30 MGS ABILIFY. This cant go on forever....

I have developed coping mechanisms, and a mindset, so if i ever were to hear a voice or random thought it would not bother me, at least I think so. I no longer am very paranoid at all. I started realizing, after so many years on the same medication I need to go off of it. It's causing me extreme tension, Im constantly clenching my teeth or legs, and always sore. I feel pent up, and i need to release the stress in a healthy way.

I also am diagnosed with ADHD, if I can take a dopamine stimulant and have no ill adverse affects, than that kinda tosses schizophrenia doesn't it. I don't really fantasize much, wish i could more because I want to be a writer. I have a strong faith in God and holy forces of protection, and I've been off it for about 3 months with no problems whatsoever, except my aunt convinced me to take it just in case, and it made me hallucinate for about an hour once I took the full dose again.I feel like I've just been tweaking, lol, and not doing too much harm.

But I can't drive, can't feel, can't cry willingly, cant do anything anymore on 30mgs of Abilify. It's killin me guys, and it's making me dumb. I'm serious. I make the most irrational stupid decisions, forget promises, engage in risky behavior and abnormal pleasure and attention seeking, on it, which is not normal to me. Its causing me stress, and I don't know what to do.

With my dad I am always agreeable that I have an illness, but on the flip side, he never once considers my side of things on the issue, it seems he has a very narrow perspective...and the times I've tried to withdraw he always flipped out and yelled at me, fearing I'd go insane like my mother. So I have my mom as a reference for the madness, and I start thinking it's genetic. Is bipolar or schizophrenia or adhd or whatever is it genetic? Because it would be comforting to think not, and that my mom is having menopause or a midlife crisis instead. or that jail pushed her past her limit, since she was in there for 71 days for protesting some organization and actually got time served.

But the only thing that bothers me...well the ADHD meds make me bitchy and irritable, the Abilify makes me apathetic and numb...but off it...I am stressed out all the time for about a few weeks until it wears off. I just worry I've been on it for 7 years about, is it possible I will ever get off it?

My worst problem is paranoia. My mom definitely seems to have paranoid delusions, but also false memories and thinks we're imposters, throws all our things away and then claims people stole them, and thinks my dad is holding her hostage and stole her fortune, but she never worked much...so maybe she's pretty out of touch, but I never had the same delusions as her. seriously, I've been told I do not have the same ones, I dont have false memories. My paranoid delusions tend to be rooted in fact and possibility, I researched things a lot...etc. but I'm terrified of going mad, and I'm also terrified that the medication is making me go mad as well. Does it matter? It does to me.

I'm trying to find myself. How can i find myself if I'm stuck in medication land?

Your mental health provider is supposed to provide clients with accurate mental health information.

Instead, many mental health professionals routinely provide clients, their families, the media and even elected officials with misinformation that can increase reliance on prescribed psychiatric drugs.

This misinformation discourages people from believing they can learn to help themselves overcome problems. These myths increase passivity, hopelessness and the risk of suicide.

In this flyer you will find a grid comparing commonly distributed misinformation with the more accurate and hopeful picture that corresponds with scientific knowledge.

http://www.mindfreedom.org/truth/truth-flyer-text

Download the Harm Reduction Guide to Coming Off Psychiatric Drugs free here: http://willhall.net/comingoffmeds.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4bdG601k4k&feature=youtu.be
http://www.madinamerica.com/resources/

I think you can do it.

As always I have to agree with copy_cat on this one. The Abilify isn't helping you, and Its something that needs to re-thought. The common theme with psychiatrists is prescribe until the "right one is found", so it may just be better to start coming off the meds all together and give it a try.

The frustration, and Id imagine theres a lot, needs to come out in a constructive way, art, sports ect. Once the drug is no longer in your body psychically you will feel a lot better. And the soreness is definitely from the meds, had the same issue.

I'm on my third day without it and I feel a ton better. I have stopped being so tense, and let loose at a party for once tonight. Just felt like me. I am being me again. I keep thinking I'm this invented or pretend person on Abilify. Basic...it makes me depersonalize.

You should not stop taking your medications abruptly, and especially with your doctor not being aware. There could be potentially dangerous side effects from stopping your medication abruptly. If you choose to go off of your medication, that is your choice, however do not do so without your doctor's involvement.

