[NeverStopThinking]

I'm worried I might be developing Schizophrenia. You guys are literally the first people I'm asking about this because it's really getting in the way of how I view people. I've been researching and researching and I haven't found any symptoms that relate to what I'm going through so I would really love for any help or advice. It started out as hearing things when I wasn't looking. Like if I was eavesdropping or something I would hear the actual real person's voice, who was having the conversation, talking about me. And then when all my attention turned they would quickly change the subject so smoothly and easy where I wouldn't even think of it. But I heard what I heard at first and I know I heard it. This only happened when I wouldn't be looking DIRECTLY at people. Now I feel like it's getting worse because I keep having these very uncomfortable experiences around people. I'll give you three examples that really stood out to me.
- During a group conversation person B turned from me to talk to person A, I looked down at my phone quickly for a notification then looked back up to get back into the conversation and A said to B "You're not looking at him so stop talking unless you're looking at him", this was one of the first times this has happened to me while LOOKING at the people. And then just like that, as if they noticed I heard it, the conversation quickly changed and seemed quite normal.
- Person A talking to person B about something, I wasn't completely sure what they were talking about, but I heard B say (when I start listening), "he's listening, change it change it" and then A said "Saturday?" to which B replied "Oh it's Saturday night?", it wasn't played off that well this time I feel.
- Last, but not least I was hanging out with someone, music was pretty loud, just chilling, and they said something to me that I didn't quite get and I guess my expression showed that because then they said "Ugh I said it too fast for you" which then they rolled their eyes and said "This is annoying" ??? I'm not sure what to make from this one because it was the realest one out of anything I experienced so far.

And every time I heard them say things it wasn't in like a normal pitch(?), It was kind of lowered, like I really had to listen to hear them. Any insight will be greatly appreciated!

[faerie_moon_x]

Hi, welcome to PC

Well, none of us can diagnose things. But, first thing you should know is that hearing voices by itself doesn't mean you're developing schizophrenia. There is a lot of other stuff that goes with schizophrenia along with hallucinations and delusions.

Next, even if you are having psychosis it doesn't mean schizophrenia necessarily. A lot of other things can have some psychosis tied to it, like bipolar or depression. Even boarderline personality disorder can have transient psychosis with it.

But, in your examples... The first one is kind of confusing. The second one could be something. The third one with the loud music sounds like someone being a total jerk to you. Plus, with the loud music you could have heard them say something but not understand.

But, if this continues to happen you may want to talk to a therapist about it and see what they think.

[NeverStopThinking]

First I wanna just thank you for answering

And I'm kind of nervous to go see anyone because I really don't even like taking any kind of medicine as it is (cough syrup, tylenol, allergy medicine) so I don't want to just be put on something and that's it. But I probably should've also mentioned that I hear it sometimes in songs that are playing in the background, the t.v., and even YouTube videos that I'm not giving my entire attention to. I always end up saying "wait what did he just say?" and having to rewind the video because I thought he said something mean directed towards me. I usually always hear something to do with me not listening or paying attention. But it's like in the YouTuber voice, not a voice in my head.

[faerie_moon_x]

Okay, well, first you're regconizing it and that's a good thing. Really, you may not need medication. A lot of people are voice-hearers who don't have a diagnosis of anything and never need medication. If it is not disruptive to your life, you may just need some therapy to learn how to reality check and cope and you'll be fine.

I'd say start with a therapist becuse they can't perscribe meds anyway. They can give you an opinion on if you may need a psychiatrist and meds. But if you're not having any other symptoms, it could just be something stress induced or something that goes away with time. It's at least a start.

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by NeverStopThinking

I'm worried I might be developing Schizophrenia. You guys are literally the first people I'm asking about this because it's really getting in the way of how I view people. I've been researching and researching and I haven't found any symptoms that relate to what I'm going through so I would really love for any help or advice. It started out as hearing things when I wasn't looking. Like if I was eavesdropping or something I would hear the actual real person's voice, who was having the conversation, talking about me. And then when all my attention turned they would quickly change the subject so smoothly and easy where I wouldn't even think of it. But I heard what I heard at first and I know I heard it. This only happened when I wouldn't be looking DIRECTLY at people. Now I feel like it's getting worse because I keep having these very uncomfortable experiences around people. I'll give you three examples that really stood out to me.
- During a group conversation person B turned from me to talk to person A, I looked down at my phone quickly for a notification then looked back up to get back into the conversation and A said to B "You're not looking at him so stop talking unless you're looking at him", this was one of the first times this has happened to me while LOOKING at the people. And then just like that, as if they noticed I heard it, the conversation quickly changed and seemed quite normal.
- Person A talking to person B about something, I wasn't completely sure what they were talking about, but I heard B say (when I start listening), "he's listening, change it change it" and then A said "Saturday?" to which B replied "Oh it's Saturday night?", it wasn't played off that well this time I feel.
- Last, but not least I was hanging out with someone, music was pretty loud, just chilling, and they said something to me that I didn't quite get and I guess my expression showed that because then they said "Ugh I said it too fast for you" which then they rolled their eyes and said "This is annoying" ??? I'm not sure what to make from this one because it was the realest one out of anything I experienced so far.

And every time I heard them say things it wasn't in like a normal pitch(?), It was kind of lowered, like I really had to listen to hear them. Any insight will be greatly appreciated!

So this is interesting because one of the theories behind cognitive behavioral therapy is that the voices are similar to the thoughts we have when our minds are sort of ruminating. So in both scenarios you're talking about when you are not engaged this is happening. This does sound like auditory hallucinations to me. In a lot of cases some sort of engagement like really listening to music or watching a film can help stop the voices but only if you are fully engaged if you're just sort of sitting there vegging then you get voices.

So let me lay this out for you...one there can me medical causes to hallucinations---various diseases etc you should go to a general practitioner and have those ruled out---if they can't figure it out they will likely refer you to a psychiatrist-----what you're experiencing sounds mild but they pretty much only have one solution and that's medication so they may start you on a low dose of antipsychotic. So there are a couple of possibilities---this may just be how you are and it will never get worse but it may also increase in frequency or you may start having delusions. If that happens you'll probably end up on a higher dose of medicine. So there is a concept called duration of untreated psychosis or DUP that suggests that if you treat this stuff fast and early there is a much better chance of total recovery which can mean going off the meds once you are 6 months symptom free. This may mean you'll be fine for life if you get treatment but if you wait for it to get worse you may in fact have it forever. So you have to choose...do you take the chance or just get treatment which would likely be a low dose AP for 6 months...There are no guarantees but I would choose treatment because if things start getting bad you can get to the point where you don't even realize you're hallucinating.

[jeppys]

wow, wow, wow. this is exactly how mine started. please do as Sometimes psychotic says and be more engaged. my whole psychosis has been themed......"LISTEN". something admittedly I am horrible at......whether its listening to myself or others or my soul.......please engage the world and ignore the voices like the plague. just be yourself.