Can You function without medication if you have schizoaffective disorder?

Diagnosed as Schizoaffective roughly 5 years ago . I’m waking up in different realities , experiencing déjà vu relentlessly.

I believe some of this is the Mandela Effect 100%, but it doesn’t help that I have schizoaffective disorder. It alters my perception of reality. Gives me delusions of of grandeur ( at least according to people close to me ) .

I’ve heard terrifying accounts of people with this disorder who claim they are feeling like everyone is in on a conspiracy against them , some hallucinate some don’t ..
But we go through terrifying things , and realities that make zero sense ..

Mine cycles , and high stress periods trigger it quite often ..
My question is does anyone know if you can function in society and live a decent quality of life while treating this disorder holistically and not with meds ?


I’ve seen had their lives ruined just as much from over prescription of harmful drugs with nasty side effects as the disorder Itself .

What is the best route ? I would love to hear from you all ( whether you have this disorder or know someone who does ) or don’t

Its all about oxygen in the brain. I drank kangen water and voices stopped almost completely for a while. If you guage your voices volume and reaction using shungite or other blocking you may find its not exactly a mental disorder.

a reply to: freedom7

Speak to your doctor. Let them know about your concerns, and I'm sure they'll help you figure out a treatment plan that works best for you. If you don't like what they say, or the drugs they prescribe don't seem to help, then get a second opinion.

Uhhh...

voices in your head are EXACTLY a mental disorder.

Take your meds.

Skitzo can have different causes. If the meds work and the side effects aren't bad for you I would keep taking them. I haven't studied ways to stop skitzo by diet, that may actually be hard. I am sure there are natural chemistries that can be used to help the skitzo but I haven't looked into it at all. Everyone is a little skitzo about something or other, skitzo just means you do not believe in consensus of the time, you do not believe as the majority of people do. Your out of the box too far. You have to act normal, don't get too off the wall to be considered normal. The voices are probably your consciousness confering with your subconscious. I use that ability to sort of get better at communicating but some people think it is another person. But this does not cover all types of the hearing voices.

I can't help you with this because I don't know and cannot test on myself. I consider myself a little skitzo because I do not believe things I am told without verifying it by looking at different patterns of research or checking opposing opinions. I am not a parrot and I do not automatically believe a doctors opinion on things. I consider their opinion. I also do not accept evidence like diagnoses automatically without researching if they are true. That would automatically make me considered skitzo or some sort of mental issue.

a reply to: freedom7

Can you tell it is a hallucination while you see it? What kind of delusion of grandeur? Are you aware that it is happening or is your story what's going on something else?

Definitely change the doctor and if you got ongoing symptoms find a Way to treat it with which you feel comfortable. There are also stories of people who found a combination of dealing with stress and medication that really helps them and they're feeling better for long times.
But of course your concerns should always be taken seriously, find someone who you feel comfortable with and be honest.

a reply to: freedom7

Fellow Schizoaffective here.
Med compliant.

I tried going at it without medication for 15 years.

Finally I had enough of the paranoia and attendant psychosis and decided to give medications s a serious chance. My brain and worldview changed dramatically. My days are a constant reminder and practice of holistic therapy and mental reprogramming. It's taken twenty years but I'm able to go outside and not feel paranoid of lost in a negative delusional mindset. It took an additional 4 years to get the right medication cocktail.

I've tried maintaining employment but I always crack within a week or so, and I grew tired of constant Inpatient.

These days I just take it slow.

Find your groove and go with it.
Don't force yourself into anything uncomfortable for the sake of "being normal".

If you need an alternate path to stay mentally healthy, follow it.

a reply to: freedom7

My question is does anyone know if you can function in society and live a decent quality of life while treating this disorder holistically and not with meds ?

Keep in touch with your doctors and try to see a counsellor each week whenever it's possible. A decent doctor will be willing to change the medication in order to find one that suits you. Some turn people into shadows of their former selves and can bring major weight gains too. It's no surprise that so many take themselves of the meds to be more normal.

Counselling is an area of treatment most non-schizo people haven't a clue about. It can be great because you have an ally who can be your sounding board - the voice of reason. They can even guide you when you want to try life without meds.

They are way more likely to help in the long run than taking advice from schizophrenics who could in the midst of their cycling. I've seen 'cures' that range from 'play white noise on short wave' to 'eat bananas for potassium.' No bloody use whatsoever. Stick to the advice of professionals even if it's to double-check interesting advice from people on message boards and forums.

a reply to: freedom7
I do not have such a disorder. But I can see how you people would be all flipping out, and out of it.

