Do I have schizophrenia?

OK I'm freaking the hell out. I think I have schizophrenia, I fit many prodomal symptoms, and since I've been afraid of having it it has gotten sooo bad.

My anxiety is through the roof. For the past year I've been battling with my personality and who I am. I really hated myself, and seemed hopeless. I didn't want to do anything and I wasn't motivated at all. Recently, I've come to terms with my personality, and have been able to focus on things a little better (the past couples days have been great, this has been going on for almost a year). I felt amazing, I felt relieved, I felt like myself again.

The other night I looked up symptoms to what I was feeling before "my breakthrough" to see what the problem might have been.

I found out that I became obsessive compulsive about my personality and how to be a better person is what I found. I have a couple personality disorders and I'm slightly OCD, but I have confidence in fixing them.
I didn't want to do anything but think about it, or socialize

I lacked interest in other stuff, hobbies. I was a people person

I was depressed on and off, felt like I had breakthroughs here and there

Felt slight emotional flatness

I didn't hear any voices or anything....and I didn't lose my touch of reality....but right now I'm kind of feeling like that, just really shaky, stressed, feeling like I'm going crazy, lightheaded...This is the only time I've had these symptoms, and It's been since I've read about it. So I'm hoping it's psychosomatic stress.


The past few days I've felt like myself again, this is gone, I feel like I'm on the verge of losing my mind. I've always been a hypochondriac, and the feelings I have now are very similar to my cases of hypochondria in the past, except this one feeds itself. I'm becoming more and more anxious and paranoid, which are symptoms. But the anxiousness and paranoia are about having the disease itself.

I'm probably going to see a shrink, because I am just SOOOO damn stressed right now. I had some panic attacks last night. I'm absolutely terrified of having this disease.


Do you guys think I'm being a bitch and just looking for reasons to worry?

Or that I might actually have this disease?

Jam it back in, in the dark.

If you've got it, I've got it too.

And a doctor would be able to diagnose you better than anyone else here could.

PS: You probably shouldn't smoke pot. If you do smoke pot, I'd stop.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Do you got it?

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

I haven't been diagnosed, but a buddy of mine was and we were pretty similar. There's different levels of severity, I believe. It runs from slight to extreme. His was very mild and he claimed that he would hallucinate from time to time. So, if you're any less than that I'd imagine you'd be okay? I don't know, like I said, I'm definitely no doctor and my knowledge on this subject is limited at best.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

No one here can really diagnose you, so if you're question is "Do I have schizophrenia?" I'd change it.

In the meantime - you don't spend all your time at the doctor's, after all - try to find some healthy activities that have nothing to do with your ailment. I'm not saying to go out and have fun, necessarily - if you're experiencing emotional "flatness", that's bound to be hard - but try to get into a game or read a book or something that puts you in a state of "flow", where you lose your sense of self and time.

How ya doing, buddy?

Just judging from the kinds of threads you've made around here recently, I'd say it's not necessarily schizophrenia but you certainly have something that you need to deal with. I recommend seeking out and visiting a psychiatrist for one or two visits to see if that helps you out. It's not for everyone but if it can help you, it's worth it. I was wary about going to my psych but now that I've been seeing her for a few months I'm really glad I went in the first place. It can be pricey though so make sure it's really working for you.

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Asking an internet video game forum to diagnose your low self-esteem isn't going to help you out. Besides, put it in perspective here:

I pay attention to details and don't always enjoy being around people. I'm not autistic.
I often find myself confused and concerned about various aspects of myself. I don't have borderline personality disorder.
I don't always trust the people I live with. I don't have paranoid personality disorder.
My desk is messy as fuck and I crack my knuckles. Okay, I might have mild OCD, but I'm not going to run to a psych and ask for a quick and easy diagnosis.

I'm not saying you're completely and utterly sane, but let's not jump to conclusions here. Talk to some friends, and if you're still seriously concerned about yourself after thinking it over, seeing a psychiatrist wouldn't be a bad move.

FELIPE NO

You filled your head with the notion that you have schizophrenia and now you are starting to see it everywhere. I have a distrust of shrinks mainly because they'll diagnose anyone with anything just to get a pay cheque and to keep you coming back for more sessions. Choose your shrink wisely. I've had a couple friends that ended up more fucked up after going to see one.

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

I posted this on Yahoo! answers

Terrified of being schizophrenic? - Yahoo!7 Answers

It really makes me feel better...but I still have that hypochondriac doubt

Additional Spam:
I posted this on Yahoo! answers

Terrified of being schizophrenic? - Yahoo!7 Answers

It really makes me feel better...but I still have that hypochondriac doubt

All I did today was sit in my room and worry. I didn't' do anything! I just thought and thought, and I was scared. I had panic attacks so much today. I actually feel like im going crazy!!

Jam it back in, in the dark.

"Going" crazy?