Cheze2 wrote:You should not stop taking your medications abruptly, and especially with your doctor not being aware. There could be potentially dangerous side effects from stopping your medication abruptly. If you choose to go off of your medication, that is your choice, however do not do so without your doctor's involvement.

How about a new doctor's involvement ?

“Problems cannot be solved with the same mind set that created them.” ― Albert Einstein

For at least some people, getting off medication, even against a prescriber's advice, may be the best solution. For example, long term studies show high rates of recovery among people diagnosed with "mental illness" who have gotten off medication successfully. Getting off medication can mean avoiding long term health risks (including risks of early death) associated with many of the medications.

Im not anti-medication , I am pro informed consent. To learn more about informed consent see this page, its the best I have found.

A Model Consent Form for Psychiatric Drug Treatment*

by
David Cohen, Ph.D., and David Jacobs, Ph.D.

http://laingsociety.org/colloquia/polofdiagnosis/modelconsent.htm

Copy_Cat wrote:How about a new doctor's involvement ?

A new doctor's involvement is always an option and definitely one to consider.

Copy_Cat wrote:For at least some people, getting off medication, even against a prescriber's advice, may be the best solution. For example, long term studies show high rates of recovery among people diagnosed with "mental illness" who have gotten off medication successfully. Getting off medication can mean avoiding long term health risks (including risks of early death) associated with many of the medications.

Again, coming off of a medication should always be done under a doctor's supervision. I am aware that there are many people who have been able to successfully come off of medication and have done quite well independently. There are definitely health risks to take into consideration when deciding if medication is right for you. This does not mean that one should abruptly stop any medication without their doctor's supervision.

Also, please note the site rules on medication advice. forum-rules.php

This is my first visit to the anti-psych forum. I believe that psychiatry, while far from perfect, has helped keep me alive to the age of 52. I was on abilify briefly and couldn't handle the side effects. I don't remember what my doctor replaced it with but I wasn't off antipsychotics for very long. Abilify was the worst drug I ever took, so can only imagine what 30mg a day did to you. I have been on many different medications during the past 18 years and have stopped taking them from time to time, often with disastrous results. Once I was off meds for a month and was arrested for disorderly conduct in August 2005. Fortunately for me the cops were sympathetic to people with mental illness, otherwise I might not be here. Instead, at my request, I was taken to the local veterans psychiatric ward where I was admitted for six weeks. The inpatient psychiatrist wanted to put me on clozapine but the VA wouldn't approve it, so she gave me zyprexa instead.

So be careful. I would suggest contacting your psychiatrist and finding a replacement for abilify. Maybe you can try another atypical antipsychotic that has less side effects. Like I said, abilify was a bad trip for me. I'm on 120mg geodon right now and have had no side effects, except for welcomed weight LOSS!

Take care,
Barnett

barnett wrote: Once I was off meds for a month and was arrested for disorderly conduct in August 2005. Fortunately for me the cops were sympathetic to people with mental illness, otherwise I might not be here. Instead, at my request, I was taken to the local veterans psychiatric ward where I was admitted for six weeks. The inpatient psychiatrist wanted to put me on clozapine but the VA wouldn't approve it, so she gave me zyprexa instead...

Six weeks in the psych lockup on Zyprexa for disorderly conduct ? That sucks like big time. Big like in Texas. I got into some Vodka when I was pissed off about 2 years ago and was being a bit loud in the street, the cops gave me the choice between jail and the hospital and I quickly replied JAIL ! and I was out the next day with no charges. See the cops and the legal system have to obey The United States Constitution unlike those quack doctors who go around acting as judge, jury and chemical rapist behind the locked doors of inpatient psychiatry.

I don't think you have ever been subject to coerced or forced drugging, Its a whole different ball game when you don't want to be drugged into zombie oblivian and they make threats or carry out a forced injection to try and break your will. Your view of them will change forever.

Check out this youtube on Abilify,

Andy Behrman, a former spokesman for Abilify and Bristol Myers Squibb, discusses his side effects from Abilify, the "wonder drug" of Bristol Myers Squibb,

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VzMZX4nBz8