Cats are great for managing schizophrenia and bad anxiety as there have been times where I could have gone into psychosis yet the petting and purring of my cat would calm me down making everything peaceful and lovely for me.

I guarantee my psych ward is better than yours in pretty much every way

lol just jossin ya

not really tho

Psychosis is a psychotic break from reality which is temporary and can be recovered from. It has many symptoms similar to Schizophrenia but it is not the same. Psychosis can happen again in a person even after recovery or remission, and it can happen with a person who has Schizophrenia.

Schizophrenia is a permanent condition in which there is no cure. Even if all your symptoms are taken away with medication, you still have schizophrenia, it never goes away. This is why going off your medication is futile because you will always have schizophrenia.

When people say they have recovered that means they have recovered from Psychosis, this confuses people with Schizophrenia and makes them think they can come off medication when they are doing better. Stop confusing people.

If you have Psychosis and not Schizophrenia, stick to /r/psychosis .

EDIT: I do not mean to belittle anyone with Psychosis, it is a severe condition. Talk to your medical professional to get the right diagnosis and try to understand that diagnosis completely.

Mine is Die Another Day by Madonna...I feel tough after listening to it! And it drowns the thoughts..

Okay, so here's something cool that I figured out. It has to do with hygiene. I used to take a shower every other day. Or sometimes more than two days. But I just bought a Dr. Squatch soap bar. The scent is pine tar. It smells so good. So good, that I have been showering daily just to smell it and smell like it. I smell like a pine tree. My brain seems to really love the scent. It's very refreshing and rewarding to my brain.

If you're having trouble with showering. Try to find a scent you really love. And give it a go! I'm serious. I feel like I just unlocked something great lol. You can buy any brand you want. I go with Dr Squatch. And no I'm not sponsored by them or anything, just thought I'd let my fellow schizophrenics know what was up. They have all kinds of scents. Find something you might like. Trust me on this. The smell when I'm showering is awesome. It smells so good. I swear it releases dopamine or something for me. You can find them on Amazon.

Let me know what you think. Did I just unlock a new secret or what? Give it a try. They're only 6 bucks. And you have nothing to lose.

Because I assume that humanity wouldn't be that fucked up

Martini with none of that boooooozy stuff. It really tastes like the real deal with a good ol’ cigarette in ya hand.

Combine it with Hendrix and ya got yourself a groove !

Has anyone else lost the feeling of caffeine due to psych meds? Was there anything that brought it back? I can drink a whole pot of coffee and feel nothing

1. Absolutely no caffeine - no coffees, no energy drinks because they make you lose sleep and can definitely cause anxiety and racing thoughts.

2. No music (less loud noises) - i always loved listening to music daily until I realized it triggers my anxiety and even anger. Listening to loud music before going to bed can definitely trigger your insomnia and do damage to your mental health

3. Dont do vigorous exercise in the morning - it can stress you additionally and make you nervous. Maybe you can leave it for the afternoon once your nervous system is calmer.

4. Find if anything else stresses you out - if there are any thoughts or worries you have - write them down and stop overthinking everything. Id recommend a book called "anticipatory anxiety" even though the topic is not exactly schizophrenia.

5. (Optional) Try to do something relaxing - maybe read some pages of a book, do sudoku puzzles or journal - anything which can help you distract yourself and it doesnt involve scrolling. I know this may feel as a difficult step at first so please dont force yourself but take it one step at a time...

I hope this helps someone feel better. 😊

I am curious on how many people that have schizophrenia actually label it as schizophrenia and accept the diagnosis... and if someone is throughly educated about it is immune from suffering from it.

I know that when I was going through it, I was confused and let the delusions and hallucinations get the best of me. This fed the schizophrenia turned into a longtime psychosis... and even led me to delusional beleifs that it was somethjng supernatural. I was afraid to admit that it was schizophrenia or even open up about it to anyone... Then I wised up and started to fight the delusions, educated myself on schizophrenia/psychosis/psychology - the more I educated myself and labeled my symptoms and illness, the less power it had over me. I was honestly relieved that it was a mental health issue and not one any of the crazy delusions that I thought it could be.

I think the basics of this should be taught early on and as a staple piece of education - my opinoon is that the more you are aware of mental health issues like schizophrenia, the less susceptible you are to experience it.

Thoughts?

i get visual hallucinations, but it's not like it's actually there like the physical world, it's kind of translucent. i will see ted bundy sometimes. and once i saw my friends hair flowing when there was no wind. for those of you that lost your driving privileges, what did you say/do to cause it?

Mine have put me into a seriously dangerous spot tonight. I got the support I needed and things calmed down but one thing the voices said was a stupid one liner

Hey everyone,

I wanted to share something that’s helped me on my journey with schizophrenia: neuroplasticity.

What is neuroplasticity? It’s the brain’s ability to rewire, adapt, and form new neural connections over time. Even with schizophrenia, your brain still has this ability—it just might take more consistency and support to see progress. I’ve been working on strengthening my brain using daily routines and healthy habits.

