[Findley]

For the last few weeks, I feel like I've gone insane. Several weeks back, I thought I heard my friend say my name at swim practice. He didn't. Since then, my mental health has seemingly gone downhill fast, and it has worried me so incredibly much.

Every time I hear a noise that I don't know the source of, I have gotten really scared. But, I figured I was just being paranoid about it. But, recently, particularly in the last few days, I've had random thoughts just pop into my head. I don't know how to explain it, but they're soft, and they're not mine, at all. For instance, I was reading a article a few hours ago, and the word "communists" just popped into my head. Just the word, nothing else, and it seems as if I didnt think of it. It's like having auditory hallucinations, but you don't hear them, you think them. In the last few weeks, I occasionally would have one of those random thoughts once or twice a day. But today, I've had countless. I've heard "does the dean know what we're doing", "I'm only joking" and much more. At the same time, I've had ringing ears. I'll turn my head, and the ringing will stop. It scares me, and I think I'm going crazy. Today, I also heard beeping in my ears, and what sounded like construction. And, whenever I think or reflect on the ringing in my ears, it comes back again.

I'm just so scared and overwhelmed. Im afraid my life will be destroyed because of this. Im afraid I could lose everything because of it, and I got so nervous, it felt as if the room was spinning.

So, am I developing schizophrenia, have I gone completely insane? Help?

[kindachaotic]

We can't diagnose on here but a few things come to mind.
Have you had a thorough work up from your primary doc.
This may rule out some medical issue.
If all is ok there ask to be referred to a psych doc.
They can dx & decide on any meds or therapy needed.
If no ins there should be county assistance available.
There is no need to keep suffering when help is out there.
I wish you the best.

[Perna]

Hi, Findley, welcome to PsychCentral (PC). I think you are just becoming really afraid of being afraid; like you said, you "got so nervous, it felt as if the room was spinning." That sort of anxiety can cascade on you.

We all think all sorts of random thoughts, that's pretty much what thinking, when we're not specifically paying attention to it, is. I remember for many years (15-20) I kept having the random thought, "Guess what we did in French today?" long after I had quit taking French in high school Reminds me of your, "Does the dean know what we're doing". It took a lot of experience in therapy before I figured it out for myself, why I was coming up with that particular phrase when I was. Random thoughts are kind of like dreams, ours but mostly unconscious. I had an illness that left me with ear noise and yes, if you attend, it will naturally become "clearer"/louder. I would go talk to someone about your fears/worries, your doctor or see a counselor. I do not think you are going crazy.

[pegasus]

Hello Findley, welcome to Psych Central.

Yeah we can't diagnose here but we can give our opinions. You know, anxiety can make you hear things too when you get hyper vigilant and you can start imagining things. All about anxiety >>>> Anxiety, Panic and Phobia Center - Psych Central

Here is a link all about psychosis too, it is a complete loss of touch with reality with hallucinations and delusions. All About Schizophrenia and Psychosis

You might like to try these quizzes and print out the results for a mental health professional to look at. Psychological Tests and Quizzes and The Sanity Score - Test Your Mental Wellness

Please go and see your doctor.

[optimistic_dolphin]

hey, take care k?
i hv the same kind of issues during my psychosis episodes
but like others had said, we are not prof and we can't diagnose you.
it can be due to loads of stuff so get it checked out

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by Findley

For the last few weeks, I feel like I've gone insane. Several weeks back, I thought I heard my friend say my name at swim practice. He didn't. Since then, my mental health has seemingly gone downhill fast, and it has worried me so incredibly much.

Every time I hear a noise that I don't know the source of, I have gotten really scared. But, I figured I was just being paranoid about it. But, recently, particularly in the last few days, I've had random thoughts just pop into my head. I don't know how to explain it, but they're soft, and they're not mine, at all. For instance, I was reading a article a few hours ago, and the word "communists" just popped into my head. Just the word, nothing else, and it seems as if I didnt think of it. It's like having auditory hallucinations, but you don't hear them, you think them. In the last few weeks, I occasionally would have one of those random thoughts once or twice a day. But today, I've had countless. I've heard "does the dean know what we're doing", "I'm only joking" and much more. At the same time, I've had ringing ears. I'll turn my head, and the ringing will stop. It scares me, and I think I'm going crazy. Today, I also heard beeping in my ears, and what sounded like construction. And, whenever I think or reflect on the ringing in my ears, it comes back again.

I'm just so scared and overwhelmed. Im afraid my life will be destroyed because of this. Im afraid I could lose everything because of it, and I got so nervous, it felt as if the room was spinning.

So, am I developing schizophrenia, have I gone completely insane? Help?

So first...chill...even if you are having hallucinations it is in no way the end of the world----yes its a little bit different but it can be treated in most cases. What you are describing sounds like a pseudohallucination to me some of us refer to these as inner voices. In some cases these are totally normal. In some cases it means you have some sort or medical issue and in some cases its the beginning of psychosis. Early detection results in the best outcome so what you do is see a family doctor and ask for a few tests to rule out anything physical as a cause---if that doesn't turn up anything then ask for a referral to a psychiatrist. In the mean time there is a book called the center cannot hold by elyn saks....she has schizophrenia and also a law degree---she's also a professor in California, won a macarthur genius award etc....just to learn more she picked up a psych degree on top of that. Even if you do have schizophrenia its not impossible to go on to have a normal life with medication.