Chronic deficit schizophrenia (debilitating negative and cognitive symptoms)

[NegativeSymptoms]

Does anyone else has severe schizophrenia with predominant negative symptoms and cognitive symptoms?

I have researched this condition because I am suffering from it intensely. My diagnosis is catatonic schizophrenia. The catatonic symptoms and psychoses are comparatively rare and can be controlled with antipsychotics, but the deficit/negative, cognitive symptoms are resistant to any kind of treatment. I am disabled by this cruel disorder, a living vegetable without soul. Apathy, anhedonia, poverty of speach, social withdrawal, prominent retardation of intellectual functioning etc. On top of that I also have social phobia since early childhood. 98% of time I just lie on my sofa browsing internet mindlessly on my phone as a form of escapism. I receive disability pension of 90€ per month (my Baltic country loves it's invalids), luckily I live with my parents so I don't have to become a homeless or go to nursing home for mentally ill. I use my money to pay for Skype therapy sessions. It's my last hope, if it doesn't work, I have no choice but to kill myself. I was dealt very unfair cards. Human mind is such a fragile thing.

Can anyone relate? Asking this because I feel so alone. When people discuss their schizophrenia, it's often about hallucinations and delusions but that sort of people have a much better prognosis than us. We are neglected by psychiatry, there is not a single medication for our symptoms. They can only make you numb and even more disabled with their antipsychotics.

Sorry for this long rambling, I rarely read long posts due to avolition but I hope you at least tried.

Keywords: catatonic schizophrenia negative cognitive symptoms chronic deficit simple disability residual anhedonia apathy avolition alogia cognitive impairment memory social withdrawal depression social phobia anxiety suicidal

 

[Emily_Numb]

Can I just ask how you knew you had schizophrenia? The reason I'm asking is I think I have it but the fact I hear voices but know they aren't real maybe means I don't? Is it a prerequisite that you have to think the voices are real? I mean, I hear them but I know logically speaking it's not real.

 

[zi99]

I can relate you, because I'm suffering from negative symptoms too. Sometimes it is hard even to do some simple things. Couple months ago in addition to that I had obsessive suicidal thoughts, but meds reduced them and now I feel a little better, but still have apathy, asteny, anhedonia. If you want to talk with someone you can always pm me.

 

[ElizabethsFault]

I think I have it as well. However my psychiatrist won't tell me definitively cause she knows it'll make me more suicidal. Same trouble with medication, nothing I've tried is helping. Mental health professionals frighten me now, since I had a psychiatrist prescribing me stimulants while I was suffering from a psychotic break. After an overnight stay on a crisis unit, my psychiatrist Dr Ndukwe never called me again despite many calls to her office. A crisis diversion team got me an appointment with her and she didn't keep the appointment! A week later the facility called me and told me she no longer worked there. Another 10 days and there was a prescription waiting for me at the pharmacy, prescribed BY HER! Now I'm suspicious of Drs and the pharmacy.

 

[Beeper]

Does anyone else has severe schizophrenia with predominant negative symptoms and cognitive symptoms?

I have researched this condition because I am suffering from it intensely. My diagnosis is catatonic schizophrenia. The catatonic symptoms and psychoses are comparatively rare and can be controlled with antipsychotics, but the deficit/negative, cognitive symptoms are resistant to any kind of treatment. I am disabled by this cruel disorder, a living vegetable without soul. Apathy, anhedonia, poverty of speach, social withdrawal, prominent retardation of intellectual functioning etc. On top of that I also have social phobia since early childhood. 98% of time I just lie on my sofa browsing internet mindlessly on my phone as a form of escapism. I receive disability pension of 90€ per month (my Baltic country loves it's invalids), luckily I live with my parents so I don't have to become a homeless or go to nursing home for mentally ill. I use my money to pay for Skype therapy sessions. It's my last hope, if it doesn't work, I have no choice but to kill myself. I was dealt very unfair cards. Human mind is such a fragile thing.

Can anyone relate? Asking this because I feel so alone. When people discuss their schizophrenia, it's often about hallucinations and delusions but that sort of people have a much better prognosis than us. We are neglected by psychiatry, there is not a single medication for our symptoms. They can only make you numb and even more disabled with their antipsychotics.

Sorry for this long rambling, I rarely read long posts due to avolition but I hope you at least tried.

Keywords: catatonic schizophrenia negative cognitive symptoms chronic deficit simple disability residual anhedonia apathy avolition alogia cognitive impairment memory social withdrawal depression social phobia anxiety suicidal

I can relate.

My diagnosis has been Bipolar 1, though the negative symptoms that occur after manic episodes are similar to what has been described above.

I am currently struggling to rebuild my life after a severe manic episode that occurred earlier this year. Medications have not been helpful alleviating the negative symptoms. The doctors seem to focus on using antipsychotic meds, which often make the negative symptoms worse.

I keep holding out for something to change. Trying different medications and giving them time to work can be exhausting.

Talk therapy and support groups have only provided me with a way to pass the time. I really wish they would have had some lasting positive outcome.

I have been planning my exit strategy in parallel with treatment. Having had 3 episodes of psychotic mania in the last 10 years has really left me in a bad spot. If things don't get better soon then I will take action to CTB.