[weird artist]

Hi, it might be low, or high I don't know, but I am really anxious, and I would really appreciate any support/advice. My uncle has schizophrenia, and growing up as a child we always liked him, but the care homes he lived in were scary noisy places, and I'm very scared of the whole illness. I am sorry if anybody finds that offensive, its not a personal insult, I am just scared.

I am currently in treatment for depression and anxiety, so I am hoping to share some of my feelings/symptoms with my doctor when I next see them. Any advice?

[spiritual_emergency]

By all means, you should share your concerns with your doctor but anxiety and depression alone aren't really symptoms of schizophrenia (I prefer to refer to it as "ego collapse" or a "fragmentation crisis"). Are you having some experiences that go beyond anxiety and depression?

As for your uncle's experience of places he lived... some of those places are scary. I'm sure there are some really good ones out there but most people don't seem to enjoy them all that much.

[weird artist]

yeah, things are much more than just anxiety and depression. I dont hear voices, but often there are sounds that others dont seem to notice, there are hidden cameras in places people dont know about, but if I told them that they'd think i was weird, and i see things that arent there as soon as i look back. I realised there was a problem sunday night when I didnt want to sleep because there was a grave-sized hole in a building site near my flat, and if I went to sleep they were going to kill me and bury me there. I havent slept properly since even though my antiDs are the drowsy kind.

[jena2nsu]

I believe you fit the characteristics for Schizophrenia assuming you have had these feelings for at least one month during the past six months. You don't necessarily have to hear voices. If you often hear sounds that other don't hear, it's just the same.

You sound like you're suffering because you mention that you haven't slept properly since you saw a large hole in a neighboring building. There are now wonderful medications that are available for those suffering from Schizophrenia. You should visit a Psychiatrist or your Primary Care Physician to see if you can discuss the thoughts you've been having.

[spiritual_emergency]

jena2nsu: I believe you fit the characteristics for Schizophrenia assuming you have had these feelings for at least one month during the past six months.

Just as an additional point jen, a diagnosis of schizophrenia requires the presence of positive or negative symptoms for at least a total of six months; the positive symptoms must have been present for a minimum of one month in that six month period. Meantime, I don't believe any of us would be capable of providing an actual diagnosis, particularly over the internet.

weird artist: yeah, things are much more than just anxiety and depression. I dont hear voices, but often there are sounds that others dont seem to notice, there are hidden cameras in places people dont know about, but if I told them that they'd think i was weird, and i see things that arent there as soon as i look back. I realised there was a problem sunday night when I didnt want to sleep because there was a grave-sized hole in a building site near my flat, and if I went to sleep they were going to kill me and bury me there. I havent slept properly since even though my antiDs are the drowsy kind.

Is there anything else going on in your life that might account for your heightened anxiety, weird artist? How's the rest of your life going -- school? work? girlfriend/boyfriend? friends? family?

[mschu528]

Actually under the DSM-IV, two or more "characteristic symptoms", which include both the positive and negative symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, affective flattening, avolition, etc) must exist, the "disturbance" must last at least six months (with at least one continuous month of symptoms), AND this must significantly affect social or occupational functioning.

Psychotic symptoms, such as hearing voices or sounds, delusions, and sleep disorders can certainly also occur in mood disorders. The DSM-IV has a specific diagnosis of "psychotic major depression", and the ICD-10 offers several diagnoses of depression with psychotic symptoms. Of course, it should again be emphasized that, as has already been mentioned in the previous post, we are not able to provide an official diagnosis.

Also, as far as those "wonderful medications" go, they are greatly improved over the older drugs, but still carry MANY side effects. I've been on several antipsychs, and, while they work fairly well, I have quit them every time due to side effects and then reverted to another psychotic episode.

[weird artist]

I have a 5yr old, he is brilliant, great other half. I am at university studying illustration, which is really quite stressful, but I survived last year ok, so I dont see why it would be so much harder this year.

everything else is normal for me

I hope you can find a way to reduce the stress in your life. I hope you are ok and doing well today.

Sincerely,

Sardean

[mschu528]

Originally Posted by weird artist

I have a 5yr old, he is brilliant, great other half. I am at university studying illustration, which is really quite stressful, but I survived last year ok, so I dont see why it would be so much harder this year.

everything else is normal for me

Yes, well it's not uncommon for school to suddenly become more/less difficult while dealing with a psychological disorder. My first semester of uni I got a 1.80 (on the 0-4 GPA scale), and my second semester I got a 4.00. The difference was a psychotic mixed episode with no medication in the first semester followed by a medicated hypomanic episode the second semester. Now I'm in a mixed episode again with social phobia reaching the point of agoraphobia, and leaving the house is quite stressful (when I actually do).

Anyway, I hope things get better for you.

[weird artist]

thanks everyone, i am beginning to feel better after switching antidepressants, I think i was just feeling really really down and really anxious, I will keep an eye on things, and go see my doc if i start seeing/thinking things again.