There's nowhere I can't reach.

like im just going to shut down or something

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Trying to evaluate yourself on the internet will not help, as it will only make you feel insecure and worried about any possible conditions you might not even have. Go meet a professional psychologist and let them tell you what's wrong.

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

Nah, this dude's fucked up.

I was speaking idiomatically.

Originally Posted by Fenix

All I did today was sit in my room and worry. I didn't' do anything! I just thought and thought, and I was scared. I had panic attacks so much today. I actually feel like im going crazy!!

You need to stop asking the internet questions (it's really not a great source for this sort of thing) and get some hobbies.

If you sit in your room and worry about your mental well-being day in and day out, you will go crazy.

Get outside. Breathe some fresh air. Take a walk with a friend. Go for a car ride and listen to some music. Hell, read a book, watch a great film, cook a nice meal. Don't dwell on your fears. It will only hurt you in the long run.

If you genuinely think you may be suffering a kind of mental disorder, don't ask the internet - ask your doctor.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

Sounds more like what I experienced for a brief stint a few years back. You tend to keep to yourself, your mind races like all fuck, and you think about everything under the sun to an obsessive-compulsive level. Sounds to me like classic 'generalized anxiety disorder' honestly. I had it BAD (kinda like how you describe it now) for about 2 months. I felt like my legs were gonna give out from under me at times because I just didn't want to go.

If you had schizophrenia, you'd be disabled to the point where you couldn't function correctly at times (most of the time). If you truly feel as though you have schizophrenia, ask your doctor to refer you to someone who can do brain scans on you, because schizophrenia has physical causes and can be detected by monitoring brain activites.

FELIPE NO

You're using the word schizophrenia, but do you really know what it means? I have a former friend from high school who was diagnosed with schizophrenia, and they had to institutionalize her. It's not a joke, and it's nothing like in the movies. You basically can't function properly with schizophrenia unless you're medicated, and the risk that you stop your own medication is very high because of the nature of the problem.

Also, panic attacks? Do you mean you're panicking, or are you having actual panic attacks? Panic attacks are adrenalin shots, heart-rate shifts, often involve passing out, and can even kill you if no one finds you. They're pretty serious business and if you have one, you are "automatically" sent to a shrink.

Anyway, Sass made an excellent point--go see a doctor about your problems. Also, I believe therapy could really help you. I don't think you're "totally fine" and I don't want to downplay your problems at all, but I really doubt you're schizophrenic. A psychiatrist could help you find and fix those problems.

How ya doing, buddy?

Originally Posted by surasshu

Also, panic attacks? Do you mean you're panicking, or are you having actual panic attacks? Panic attacks are adrenalin shots, heart-rate shifts, often involve passing out, and can even kill you if no one finds you. They're pretty serious business and if you have one, you are "automatically" sent to a shrink.

Partially true. Basically in a panic attack your body is illiciting it's fight or flight response with no true reason behind it. Might kill you if you have a dodgy ticker to begin with, but usually don't leave you dead. I've had 'em before pretty bad, I wouldn't say I was gonna die. Worst that happened is I rolled up in a ball and cried. (SHUT UP! NOT FUNNY! ;_; )

Jam it back in, in the dark.

Originally Posted by surasshu

You're using the word schizophrenia, but do you really know what it means?

I was about to ask if he knew what it meant myself. I know someone who has this illness and I can tell you that it seems very unlikely that you have it*.

Think about your current situation. You said in your yahoo post that you don't speak the language, which must be daunting. It may be that which is keeping you in the house. It sounds more like an anxiety disorder to me (*although I wouldn't swear by it; what do I know? I'm no doctor) especially if you are actually experiencing panic attacks as well as your hypochondria and general anxieties. A trip to the doctor wouldn't hurt.

There's nowhere I can't reach.

Originally Posted by SuperNova

Partially true. Basically in a panic attack your body is illiciting it's fight or flight response with no true reason behind it. Might kill you if you have a dodgy ticker to begin with, but usually don't leave you dead. I've had 'em before pretty bad, I wouldn't say I was gonna die. Worst that happened is I rolled up in a ball and cried. (SHUT UP! NOT FUNNY! ;_; )

Man, I remember having a panic attack once. I was just sitting there in class, taking notes, when I suddenly couldn't even move my pencil because pretty much all of the worries I had been having for the past month flooded into me at once. I was just sitting there with the pencil in my hand, staring at the page for about fifteen minutes of class completely freaking out inside of my head. Apparently none of my friends noticed, since they were all sitting around me and didn't say anything, but holy shit did it scare the crap out of me.

Now I'm always worried that it might just happen out of nowhere again and it seems like there's nothing I can do about it.

This thing is sticky, and I don't like it. I don't appreciate it.

