Best products from r/schizophrenia

I'm so so happy to hear you have an understanding husband. I see that you don't have many others who understand but seriously if you could either have him or five close friends that understood you would probably pick him, that is really priceless. He will support you through this in all ways and I will pray that you both have strength through it all.

I know how hard it can be to lose a dream job but I don't know how hard it is to go through all you are dealing with, but I truly empathize. You know, there may be something more fitting for you, something that will make you happier if, indeed, you do lose this job. Have you ever had it where you thought you knew what you wanted but life handed you something even more perfect that you couldn't have guessed you needed or ever contrived? I wish for you that is what is in store.

It really is so awesome for my brother, I hope one day soon to talk with him and have him look back. As hard as this is it is so amazing to know those who come through it, its so so so damn impressive you don't even know, so fucking impressive, you are the most awesome people this world has to offer even if you don't know it.

Please remember, it is not you that is failing, please think of it like you would alzheimers or cancer or any number of things that you can't control, be your own best friend please, if this was your friend wouldn't you tell them its so sad to hear them blame themselves for something they can't help? I bet you would, I bet it would break your heart to hear them beat themselves up for being sick. It breaks my heart.

I'm so glad you are not losing hope. I know I am not going through what you are and can only understand so much, but I want you to know it would truly be a pleasure to be here for you, on good days and bad, anytime you want to talk, please feel free to. Truly, it is a pleasure and an honor to be there for someone as amazing as you. I know, I know you think what do I know of you, but like I said I have seen this with not only my close family member but a few other close friends. That you are already this smart about it it really is impressive, of those I know who suffer from this, not one admitted the problem and sought help right away like you are, I can only imagine you are going to be the most successful, in that group of people who really come through this with flying colors and even help those who struggle.

Also, you may want to check out this woman and her book she is a long time sufferer of schizophrenia and a successful law school professor :) Her story is just one of so many, and soon enough yours will be too, God willing <3

I’m real big into reading, I feel like the more you know about your brain the easier it is to battle. I have a few good books that I’ve read that might be able to help.

This book is about SZ, not SZA but I have SZA and I found it extremely informative for the positive and negative symptoms. It’s hard to find books on sccuizoaffective so I ended up reading books on SZ, bipolar and depression and just kinda mashing the information together. The kindle version is cheaper than the physical copy: https://www.amazon.com/Understanding-Schizophrenia-Practical-Patients-Professionals/dp/1440831505/ref=mp_s_a_1_13?crid=271OTT20AOESF&keywords=schizophrenia+books&qid=1554948320&s=gateway&sprefix=schizophren&sr=8-13

This is the book I bought for my family to pass around after they finally understood that it was a real thing. They all enjoyed it and said it made things easier to understand: https://www.amazon.com/Schizoaffective-Disorder-Simplified-Martine-Daniel/dp/1849915121/ref=mp_s_a_1_3?crid=2SBF34QLMYD7&keywords=schizoaffective+disorder+books&qid=1554948451&s=gateway&sprefix=schizoaffec&sr=8-3

Those are my two favorites, I’m sure other folks on here have good suggestions too. If you need anything else or just someone to vent to feel free to PM me, diagnosis is hard but it’s a really good step in the recovery process. Once it has a name it’s easier to understand :)

Yes constantly. Thats why I dont watch live tv. It's too dangerous you can feel it pushing into your mind. When its off its a big relief. I don't know why but streaming or dowloading the show is better sorta. Regular sleep , routines and safe spaces , try churchs or whatever works for you. Its trial and error at first. The people thing is real, so I use the ear buds or look down. Harder for their pointed threats to get you if you cant seem them.

