Recovering from Psychosis - Your brother from an Arab country ^_^

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Peace be upon you and God's mercy.

My journey began when I was young, around the age of 8. I saw the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him, in a dream. The dream didn't concern me much at the time, but when I turned 20, I became addicted to drugs: hashish, Captagon, and alcohol. I started to doubt people's words, thinking they were directed at me. My father took me to a hospital for addiction treatment. After that, he admitted me to addiction treatment every year, using various methods, with periods ranging from two months to a full year. I was admitted to addiction and psychiatric treatment centers 17 times. After several admissions, my suspicions evolved into a conspiracy theory: that my family wasn't my real family, and that seeing the Prophet in my childhood meant I was a prophet or messenger of God. The treatment for drugs involved periods of clarity and days of doubt, until I became addicted to crystal meth. This progressed to full-blown psychosis, social isolation, and problems with people. The last time I was admitted to the hospital, I was given an injection. I took Invega 150 and recovered after a month of treatment. I was discharged and decided to quit drugs and read about psychosis and its treatment. Invega had left me feeling numb and without goals, and at the same time, I wanted to break free from the cycle of addiction, psychosis, and medication. While researching treatment, I read about a drug called Abilify, which is milder than Invega. I took it instead, a monthly injection of 400 mg. I continued reading and realized that stopping antipsychotics must be done gradually, otherwise I would experience a dopamine rebound in my bloodstream, which would bring back the delusions. My patients would think I had a chronic condition, when in reality, I needed a gradual tapering of the medication. We don't have a lower dose than Abilify 400 mg in Saudi Arabia, so I looked for a better drug with a longer lifespan in the blood and fewer side effects. I found a drug called Riagila or Freilar. The treatment is called Cariprazine, and I took a 4.5 mg dose, which is slightly less than the injection, for three months. Now, for a month, I've been on a 3 mg dose, and my improvement continues. The intrusive thoughts have disappeared, and I'm feeling much more stable. My advice to everyone is not to despair or be ashamed of your psychotic days. During the illness, you weren't in control; you were exhausted and acting erratically. If you see people looking at you with disdain, know that they are bad people and don't deserve your company. Their true nature has been revealed. Choose positive people; the world is full of them. Don't stop taking your medication if you feel well, because you will relapse, and the doctor will think your condition is chronic and prescribe stronger medications. My final piece of advice is not to give your doctor complete control, because all they care about is that you return for follow-up appointments, except for those who have good intentions, and they are few. My switch from Invega 150 to Abilify 400 was due to my insistence, even though the doctors were apprehensive and almost opposed. My switch from Abilify to Riagela was by force; I convinced them. And my reduction from 4.5 to 3 was due to persistence and determination. The important thing is that your psychosis was triggered by a substance, a psychological shock, or the loss of a loved one. Dear friend,

Don't despair.

The final message is that the sun and moon revolve around us daily at the same time for millions of years. Is it a global organization or a universal power? It is God.

Just as He balanced the sun, the moon, and everything else, He can restore you. Mental well-being is crucial alongside treatment so your brain can begin to heal. Know that what tires us most is our inner dialogue. If we speak to ourselves positively and accept what is destined for us, no one can shake your core. But if your inner dialogue is negative, no one can help you.

Please pray for my speedy recovery and happiness, just as I wish for you.