Plain-language, educational articles on schizophrenia, psychosis, antipsychotic medications, and lived experience — by ColdAI.
San Diego County's Behavioral Health Services system is anchored by UCSD's CARE Program, Sharp Mesa Vista, and a 24/7 Access and Crisis Line. Here is a practical map.
StoryI am 28, I have schizophrenia, and I have lived with the same roommate for two years. Here is what we figured out about sharing 800 square feet, honestly.
RecoveryShared decision making asks prescribers and patients to choose treatment together based on the evidence, the patient's values, and the trade-offs that matter to them. It works in schizophrenia, with some adaptations.
MedicationMesoridazine, sold as Serentil, was an active metabolite of thioridazine marketed as an antipsychotic in its own right. It was discontinued in the US in 2004 because of QT prolongation concerns.
Rare presentationsDissociation and psychosis can look like each other — voices, perceptual shifts, lost time. They are distinct conditions, but they overlap more often than older textbooks suggested.
StoryThe hospital felt like a fortress. The first week home felt like trying to live inside a thin paper bag. Here's what got me through.
SeasonsRamadan fasting changes when and how medication is taken, alters sleep dramatically, and shifts daily rhythms. Here's how to navigate it safely with your prescriber and your faith.
Differential diagnosisBrief psychotic disorder is a short, often dramatic episode of psychosis that fully resolves within a month. It's distinct from schizophrenia and usually has a much better prognosis.
Legal & FinancialA psychiatric advance directive lets you write down — while you're well — what you want to happen if you become unable to decide during a future crisis. It's one of the most empowering tools in mental health law.
Side effectsOrthostatic hypotension — a drop in blood pressure on standing — is common when starting many antipsychotics. Here is the mechanism, the risks, and a practical playbook.
CopingA crisis coping plan turns vague good intentions into a step-by-step document the unwell version of you can actually follow. Here is a template you can fill in this afternoon.
StoryI am 26 and for two years after my first episode I could not follow a simple recipe. This is the story of how I learned to cook again, and what came back with it.
StoryFive hospitalizations across seven years taught me that stability is not a single decision. It is a thousand small ones, repeated, until the pattern of my life finally changed.
How-toWhen the cost of an antipsychotic is the difference between adherence and relapse, patient assistance programs can fill the gap. Here is how to actually use them.
CaregiverThe US disability and benefits system is bewildering, but a few well-chosen tools can change the long-term trajectory of a family member's life. Here are the essentials.
WorkplaceThe first weeks back at work after a psychiatric hospitalisation are delicate. Here is how to plan the return so that the job is still there in three months.
StigmaHousing is where structural stigma against schizophrenia hits hardest. The Fair Housing Act offers real protections — but only if you know what they cover and how to invoke them.
Special populationsAntipsychotics, hormones, and the illness itself all shape fertility for people with schizophrenia. Honest information makes the choices easier.
CrisisIf you have been through psychosis before, you often know the feel of one starting again. Here is a practical, lived-experience-informed toolkit for slowing the rise.
HospitalMost people are admitted to a psychiatric hospital with whatever happens to be in their pockets. A thoughtful bag, brought by family later, makes the stay measurably better.
Side EffectMovement side effects of antipsychotics — known as extrapyramidal symptoms or EPS — come in four main types. Each has its own warning signs and treatments.
TreatmentAfter 70 years of dopamine-blocking antipsychotics, Cobenfy works differently — through muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. The trial results are real, but so are the side effects.
MedicationSwitching antipsychotics is common and sometimes essential — but it's also where most relapses happen. Here's how to recognise when it's worth doing and how a safe cross-taper works in practice.
MedicationMesoridazine, an active metabolite of thioridazine, followed its parent drug into the margins of practice for the same cardiac reason. Its short history is a useful case study.
SymptomsResidual schizophrenia is the phase between acute episodes when the loud symptoms have quieted but the quieter ones remain. It's where most of life with the illness happens.
NeuroscienceMRI studies have shown small but consistent brain volume differences in schizophrenia. The findings are real — but interpreting them honestly is more nuanced than the headlines suggest.
PreventionDuration of untreated psychosis (DUP) is one of the most consistent predictors of long-term outcome in schizophrenia. Reducing it is one of the field's clearest goals.
Practical lifeAlmost every adult with schizophrenia has the legal right to vote. The barriers are usually practical, not legal. Here is how to clear them.
Side effectsSome antipsychotics raise prolactin levels enough to cause symptoms — from missed periods and breast tenderness to long-term bone loss. Here is what to monitor and what to do.
WorkplaceA practical, well-organised list of reasonable workplace accommodations for schizophrenia under the ADA — drawn from JAN, EEOC, and clinical practice.