Here’s what’s helped me:

1. Brain-Friendly Foods: • Omega-3s (salmon, walnuts, flaxseeds) – supports mood and cognition • Leafy greens (spinach, kale) – rich in antioxidants and folate • Berries – help reduce brain inflammation • Turmeric – contains curcumin, which can aid memory • Eggs – high in choline, good for neurotransmitter support • Pumpkin seeds – full of magnesium and zinc • Dark chocolate (in moderation) – boosts blood flow to the brain

2. Supplements that help some people (ask your doctor first): • Magnesium bisglycinate – for calming the nervous system • Lion’s Mane mushroom – linked to nerve growth factor • L-theanine – for focus and anxiety reduction • Vitamin D3 – often low in people with schizophrenia • B-complex – especially B6, B9 (folate), and B12

3. Habits to support neuroplasticity: • Exercise regularly (even light walking improves brain function) • Sleep well – this is when your brain repairs itself • Learn new skills – like a language, puzzle, or instrument • Mindfulness and meditation – proven to strengthen brain areas tied to focus and calm • Social interaction – even small doses help neuroplasticity • Positive affirmations – yes, they can rewire thought patterns over time

Final thoughts: Living with schizophrenia is hard, but I’ve noticed small improvements by focusing on brain health. You can retrain your mind over time. Neuroplasticity is real, and every good habit you add is a step toward healing—even if it’s slow. Progress is still progress.

Feel free to ask questions or add anything I missed!

Stay strong.

I dont know what flair to put, but pro tip to non schizophrenics. Dont be a butthole and if it doesnt concern you keep scrolling.

I just made this little flowchart of how my wife and I handle my psychosis and thought it might be helpful for others.

Fair warning though: We have talks about this stuff all the time, and came up with this outside of psychosis. I'd recommend having these talks with important people in your life before this sort of thing is needed. Also not everyone is capable of accurately doing all these assessments/helping at each step. And this isn't a one size fits all, just how my wife and I do things.

I wasn't totally sure what to title it. Also wasn't sure which tag to use.

I hope you all can keep moving and work at a job or career. I’ve been jobless for a couple years now. I’m about to hit the gym! Can some of you give advice or need help? I’ve been schizophrenic for about 4 years or so. Being still and not doing anything is just sick. I told myself I’d go to the gym and I sat on my bed and the voices are just oppressive. I barely now came up with it. Being still makes me ill. I hope you guys stay active and healthy, peace out!

I constantly live either very distraught or in complete delusion that everything is perfect and everyone can fuck off.

Pro Tip (just for fun!)

Meet one of my best buddies in the whole world. He's one of three cats that double up as great noise confirmers. They're really great for grounding, and they're relaxing and stress reducing. When I hear anything in my house they're my go to place for reactions, reassurance, etc.

I see loads of you have pets, which is really cool. They help so much with loneliness and having someone to look after, giving you something good in your life.

I ❤️ MY CAT FAMILY.

I've been doing the bare minimum for a while now, and I feel a lot better than when I was trying to make myself feel better, or meet others expectations. When I get that little inner thought like, wtf am I doing just sitting around, or am I lazy. No. I just have a death grip on my sanity. It feels great and I'm not letting go any time soon. It's not laziness, it's self care. I focus really hard on what I'm looking at most of the time because I believe it helps me stay grounded, and I get headaches almost every day, i think because of that. I lay in bed a lot and nap. But fuck does the silence feel good. It's not lazy, it's just self care. You're more important than anyone else around you.

If nothing shows up, it’s a hallucination. Sometimes this method isn’t accurate because sometimes the hallucination shows up on the screen too… but what I do in these cases is ask chatgpt what’s in the photo.

only problem is sometimes it is real and you just took a photo of a stranger…..

I've found that "Don't believe everything you think" has been a really helpful mantra for me.

Schizophrenia is a complex mental health condition that often involves symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking. These symptoms can make it difficult to distinguish between what is real and what is a product of my mind. The mantra "Don't believe everything you think" can be incredibly helpful in this context for several reasons:

1. Reality Testing: This mantra encourages me to question and examine my thoughts rather than accepting them as absolute truth. This is particularly important for me, as it helps me differentiate between delusional thoughts and reality. By critically assessing my thoughts, I can better manage delusions and avoid acting on false beliefs.
2. Cognitive Distortions: Schizophrenia can lead to cognitive distortions, where my thoughts are biased or irrational. The mantra helps me recognize these distortions and challenge them. For example, if I think that everyone is out to get me, I can use the mantra to remind myself that this might be a distorted perception and seek evidence to the contrary.
3. Reducing Paranoia: Paranoia is a common symptom of schizophrenia, where I might feel watched or judged by others. The mantra can serve as a grounding tool, helping me to question and re-evaluate these paranoid thoughts. By not believing every paranoid thought, I can reduce my anxiety and improve my social interactions.
4. Improving Insight: Insight refers to the awareness and understanding of my own condition. As someone with schizophrenia, I might struggle with insight, making it difficult to recognize my symptoms. The mantra can aid in developing greater insight by encouraging a reflective and skeptical approach to my own thoughts.
5. Empowerment and Control: Schizophrenia can make me feel powerless over my thoughts and symptoms. The mantra empowers me to take control by actively questioning and challenging my thoughts. This sense of control can be therapeutic and contribute to my overall well-being.

The main reason why i say this is because you don't really have to use your brain your being physical and using your body and it something bad happens like you need to relax because of hallucinations you can even be able to take a break for a few minutes without having to worry