But yes you can change the chemical imbalances in your brain and body without using meds, and even on meds, but in either case it would still be an uphill battle for years most likely if what you say is true. The brain is basically just like a ham radio the physical antenna and wires that help pick up signals, it tunes in to different stations, and the mind is basically the station your listening to. If your getting a lot of static and noise, its time to change the station is what I am saying.

The majority of people even now still don't seem to understand that the brain and mind, while they may operate within the same field, but are for all intensive purposes two completely different machines and entities superimposed on one another. Basically what I am saying is with med's or without med's or a more holistic approach, the only one who can change you, is you. And all and either ways, its likely to be an uphill battle for more then a minute.

So ya, if one way does not work and has shown itself time and time again to not work. Try something else, till you find something that works for you. Etc, etc.

originally posted by: GENERAL EYES
a reply to: freedom7

Fellow Schizoaffective here.
Med compliant.

I tried going at it without medication for 15 years.

Finally I had enough of the paranoia and attendant psychosis and decided to give medications s a serious chance. My brain and worldview changed dramatically. My days are a constant reminder and practice of holistic therapy and mental reprogramming. It's taken twenty years but I'm able to go outside and not feel paranoid of lost in a negative delusional mindset. It took an additional 4 years to get the right medication cocktail.

I've tried maintaining employment but I always crack within a week or so, and I grew tired of constant Inpatient.

These days I just take it slow.

Find your groove and go with it.
Don't force yourself into anything uncomfortable for the sake of "being normal".

If you need an alternate path to stay mentally healthy, follow it.

Funny you mentioned 4 years. That is the hidden truth for Risperdal. One must take it daily for up to 4 years. Doctors tell you take it, but in the beginning, it can and will make you like a zombie. What Risperdal does do is stop the hearing of voices (OK, this is something that is really does, but will you admit it to your doctor: IT MAKES THE HEARING OF VOICES SEEM FURTHER AWAY . The voices DO NOT disappear, they can't, and won't. But by taking Risperdal after 4 years, one day you'll wake up into an artificial state of confidence and start to live a normal life. Job, joy in a relationship, not worry about not living in the "real" world like not connecting with reality. Hallucinations with up to 8 mgs tablets a day for the most part will immobilize you. Sleep and eat, forget about having a real life until you get down to what the doctors call "maintence" which is 1 mg per day. Hallucinations are taken very seriously by medical professionals. That is something that requires more then Gods help, its called "medication".
Anyway for those of you that suffer with Schizophrenia stay on the medication for 4 years straight, you'll find that your brain has been "altered" to benefit your behavioral actions in a positive way.
Going from med to med to see which on sticks is mainly because one needs to be hospitalize really for 3 to 6 months. But many or most insurances won't pay for that long. Sad news, but I truly believe what I wrote may help some that read this. Its a real 4 year thing on ONE med unless the side effect is causing you to feel like... talk to your doctor.

a reply to: freedom7

if you have an extreme episode or in mental distress, tell your family and friends not to call the police for help, they'll thank you and you'll thank them when you get through this.

a reply to: freedom7

Do you do a lot of outdoor activity, or are you most always inside?

originally posted by: odzeandennz
a reply to: freedom7

if you have an extreme episode or in mental distress, tell your family and friends not to call the police for help, they'll thank you and you'll thank them when you get through this.

Especially if you live in New York. They can keep you indefinitly if you have no family. "rumor" only,

a reply to: freedom7

Can You function without medication if you have schizoaffective disorder?

Yeah, you can become a psychic.

No kidding; for all intents and purposes, psychics - when weeding out the obvious charlatans - are functional schizophrenics, who have simply approached the experience in a different way than established medicine would have.

Yeah, schizophrenia manifests itself in different ways, but the point is, that to a great extend YOU choose how it is allowed to influence you.

a reply to: freedom7

First, don't go off your meds until you're very confident you have a better game plan. I'm in the criminal courts all the time and so many people with your diagnosis get locked up when they are off their meds. It greatly reduces your ability to perceive and react to the reality others are perceiving. Cops are not trained to handle people like this and their training exacerbates the situation.

Second, give this a watch, it has some info that may lead you to a solution:

Good luck.

a reply to: freedom7

Giving the option of building a house do you take the advice of :

1. A person who has built a house out of knowledge they've picked up over the years "whilst on the job".

Or

A construction company with years of experience in the construction trade, in particular the building of houses?

Ultimately the choice is yours, just remember if your house becomes a danger to others then you run serious risk of losing ownership or being liable to disasters.

Personally I'd advise you to seek the help of professionals, even if it is just to build your personal knowledge on "House building" and remember you can always change the professionals you see.

