Just needed to be heard for a little while

Solarjunkie

Maybe not for your partner WaS but for many, if you want to watch tv without sound, there are subtitles, people tend to forget them! Even poor headphones will be enough to follow speech, just not up to music quality.

whitewing

http://www.sleephealthfoundation.org.au/fact-sheets-a-z/464-schizophrenia-and-sleep.html

Now this website mentions an actigraph watch, which I have never heard of.

If you haven't had a discussion about sleeping with your psychiatrist, maybe now is the time. (I don't mean sleep with your psychiatrist - that would breach medical ethics, lol.

It also mentions about bright light. One more reason why it would be good for you to be outside without your blanket eventually. That reminded me of our next door neighbour. He said his son (not schizophrenic that I know of, but SAD as in the syndrome) was better with the daylight light bulbs.

You can get the alarm clocks that use light to wake you. My sister has that.

The SAD light units may be good. I used a screwfix task light as a cheaper alternative that I read about on MSE. It wasn't pretty but it did help.

Waves_and_Smiles

That's a really good article! I hadn't heard of those watches either. I did giggle at the bit that said some psychiatric medicine can cause sleepiness. Every single medication I take does. I get drowsy on two paracetamol and I wish I was joking. It has been a long time since I had the sleep study, over 15 years so I could probably do with a new attempt. Last time we established that I am a slow sleeper so I need to go to bed two hours before I wish to sleep. This is why I get frustrated and stay up for 24 hours, I spend over half my day in bed. Possibly a light to wake me up might help, too. I have written it down to discuss with my psychiatrist on the next appointment.

Discussing sleeping with my psychiatrist, hmmm. Now I am thinking of the one who so attractive that I couldn't look at him...

Oh, and I left my partner to contemplate the things that would improve his life. After the Grand Prix today most seem to feature frustrated ranting about that and technical car changes so I shall try later, I don't think that we can help with that!

elsien

It's interesting to read what you are experiencing when you have psychotic episodes. I don't know anyone who has catatonic schizophrenia but I've worked with people with schizophrenia and also people who don't have a diagnosis but have psychotic episodes.
Although I'm sure the experience must be different for everyone, because it's people with learning disabilities no-one has really been able to explain what it feels like from the inside. All we see is people distressed because the tv is talking to them, or calling for help by flicking lights on and off, so we're just dealing with the symptoms as we see them. So thank you for sharing.

Waves_and_Smiles

I am really glad to help elsien. There are certain things that are common to everyone with schizophrenia and then as you say some differences, too. It is obvious from how it plays out for me that my life experiences form part of the symptoms as does my personality and my own fears. Although most other people will hear voices they might be in a different context to mine. The fear, mistrust and paranoia tend to be the same for everyone, though as does the low self-esteem.

whitewing

I have random thoughts popping into my head.

I know you want to contribute to society, WaS, and I am wondering if you have ever thought about giving blood? There may be reasons why you can't (agarophobia being one of them currently).

I can't give blood at the moment because I am anaemic and am changing my antidepressants. I have been able to give blood while on antidepressants and also while under the care of mh services (because I got them to write a letter confirming it is okay). It's a shame as the next donation will be my 30th. Anyway, if anyone has been reading this and meaning to give blood, please can you go and do it for me instead to make up for my missing one.

Took DD to the park earlier. It was good as DH was there so I got to sit in the white clover and grass and watch icing sugar clouds in the sky. DD saw the football goals in the distance and said she wanted to play there. DH told her that the goal was very far away (at the other end of the field). She said, 'But I can run!'

Seems like a motto for life.

elsien

I took Gitdog to his show today in fear and trepidation - posted on the pet forum if anyone's interested.
I did spend the morning reminding myself that I could only control the things that were mine to control (which doesn't include Gitdog as a rule!) and to not get frazzled about the rest. Which I think helped as I was calmer so the day went better. I think I have whitewings mantra to thank for that.


WaS, does it bother you people talking about going out when it's so difficult for you? I don't want to be sharing stuff that makes you feel worse by reminding you of things you used to do and now can't.

whitewing

Yes, I agree elsien. I want to share experiences and inspire (if I can) with my posts. I don't want to make you set unrealistic goals, WaS, or make you feel you have to do things before you are ready.
Do tell me to pipe down if you need to (by pm if you don't want to publish it). You can also have any posts deleted without explanation if you want.

Waves_and_Smiles

I actually love hearing about people going out, I imagine myself there, too. I even follow a few travelling blogs to see where people go so never worry about upsetting me, it's quite the opposite!

I would really like to give blood, my dad used to do that so I would like to as well. If I can manage to go out a bit more I will definitely find out more.

lostinrates

Just back, haven't caught up, and am very tired.

Alive, fir went swimming and dog dog did, the others wouldn't !