Steven, thank you!! So brave and inspirational. I have a 21 y old son w schizophrenia. I have a new understanding of what he experiences. Thank you so much!!
Thank you so much for taking the time to educate us. I have allot of energy but my son is so fatigued all the time. He just can’t put it into words. By you explaining it to us, it helps us understand our own situation.
I appeciate you sharing that. ive been trugging through it for 24 years. diagnosed when i was 18 with schizoaffective disorder. ive worked a part time time job for past 10 years. but most mornings im exausted for the first 30 minute to an hour. im glad you posted this video an know im not alone. ive found the illness gets more managible and less symptomatic over time if you take your meds, exercise, have a hobby, or part time job. keep up the good work!
This is one of my biggest complaints to my psychiatrist (he’s also my therapist). I feel like I have fatigue that those around me just really don’t understand. I don’t know anyone personally who is diagnosed like I am though. I never know if it’s schizophrenia or my medication. Stimulants have thankfully have helped me a ton. I do understand the false sense of energy which I don’t really like but I don’t think I would be able to work if I didn’t take them. Being around people is really hard for me too. I feel exhausted by interactions with others. Even for just a short time. Thanks for a relatable video!
Hello Steven, I so enjoy your videos. I'm so sorry that you stay tired. I can understand that. My son who is 42 experiences the same thing. He's been disabled since 2009 because of schizophrenia. His sleep isn't very good either. Life doesn't seem to be fair, but you seem to accept your disability and make the best of it. I appreciate your attitude....my son has lots of anger. It makes life hard for him and family at times. Take care, and keep encouraged. You look wonderful!
Thanks for sharing your experience Stephen. I have very similar experiences with waking up really late and feeling a bit tired through the day. I also take Clozapine and get knocked out in an hour to hour and a half of taking my night dose, same as you. Thanks for making this video and increasing mental health awareness 😊
Hey Stephen! I also suffer from schizophrenia and struggle a lot with fatigue. I ended up getting addicted to caffeine and sugar while trying to have some sort of energy. :( Exercising is really hard for me to find any motivation to do, but I manage to at least do something indoors at least two times a week. Eating healthy was a real struggle in the beginning because of the medication making me 'hungry' but never satisfied, but I managed to create a routine around food and stick to it. It's not easy but we're tying our best and that's what matters most. I hope you keep finding ways to improve yourself! ♥
Your an amazing human being thank you sooo much for having the courage to speak your truth as you do. It gives people the courage to persever through the emotions and thoughts. Keep spreading love light and happiness.
I struggle with schizophrenia too. About a year ago I was so sleepy I couldn't walk to the kitchen. Its just something you learn to deal with. I was also struggling with memory loss and my emotions. Of course I was on all sorts of anti psychotics which contributed as well. I was on the max dose of Risperidone (8mg) and it zoned me out so much that I couldn't think for myself. I went to a new doctor and he did a gene test and found out that Risperidone is contra indicated for my specific gene make up. I was switched to a much lower dose of one that would work for me and I have come alive again! I felt like Rip Van winkle...waking up 8 years later and having to learn everything again. I didn't even know you could get internet on the cell phone. I'm only very slightly tired now and I am starting to repair my life in the aftermath. Just one more thing...the other thing I did was started vitB12 shots weekly. The anti psychotics zap your body of this particular vitamin. Might help a little bit--your neurologist can do the blood work to figure it out. If you covered all this in previous videos, so sorry...I haven't had time to see all of your videos yet.
Vitamin B12 gets drained by all psychoactive drugs, narcotics, nicotine, caffeine. You can get psychotic due to B12 deficite, so keeping that B vitamins in check is a good idea. Also goes for B3, B6, B9 and in case of alcoholism B1. I also found it very helpful to give my mom Omega 3 after I found out, she has been abused by psychiatry (no indication but got haloperidol shots - those are very harmful), 3 decades ago, her brain still gets better and her mood. So that also might not be a bad idea. Along with going for the lowest dose on those neuroleptics as possible (I don't call them antipsychotics). I actually put a lot of research in this topic because I wanted to help my mom.
@@kareendeveraux1847 Wow! you really have done your homework! I am guilty of taking more than one of those things (neuroleptics, caffeine and sort of with narcotics) I am on a relatively new narcotic that my neurologist wants me to take. It is supposed to not have the euphoric aspect even though it is technically still a narcotic. I have never even had the desire to take more than I should. It works beautifully for me even in severe episodes of pain. The neurologist also took me off of haloperidol immediately when he found out I had been prescribed that by my psychiatrist. For a while, my B levels were so low that I was taking B12 shots weekly. He is also the one who keeps my blood work balanced. He is actually my hero! He is the one who finally figured out that I was super overdosed on Rispiridone. If you know anybody in need in the Atlanta GA area....he is wonderful! Dr Hishum Mishu. He is at Midtown Neurology. I hope your mom is well and stable. Thanks again for all the research!
Hi Stephen. I love your videos. They make me feel not so alone. I’m also on Clozapine (and other meds too). I’m always tired but find it hard to sleep at night without extra meds to knock me out.
I can identify with a lot your saying. My first experiences with antipsychotics were the worst. Haldol was proably the worst. I found haldol teatment to be debilitating. My energy has improved over the many years and through use of other medications. I also love that first cup of coffee in the morning. It is actually the high point of my day and when I actually feel good. : )
Do you get a few minutes of sunshine every day? That is really important to alleviate fatigue and other symptoms. My daughter uses a treadmill in the garage for about 40 minutes s night. Also, it may help if you increase fruits and vegetables. Basically anti-inflammatory. That can help the schizophrenia and fatigue. Also eliminating gluten, because that can be a source of inflammation for a lot of people. Inflammation contributes to the severity of a lot of illnesses, including Schizophrenia. I’m glad you are doing so well. Hopefully, you can find a way to improve your energy, but you are clearly doing well with managing the Schizophrenia.👍🏻
Caffeine creates stress not energy. Not only that after the buzz wears off you are tired and need another hit of caffeine to "wake up". Cut back on caffeine and use just a small amount a day. Use a little green or black tea once a day.
