OT - Schizophrenia

RiverDaughter · 06-01-2007, 02:20 AM

Does anyone here know any schizophrenics? Is anyone one? I found out that my bf had been keeping tabs one me because he thinks I'm showing more and more symptoms of being one (I'm not violent, but I am a little... off, a lot more lately than I ever remember before, actually), and I've promised to see a shrink (if my college med insurance will cover it) in the Fall, when my insurance starts.

And, to be honest, I was wondering about it. All I can find is a few articles online from the science point of view (and I must admit, I do match a lot of the criteria as of late), and I was wondering about the human perspective of the entire thing.

Lieke · 06-01-2007, 07:31 AM

Well, I don't know any schizophrenics, but I study psychology, so I do know a bit about it. If you have the feeling you might be having it, you probably don't have it. Schizophrenics have lost every bit of touch with reality, they don't know they are ill, they think the rest of the world is. They might hear voices and they might know they are the only one hearing them, but they still think there is nothing wrong with them. You can have a milder form of a psychotic disorder. I think it is wise to visit a shrink if you think you have it. I can tell you the symptoms, but you wrote you already found them. If you want to know them, please ask

RiverDaughter · 06-01-2007, 07:34 AM

It makes me happier to hear that someone else doesn't think I'm completely insane, though I already knew I was a few cats short of a rocking chair (apparently talking to the people who live in the walls is a bad thing), but I'll be going in anyway just to set his mind at ease, and to see if they can do anything about my weird moods. I think it might be diabetes (runs in the family), and my sugar is out of whack (it does seem to relate to food) but seeing someone at no cost to me but some time, and if it sets his mind at ease, is no problem.

Susan P. · 06-01-2007, 07:55 AM

I have known two people with the illness. They were characterised by mood swings and bouts of paranoia. They could be quite manipulative at times and tell stories or tell one person one thing and be telling someone else something entirely different at the same time (classic to see this happening online when two story variations are being played out in chat at the same time). In terms of the mood swings they could be reasonably nice one moment and then snarl and snap the next. They tended to be unaware of the need to maintain constant body hygiene (tho others I am sure may have obsessive-compulsive disorders). They certainly needed to spend a lot of time alone or have the capacity to get away from people. Fairly argumentative. Knew they needed medication but would resist it - even when acknowledging taking it would make them stabilise and feel better. They often didn't feel comfortable in their own skin and you would see that visibly manifest in their movements and body responses. It's hard to describe but it was almost like seeing someone trying to shrug their own body off or shed their skin. Nothing gross in movement but noticeable.

Of course this is a layperson's version and so many illnesses share similar symptoms. A highly depressed anxious person could display many of these issues as could phobics. People with medical conditions like tumours (and other diseases as you recognise) can have a range of similar problems and so on.

Getting professional advice is important and it would be good to relieve your own mind.

pandaca · 06-01-2007, 08:14 AM

I haven't know any schizophrenics, but I have quite a few bipolar people in my family. A resource I always use is http://www.nami.org/.

They will also have support groups in your community (or near it, depending on where you live) that you can look to for more information, but the web site has a ton of info as well.

Mommy22alyns · 06-01-2007, 03:45 PM

Definitely see a professional as a lot of laypeople easily confuse schizophrenia and bipolar disorder. I hope you get some good help and start feeling better soon.

debinoz · 06-01-2007, 04:25 PM

I only knew one schizophrenic. He suffered from schizophrenia/paranoia. I'd definitely have it checked just to be safe. He's no longer with us due to an "accident" with a shotgun.....

Miss Moosey · 06-01-2007, 04:36 PM

Schizophrenia can be a little difficult to diagnose. First of all, there are a lot of similar disorders, such as bipolar. Second, there are several different types of schizophrenia (five, I think) in which certain symptoms are dominant and other symptoms are seen very little or not at all; not all people who have schizophenia are paraniod or violent. Also, people with schizophrenia can have periods with no symptoms along with periods where they are very symptomatic.

It would be a good idea for you or your boyfriend to keep little notebooks and just track any symptoms or "off" behavior for a while: what the behavior is, in what setting the behavior occurs (at work, at home, etc) how long it lasts, and any possible triggers. That way when you see a psychologist neither of you will be making wild stabs in the dark. Also, recording your behaviors may necessary for making a diagnosis--a diagnosis of schizophrenia and many other psychiatric disorders require that symptoms be seen for at least six months; if you will record you will have proof of how long you have been experiencing symptoms.

Wishing you well
Rebecca

Jeremy · 06-01-2007, 04:46 PM

Hi. I often represent Schizophrenics in commitment and probable cause hearings. I am also the conservator for a schizophrenic woman. Many of the things written above are true, but not true for every schizophrenic. I would urge you not to wait in seeking help. Making this diagnosis takes a good deal of time. Here is the link to the NIMH and its article on schizophrenia.
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/healthinform...hreniamenu.cfm

I would say this. If you do have it, you have an exceptional ability to put facts together, be coherent and be rational. I wish you the best of luck, we're here for you.

HollyP · 06-01-2007, 04:49 PM

In addition to going to a pychriatrist/psychologist you might just want to get check out by a family physican. Many conditions within the body can manifest as mental illness. My sister suffers from depression and anxiety. She had a virus a few months ago and she seemed like she was having a complete mental breakdown. She was very paranoid and just wasn't making any sense. We were very concerned that her depression had progressed into something else. But after exhausting all of her psych drs. I took her to my GP. He tested her for a ton of different things. When all of her blood work came back it turned out she had a bad virus that we would just have to wait out.