Originally Posted by SuperNova

Partially true. Basically in a panic attack your body is illiciting it's fight or flight response with no true reason behind it. Might kill you if you have a dodgy ticker to begin with, but usually don't leave you dead. I've had 'em before pretty bad, I wouldn't say I was gonna die. Worst that happened is I rolled up in a ball and cried. (SHUT UP! NOT FUNNY! ;_; )

Ah, that sounds like it makes sense. Well, my dad had one and he did pass out, but perhaps it changes from person to person? But he does have a bad heart* so maybe that's why they were treating it like it was a life-threatening situation. I was young when he got it, so I may remember it badly (plus, media misinformation and all), so thanks for the explanation. Anyway, they're serious shit, no doubt.

* (Correction--had a bad heart, he's gotten it fixed and is actually super healthy now.)

I am a dolphin, do you want me on your body?

According to what you're writing here, you don't. What you're experiencing are negative symptoms (dulled affect, depression, etc.), not positive symptoms (delusions, hallucinations, etc.) which distinguish schizophrenia from other illnesses. However, nobody here can tell you for sure. If you want an expert opinion, go see your GP or a psychiatrist.

I'd say you do have something you need to deal with so it doesn't develop into anything more severe.

I was speaking idiomatically.

While I can't say WHAT is going on, I will say that your thoughts are hurting you more than anything.

Go see a doctor, and relax. By worrying about the possibilty of somethign that you MIGHT have, you are only making things worse for you.

What kind of toxic man-thing is happening now?

I am studying for my Pathophysiology final, and I had to know stuff about schizophrenia, anxiety, and depression. Here's what my notes have for you.
Schizophrenia
- A 'splitting of the mind' - disconnect between thought and language
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual IV criteria for diagnosis of Schizophrenia
- 2 or more of the following POSITIVE symptoms
---disorganized or incomprehensible speech
---delusions
---hallucinations
---disorganized or catatonic behavior
-1 or more of the following NEGATIVE symptoms
---absence of normal social/interpersonal behaviors
---alogia (meaning 'little speech' - short brief phrases)
---avolition (lack of motivation)
---apathy
---affective flattening (lack of emotions)
---anhedonia (inability to enjoy things)
---decreased pain response
- loss of ability to interpret incoming stimuli (impairs ability to respond to the environment around you)
- Average age on onset: Males 17-25; Females 25-35
- Physical Symptoms: enlarged ventricles of brain, left hemisphere typically smaller/smoother, reduced metabolic activity

Depression
- 5 or more of the following
---Depressed mood
---anhedonia
---feelings of worthlessness/guilt
---decreased concentration
---dyssomnia (excessive sleepiness)
---decreased libido
---change in weight or appetite
---ideas about death or suicide
- family history of depression plays a major role

Anxiety
**Falls into 5 categories**
1 - Panic Disorder
- genetic influence, neurologic symptoms, cardiac, respiratory, psychological
2 - Generalized Anxiety Disorder - prolonged and excessive worry
- muscle tension, autonomic hyperactivity, vigilance and scanning (this is what I tend to believe you're mainly experiencing), inability to concentrate
3 - Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder - repeated thoughts and actions
- genetic influence, due to abnormalities in the brain
4 - Social Anxiety Disorder - intense, irrational, persistent fear of being scrutinized or negatively evaluated by others, occurs more in women
5 - Post-traumatic Stress Disorder - anxiety experienced due to trauma, activation of the stress response

PLEASE DO NOT LOOK AT THESE SYMPTOMS AND GO "THAT'S ME". If you SERIOUSLY feel as though these symptoms fit you, TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR! I AM NOT A DOCTOR (yet).

FELIPE NO

If I was losing my mind, would this terrible feeling come and go? It only came when I was afraid of being crazy, and it's happened to me before, this isn't the first time. This time though, it's lasting a lot longer and really scaring me.

Like I said though, It has came and gone over the past few days. It's usually present, but I have had very very refreshing reprieves, where I feel like myself again and am very happy. I fear it will come back though, and it does.

My face gets hot and my pulse increases. My hands get really cold. I feel overwhelmed and like I can't think straight. I feel kind of lightheaded too, almost like I'm "losing my mind though". I've been looking for schizophrenic symptoms with my extremely apparent *vigilance and scanning*. Like I'm trying to hear voices. I look at things and try to make them move to make sure. they don't...yet

It makes total sense that it's anxiety right? I mean I've experienced this feeling before in times of great stress, and am experiencing it right now, but only after getting the fear of having schizophrenia. If it came...all of a sudden, from a fear...and matches the symptoms of anxiety disorder...that's it, no?

btw, regardless of everything, I'm going back to the states and visiting a psychiatrist. I'm absolutely miserable. thats the BEST way to desribe it

What, you don't want my bikini-clad body?

It does sound like anxiety, from a definitional point of view. But your fear of the anxiety itself makes it even worse. Here's one important thing to remember: Anxiety cannot hurt you physically. You won't faint or anything, since your heart rate increases. Anxiety can be a normal reaction, and there's nothing wrong with it. So when you next start panicking, remind yourself of that.

You are very concerned about it, though, so again, you might consider going to see a doctor.

Jam it back in, in the dark.