Helo everybody me i am on 300 g of clozapine for 21 years you have to believe in yourself you can beat the side effects even the bloodchec Can go i am a fulltime salesmen and was only out of business for 9 months in those years the less to think about the side effects the better Strength everybody
I used to be on 3 meds for epilepsy caused by a benign brain tumor that was eventually removed. The sleepiness all day was terrible, but caffeine would cause seizures. I get it.
I found it I can manage my schizophrenia but I switched at a ketogenic carnivore diet and ditched all carbs, sugar and caffeine. As a highly sensitive person I find the cleaner I eat and live the better I do.
I would be interested if you asked your doctor if drinking taragui mate would be okay and if you might try it. I can't wait for KATxt to finally be approved by the FDA. It's supposed to be out in August. In its 3 trials it proved to target the negative symptoms and I'd love to see it positively affect you. My sister is still very symptomatic, so I'd love to see if it could completely stop the delusions and also get rid of her negative symptoms. Did I mention how awesome my sister is? I love her to pieces and I want to best in her and I also hope for the best in you. Honest to G-d. You didn't deserve this and neither did she and neither does anyone else.. stay strong as you always have! xo Helen
@@SurvivingSchizophrenia I wrote the name of the new medication wrong. KARxt by Karuna. Research it. It was first developed for people with Dementia and targets receptors that none of the medications for schizophrenia target. It's excellent that it's even getting to the threshold of the FDA because the cost of getting meds through rigors and trials is so expensive, many can't do it. I hold hope with it.
Have you tried electrolyte powders or b vitamins? I get bad fatigue too but those help me a bit. Psych meds can deplete minerals too so taking a mineral supplement can be helpful
I understand you Stephen I was so tired without energy but I started to drink mate and I feel far better than before I am accepting my diagnosis of schizophenia ,it is so hard
It's your medication that keeps you awake and coffee, it also depends on your age to as to how active your brain is I would say constantly active for you ,coffee will just stimulate it if your tired you need rest power nap is the best treatment for fatigue not and hours in the day.
I have a friend who has a had big turnaround thanks to clozapine, and she just started Ritalin. It's only big a week, but she hasn't shown much improvement so far as enough energy to drive for example.
Sleeping is one of the things I don't like about taking clozapine. I feel like it waste so much time. If I don't get enough sleep, I get mini seizures. ___ Yeah I can never think straight no matter the time of day. I find that sleep is a better stress relief than alcohol and drugs. _____ I stick with walks as a base. I push through the tiredness. Used to be very active too. I like yard work and gardening better than sports.
Hi Stephen, my name's Alex I'm Bipolar 1 and I also have a hard time telling sometimes if I am tired because of my medication or because of depressive symptoms. I take lithium, loxapine (which is similar to clozapine), and Prozac. What dose of clozapine are you on?
Sorry Stephen that you are having to deal with such incredibly tiredness. Hopefully, someone here might come up with something that might help. Not sure if you tried adderall, it might give you a little more natural feeling energy than the ritalin but anyway, I hope with time and the help of your doctors that the tiredness and fatigue improves. Thanks for sharing.
Why would you suggest Adderall? If he's using it to stay awake that's abuse. It'd a drug. A powerful stimulant. If you watch his videos you should know a stimulant is NOT what someone with psychosis should take.. ugh sorry that just upset me a little. I don't mean to come off rude. But yeah Adderall is an amphetamine. It could be damaging to someone with schizoaffective disorder
@@chelseyscanlon9660 Adderall has several off label uses. It is for his doctors to assess and decide if he meets the criteria for off label use. Stephen was also prescribed Ritalin which is a stimulant as well with many off label uses just like Adderall.
I know this sounds like a dumb question but what are the effects of including exercise like what if you just got to hulk strength would you naturally have more energy and cut it potentially make schizophrenia less intense? Cuz if you had more energy but I don't know
Stephen can you make video about cognitive symptoms of schizophrenia. For me my worst symptoms are cognitive. It affects my life so much. I am not even capable to be around people cuz i cant keep up with conversation. This illness is so hard.
Do you have problems controlling your arms on clozapine? My Dr tried me out on it once and I couldn't even feed myself for over a week after a few days of taking it and immediately stopped taking it
If u wouldn't have to take your antipsychotics or there would be more adapted medicaments for your/our suffering we could function well and be super fit hope we'll find it soon maybe with crispr and dna machine learning stuff, this illness is so sick and weird
I am on Bipolar treatment and I have trouble getting up of bed in the morning, when I awake mi Head still sleep I really fully awake to 11 Am probably for the pills I take ( in mi country people wake up very early like 6 AM), I find intriguing how little information is out there to counter antipsychotics and BP and other illness while other diseases how so much awarenes and people talk about mental health I guess not the kind of mental Health of Us people with Cronic problems
Have you ever heard of microwave technology that the government is using against it's own citizens look it up Steven cuz I hear voices and the directed energy can cause hallucination also there's not a lot we can do about it except to try directed energy protection it helps with the tiredness and voices excreta hope this helps you seem so sweet and God bless you
Your medicated schizophrenia sounds like PTSD. My psychiatrist has given me synthetic marijuana to help me to sleep deeply, which helps with the nightmares
