Do antipsychotics like Quetiapine shrink the brain? I was put on it after my first psychotic episode. I'm able to work and hold a job, but it's getting difficult to learn new things because I can't remember like I used to.

I think i have delusion where i suspect this one disorder, but how do i undo that. it's been 5 years and it wont go away.

is it even a delusion?

how come when i try to stop believiing in it, it comes back.

i feel like the belief in it causes more harm.

and i dont want to have any help because if it's real, it's not like anyone would believe me

and i rather kill myself then it be real.

how do i unthink this and unthink the symptoms i think are happning but arent

So I have pretty bad anxiety and panic disorder with lots of physical symptoms that are making me slowly completely non functional. Obviously it's time to go to meds. Ativan works (took a couple of times) but I DON'T want to get addicted.

I tried Zoloft and one tiny dose landed me in the ER with severe side effects, possible serotonin syndrome - non stop tachycardia, high BP, couldn't sleep for two days or get out of bed, non stop panic, severe dizziness, nausea, muscle twitching, muscle jerks (although voluntary jerks I think), tight jaw muscles etc. A couple doses of Ativan given at the ER fixed this, but needless to say, they told me to not take Zoloft any more. Clearly my brain responds weird to added serotonin. I'm probably undiagnosed autistic too, which I've read can make SSRI work much stronger or differently than in neurotypical folks.

Which meds could I try next? Im scared of ending up at the ER again, and also scared of other meds like benzos that cause addiction. Not sure what to do next. I don't have access to Genesight testing unfortunately. I don't think Lexapro is probably a good fit either. Maybe Prozac?

So I work at a clinic where I am a medical assistant. Sometimes I make mistakes in terms of inputting a vital or so but nothing too big like misfiling paperwork. The doctor I work for, aka my boss, constructively criticizes me for saying I go too fast and speak too fast, so I was wondering what I need to do to improve. I'm on Vyvanse 30 mg and i think overall it fits me perfectly so I don't think its the medication thats the problem now.

It just feels disheartening because before I was on meds, I struggled so much at my research position in undergrad which I had no choice to quit cuz i knew something was wrong with me. And yet I have a literal doctor who thinks Im unmedicated now. I know therapy and meds are usually whats recommended so maybe I need to focus on that or have a system in place to make less mistakes? im not sure.

ADHD trying to quit weed for an extended time but it helps me relax and sleep like a rock. Similar to Seroquel sleep. I've missed Seroquel for 2 nights due to edibles knocking me out. I'm wondering if I should ditch the weed and go back to Seroquel? Or should I ditch the Seroquel and smoke weed instead?

I've been seeing a psychiatrist for adult ADHD for about a month now and I've been troubled by some of his behavior and I'm wondering if this is normal or I should seek treatment with someone else. I have only met with him through Telehealth calls which my PCP said was normal. But a few incidents that concerned me and I wanted to share it. I am 21 years old and navigating the healthcare system by myself for the first time so I don't know what is normal and what is not.

- He prescribed me Strattera, but when I went to the pharmacy they said I needed a prior authorization form for it to be covered by insurance. When I told him this, he was surprised and said its a simple medication and asked why it needed prior authorization. I asked him multiple times to fill out this form but he just ignored my texts until I just paid for it out of pocket. I didn't like that he would just ignore what I was saying and start insisting that I should be able to get it without insurance approval.

- He ordered an EKG and urine toxicology report for me, but has been quite difficult with getting the results sent to him. My PCP has faxed the documents over to him twice now and when I ask him about it all I get is one text "No". He seems to be a little tech illiterate which is frustrating for me to deal with because the PCP says that the only way for him to get the documents is through fax, which he is insisting he didn't get. He is telling me I have to get the documents myself but I told him I can't get it without a fax machine (which I don't have) to which he doesn't respond.

- In general he comes off as rather disorganized, I have to remind him multiple times for things like filling out forms, or he will send me things I am not supposed to see, like test results for different patients he sends me by accident. I feel like our weekly conversations are not really productive and we talk about things that aren't really related to my mental health. He once asked me how I'm doing with the "Pomodoro technique", something he hadn't even mentioned to me before, I think he might've gotten me confused with another client.

I am worried about switching psychiatrists however, since I am in the process of getting a testing accommodation from him which has a due date coming soon. I want to continue to seek treatment for adult ADHD but I'm really unsure with his approach. Can anyone weigh in here for me? I feel really lost with this whole process

How would this be defined in psychiatry? For context, I have paranoid schizophrenia that is refractory to treatment.

I reached a dose of 600 mg of clozapine, but I had to stop taking it because I developed severe dysphagia. Even at that dosage, there was always a voice present—it was with me all day, 24/7.

