Psychosis - has anyone else been through the same thing

[Mcdade]

I recently suffered a psychosis for the first time and have been put on tablets by the doctor, all is going well with me but i dont feel the same. I used to be a bundle of laughs, always up for it but now my energies feel low and i feel like im hardly ever smiling and laughing.. Its like i've got no wise cracks to make when im out with my friends. Its like I'm always so serious and dont know how to just lighten up a bit. I'm concerned about it and just want my bubbly flair back... :)

I also feel stupid, a bit like an idiot because i've got no wise crack jokes to make, no fun, boring... Has anyone been through a similar thing?

Its hard for me because im "unwell" i cant work at the moment, and get so bored sitting in every day, its zapping my energy. I make an effort to get out every day and do something but today i've been sat on the couch all day not doing much... bored.com Anyone else been thorugh the same thing? Will i eventually get my good times smile back with the energy i used to have?

[daffy654]

It depends what caused the psychosis in the first place and what form the episode took.

[horseshoes]

Are you male or female McDade?

[Mcdade]

im a female :) 28

[horseshoes]

I'm exactly the same McDade. Used to be the life and soul. Bundles of energy, but now I feel lifeless. I have PLENTY to be happy about, but sometimes I just think about things and cry, not hysterical just a sort of sad feeling. However, I am in the menopause and I tend to think it's a hormone thing. Probably not that with you, given that you're only 28, but perhaps it could be hormonal. We ladies do get a LOT of strange things. Good luck anyway. I hope you're better soon.

[Mcdade]

well i am on my period right now hahahaha :) now you come to mention it lol, gimme a bar of chocolate, i'll be fine! lol

[horseshoes]

Lol

[wolf63]

What medication are you on? Have you seen a psychiatrist and had a diagnosis ?

I am Bipolar and have had various psychotic episodes - sounds tame.

[Mcdade]

im glad to hear you say it sounds tame. I think i was quite lucky in that I got help at an early stage but without it i dont know what would have happened. I'm on aripiprazol (cant spell it) one of the funniest things that happened was that i thought i could be President Obama's Personal Assistant lol funny :) I'm still getting my Sugar together right now that I'm beginning to realise how ill my head was, but i dont think any of my friends realise, they didnt notice i was ill. I didnt really notice, its a weird thing and quite hard to talk about right now but i find it interesting. :)

[wolf63]

I looked up the drug in netdoctor - this is usually a pretty reliable site - and it says:-http://www.netdoctor.co.uk/medicines/10
0005084.html


I was on one of the older anti-psychotics and it felt like I was a zombie, I was sedated and my mouth was all dry. I had a few hallucinations and was ready to solve all the problems of the world - I felt able to achieve anything.

My memory is shot to hell from a combination of the drugs and my illness and whatever happened before yesterday is pretty much a blur. This can be pretty frustrating. My brain often feels as if it has ceased up or even turned itself off. Like you I am usually bubbly and cheerful (or I used to be) and confident.

I haven't worked for 7 years, I spent the previous 25 as a civil servant, and the first couple of years were bad. I started voluntary work in a charity shop and have my two cats to keep me entertained.

It 'is' possible that will be a one-off event - but only your GP or your psychiatrist can gauge this. I hope that you get on okay and get some fun back in your life.

Susan

[mazzywoo]

Hi Mcdade.
I haven't actually had a psychosis (my prob was clinical depression) but I was married to a lovely man who had psychotic episodes. he described his experiences just as you have-feeling 'flat', no energy and boredom. He was on Depixol depot injections and for a few days afer them, all he wanted to do was sleep. He was ok then, until a week before his next injection was due, when he became restless and a bit off-centre again. He asked to try oral medication but would then think he was cured and would stop taking them. These episodes of his would come and go-he wasn't always in the 'ill' phase. We would have a laugh together about the ideas he had when he was 'unwell'-one day, he sat out on a roof at 3am playing his trumpet and another time, walked around with plastic bags on his feet because 'We always do that in the S.A.S.' So in his case, there were lighter moments! He did voluntary work and enjoyed it although sometimes he didn't feel like going! We eventually divorced and this was mainly because my depression worsened and we weren't coping. He and I are still the best of friends though.
You sound like an intelligent and perceptive person Mcdade. You say you feel 'stupid' but no way are you stupid. I haven't looked online but there may be some useful forums where you could chat about the way you feel and get some good ideas by talking to other people who are in similar situations.
I hope that you soon feel better about things. I wish you all the luck in the world huns.
Best wishes, Maz xx

[wolf63]

http://www.netdoctor....icines/100005084.html

Not sure why the link didn't work the first time.

[stonekicker]

I have psychotic depression - where i have episodes of deep depression with psychotic features. its not fun and life can be a bit hard - dragging my elbow through the goo of life and taking medication until it comes out my ears. i am, however, a psychiatric nurse, a student and mother to a 17 year old, so do have some understanding of how hard things can be. there's not a lot you can do when you are unwell except shovel the medication down as you're told and wait for things to get better. but i agree with you when you say the pills make things a bit flat - but it is much better than being crazy! take care x