I have had a long journey of about 13 years since high school and with medication I was mostly stable, could ho go school and work. However, I always had doubts and dealt with psychiatrists who never really gave me the care I was looking for, they never really listened to my concerns. Finally I found the courage to get another opinion and they said I was asymptomatic and I went on a tapering off my medication with observation over pandemic, but unfortunately relapsed and had a bad psychotic episode and ended up in a hospital and have been recovering for about a year now. I do wonder if all of it could have been avoided if I just had good trustworthy doctors to begin with. Its a long journey but it seems like life can be stable if you find the right care. That seems to be some of my takeaways at this point anyway. Good luck on your journey!

With voices, I've been given helpful advice..they r there for purpose, test them, ask wise questions, don't just obey them, treat as if they r a part of u like have compassion kindness if aggressive angry. With Seroquel, I don't have paranoia or racing thoughts. With stress, I experience symptoms n take a prn for it. I have electronic med dispensar so command voices don't get me off meds. I've added yoga chigong Tai chi for meditation to destress plus affirmation n meditations. I research my symptoms or mental health struggles..I've advocated for a treatment team to help me so at stable through counsel or tackle stuff casemgr can help with like mental health directive. I now take responsibility for my daily mental health wellness n have insight by studying n interviewing people who had interaction with me when I'll. I'm open to share my struggles with counselor now..before I didn't want to cuz it was so off.