Hey @Dimity, thank you for sharing your story with us!
Sounds like you have been going through this for a long time and have good insight into your experiences. I get delusions, and the narrative of my psychotic episodes creeps in sometimes, but I am aware of what's going on and that it's delusional thinking. It's more like daydreaming for me now, and I don't believe it like when I lost touch with reality.
From what I have learned, it can be quite common to have diagnoses changed over time, and it happened to me too. Schizophrenia is a spectrum disorder and is not all about psychotic symptoms, but they can often be present when we come into contact with MH services.
That's good to hear that you have been on the same antipsychotic for 20 years as the one I take works really well for me and I have been on it for 9 years. I am not interested in changing so I hope there is no reason for me to have to consider it in the future. Gaining weight is my biggest side effect and I am concern how that plays into my life expectancy. I really struggle with exercise where that was not an issues before I had psychocis nearly 20 years ago.
I love the idea of creating a space to support carers of people hearing voices and psychosis!! Amazing idea 💡 Though carers are welcome in this thread and reading about other peoples experiences my be beneficial too.
Take care
RiverSeal
