44 Post's in and.............. Hello!
Hello to all in the TDS! been posting a lot here since i joined Bluelight but didn't think to introduce myself to TDS so here's my story.......
Hey, I'm Schizaphonic, but you can call me me Schiz, age 27, i started drinking alcohol at 15 years of age, marijuana at 17, MDMA at 18, and Crystal Meth at 19, i gave it all up at 20 (although i still smoke cigarettes) but by the time i was 21 i was diagnosed with Clinical Depression, General Anxiety Disorder, and Schizophreniform psychosis. I was born with Asperger's, relatively minor, IQ 127 (Asperger's is not a condition or syndrome, it's a different type of mind, controversial but i stick by that) and i have had ADHD as long as i can remember (but it was diagnosed as an adult). The conditions developed from my meth habit (yeah I'm a mixed bag, but i actually score 1 point above 'normal' in the mental health test my psychiatrist gave me, purely thanks to a rigid regime of a finely tuned combination of medications/dosages, mindfulness, mediation and taking the time to occasionally treat my mind with a high).
For my conditions i take Ziprasidone, Venlafaxine and Clonazepam (i wish my psychologist would give me something for the ADHD cause it makes studying a bitch), Those three meds take care of most everything except for the negative symptoms of the psychosis but i can still get high (for temporary relief from the symptoms), which i think psychiatrists should take into account (give us something so we can "take a break" occasionally), I've been on many anti-psychotics (Ziprasidone, Olanzapine, Risperidone, Amisulpride and Risperidone) and many Anti-Depressants ( Venlafaxine, Escitalopram, Sertraline and Mirtazapine) i have also been prescribed Tamazepam, Diazepam and Clonazepam over the years (Clonazepam being my favorite Benzodiazepine) so feel free to ask questions about my experiences with these prescription medications.
I will soon have access to a private psychologist being paid for by an academic scholarship, Yay! (public system sucks) I like synthetic Cannabinoids, natural weed doesn't really agree with me, i get dysphoric (kinda paradoxical) and paranoid, I occasionally get some Zolpidem or a pack of Cold and Flu medication (Pseudo-ephedrine and Codeine) these three are my 'Holidays' from the negative symptoms, also Meth raped my imagination so i need something for relief from an essentially visually blank mind) I think my GP knows what i do, but he's a compassionate man and give's me some Zolpidem occasionally to help me 'sleep'. I'm generally a glass-half-full kind of person but even when depression gets a hold of me i still 'try' if ya know what i mean, i think this is my greatest strength.
About me? I'm not a religious man, but i am a spiritualist, i choose to believe in 'more'. As for my daily life I'm a University bum (don't have to work cause in Australia you get a student allowance mines like $450 a week) I'm living with my mum (moved in since my father left her a few years back) but only till i finish my study (she doesn't charge board) which allows me to invest in my hobbies (High-end Audio/Music and High Performance Computing or HPC) I'm studying a computer science major also picked up a psychology major (Bachelor of Information Technology requires two majors be completed and i think of studying psychology as personal growth), so if you can help me with basic psychology please do! also if you want some advice about your computer, give us a pm and i might be able to help (better than paying those clowns in the computer stores, they WILL rip you off big time)
I'm not a drug addict or abuser (anymore), but i do self medicate to a degree, i have strict rules and a bit of experience up my sleeves, so why am i here? to teach and to learn (mainly learn)
much love and peace
-Schiz