A few weeks ago I posted how I started working again full time.  It's going great.  Work is a bit hectic right now but it will settle down in a week or 2.   I am super happy and I am happy to announce that I moved out and live on my own now.  

A little background.  I was diagnosed 5 years ago at the age of 25.  I had 2 hospitalizations before I started taking meds and haven't been back to the hospital since.  I've struggled with major medication side effects.  I tried about 10 anti-psychotics before I settled on one.  This took me about 2 years of my life.  I tried anti-depressants to help with negative symptoms and it took me about 6 months to find one that I can tolerate. 

 Then I couldn't sleep for days at a time.  when I was sleeping it was the same thing as not sleeping.  Turned out I had sleep apnea.  I had to quit my full-time job at the time and wait 3 months to get treatment.  It was at this time that I noticed huge ups and downs in my mood.  After I got used to the CPAP machine and treatment started working, and I was sure that the sleep deprivation was not causing the mood changes.  I started taking mood stabilizers.  Took about 6 months to find one.   I quit, got fired, and just stopped going to more jobs then I can remember.  I kept trying and kept trying.  

I still struggle with symptoms and side effects such as a little paranoia here and there, restlessness, anxiety, etc.  I just use my coping skills and go on about my day.  My favorite copign skill is that you can be "Happy and sad at the same time".  You can be "Productive and sad at the same time".

I love living alone.  I can pace around the house without bugging anyone.  I have a lot of room.  I live in a 2 bedroom apartment.  It's not the nicest place out there but its perfect for me.  

I still struggle with symptoms and side effects such as a little paranoia here and there, restlessness, anxiety, etc.  I just use my coping skills and go on about my day.

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I am currently on:  
Abilify:  anti-psychotic.

Sertraline: anti-depressant.

oxcarbazepine: mood stabilizer.

Neurotopics:  vitamins for your brain.  I use the Thesis brand.   This helps me a lot of concentrating for long periods of time and being productive. [https://takethesis.com/](https://takethesis.com/)  
 

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