My positive symptoms have become somewhat self-regulated—though I am currently on a polypharmacy regimen of antipsychotics (haloperidol, aripiprazole, and quetiapine). I still experience some delusions, hallucinations, and voices, though less so than before.

Is it common for these voices to manifest as complex personalities—or multiple personalities—that have the power to command the hallucinations?

Hello, 28M. I was diagnosed with GAD with panic attacks and prescribed with lexapro on my first psychiatrist visit october 9th. I took the appointment because i was trying to take a vacation off from work due to it being too much. My last day before vacation was october 13th and I spent 1 week with no medication. I felt relief and connected with my hobbies again. I started my lexapro 3 days ago and I think i made a grave mistake.

\* Can only sleep for 2 hours a night, even if I want to sleep in the morning I cant do it.

* Feeling flushed and sweating

* Shaking limbs and teeth

* Feeling like im in a constant panic attack

* My limbs feel hot

* Very tired

* Chest pain/acid reflux

* Feeling very bad headache in the back of my neck

I am under medication with a potassium citrate supplement, liver supplement, and diuretics

I have kidney stones/ and kidney structure problems and fatty liver.

I would like to request to quit but im afraid my doctor will ghost me and not follow up with my fit to work once i go back to work.

Will my psychiatrist understand and be willing to take me off? I would like to start therapy instead.

Currently a senior in high school trying to figure out what career to go into. As someone incredibly interested in in both biology and psychology psychiatry has jumped out to me. However, I struggle with anxiety and this is making me anxious, as you’d expect, about going into this career as I’ve heard it can be incredibly stressful. If anyone can relate and has gone into the field I’d appreciate some advice. Does the stress get better over time? Were you able to come over your anxiety? Are there any other alternative career paths that might better suit me?

First off, I wish to be completely anonymous here. If there is any link or suggestion to my identity it is in error: and I do not authorise you using it in any way.

I have had a long struggle with mental health having 3 involuntary hospital stays due to psychosis. The first diagnosis was "Cannabis Induced Psychosis" (around my mid 20's)

The second & third admission was attributed to possible bipolar 1 / schizophrenia. (30's)

I have a record of suicide attempts during these hospital admissions.

My regular GP has been prescribing me seroquel and diazepam for "as needed" use and has access to all my prior medical history on his screen,

Today, he suggested I could potentially benefit from medical cannabis and offered me a prescription.

This seems to stand in stark contrast with what other doctors and psychiatrists have warned me about in the past.

Does this seem strange and what may be my GP's rationale?

Kind Regards,

Australian Anonymous.

I am perplexed currently.

During very bad acute psychotic breaks, I had no awareness I sounded delusional.

However, at baseline, I can become aware I sound delusional - either intuitively, through reflection, or based on others’ reaction to me.

This usually doesn’t mean I don’t think my belief is real, just that I know to zip it or even express feigned uncertainty around others. At times, however, it does make me feel confused about what I really believe, as though I think it’s real yet also don’t?

I’m wondering if this means it wouldn’t be regarded as a delusion at all?

Hi! Just curious what people might suggest for someone like me. I’ve been on escitalopram and buspirone since 2021 for MDD and GAD, and naltrexone for sh urges. I tried Wellbutrin and switched to abilify after the side effects became too much. I’m currently on four medications (escitalopram, buspirone, naltrexone and abilify) and still dealing with depression. My therapist thinks I might fit the criteria for BPD, and I did several months of a DBT group, which definitely helped build skills. But the depression is impossible to shake.

I’m wondering if it’s worth it to take a GeneSight test or look into something more intensive, like TMS. I’m just at a bit of a loss. I take these medications, and they’re like sugar pills. Maybe I just need to talk to my psychiatrist about different doses or a new medication before doing something more extreme/costly? I’m posting here because I’m not sure what a good next step is and thought maybe someone would have some advice.

I appreciate anyone’s perspective! Thanks for taking the time to read this.

I am worried. I have been on lamictal for about 11 years now. I was at 400mg and still going into bad depressive episodes and mania throughout the year. My new psych has weened me off the lamictal (finishing my 50mg this week) then wants to put me on Latuda.

I'm nervous. I've read all the side effects and I'm terrified I'm going to get many of them. I was on abilify and Seroquel in the past and they caused me to twitch and made me feel like I wanted to rip my skin from my bones. I also passed out taking them. I also took olanzapine at one point and gained 20 pounds in 2 weeks and took me FOREVER to get rid of the weight.

