Been of the website for years, reintroducing myself

I was diagnosed schizotypal personality disorder in 2014, but started seeing and hearing thing last year. Lost my job as a result of that confusion. The insurance I had from my job didn't let me see my therapist, so I had no therapist, no meds, no psychiatrist. Checked myself into a psych ward to get my pills back, but they wouldn't give me the dosage I was on, and my therapist's office didn't let me back in until 3 months later.

We'd discussed schizophrenia, my therapist and my psychiatrist, before I was cut off from them. When I got back with my therapist in October 2017, I had a new psychiatrist who I started seeing this month. My previous psychiatrist put me on risperidone in 2017, and my new psychiatrist upped the dosage .5 mg to help me with my episodes.

Here's the rub. I've read quite a few books on schizophrenia this year, trying to understand it. I'm beginning to realize this didn't start last year. I may have started seeing things, hearing things as early as the late 70s. The original visions and sounds got me into paranormal and occult research, and now I find myself trying to separate all the things I think I witnessed during my research and investigations into 2 categories. Was I alone when I saw it and was it real or schizophrenia OR Was I in a group when we all saw it.
It hurts having to relive your life wondering how much of what you saw was real and how much was schizophrenia.

Welcome.

I too have schizotypal personality disorder and schizophrenia.

Usually the personality disorder doesn't turn into schizophrenia but it happens.

Welcome.

Welcome back to psych central. I hope we can help you. I just have schizophrenia, but my friend has schizotypal traits, but not the full blown disorder. I’m sorry that your disorder progressed to schizophrenia, I hope your your getting the support you need.

Wow... you're following the golden thread of history to try and discover when it first started decades ago. I find your ability surprisingly refreshing. Many times, the diagnosis, after that long untreated, will change your identity and one never gets out but you're digging your way out already! Gives me hope for my father. He's been in one since 2001. THanks for posting Looking forward to your posts, friend.

Yeah, delusions. What makes them so dangerous is you can't tell if they're real or not. I have stepped in front of a trolley several times because a hallucinatory voice told me to, and I couldn't tell if the train was really coming or not. Damn near ate it a couple times there. Also, I have delusions that I'm rich, so I blow a big chunk of my meager income on frivolities and then have to cut back again when the bills come due.

I hope you and your psychiatrist finesse your dosages and get you some relief from your symptoms.

Saw my therapist Friday. Asked him what he thinks my current diagnosis is not schizotypal personality disorder, more like schizoaffective disorder.