Here are some tips i found when starting out.

humming or singing a song several times (my favorite*)
listening to music
reading (forwards and backwards)
talking with others
exercise
ignoring the voices
medication (important to include).

https://www.nami.org/Blogs/NAMI-Blog/April-2016/Schizophrenia-and-Technology-Opportunities-for-Re

Check out NAMI if you havent done so. Your phone can be helpful but since your senses are different most people aren't going to have a full proof plan. Distraction and confidence in yourself is best, followed by a mood stabilizer if possible. It just makes it easier to endure.
Please read this book. You will understand your life better.
Kind regards,

https://www.amazon.com/Center-Cannot-Hold-Journey-Through/dp/1401309445/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1521669874&sr=8-1&keywords=the+center+cannot+hold

So I can only share my own experiences... I managed to survive with low prodromal symptoms undiagnosed until my mid 30's. I am high functioning, and off medication and working in a high income field. I think it delayed due to several factors

* Omega 3 fish oil and fish in general https://www.livescience.com/51812-omega-3-prevent-schizophrenia.html . You need to do research on omega-3 purity and brands, and pick one with enough DHA and EPA for a therapeutic dose. What's surprising that just taking it for a few months appears protective for years later. No word on whether it can treat it if you already have it, but if the disease has progression it makes sense if it can delay the initial psychosis it should delay subsequent psychosis. Therapeutic dosage seems to be 2000 mg, and there's even fish oil with 3000 mg. Check with your doctor to make sure since it's a blood thinner.

* Low stress and low expectations. Schizo isn't a disadvantage in fields like math and writing or any other field with low social expectations. Your niece will need to support herself when she's older. Put as much science, math, language and art as possible into her. If she can get good at math she can get a high paying career in any number of fields later in life. Money matters and lowers stress. Also, try to get her officially diagnosed with a disability, so she can access learning resources and help later in life.

What is helping me now

* Exercise, particularly weightlifting for men. Schizophrenics live 10-20 years less on average because they don't take care of their bodies -- that won't be me. If she can become a gym rat somehow, she will avoid one of the major issues with schizophrenics -- poor muscle tone and subsequent legarthy and maybe even negative symptoms. I am not sure if someone as young as 13 can start weightlifting. Another issue is she's a woman. Schizophrenic men seem to do better if they have more testosterone and paradoxically schizophrenic women may need something completely different. Maybe cardio for women and running rather than weightlifting.

* Diet. Eating less carbs and more meat helps a lot. Check out the ketogenic diet https://www.ketonutrition.org/blog/2019/1/21/the-ketogenic-diet-for-schizophrenia . The more serious it is the more you could go for 0 carbs and 0 sugars... all meat, all fat. Obviously should check with your doctor first before starting this.

So yeah I would check with doctor first then buy a very good omega 3 (look for consumer reviews http://consumer.nutrasource.ca/ifos/product-reports/ maybe something like https://www.amazon.ca/See-Yourself-Well-Omega-Liquid/dp/B005GC8SGU then try it. Then enroll in activities... maybe weightlifting, maybe cardio, maybe dancing. Finally keep an eye on her grades and put her in a money making profession where non-perfect social skills aren't an issue and she can use her problems to her advantage... lots of math, art and so on. Then ask your doctor and your nutritionist if she can start a special diet of mostly meat and fats and 0 carbs.

So yeah if you want her to succeed it will take a lot of work, a lot of time and a lot of loving. Eventually, she might be able to taper off medication under medical supervision (tapering is lowering a tiny amount each week, it takes special tools you can't just break the pill in half yourself NEVER stop cold turkey because it will be a massive shock).

Good luck.

best one probably is the optimum nutrition gold standard I've tasted. I currently take musclepharm combat protein as it is a bit cheaper, but it can be sweet. I also mix half of it with kirkland vanilla soymilk to give it better taste and it has a good amount of protein in it as well.

What I like about the whey protein is that it has the ability to help me recover faster after an episode. This one I take, it has fast and slow digestion:

https://www.amazon.com/MusclePharm-Combat-Protein-Powder-Essential/dp/B003BVI5FW/ref=sr_1_10?keywords=whey+protein&link_code=qs&qid=1551371448&s=gateway&sr=8-10&tag=amznsearchff-20

Focus? Sounds fake to me...

Nah, I'll quit jerkin' around. I find it very hard to concentrate on reading as well, I find it easier on a screen rather than a physical page, but I seem to skip all over the page, read words in the wrong order and start at the end of sentences and then go to the start no matter what it is I'm looking at. Very annoying.
The car on ice analogy is a really good one, I've never been able to put that into words.