I felt so lucky to have lamictal - it was the first medicine I'd taken for bipolar and not anxiety or depression. I've had to adjust over the span of 11 years but I've luckily never had issues with it.

Now I'm faced with trying a new medication and I'm down right terrified.

Can anyone tell me HOW common some of these side effects are for Latuda? I need to not talk myself out of it as I'm supposed to start taking it Friday 😭

If it helps, I'm someone who rapid cycles. I'll go into episodes co-currently. Like I'll be depressed but also very irritable, easily made ill. I was also on perphenazine 8mg but that has also been discontinued.

If not specific answers are needed, please feel free to ask

Thank you

Hello all.
I am in a severe dilemma with my child. They have recently been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and has started medication for it. They have been taking it for about a week. They however have been having reality breaks and delusions of grandeur. I am talking a delusion she has been stuck in for several weeks about being a millionaire, an a list celebrity, getting accepted into Harvard and Juliard for being a musical prodigy, and today they say they are moving to New York today. The moving out thing has me terrified. I don’t know what to expect and don’t know how to approach this. We have an appointment with a psychiatrist next week but this might be a situation that can go really really bad and I am worried about the fallout she will have from possibly waking up from the delusion when nothing happens today. What can I do? Any help would be greatly appreciated

Treatment-resistant schizoaffective disorder patient with zero insight, Floridly manic psychotic and prone to physical aggression. Absolute refusal to take clozapine or lithium or valproate. Running out of Depot/lai options.
How long would you persevere with a trial of haldol depot before switching to clopixol? What dose and for how long?

I have ADHD, and over the past few weeks I’ve been getting noticeably worse. I’m struggling with almost everything, including taking my medication consistently. I know I need to take it, but knowing that doesn’t make it easier to actually do it.

What frustrates me is that I can observe myself quite well. I notice changes in my thoughts, emotions, behavior, motivation, and ability to function. I can analyze what I’m experiencing, but I can’t put the pieces together or figure out why it’s happening. I feel like I should be able to understand my own mind, yet I can’t make sense of what’s going on.

I don’t know how much of this is ADHD, depression, emotional exhaustion, sleep disruption, or some combination. My psychiatrist has noticed that I’m getting worse, too.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Especially being able to recognize and analyze what’s happening inside your head without being able to understand it, while also struggling to follow your medication routine? How did you make sense of it?

I'm an international medical graduate who completed my MBBS in China, and I'm currently preparing for the FMGE. I feel like my medical foundations are quite weak, and I haven't been able to study at all for the exam over the past two years.

My biggest problem is that I genuinely want to study, I know how important this exam is, and I want to do well. I've tried cutting out distractions, avoiding going out, not meeting friends, and giving up movies so I can focus on studying. But when I actually sit down to study, I struggle to get started and sustain my attention.

This isn't something that started recently. Back in school, I used to zone out in class frequently, daydream a lot, and procrastinate. I wasn't hyperactive, and I didn't have major problems with forgetting things or making careless mistakes. Even now, I can spend 2–4 hours focusing on things I find interesting, such as YouTube rabbit holes or conversations, but studying feels completely different.

I discussed this with a psychiatrist and underwent an ADHD test, which came back negative. I was told I couldn't take ADHD medication. I'm not experiencing significant anxiety, depression, or sleep problems, so I'm trying to understand what might explain these difficulties and what I can realistically do about them.

My current study setup is particularly frustrating. I attend live FMGE classes that last around seven hours. The advantage is that the fixed schedule forces me to sit through the classes and cover the syllabus. However, I frequently zone out, miss what the teacher is saying, and realise I've been thinking about something completely unrelated.

I tried to study by myself w different methods, like pomodoro and questions and alternating between lectures and qbank and notes. But I end up only studying for an hour and then cant go back to it again. I feel like theres no discipline or motivation, maybe my dopamine receptors are fried from using too much social media? Idk but watching the live classes worked more for me than when I sit to study without that.

I have two main questions:

1. Could this still be ADHD, particularly the predominantly inattentive presentation, despite a negative test? Would it be worth getting a second opinion or a more comprehensive assessment? Or does this sound more like poor attention habits, excessive phone use, or another executive-function problem? I'd appreciate advice from psychiatrists or people familiar with adult ADHD.

2. I genuinely want to specialise in psychiatry. Sometimes I wonder whether I really need to learn and memorise such a huge amount of material across every medical specialty just to become a psychiatrist. I understand that doctors need broad medical knowledge, and I'm not trying to avoid learning the fundamentals. But when I struggle this much with studying subjects that feel distant from my interests, I start questioning how I'm going to get through FMGE.

