Hi Haris. Welcome to PC.

I tend to think psych dx's are mostly nonsense. They attempt to group people by symptoms, but they're not perfect. I really don't think it's all that helpful to get too caught up with the labels.

My son has been dx'd with sz (and psychotic disorder and bipolar, at different times). He clearly has symptoms that would put him on the sz page - specifically delusions. I think he's hallucinated in the past too.

However, the real problems in his life aren't the psychotic symptoms. The symptoms that create the most pain for him are anxiety, OCD (more obsessional that compulsive), depression, PTSD, and anger. Psychosis is just where he goes when the other issues overwhelm him.

So, does that mean he doesn't have sz? Not in my opinion. Even if he's not psychotic right now (and hasn't been for two years), I think/fear the problem is still there. It can re-emerge if life gets overwhelming again. Right now he's working on some of the other issues in a variety of ways, but under stress without support he'd likely go back to his delusional way of thinking.

I think you should address your other mental health issues. Sadly it seems like once you have that sz label, everything gets laid at that door. And for that they just give you meds. I found a pdoc for my son through an organization that advocates the use of psychotherapy for psychosis. This pdoc insists on talk therapy in addition to medication. He also has my son taking fish oil, exercising, getting light exposure and social contact, not ruminating, and one other thing I can't remember ATM.

Between the two of us, my son and I try an informal cognitive therapy. For example, he talked to me last night about the fact that he sometimes feels the need to think something over obsessively. He'll get onto a thought and can't stop thinking until he resolves it some way in his mind. For example, last night he was obsessively going over the route to his new house that he's moving to soon.

I guess the point is, IMO, don't get too hooked on the overall label. Focus on the specific symptoms you're having and see if you can cope with them or find ways to overcome them or understand their source. And try to find mental health professionals who will partner with you to work on your goals - both life goals and treatment goals.