Audiobooks sound like they'd be really helpful! If there's a letter or something that I need to read myself, though, I sometimes put a scrap of paper, a ruler, or a bookmark underneath the line I have to focus on so I have to read that before moving on. That or even running your finger along the line in time with yourself reading the words. It might feel unnatural at first but if it helps, it helps!

There are even cheap plastic things that rather have a window cutout or a clear highlighted strip to help focus on the line if that's helpful too, I found some here :)

Here are a couple of the water filters for the outdoors.

https://www.amazon.com/H2O-Straw-Personal-Bag-Successfully-Philippines-Contaminated/dp/B00GURRIFM


https://www.amazon.com/Filtration-Etekcity-Emergency-Equipment-filtration/dp/B010DF2NZ6


https://www.amazon.com/LifeStraw-Water-Bottle-Integrated-Filter/dp/B01KVO6NTQ

Here are some books and a couple by Dr Stanislav Grof. Hes very well studied and well spoken dealing with the mind, emotions and basically everything that has to do with our Being. If ur wife enjoys psychology at all then she'll find Grof interesting i imagine. im also guessing that people from the rainbow gathering have heard about him or have read some of his stuff since it attracts those minds sometimes. he definitely has some far out ideas, but if u start to think about what he says and do ur own reasearch and/or experiments some of it might start to make sense or click.

https://www.alibris.com/Psychology-of-the-Future-Lessons-from-Modern-Consciousness-Research-Stanislav-Grof-M-D/book/7703007?matches=19

https://www.alibris.com/When-the-Impossible-Happens-Adventures-in-Non-Ordinary-Reality-Stanislav-Grof-M-D/book/9235039?matches=31

https://www.alibris.com/Spiritual-Emergency-When-Personal-Transformation-Becomes-a-Crisis-Stanislav-Grof/book/6270281?matches=28

https://www.alibris.com/The-Cosmic-Game-Explorations-of-the-Frontiers-of-Human-Consciousness-Stanislav-Grof-M-D/book/1354505?matches=12

https://www.alibris.com/The-Consciousness-Revolution-A-Transatlantic-Dialogue-Two-Days-with-Stanislav-Grof-Ervin-Laszlo-and-Peter-Russell-Stanislav-Grof-M-D/book/35078047?matches=14

https://www.alibris.com/The-Stormy-Search-for-the-Self-Understanding-and-Living-with-Spiritual-Emergency-Christina-Grof/book/29108457?matches=16

https://www.alibris.com/Autobiography-of-a-Yogi-Paramahansa-Yogananda/book/513970?matches=406

https://www.alibris.com/The-Undiscovered-Self-Carl-Gustav-Jung/book/6916271?matches=241

Here are the Darn Tough socks and they are more expensive than i remember. Still worth it to buy at least one pair though since u can mail them back for a brand new pair whenever!

https://darntough.com/collections/womens-lifestyle

Here is the Pilot G2 pen. and id suggest getting the 20 count of them since its ten dollars more and u get 20 pens instead of 1 lol. plus a bunch of fun colors, although it might be a hassle to carry all those around.

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Retractable-Roller-12-Pieces-31002/dp/B00006JNJ8

https://www.amazon.com/Pilot-Assorted-Colors-Gel-Count/dp/B00N5IO30W

Hope this helps!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ysEM3ojgMfk&list=PLG6RTsqCGTO_qeWvw8Q5n3UBIYZaBJMzD&index=46

There have been dozens and dozens of really profound sightings of UFOs throughout history by some really credible people.

I have not personally seen a UFO myself but the evidence is there. A great book I can recommend is https://www.amazon.com/UFOs-Generals-Pilots-Government-Officials/dp/0307717089 this one.

It covers all the big sightings that everybody interested in the field should be familiar with. Betty and Hill abduction, the disappearance of Frederick Valentich off the coast of Australia and many many more are covered in detail. That's just to name two I know off the top of my head are covered in said book.

I've been interested in the phenomenon since I was a kid, so it probably has nothing to do with my schizophrenia. It's just a thing I have always believed in.

A great channel on Youtube is secureteam10. They regularly post sightings sent in by people from all over the world. I'd encourage you to disregard the stuff about how the moon is hollow and what not, though.