For psychiatrists here, how much of the broad medical knowledge tested in exams like FMGE actually carries over into your day-to-day work? How important is it to have a strong foundation across all specialties before entering psychiatry residency?

I'd really appreciate honest, constructive advice, especially from psychiatrists and people who have experienced similar difficulties with studying.

21, AFAB, 165 cm and 85 kg, and Indonesian.

I want to ask if it's safe to consume these meds if I got diagnosed with Moderate depressive episode and Phobic anxiety disorder?

Sertraline 50 mg, Aripiprazole 10 mg, Alprazolam 0.5, Olanzapine 5 mg, Quetiapine Fumarate 200 mg, Escitalopram oxalate 10 mg

The psychiatrists told me to drink them all at night.

I want to ask my psychiatrist over this but the hospital I went to have a system where we got different psychiatrists each session and we don't have the choice to choose and it got me suspicious if a lack of communication with these doctors is possible.

I was hoping to get some answers and open up a discussion on what abuse actually is.
How would you define it?
What are the most common misconceptions?

After reading (most of) Conflict Is Not Abuse by Sarah Schulman, I am still a little lost. It seems her definition is very black and white. Is the person in literal (physical/emotional etc.) danger or do they just feel as if they are?
However, a lot of people I meet in the real world don’t seem to see it like that.

I think most people have suffered some sort of abuse in their lives at one point or another ranging from all sorts of different severities. There are many times people are being abused and think they aren’t. But there are times people are not being abused and think they are.

What do you think?

My biggest problem is that I just can’t focus on studying, even when I genuinely want to. I sit down with the intention of studying, but within a few minutes my mind drifts somewhere else. If it’s not my phone, I’ll find something else to get distracted by. It feels like my brain is constantly looking for something different to do. Even my teachers at school always used to tell me I could do well, but how I gave my best every time. Some of my friends would study just one day and score excellent meanwhile me who studied for months would just barely pass.
I procrastinate a lot, not because I don’t care, but because starting a task feels really difficult. Even when I know my exams are important, I struggle to begin or stay focused. I often have to read the same page multiple times because I don’t process what I’m reading. Idk whether its adhd or burnout.
This doesn’t happen only while studying. I can’t even watch a movie without feeling the urge to pick up my phone and check my messages, even when I know no one has texted me. It’s like I have an uncontrollable urge to switch my attention. Even when i was making a birthday card for my friend I exactly knew where to start but i just couldnt it was very hard for me to start that . i procrastinated it for 3 days.
These problems have been affecting my studies a lot. I know I can do better, but I can’t seem to use my full potential because I lose focus so easily. It makes me frustrated, guilty, and stressed because I want to study, but my brain doesn’t cooperate.
I dont think so its because of the subjects i chose, i chose the subjects which i really enjoy
okay keeping studies aside there are times when i don't feel like getting up from my bed or do something and even the smallest irritation can make me cry if i get scolded (they dont scold usually, and are very very supportive for my studies) at my house especially by my dad i will cry on small things I can't stop crying i overthink a lot and there are times i get random sad overwhelmed like even I'd be laughing one min I'll get randomly sad next min even if theres no reason and if i try explaining things to someone about how am i feeling and what really happened its impossible for me to explain because i end up crying.
I was 5 when my parents bought me a piano (only because i wanted it) i used to go take piano classes near my house. I love songs from the bottom of my heart. But eventually i stopped going to those classes but once in a blue moon i would take out my piano and play it and as soon as i couldn't play the song i would just quit and this whole cycle repeated basically all my life. I joined piano classes in my 12th class again ( i did it in between too, in middle school and stuff, and left) but eventually again if i couldn't get that particular part in a minute i would quit right then and there. I genuinely wanted to learn piano because i love songs so much im super jealous of the people who can play flawlessly. Same goes with me for studying if i read a math problem and didn't understand it immediately then i would leave it right away without giving it a try.
My 12th was a disaster my younger self would never believe that im capable of scoring this low in my life deciding exams. I couldn’t do even the most important task i could not focus only.
I will never be the person without any ambition i know i am capable of doing certain things i genuinely genuinely know it but its just me who could not perform a single task without any distraction. I feel so helpless genuinely.

