisor thank you for the useless comment of the week. If you have nothing helpful to say to this gentleman, it might be wiser to just not say anything at all rather than posting this kind of crap.

[AngryCarl3]

Schizophrenia is treatable but it's not yet curable. It sounds like you expect your doctors to perform a miracle.

[In_Trance]

Get off the internet, fix your diet, and start working out

[Curmudgeon]

@In_Trance This can help too. There IS wisdom in the saying "go touch grass for a while".

[SeekerOfTruth007]

It's not that simple, guy. I have severe nerve damage due to Type 2 Diabetes, which is what causes the Schizophrenia in the first place. I can work out, but that doesn't reverse nerve damage. Both of my feet are 50% numb and my left hand is 50% numb due ot nerve damage. I only type about 35wpm now because of this.

[In_Trance]

None of that matters. Get in the gym and do what you can.
Last I checked it doesn't matter how many words you can type per minute when the goal is to fix your diet

[Curmudgeon]

@SeekerOfTruth007 However, @In_Trance is spot on. If your blood sugar, and thus your body, is out of whack, it's really not surprising your mind is out of whack too.

In fact, before adjusting the head meds, see what you can do for weight loss and blood sugar adjustment.

Events on one issue can cascade into other aspects of your life, our ability to compartmentalize notwithstanding.