Thank you for sharing this. It’s clear you’re self-aware and trying to understand how your medications are impacting you. The foggy, disconnected feeling and lack of motivation you're describing can be side effects of antipsychotic medications, particularly paliperidone and cariprazine, which may contribute to emotional blunting or cognitive dulling in some individuals- even in the absence of active psychosis.
It's also worth noting that vortioxetine (Vantaxa) is an antidepressant that usually helps with cognitive symptoms of depression, but the benefits vary individually. Since you're not experiencing delusions or hallucinations, your current antipsychotic dose might be higher than necessary, depending on your diagnosis and symptom history.
Next Steps
1. Consult your psychiatrist to reassess the need and dose of antipsychotics.
2. Ask about dose reduction or medication change (e.g., switching to a lower dopamine-blocking agent or evaluating need for continued depot).
3. Discuss whether your symptoms align more with residual depression, avolition, or medication-induced apathy.
4. Consider cognitive testing or therapy that focuses on executive function and motivation (CBT, behavioral activation).
Health Tips
1. Never adjust medications on your own—sudden changes can destabilize your mental state.
2. Keep a symptom diary for 2–3 weeks noting clarity, mood, energy, and engagement—it helps guide meaningful medication adjustments.