i said every sign of schizophrenia. i dont believe much in the dsm and it is always changing but i definitely know that catatonic schizophrenia does not involve psychosis. now they have removed the subtypes... but even by current dsm, you only need a few symptoms out of the list and only 2 in the list are hallucinations/delusions... so by their own definition, one does not need to have psychosis... not that that is how it is treated in any practical sense.

i dont believe in black and white thinking regarding diagnosis, a diagnosis is just a collection of symptoms...

i dont think that i will ever fit a label and i dont want to force myself into a box which i do not naturally fit (i used to try to make myself fit).

as a teenager people just automatically assumed that i was psychosic. it was annoying at the time, but looking at this, i can see why they would think so... i think i am just different, i dont know.

these are not symptoms but warning signs... it was reading this that gave me the biggest... holy ****! that was me!

Perception, Thinking and Speech Changes

• Things around them seem changed in some way
• Rapid speech that is difficult to interrupt
• Irrational statements
• Extreme preoccupation with religion or with the occult (usually this is a new change in the person)
• Peculiar use of words or odd language structures
• Unusual sensitivity to stimuli (noise, light, colours, textures)
• Memory problems
• Severe distractibility
• Reduced speech/talking

Social Changes

• Severe decline of social relationships
• Dropping out of activities - or out of life in general
• Social withdrawal, isolation, reclusiveness
• Unexpected aggression
• Extreme suspiciousness of other people
• Can't seem to "read" social situations or interactions very well any longer

Emotional Changes

• Inappropriate laughter
• Inability to cry, or excessive crying
• Feelings of depression and anxiety
• Inability to express joy
• Euphoric (elated) mood
• Personality changes

Behavioural Changes

• Odd or bizarre behaviour
• Feeling refreshed after much less sleep than normal
• Excessive writing that is difficult to understand
• Cutting oneself; threats of self-mutilation
• Deterioration of personal hygiene
• Hyperactivity or inactivity, or alternating between the two
• Staring without blinking - or blinking incessantly
• Agitation
• Severe sleep disturbances
• Drug or alcohol use (This may be a coping mechanism)
• Reckless behaviours that are out of character
• Strange posturing or gesturing
• Significantly decreased activity
• Difficulties functioning at school or work