Do any of you suffer with ideas of reference? Hearing, reading or seeing things and feeling they are direct messages to you? My doctor gave me a name for this symptom.

I'm having some trouble with the internet, books and tv, even my iTunes causes it. This has been a major and ongoing problem of mine and I've been able to skirt by, but it's really depressing to know how many things I've gotten wrong in my life and people I've accused when I shouldn't. I want to send out apology letters to soooooo many people because of it. Anyone relate? It's really held me back in life.

[Icare dixit]

Yes, I do relate. But it's not the worst of my problems: I have it during mania/psychosis but there isn't much "left" when stable and on meds. It doesn't interfere (much) with my functioning, generally.

I think it derived from other, underlying, problems, delusions/rationalisations, mainly delusion of grandeur (but more broadly interpreted: anything psychotic, not "psychotic", is per se inexpressible/intangible).

I think mine is related to early childhood bullying but I'm not sure. Anytime I'm in a group, it gets worse.

My doc said it was psychosis but in my case, I'm not sure. I think PTSD might cause it. It's so complicated but I guess since the meds help, I should just thank my stars.

I'm glad the meds help you. I took a couple weeks for mine to really take effect but they are doing an ok job now. Still a floater hanging around from time to time but mostly all gone. We are lucky meds help.

[Icare dixit]

Originally Posted by ElsaMars

I'm glad the meds help you. I took a couple weeks for mine to really take effect but they are doing an ok job now. Still a floater hanging around from time to time but mostly all gone. We are lucky meds help.

We are very lucky, yes. Very, very thankful such meds exist. There's no other way to solve such problems otherwise, that I know of or can even imagine existing, belief.

I really gives so much hope.

I'm glad they work for you for the most part. Just keep taking them. There's enough problems you may tackle now, maybe like these, things that can be solved by reason, room for doubt and steady, directed, focused determination.

I'm sure you'll figure it out.

I've "experienced" things that I believed were direct messages to me. For example, I might have done something I shouldn't have (out of sheer stupidity). Then later on, I might be working on something and it goes completely wrong. I then think it was a direct message to me to remind me that I f***ed up earlier, and that what I'm getting is payback. It is a "deserved" punishment.

I think mine is more paranoia related, and it happens during hypo/mania.

I don't know if that's what you're talking about though.

I get that too blue bicycle. I also think they messages are being sent to get me to kill myself. It's very distressing. (((Hugs)))

[zepchic]

Yes, but I really believe in 'signs' I also get some of what blue bicycle was saying, but more so when i was younger, not so much now. The 'signs' I get tend to be positive, so I am not concerned about it.

[st0psign]

that's a symptom I haven't had... yet. each manic or mixed episode brings something new recently though.

[jacky8807]

I have this during some episodes , once very severe but not in between.

[venusss]

I call these omens.

They can be good or bad, but well... I look for omens, so of course I see them.

I don't feel it's an illness symptom for me either.

[Shancan]

I feel like things happen in front of me for a reason and I need to take the time to read into it. Makes me paranoid actually.

[violetgreen]

Yes this happens, but my interpretation of these experiences have changed over time. Religious or spiritual vision, psychic experience, meaning-making, hallucination, omens, a message to myself. I didn't have a name for this experience until now, thanks.

I see them as psychic messages too. As a for instance: I'm listening to a book on tape. Sometimes his voice changes and I can tell he's talking directly to me. Sometimes things are good but mostly his voice distorts into something condescending and he's sending me a message that what he's talking about will happen to me. The book isn't scary, but mean things happen in it and it's been scary. Or I read something online and I'm sure it's a warning to me. Sometimes the warnings are helpful, but they always keep me in my house. I don't leave because I've been warned too many times not to. I'm battling against if it real and means something, or unchecked psychosis. Sometimes even when stable I worry I have special powers. But why are they hell bent on keeping me inside. Is it really that dangerous for me out there. I don't really want to find out and that's my problem. Ugggg.

[GoldenSnitch]

Originally Posted by bluebicycle

I've "experienced" things that I believed were direct messages to me. For example, I might have done something I shouldn't have (out of sheer stupidity). Then later on, I might be working on something and it goes completely wrong. I then think it was a direct message to me to remind me that I f***ed up earlier, and that what I'm getting is payback. It is a "deserved" punishment.


I think mine is more paranoia related, and it happens during hypo/mania.


I don't know if that's what you're talking about though.

This is the way that mine tend to be as well.

[violetgreen]

I get the part about "keeping me inside" because I have to deliberately fight against that or I might just not go or do anything. Like that old nightmare I used to have as a kid about running but not going anywhere.

[The_little_didgee]

I get this as well. It started when I developed psychosis. Even though I have recovered the ideas of reference never disappeared. Medication has helped, and so has sleeping and eating well.

My ideas of reference have a visual component to them. The image, word or object becomes prominent and wavy. When this happens I cannot ignore it. One of my most recent experiences happened on public transit. Another passenger sitting in front of me was wearing some jewelry with a face on it. The face suddenly came alive and stared at me. Someone from another dimension was trying to communicate with me again.