[Lizcraze]

I hate not being able to tell what is reality and what isnt!! Like I always feel like someone's watching me, and that im an experiment for these people, or something like that. or that people are all watching me to protect me from something big thats going to happen. and then my hallucinations, I can't tell if the things are really there or not. I mean a part of my mind is telling me its not real, but lately i've been getting worse, lately i cant tell whats real and what isnt, it just all blends together. and lately ive caught my self having conversations with inanimate objects, which is where my voices sometimes come out of. I feel like im going insane. I havent really been diagnosed yet, and im super afraid to tell my parents, but i've done lots of research on my symptoms and i'm wondering if this sounds like schizophrenia? or what? or am i just crazy?

[O-Dawg]

Hey Liz,

I know it must be hard to tell your parents. I got Schizophrenia when I was older, but I still never told anyone. I live with my brothers so they started to notice that I was paranoid and I would point to things that weren't there. It is so hard to tell what is real and what isn't. I often wonder if we are really seeing real things that other people can't see. Because it seems so real.

It does sound like you have Schizophrenia, but I can't tell you for sure. Don't be scared if you do get diagnosed with it. You are certainly not alone. I've learned that it's not something that will go away, but it is something you can live with.

Hope everything goes well for you!

[Lizcraze]

do you think i should try to tell my parents or anyone? im afraid they will just think im crazy!!

[Tsunamisurfer]

Originally Posted by Lizcraze

do you think i should try to tell my parents or anyone? im afraid they will just think im crazy!!

Liz, I understand your reluctance and concerns. Being thought of as crazy (initially) by your parents probably isn't as bad as it sounds.

Part of getting those confusing and scary experiences under control is through medical treatment. For that you should see a psychiatrist who can consider your situation more closely and correctly diagnose your condition. It will probably take your parents' buy-in to get you there.

That is the tricky part - getting them to help you without freaking out and denying there is a problem.

[porcupine2]

There's all types of schizophrenia...I hear people knocking at my door, the phone ringing, loud crashes, conversations, whispering in my ear,, doorbells,, etc and the diagnosis was schizoaffective disorder, which is not as severe as full blown schizophrenia. Those with bipolar or manic history most likely to experience this.
I too have a problem discerning reality from 'my reality'......when these episodes happen I now know not to answer the phone or answer the door -- I wait and look at caller ID. It is maddening for sure.

[mgran]

You might end up diagnosed with "Psychotic Disorder Not Otherwise Specified" rather than Schizophrenia. Because of your age there are all sorts of other things it could be, including a stress or hormone induced psychosis which you can grow out of. Nobody on this forum can tell you whether you have schizophrenia or not, it could be psychotic depression for example, which is treatable with anti depressants, and usually lasts no more than a year when appropriately treated. So don't panic yet... It doesn't have to be schizophrenia, and the chances are fair to good that it won't even be a lifelong thing. If it's depression for example you can have other treatments besides medication, therapy for example, which will help alleviate the symptoms.

You say you're afraid your parents will think you're crazy... isn't it more the case that you're worried you're crazy? Your parents will love you and want the best for you, whatever happens, that's the truth of it. When I finally got around to telling my Dad it went far better than I'd thought.