Why do you want them to stop? Because they bother you and distract you, and the more they do that the worse it gets. One way that might help would be to use approaches were you "reply" to them like "okay yeah, but I'm going to listen to my boss, and try anyway" so they don't have power. Also consider they are "brain noise". Realising they don't have power over you could make you more relaxed about them. I once read about a woman who had voices and after years of treatment started to improve once she heard about the Greeks viewing those with voices as blessed and special humans. It can be a lot about context.


Source: mainly this (incredible) book: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Cant-Hear-Them-Simon-McCarthy-Jones/dp/1785922564

One of the most insightful things I've read on technology is Martin Heidegger's essay "The Question Concerning Technology." I'm on a mobile and it's the middle of the night, so I'm not going to go on at length (about a favorite topic of mine.) It's the attitude that goes with technology's domination, of other ways of seeing the world, that is a danger more than the technological artifacts themselves, he thought. Niel Postman has written about similar things (without mentioning Heidegger that I remember) in Technopoly. I don't worry about technology, though I am concerned by technocracy. THX 1138 is a great movie, and I've felt strongly that it's an apt metaphor for what life has been like as a software developer, for me.

[edit: I'm on my computer now, so sky's the limit...]There's a Star Trek: The Next Generation episode in which a people has a relationship to high technology that seems unusual to Captain Picard. They don't let it dominate their lives. They use it, but they don't live in a technocracy. They live in what seem like rural surroundings.

Philosophy of technology can have a dystopian twist to it, especially the little I've read that has been "Continental." I love dystopian stories. I have no solution but to read, read, read, real stuff about technology and our relation to it. Heidegger points out that it is not a thing but an attitude, as I've said. "The essence of technology is nothing technological," to quote him as well as I can. I firmly believe the solution to establishing a healthy relation to technology is to take other points of view -- other than the currently dominant (in the US) technocratic view -- and find out what they are. Phenomenology for me is right where it's at. I will understand it in my lifetime! xD If you can find these books at the library, they're ones I've read recently. Reading them may not be completely encouraging, and yet they'll take your mind off worries about the technological doodads and what they're doing. Just reading the book is a whole-body activity, it's so hard.

Heidegger's "Basic Writings" collection (paperback is cheap https://www.amazon.com/Writings-Harper-Perennial-Modern-Thought/dp/0061627011)
After you've read Heidegger's essay, "The Question Concerning Technology," Don Ihde's little book is a gem
Heidegger's Technologies: Postphenomenological Perspectives (https://www.amazon.com/Heideggers-Technologies-Postphenomenological-Perspectives-Continental)
Neil Postman's "Technopoly"
William Barrett's "The Illusion of Technique"

Perhaps "going back in time" to the earlier of these will allow a little distance from your current concerns. Seeing that technology has been viewed as problematic, by smart people, for many decades, is comforting to me. Another book that really slammed everything, it seemed, home for me, was Herbert Marcuse's "One-Dimensional Man," which channels a lot of the frustration of Lucas' film. Finding another way, finding people who see differently than the company they work for does, if it makes paper clips, for example...to the paperclip company, everything has to do with making and selling paperclips. Nick Bostrom had a few funny things to say about a possible supersentient AI whose mission was to make paperclips, in the podcast (wonderful!) "The Partially Examined Life" (iTunes and http://partiallyexaminedlife.com/).

I gripe about how much of our communication is digitally mediated. Here I am on the Internet, speaking of the evils of technology. Ironic? I think a little story about Freud is in order here, then. When Freud observed that the train could take him to see his niece(?), who lived far away from Freud, he saw that this could be viewed as an argument against any of his objections to "progress"; but, he said, without the train she never would have been so far away in the first place. Without the Internet, I might spend more time talking with people face to face. It has always been one of my favorite things to do, in spite of all difficulties. It just seems so difficult now because so many people's faces are constantly pointed at screens instead of each other.

I recommend taking Amyloban 3399. It's what I take for schizophrenia. It's an extract from an edible mushroom known as Lion's Mane, that balances dopamine in the brain, promotes brain growth, and protects against grey matter loss. I would also recommend eating peanuts or some source of Vitamin E + Niacin (Vitamin B1). Both are great for healthy brain function and a lot of people are difficient in those.

