[Waning_Moon]

Many people have it and Now my mom and she is normal but my and my dad, my brother, a grandfather and a few cousins have it but my mom is thinking maybe I might have it she says I am acting that way whatever it means she says I am at that age but I feel fine so what should I do? I don't feel different I feel energetic and electric and I feel really good I am just fine really I have been going throuhg positive changes I think she doesn't know what she is talking about but how would I know? I know how they act I am not acting that way! I thought since you people have it you could tell me what to watch out for or to know if I am starting to develop it. Thanks.

[Waning_Moon]

I thought you'd be helpful to as seeing as you're a sufferer of the disorder I'd ask my relatives that have it but I don't want to I'm not from the best family really what do I need to watch out for? What was the first problem you encountered? Please reply I need the input since I don't know what to look out for.. ...

[Sometimes psychotic]

Oh sorry I never saw your post earlier. The best thing to do is be evaluated by a psychiatrist as it's different for everyone. I personally was unaware of my psychosis when it first occurred. I thought I was being inducted into a secret telepathic society and saw nothing weird about that whatsoever.

[ofthevalley]

I first heard voices but at the time I thought it was normal. When I was psych I was convinced of things that had no basis in reality though I didn't know it at the time. I didn't know I was psychotic until I wasn't.

[Loial]

I think the best thing is to see a psychiatrist if there is genuine concern. As SP says it is often family members who notice a difference.

Schizophrenia classically goes through a "prodromal" phase, which may start out like depression, or may just be trouble sleeping before things start getting strange. It can also come on suddenly though, so hard to tell.

I think the thing most people might pick up on themselves is hallucinations. That could be as simple as hearing vague noises, or could be voices or seeing things that aren't there.

If you aren't aware, even if your Dad has schizophrenia... you only have a ~10% chance of developing it, so it's far from a given you will get it even if it common in your family.

I don't have schizophrenia, but it was the voices that alerted me to my psychosis after I asked my Mum if she could hear them & she said no.

[Waning_Moon]

Thanks guys that's helpful you said something interesting Loial I sometimes do hear noises and voices my family can't hear but I attributed them to lack of sleep and being used to a noisy environment so my mind was playing tricks on me I thought but I do hear distant voices like a background conversation at times but never though much of it as far as that goes that is the weirdest thing I have ever heard about though but I guess there are other things different about me I don't realize because my mom thinks I have been acting unusual as of lately I don't think she has anything to worry about but I will see a doc to make sure I guess. The thing I am most worried about is what if they say I DO have schizophrenia? what then? and what if I dont and they misdiagnose me because of my family history with the disorder? I guess I shouldn't worry but Better safe than sorry I guess. So I am gonna throw all caution to the wind and try to book an appointment with the local psych doc

[Sometimes psychotic]

Originally Posted by Waning_Moon

Thanks guys that's helpful you said something interesting Loial I sometimes do hear noises and voices my family can't hear but I attributed them to lack of sleep and being used to a noisy environment so my mind was playing tricks on me I thought but I do hear distant voices like a background conversation at times but never though much of it as far as that goes that is the weirdest thing I have ever heard about though but I guess there are other things different about me I don't realize because my mom thinks I have been acting unusual as of lately I don't think she has anything to worry about but I will see a doc to make sure I guess. The thing I am most worried about is what if they say I DO have schizophrenia? what then? and what if I dont and they misdiagnose me because of my family history with the disorder? I guess I shouldn't worry but Better safe than sorry I guess. So I am gonna throw all caution to the wind and try to book an appointment with the local psych doc

That's great that you're seeing a doc ....best of luck . If you do have sz or some type of psychosis then it's just a name, you still are exactly who you are today . Besides with early treatment they can keep it from getting worse.

[ickydog2006]

Although not a foolproof method for reality checking sounds, I will cover my ears or turn my head, and if the noise stays the same I know it doesn't have an external source. I agree, pdoc is best option as most of us were unable to accurately assess our own ilnesses, especially at the beginning. I had no idea the voices weren't normal, I always thought others talk to themselves and bounce ideas back and forth. Then when I was being treated for something else, the meds made the voices go away. I had visual hallucinations as well. Both didn't seem like that big of a deal until I was being treated and realized I did make irresponsible or bizarre choices when unmedicated. It's been hard to train myself to go in patient at first sign of hallucinations reoccurring, because I think I'm still making wise decisions. It's kind of like drunk drivers. They don't realize how stupid their decisions or actions are when they are drunk, or how impaired they are.