That’s what it takes to keep me in operating condition.

Not particularly fantastic operating condition, either.

I creak, I groan, I piss and moan.

But I’m still alive.

And these *very expensive* pills are to blame for that. They can be a bit of a curse. It’s obnoxious to go pick them up all the time, my insurance doesn’t allow the pharmacy’s prescription syncing service because they hate progress or something. It takes me about an hour and a half for me to watch a comedy special and prepare the next three weeks of pill cases. It’d take less time if I were singularly focused, yes, but I’d also get so angry that I’d probably start chucking pills at passing cars. Truly though, cars don’t pass by my apartment often enough to let out that rage so I might feebly try to anger-juggle the bottles or some shit like that.

I used to swallow pills one at a time.
A few overdose attempts and having a regimen like this managed to train me out of that.

I also used to swallow Cheerios like pills when I was a kid. I’m not exactly sure why I felt I needed the practice, but I can’t argue with the results. I’m a real pro.

My psychiatrist appointment yesterday brought up my starting Testosterone. It all had happened so quickly, that he hadn’t even been informed yet. He was definitely surprised, but also said, “well maybe we’ve hit a root issue here and once you’re further along, we can start to back you off on stuff again.” That’d be nice. Maybe regular human doses and such!

A few months ago I weaned off Abilify because of drowsiness and weight. It went fine for awhile, then I tanked. So we are trying its new big brother, Rexulti, which is more potent so you take a lower dose and get less side effects. It’s also retails at around $1,100.

Yeah, I want off meds. It sucks that I have to take them. However, I have confronted the fact that I do not have a normal brain. I will never be able to be free of them and have a decent quality of life.

I doubt I’d be able to go off them for 6 months and physically survive, actually.

So, 23 pills and a biweekly injection.

I continue into the fray. I depend on them. They are my sword and shield in a harsh forest full of monsters.

When it comes to advocacy and stigma, I won’t say “I am medicated, hear me roar!” I don’t think we need more associations of crazy.

I might say “I am medicated, watch me manage!”

*Some are supplements, and none are fun.