I really need help and i need someone who could help with my situation and actually understand what is going on. It’s genuinely gonna safe my life. I have been stuck at home because of my mom. She is sickly attracted to me and not want me to leave for my dreams i am above 21. She says things like i am gonna kms of you leave away from me. Or she just sops saying things like you are gonna kill me you are the reason i am ill. I am literally dying i have been thinking to end my life especially in this hell country i live in. I want to be away from the country but i am scared because it is really complicated and she is mentally ill and i know it isn’t my problem but this actually controls me like nothing else. She is sick i am scared she may do fuck up shit to hurt my sister once i leave or she may actually try to khs i can’t handle it. It is deeply rooted in me i can’t control it. No matter of resilience or how strong i am she still controls me and i am losing my life. Nothing can be close to the hell i feel and again it is so complicated. What can one do in such circumstances? I need answers that actually help and is logical please to not hurt anyone 🙏🏻

My mental health and how this affects me:
Destroyed me got me into GAD and dissociation and many fcked up things i sometimes thing can one experience this and still not unalive themselves? The pain i feel is unbelievable

Hello Im nonbinary (assigned female at birth) 21 and im currently on 15mg of Lexapro, 50mg trazodone, 25mg lamtical, 2mg minipress, birth control and 60mg strattera. In April of this year I overdosed on my strattera, trazodone and I think my minipress or Lexapro I can't remember. Ive been on this combination of medication since i was 12. I lived with no long term side effects of trying to overdose in April but i regret it so much cuz my ptsd got worse due to another traumatic experience :/ ever since I'm terrified of my medications especially the ones that increase serotonin and have a fear of serotonin syndrome and just randomly dying(ik it makes no sense but my brain hates me) so I want to try tapering off my medications(mainly strattera, trazodone, and Lexapro, tho I might keep trazodone cuz of my trouble sleeping) but don't see my pychatrist for a bit. I also have trouble trusting the medical system where I live(Oklahoma) because during a tilt table test to see if I have POTs they gave me nitroglycerin saying it'd be fine with my medications and it reminded me of what happened in April cuz I fainted from the nitroglycerin so I kept having back to back panic attacks (I also have autism and adhd) and regressed mentally for a few hours. So I want to ask, can I get off these medications easily? Atleast the Lexapro and strattera? I need to be reassured that I can get off them. I remember before taking them I didn't really have depression, I had a bit of trouble focusing but it wasn't extremely bad

31F, 180 cm, 80kg
Diagnosed autism & ADHD
125ug Thyrex (for hashimotos)
Deanxit
70 mg Elvanse
Atarax
Trittico
Propranolol

I recently went through a period of stress (PhD defense). About 6 weeks out from it I was having terrible anxiety, including palpitations (pounding fast heartbeats). My psychiatrist and I decided to use atarax to reduce anxiety, Trittico to help me sleep, and propranolol to reduce my heartrate. After a week or so it all calmed me down completely, and I felt fine for my defense.

The week following the defense I went on a celebratory vacation and immediately stopped those three meds since I thought I’d be fine with the thing causing the anxiety being over. And I felt fine, if not just a bit worn out.

Then I got home and the palpitations immediately came back. So I’m taking the meds again, but even when my heartrate is normal the beats still feel stronger and are noticeable, and it makes me think I’m anxious even when I’m not having any anxious thoughts in my head. It’s like the physical anxiety is tricking my brain into thinking I am anxious about everything. And I tried sleeping without taking Trittico and it took hours for me to fall asleep.

It’s been a few weeks now and I’m not really sure what to do. I figured maybe my body needs time to come down from that heightened anxious state, but how long?

I know I need to speak to my psychiatrist, and I’ll also talk to my therapist about this in my next session, but Id just like to get other advice too.

16M here. When my told my previous therapist that I may ADHD and Depression, they said that just my anxiety mimicking ADHD and Depression. That was weird, but it made me wander. Can anxiety actually mimic mental disorders (ie: ADHD, depression, and OCD)

Long story short, it's been awhile since I've seen a psychiatrist and I still have only seen one before. I'm not too knowledgeable about how these appointments work. I usually go to therapy.

So I go in today, with a list of notes of things I've been writing down for the past week. And lo-behold, I spend the first twenty minutes rambling about my annoyances with my roommate and how I feel like that friendship is the downfall of everything.

I feel like I just walked in there and blamed all my issues on someone else.

About twenty minutes in, she stopped me and mentioned I should probably look into therapy as well, and that this type of conversation would better help me there.

She was very kind about it and we spent the rest of our hour talking about medications, and actually landed on my potential to have OCD. This is new to me, and I scored pretty high on the Y BOCS test, so it was a beneficial meeting and I feel like I learned something and got a start on my journey, but I can't push away how embarrassed I am that I walked in and acted like I was in eighth grade. I hardly shared anything from my notes either because I spent the rest of the meeting trying to stay on her track, and not go on my own rant. I just let her ask the questions and we mostly discussed medications.

I can't get it out of my head and I feel like I could have been way better about our time, especially considering how much thought I've put into it. Did I actually waste the time or did she get some beneficial info?