I’m sorry you are going through this and are without meds for so long. I did take lion’s mane briefly and while I felt like it didn’t do anything at the time in retrospect looking back it probably helped me with my symptoms and I think I am going to try taking it again.

I’m just now realizing my voices came back after I stopped taking lions mane. It was so gradual at the time that I did not recognize it.

Best of luck to you and I hope you can get through it until you can get an antipsychotic in January. I’d highly recommend lions mane as well.

Also they have 120 days supply of it on amazon for $19. A better deal than 180 days for $54 for the specific brand mentioned in the other post.


https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07PM8X5CG/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_XxsYDb0ZAP58X

I don't doubt that NAMI helps some, but what I'm saying is that it could be better. Early-intervention programs (that includes multifamily support/family therapy) should take precedence, but as of right now, it is few and far in between because this model is radically and innovative. NAMI falls outside of the clinical offerings which has its pros and cons.

While I've only skimmed the sample pages, which looks good so far in explaining things for a layperson, I would suggest this newly released book. FWIW it's by my clinician so I do have a bias.

Yeah, I wasn't told that either. I found that stuff out through my own research.

Heres a source that confirms what I said: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prognosis_of_schizophrenia

​

In regards to resources for caregivers, I've heard positive things about these two books:

Surviving Schizophrenia, 6th Edition: A Family Manual

The Complete Family Guide to Schizophrenia: Helping Your Loved One Get the Most Out of Life

"Surviving Schizophrenia" -- the version I own was published in the '60s, not sure how it fits with modern research; this is an updated version -- suggests trying an elimination diet. Basically, strip all of one food group out of your diet, for two weeks, and record how it affects your mental and physical health.

I've read a handful of unverified research suggesting sz symptoms are linked to undiagnosed and untreated allergic reactions, coupled with an over-production of.. I think epinephrin? not sure. Basically a stress-handling chemical similar to adrenaline.

An elimination diet is an easy-to-do first step towards recognizing an allergy, but the quickest route might be asking your doctor to do a full allergy workup.

The more fruits, veggies, and nuts you can fit into your diet, the better you'll feel, really. Try replacing red meat with chicken or fish, or eating vegetarian meals a few times a week. Canned fruits are fine as long as you strain out the sugary syrup. Fresh or frozen are ideal.

Personally I find that eating salmon, nuts, and yogurt (not all together.. although..) makes a noticeable difference in my mental clarity, and eating a lot of starches or red meat makes me groggy and confused. I also have been trying to keep my caffeine intake low because after two or three cans of soda I start to get really anxious. I tend to carry trail mix or a baggy of cereal around to munch on, so I'm not tempted to spend money on less healthy snack options.

https://www.amazon.com/adidas-Cloudfoam-Advantage-Sneakers-Black/dp/B01HSN3R2O/ref=sr_1_8?keywords=adidas+mens+shoes&qid=1567820296&s=gateway&sr=8-8

https://www.mtailor.com/?utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=bing&utm_campaign=Google_SEM_Desktop_Brand&utm_subcampaign=SEM_Desktop_Brand_CoreName&utm_content=SEM_Expand_MTailor_Custom_Clothing_Tailored_to_Your_Exact_Size

​

https://www.amazon.com/Amazon-Essentials-Loose-Fit-Short-Sleeve-Crewneck/dp/B06XWPMG5D/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?keywords=plain+black+t+shirt&qid=1567820341&s=gateway&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUFJT1VOR0E3VktPUUUmZW5jcnlwdGVkSWQ9QTAxMDA0MjczMEtDN1hTV0tVR1FQJmVuY3J5cHRlZEFkSWQ9QTA5OTUwNTYxMDNaTzI0VEc4UTc5JndpZGdldE5hbWU9c3BfYXRmJmFjdGlvbj1jbGlja1JlZGlyZWN0JmRvTm90TG9nQ2xpY2s9dHJ1ZQ==

​

​

I recommended a plain black t-shirt, jeans, and these adidas.

Mtailor custom makes jeans -they fit nicely. $98

plain black t's $12

Adidas $60ish

​

🌴

Surviving Schizophrenia is probably the best one.

this is a great book. she'd tell you, "Don't romanticize."

http://www.amazon.com/The-Center-Cannot-Hold-Journey/dp/1401309445