Hi everyone, I thought I'd post with an update too:
I'm over six months off now and I have improved quite a lot. I've lost all the weight I gained (I gained over 20 pounds when I was on Invega) through intermittent fasting (which was difficult, but I was very motivated) and exercise. I've stopped fasting now that I've reached my goal weight, but I'm still eating less than I was when I was on Invega, because I'm not as hungry as I was. I eat healthily and my energy levels are good.
I started running again and ran my first 5k (in a few years) a couple of weeks ago. And I ran it in an above average time. I'm aiming to get to 10k by Christmas. I think it will be quite difficult, but I'm determined. I listen to audiobooks when I'm running.
My sleep is fine - similar to how it was before Invega, which means that occasionally I wake up in the night with lots of thoughts and do some reading, and then I go back to sleep after a little while. I often have a nap around lunchtime too - I don't always sleep during this time but the rest energises me anyway.
I got a pet a couple of months ago, which has probably helped too. She gets me out walking three or four times every day. I also walk across town a few times a week to visit family. I've read that having a pet can help with neurogenesis - because of oxytocin, which boosts neurogenesis, memory and learning.
I've started adding turmeric powder (and black pepper - which helps its absorption, as does fat) to my porridge every morning - I've read that turmeric helps with neurogenesis too. I take it primarily for cancer prevention though.
My period came back after 5 months.
I'm not working yet, but I'm hoping to begin voluntary work after Christmas. I spend my days reading and researching things (along with walking and visiting family). My interest in things has come back completely. Time doesn't drag anymore, in fact, there aren't enough hours in the day to read all of the things that I want to read.
I'm not sure if my emotions are back completely, I get emotional and cry easily, but I don't cry a great deal. Even on invega, I could cry, so I'm not sure how much this effected me. Before invega however, I would regularly cry buckets, so I think that my emotional intensity was probably reduced by invega. But I definitely don't feel so flat anymore. I think my intensity has already recovered or will do.
I'm not taking any other antipsychotics or psychiatric medications now and my mental health is stable. I had psychotic delusions, which lasted a few years, before starting invega. They haven't come back. I hope that I will be able to recognise it if they ever return. I think I've learned to think more critically and to definitely not just believe a thought because I *feel* it to be true. I am less spiritual, but this is actually a good thing, because my spirituality and imagination were deeply emneshed when I had delusions and I could not differentiate between real and imagined.
I have really good family support, which I'm very grateful for. We've talked a lot about what we'll do if I become unwell again (hint: no injections! and antipsychotics only for a short time...).
I wish you well, everyone
edit: I do actually take a supplement - vitamin C and I've been taking it for a long time. I take about 4 - 5 grams each day.
I've just read that it has important roles in neurological functioning and it can protect brain cells from neurotoxins and facilitate dopamine neuron differentiation (the final stage in the development of neurons).