I know this is entirely off topic but I love your sunglass squirtle profile picture lol. Mine was just a brain but after seeing yours I decided to change mine to the usual, based off my favorite Pokemon. Since we're on this topic, do you happen to play Pokemon games by chance, specifically Pokemon Go? I generally only add people as friends that I know locally in person but if you do play and feel interested I'll make an exception and totally add you as well. I always send gifts daily incase you're wondering. Funny coincidence too cuz they're redoing squirtle community day classic this coming sunday, I got over 20 shiny squirtles including a shiny sunglass squirtle, but I might do the make-up community day regardless. I unfortunately stopped playing after December's community day last year because of the absolute horrid side effects from Invega but had recovered enough to return to the game in April for the togetic and swinub community day.
Anyways moving back to the main focus of this thread, it seems that you're currently 6 weeks off, I'm assuming it's some kind of antipsychotic, my bad for not being certain but at that point you may or may not have a long way to go, I'm sure you'll gradually recover regardless. My goal by December, which would be a whole year off of Invega, is to have recovered like I dunno, I suppose 85 to 90% in total, I'd love to aim for a 100% recovery but after everything I experienced, and based off of other people's experiences I'm quite uncertain at this point, perhaps it's something I can achieve within the next several years though. At 6 weeks off I still felt absolutely terrible, I had gone 5 weeks with complete sleep deprivation, which unfortunately ended up lasting for over 3 months, nearly 4. My anhedonia was also very severe, to the point that I completely neglected myself and my surroundings at first, but gradually regained the interest and motivation to do them again, still not quite the same but it's certainly improved regardless.
But anyways, I hope that you continue seeing gradual improvements over time, and eventually manage to accomplish your goal of achieving a 100% recovery, if not by December then hopefully some time soon. I also looked back and realized you've taken Risperidone and Abilify, which I did too in the past before Invega. Interestingly both of those meds had seemingly no noticeable side effects though, despite the fact that Risperidone gets converted into Invega as well, probably because they were just pills at a low dose and not a highly concentrated injection. Since you've only taken pills you should logically be able to recover much sooner in comparison to someone like me that had a long lasting injection though.
Actually right now I am playing Fire/Red version of Game Boy Advance in an emulator in my cellphone (I play when I'm bored inside a Uber or this kind of stuff haha). Thanks for your offer! But I never played Pokemon GO. XD
(Fun fact: I had chosen Charmeleon in this playthrough, instead of Squirtle. But I really like the glasses Squirtle! He looks so confident and badass! Also, nice that you liked my photo profile, just came into my mind to change and I remembered the Squirtle that I used to use in my Telegram's profile pic XD).
But it's nice that you recovered the energy to be engajed again in this game! Seems like it's very important to you, keep it up! Those things are the ones that could relieve our reality and distract ourselves making the recovery a little bit lighter.
The only game that I consider myself really playing is CS:GO. I always attend when my friends invites me. It keeps me interested in a couple hours and I almost forget my condition for a while! It's really good. The sensation of making a nice play is really nice, this week we won a game by 16x14 (almost draw) and I even spontaneously celebrated! Like, the feeling came from the inside, that was nice.
When you took Risperidone/Abilify you didn't felt anhedonia? Do you remember the dosages? I got lots of side effects.
As I can see it is kinda common. But I'm not sure if my anhedonia developed due APs or it is more like a post psychosis depression (I read this on reddit).
Also, thanks for your words! I also expect to recover soon. Those last months had been tough, but I could say my mood is improving a little bit week by week. For example, today I am able to look at the day and think "it's a pretty day, at least there's a bit of sun!".
Just to mention, last two weeks I was crashing and crying everyday, very hopeless and pessimistic. Struggling with depression and derealization.
Don't know if lithium carbonate (started 2 weeks ago) is helping me or just the fact that the withdrawal from Abilify is getting easier... or my brain chemistry returning... there's lots of theories but it's kinda impossible to be sure.
The only TRUE fact is that I have no control over it, my only way to deal is to keep doing my stuff, being active and letting my body/brain heals itself. Again, we should be grateful for the possibility to our body heals itself with time. It's really awesome to be honest. Brain's homeostasis is incredible (have any of you guys read "Dopamine Nation"? It's a nice book and talks about addictions and brain's recovery - I know we are not dealing with addiction but the mechanisms are kinda the same - getting receptors in balance again!).
