Thanks for the tag @RiverSeal    My first psychosis was in 1993, yes 32yrs ago when I was a young adult. I've had various hallucinations, auditory, visual, olfactory. I've had multiple psychosis episodes and hospital admissions over the decades. I too have schizophrenia or schizoaffective disorder as I also experience depression.   My recovery has been a journey of ups and downs but overall a line of progress. I have managed to study and work, I was married for a long time and from that I have two beautiful children who are nearly young adults now!    I have struggled with medication side effects too and also worry about my possible shortened life expectancy. Ive gained weight, have had tremors (taking another medicine for that now) and I still struggle with motivation. Having said all that, the medication has saved my life. Ive taken antipsychotics and antidepressants over the years and remain on an injectible long acting antipsychotic now.   If I was talking to someone new to a diagnosis or a family member of someone who has been diagnosed with schizophrenia... I'd say research and find out about the illness to understand what you/your family member is going through. Lack of understanding can break relationships if ppl don't separate what is the illness and what is the person. It's an illness that impacts nearly every facet of your life so insight and understanding is so important.   My recovery has been helped mostly by loving and supportive family and friends, medication and a determination to not let this bring me down. It's not an easy journey, actually it's really shi**y but there's beauty in recovery.   I have relied on doctors, forums, support groups and case managers throughout my recovery. And information, I'm always reading about the latest research and approaches.    The silver lining for me is an empathy for other people with struggles, from which I hope I can help others ... View more

There's also One Door in Sydney which supports people with schizophrenia and their families. If you are unsure what services are nearby, you can call the head to health/now called Medicare Mental Health Centres who have free short term support and can refer your brother to the supports he needs. It sounds like it'd be good for him to participate in a day program for ppl with complex MH. I live with schizoaffective disorder which for me means I have schizophrenia and depression. I have used the head to health services and I found it really beneficial. I know others with schizophrenia who go to a day program through one door  which is helpful for them. Recovery takes time, be patient even though it's hard. You're obviously a caring brother which is a wonderful start  ... View more

@Eden1919hi, I'm sorry that you're still struggling. Do you have any support like a counsellor or GP? They may have some way to help and relieve some of what's stressing you.   It's important to take your medication, as it should help with the symptoms you're experiencing. I know how strong the desire not to take them can be, but they do really help.     ... View more

Thanks @Shaz51 , yes I'll be guided by any discomfort so I don't hurt myself   I hope your mechanical bill wasn't too big. I don't know card well so dread the mechanic bills. It's good you got you're walking in. I walked over 7000 steps yesterday, slow day today ... View more

Hi @Shaz51 and everyone,   I started doing Pilates using an app but it stopped working so I stopped doing it   I have now signed up to a fitness centre for classes which starts in a week. I'll wait to see if I can do the exercises with my back/hip how it is.   I noticed that if I wear cheap shoes, my hip pain flares up so I stick to good sneakers (I was gifted a good pair of shoes).   How are you Shaz? ... View more

Hi @Eden1919  I have been on the forums for years but don't post much recently. What you're describing sounds like what happens to me when I'm slipping into psychosis. I have a crisis plan for when I struggle, do you have one of those? I wrote it with my counsellor/psychologist. I drink cold water to ground myself or go for a walk. If I am not getting better I am supposed to call someone in my support network which is also the last thing I want to do.   I hope you have someone you can talk to about this, or your psychiatrist if you're meds need adjusting.     ... View more

My sciatica improved after I started moving more, but it didn't improve straight away. It hurt to walk for a while but it's getting easier and less painful ... View more

Hi @Appleblossom @Dimity  I have restarted doing stretches and walking after stopping for a while. My sciatica returned so it's easing again recently. All the best for your surgery Dimity ... View more

Enjoy your day @Shaz51 ! x ... View more

That is early, you might need a nap today.   I'm going good, did my hip exercises and had breakfast. Off to work today. ... View more

Morning @Shaz51 ! I hope you are enjoying a coffee too . ... View more

Another system I have, this one saves on power: I have a magnetic whiteboard on the fridge and I list everything in the freezer so I can see without having to open it up and look.  ... View more

Hi everyone, thanks for tagging me @TideisTurning . I have an electronic and a paper calendar. My electronic calendar is accessible in my mobile phone so I use it for appointments so I don't double book myself or my kids. My paper calendar I write when I do things like watering plants, taking supplements, washing sheets and towels etc so I know when they're due next. These two systems help me especially when I'd likely forget things otherwise  ... View more

I'm sorry about your medication debacle @ClockFace that sounds awful! I hope you are going better now.   My scans came back with bursitis, so it's my hip playing up. Quite painful. One treatment is weight loss which I'm not too good at being on an antipsychotic, I want to eat a lot. I can't overdo the exercise either so I'm seeing an exercise physiologist for advice in a few weeks time.   Hope everyone else is going along well @Dimity  @Appleblossom  @Shaz51 @Emelia8  ... View more

Thank goodness for heat packs hey @Shaz51    Thanks @Dimity . I'm pretty sure my disc prolapse has gotten worse.  ... View more

I didn't know that! How disappointing as they can be helpful. I hope you are ok @Shaz51  ... View more

I've had pain in my hip and leg from sciatica. I'm getting scans to check it out  ... View more

I agree with @Oaktree that self empowerment is a good broad topic. I'm personally interested in skills for self advocacy. ... View more

I was changing meds last year and not going well. I'm stable with my meds now though my MH isn't perfect, it probably never will be. It's progress I guess  ... View more

Perseverance ... View more

Thanks for the thread @Zoe7 and for the tag @Shaz51 . I've had a year of ups and downs and learning more about myself all the time, and about this journey of life.    @Appleblossom I love the concept of ikatagai (? spelling) as being able to find meaning and purpose is so important and being able to bring one's spiritually along a with one's interests and industriousness, how good would that be.    Wishing everyone a fun afternoon and new year! ... View more

I've been trying to stretch and do my physio exercises every day as I'm in pain every day. It does get a bit easier to do the stretches the more I do them.    I have a break from my Pilates classes at the moment.   I hope everyone enjoys seeing in 2024. I'll be curled up asleep by midnight but I'll enjoy watching the early fireworks. ... View more

Merry Christmas all! ... View more

Hi @Shaz51 I hope you are going ok? I've been praying for the people in the floods. It looked severe from the TV news.    Also, a few people said that they have trouble getting onto the floor for stretching. I have a firm mattress and so I do my stretches on the bed when I wake up. Otherwise I doubt I'd do them ... View more

I used to meditate for 20 mins though these days I do it for even less time sometimes if I'm short on time. ... View more

@ClockFace that sounds tough, good you have a team to help you.   @Dimity I do stretches in the mornings. It's not easy but I find it helpful  ... View more