[BNLsMOM]

I just finished a partial program and the doctor there mentioned that I recently suffered a psychosis and the words "paranoid schizophrenia" were tossed around as a possible diagnosis instead of or in addition to bipolar and in addition to ADHD.

I am wondering if anyone would like to share what their experience of diagnosis was and why your doctor(s) decided you had paranoid schizophrenia.

Thanks.

[BNLsMOM]

Originally Posted by BNLsMOM

I just finished a partial program and the doctor there mentioned that I recently suffered a psychosis and the words "paranoid schizophrenia" were tossed around as a possible diagnosis instead of or in addition to bipolar and in addition to ADHD.

I am wondering if anyone would like to share what their experience of diagnosis was and why your doctor(s) decided you had paranoid schizophrenia.

Thanks.

Please? I am kind of afraid and I don't have an appointment for 8 more days.

[SpottedOwl]

(((BNLsMOM)))

I was never diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, so I cannot directly answer your question. But, I can tell you that anytime a patient presents with psychosis, schizophrenia will be explored as a possible diagnosis.

The way that doctors talk about diagnoses, can sound very alarming. They might have been saying 'although she has paranoia, she does not fit all the symptoms of paranoid schizophrenia.'

For what its worth, I don't think you have PS.

Many warm thoughts for you..please try not to worry too much.

[volatile]

I highly doubt they will DX you with paranoid schizophrenia.

When I was a child they thought I had ADHD (but now I know I was only experiencing psychosis), but that was dropped when I was about 9 and changed to "emotionally handicapped". Then when I was older around 15 they thought I had an anxiety disorder and bipolar. Then they were all confused again when I went in experiencing psychosis when I was 18. I was then DXed with Schizoaffective disorder.
I've just always been angry about it. My whole life there has been something wrong with me. All it is is just a bunch of bull ****. The only reason I even needed to see the doctor for the psychosis was because I was experiencing added stress and paranoia because of PTSD.
I thought everyone was trying to kill me, even my own mother. My best friends were Nazi's, etc.. There were hidden cameras watching my every movement everywhere I went. I was expecting at any time for something to happen. I would harass people because I thought they were following me, etc.

[BNLsMOM]

I am on a quest to find out what is wrong with me. I have had a bipolar diagnosis and now after a hospitalization and partial program for symptoms of psychosis, I have been told that the doctor doesn't know what I have. It could be bipolar, schizoaffective or paranoid schizophrenia, or something else.

Anyway, I wanted to get some feedback on images I was havoing. I won't go into detail because they were disgusting and violent (only toward myself). They began to control me and I was getting to the point I was starting to act them out and it was getting difficult to control myself from doing so. The images would come beyond my control as if they were being put there. If I had control over my thoughts, I would never think these things. Besides, they weren't thoughts. They were close up flashes of violence by my own hand.

Also, I get very paranoid. I will go into hiding in my house because of it. I think that people who are landscaping will really kill me. Not that they are after me to begin with, but that they will see me and decide to kill me or hurt me. The other day, I had an episode where I got my brakes done and on the way home I said something to my son and it sounded like my voice echoed and I thought that they bugged my car and were listening to me. I don't know whay they would do that. I also don't think that any more. it was just a brief thought.

Are these things consistent with schizophrenia?

[Pughead]

Originally Posted by BNLsMOM

I am on a quest to find out what is wrong with me. I have had a bipolar diagnosis and now after a hospitalization and partial program for symptoms of psychosis, I have been told that the doctor doesn't know what I have. It could be bipolar, schizoaffective or paranoid schizophrenia, or something else.

Also, I get very paranoid. I will go into hiding in my house because of it. I think that people who are landscaping will really kill me. Not that they are after me to begin with, but that they will see me and decide to kill me or hurt me. The other day, I had an episode where I got my brakes done and on the way home I said something to my son and it sounded like my voice echoed and I thought that they bugged my car and were listening to me. I don't know whay they would do that. I also don't think that any more. it was just a brief thought.

Are these things consistent with schizophrenia?

Be careful with your quest. I did the same thing a few years ago and it just completely consumed me and made me horribly depressed. I've been diagnosed with BP Type I, which is probably close, but who knows for sure? Maybe I'm just wired a bit different and that's the way it is. Maybe I am BP, maybe not, but I don't think it matters all that much. I think treating the symptoms is more important, because God knows if they'll ever get the DX right, know what I mean? After trial and error, lamictal has been the most effective in controlling nearly all of my symptoms. That would suggest that I do have BP, type I or II, or NOS, doesn't matter.

When I'm severely depressed, I can get paranoid and persecutory delusions, sort of like what you describe. It is very possible to have this with BP. I think that one of the keys in determining schizophrenia, is that people who have it are often emotionally flat. If you have a BP diagnosis, then you most certainly have had the extreme roller coaster of emotions.

I'd try not to get too caught up or obsessed with finding an exact DX though. It can lead to downward spiral into despair and depression. I mean, sometimes it's blatantly obvious and easy, like John Nash, right? But for the vast majority of us, it's not clear at all. There is so much grey area, and it might simply be impossible to ever get the correct DX, as there simply might not exist a precise DX for your condition.

Best of luck!