[dorantesd]

Here is my story for the past month ive had this fear that im going to develope schizophrenia because i read about it on the internet. This fear got so bad that i had to go see a theraist and she diagnosed me with a mild depression and mild anxiety. Is this just my anxiety messing with my head thinking that im going to get schizophrenia? This fear is stuck in my head and it makes me feel sad and down.. It seems like im the the only person who is worried aboutgetting schizophrenia since it can effect anyone at anytime. Ive had thoughts about killing myself if i develope schizophrenia Only if i develope it but why am i so worried about this illness i wasnt worried before why now? Im 25 years and im so afraid that im going to develope schizophrenia and lose my mind. My family has no history of any mental illness but the idea that there still might me a chance of getting it makes me feel sick to my stomac. Ive seen a therapist about it but i dont want to take meds. What do you people suggest i do to stop thinking like that? Its driving me crazy thinking like this

[Odee]

That's anxiety AND fear.

This is an experience much like mine. I have the extreme fear of losing touch with reality or going "even crazier!" when I am anxious and especially when I am panicking. If I hear a sound I cannot identify, I am afraid that I imagined it, that my mind is playing tricks, and that one day I may never be able to tell what's a real sound or what my brain is producing.

There IS a lot of mental illness going on in my family, but no schizophrenia that I know of. However, you HAVE to remind yourself that this is the anxiety disorder talking to you, and it is never sensible or realistic. It is exaggerating the minimal risk. Remind yourself that the problem is anxiety and don't let it tell you that you have more issues than you really have. I believe if you let yourself dwell in these thoughts that it is possible to begin producing the symptoms you fear, or over analyze very small moments of hallucinations or uncertainty about what you saw. (ie, I will startle if I believe I just saw a figure in my peripheral vision. EVERYONE experiences this, you are NOT hallucinating.)

I always feel so bad when I am talking about this fear of mine on these forums. I don't mean to ostracize people with schizophrenia even more by acting like they're beyond crazy! I love you guys and I know that you are good people.

[spondiferous]

I know lots of people who google stuff or research stuff and then develop fear/anxiety that it's going to happen to them. It's probably both, as Odee said. Which doesn't make it any worse or better than it is. If you need help with it I suggest getting the help you need, whether it's counselling, talking it over with your doc, or just spending time on here talking with others who have similar fears and concerns. Hopefully it's something that will pass rather smoothly and then that'll be it. But if it's not it will be good to have some support in place.