In fact I'd argue that finding professionals you can trust (not an easy task) is paramount to building a decent house so to speak.

Honesty is the greatest policy when we talk to our doctors and physical/mental health specialists. Misdiagnosis can often be due to the patient, sometimes we can be too embarrassed or protective over an issue that might just be the keystone to the proverbial arch that a doctor is investigating.

That is after all what a doctor does, they investigate. Ever wonder why investigators are took off a job that they'd have a conflict of interest in?

Same reason it can extremely difficult to self-medicate...

All the best with whatever you choose to do, I genuinely hope ATS members can bring some advice for you that'll be helpful.

what is your constant mood?

Its a tricky thing, but if you have a doctor who will work with you, I think that was the best advice. Herbs are medicine, medicine was once herbs, but now much of today's medications have found synthetic constructions, which makes it have a more pure and directed action. I would not mix them without advice from a pharmacist or your doctor. If somethings is working for you now....I would stay with it.

Yes nature provides us with solutions, but only a true expert, and not an internet backroom Herbologist can really give safer advice.
Sometimes chemistry in our mind or bodies get out of wack and can disrupt our perceptions to a degree where we have negative interactions with society. Usually it is through others we become aware of this development. Some medications are directly designed to help balance that chemistry but often it is trial and error before we find the one suited for our needs.
Finding a balance of Herbs and or medication is almost impossible to be done alone because trusting your own observations while your perceptions are off is like drunk driving; You think you can drive but in reality you cannot. This of course was just an example.
Physicians, friends, family, pastors, priests, Rabbis and others can be our sounding boards in this process of trial and error.

But I would also add, assessing ones own desires and see if a fear is harbored inside, fear silent or expressed about loosing these experiences, because in the end you want to understand them. I of course do not know you but it is common that inside, one may have a hope to understand the shifting of perceptions and feel perhaps if you loose that, something special may become unattainable. This part of human nature is often the lock which makes it difficult to over come many human dilemmas. But if the experiences are disruptive or observed negatively by others, we cannot dismiss the idea that some change is needed in ourselves.

However this where it may become difficult because while we want guidance in a mixed experience of perceptions, inside we may fear loosing a unique part of our make up. Thus unknowingly we cultivate the very conditions which are making things confusing. Why do I say this? Because once you understand your inward and outward motivations, you give yourself the tools of guiding your thoughts and responses. Sometimes Herbs and medications are needed as a bridge in those tools, but like in Law we need someone else to help us in that area.

Like a boat coming into harbor we often need a tug boat or a harbor master to help guide us to safety. When we cannot understand the waters we are in we need to have someone we can trust. Someone who has the insight to call out the depth of the uncertain waters of perception. This would be someone you will give a degree of trust and even sometimes blind trust that this person is helping you straighten out the confusing patterns of thoughts which one sees and contemplates.
Yes a good doctors guidance is often the first best start.

However if you don't already, I would keep a personal record of your thoughts feelings and experiences and see if there is a pattern . . .but also I would record the positive along with the negative.

But most important in my opinion, I would get as close to my faith as much as I could. Choose one which guides you in the cardinal values of life, peace and service; each of these values is helpful unto itself. Service helps us loose our concerns and builds strong self esteem.
Learn it, study your choice, become it and let the pattern of faith bring confusion into the light. I would not jump into something so fast that I spoil the journey, but take it one line upon line precept upon precept. There are so many faiths out there, from non belief to extremism. I would avoid the extreme and slowly embrace the very one which soothes my heart. Of course there are also great sources of philosophy which teach powerful lessons, I would read often things like Mark Twain's wisdom; C. S. Lewis was one of the greatest thinkers I know, along with others.
When we embrace the minds of such people we allow a part of their wisdom and life observations to become part of ours.
Also remember as I do, we never loose as long as we are trying.

a reply to: freedom7
Stay off the drugs and follow your instincts.

If you hear voices then just say 'Shut up stupid demon'. Then chuckle at the point where the voice came from.

We are all jumping realities every second. If the jump is chaotic then that is when the mental attack occurs.

Follow your spiritual groove.

a reply to: Kandinsky

We can see on ATS itself how bad it can get with many members, I find it really dangerous for people who are deep in their cycles to come on here and confirm each others delusions, its not healthy and it could be catastrophic for the sufferer and people around them.

Whats MORE interesting is people on this forum and even on this thread, who are afflicted, but you wouldnt know it because they maintain a healthy lifestyle the best they can and keep their meds lined out.

Its really good to see them on some of the more "volatile" threads, trying to talk sense to people who insist "No the gov really is out to get me"