If your diagnosis/diagnoses include a cognitive impairment,

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What have you done to help it?

What I do is I write (creative writing/roleplaying) everyday, but I heard that prolonged internet use can damage your brain in a similar way to amphetamines.

How can prolonged internet use damage the brain? I spend most of the day on the internet .

http://www.scmp.com/portal/site/SCMP/me ... ina&s=news

I have my doubts about that study. Or rather, I doubt the headline. Excessive internet use can cause a dependency in some people. Just like any other activity that activates the neurological reward system can be addictive (gambling, eating, sex, even working). I suppose that's what the study was getting at, hence the comparison to cocaine use.

Personally, I find the internet mentally stimulating and very educating. It forces me to constantly learn new things, which improves and preserves my neural plasticity. I've nearly perfected my English thanks to MMOs and social online spaces like forums. Which perfectly fits the topic, because being bilingual has been found to improve one's cognitive skills. It can even protect against neurological conditions like Alzheimer's and helps delay the onset of dementia:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2011/ ... ltitasking

Another method to prevent cognitive deterioration is nicotine consumption:
http://www.sfn.org/index.aspx?pagename= ... gs_smoking

Nicotine is not only beneficial for schizophrenia, it also seems to hold Alzheimer's at bay and can even reverse the cognitive impairment:
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/20 ... 095331.htm

It appears that many smokers are in fact self-medicating. Of course I wouldn't recommend to anybody to start smoking, but there are safer (and usually also cheaper) ways to administer nicotine, such as so-called electronic cigarettes and nicotine nasal sprays. The side effects are increased blood pressure (and cardiac problems if the dosis is too high), and of course it is highly addictive. But if somebody here suffers from cognitive impairment due to schizophrenia, nicotine addiction might be a small price to pay for being able to think straight and focus.

I wasn't sure what a cognitive impairment was so I tried looking it up but I'm still not quite sure. Can they include Dyslexia, OCD, panic-disorder &/or ADHD

I think so.

OK I haven't really done anything that helps with any of that stuff except I'm on Buspar for my anxiety which stopped the panic attacks & I started taking Anafranil a couple nights ago for my OCD. I been on a few tranquilizers & anti-depressants & other psych meds for various things but they never helped with my anxiety, OCD or prevented panic attacks unless they weakened the anxiety & OCD by making me tired. I tried a couple ADHD meds but they actually made it harder for me to focus. I remember having those issues all my life & I got some accommodations with school for my dyslexia & ADHD but I mistly just sort of learned to deal with it & adapted as best I could.

I'm sad to hear you had a bad experience with your meds. Thank you anyway for your answer.