I have a question

I was reading over posts in this particular forum. With schizophrenia and ocd; what are the differences. I noticed that someone had said they are related-or I may have misunderstood.

So if someone has traits that can be related to both then how can they make a correct diagnosis? I have traits of both. I have obsessions that do affect my daily living. Things need to be where I NEED them to be or I get upset. I even go as far as freaking about things in public places. Like dust or dirt on the edges of things. I cleaned a public washroom once (not too long ago) cause I could not possibly leave the dirt on the edges of the tile. Thank goodness the washroom was single and someone did not walk in. Even when there is water stains on taps----aaaaaahhhhhh-thats not good. I have to wipe them or dry them off. Counting in even's drives me insane. I had to chew in even numbers, etc. And the voice in my head tells me not to let this go. If I see something that upsets me, tells me to fix it.

So I guess what I am asking is any of this related or is it just nothing. Like something that is a personality trait of mine. I obvioiusly have troubles with the "labels" from the medical profession. Took me almost 3 years to admit that I do suffer from depression and can't admit to all the other labels. Don't get why I freak out with this labelling thing but it upsets me to nooo end. There are many days that I refuse to believe that I have an eating disorder. I even said this the other day to my t. Pure shock was the reaction. I try to convince myself otherwise cause I am me no matter what anyone wants to say I am.

Justy

I don't know if they are related or not. Hopefully someone can help. Just wanted you to know I read your post.
larx

Thanks skylrks. So how are you doing today?? I have been thinking of you and wondering how things are going today. Hope you feel better. I have not been on long today but am planning to see if you posted to tell us how u are.

I think I will ask my new t more about this and get him to explain. I am afraid as he is a new t for me and does not know all of this. I don't want to jump in to this too fast as the trust is not any where I am hoping it to build to in time. I have only had one appointment with him so it will take some time.

Hope your day goes better for u skylrks.

Justy

Justy, I have never heard of any connection between OCD and schizophrenia. OCD is an anxiety disorder and there is nothing psychotic about it. Schizophrenia is psychosis.

Only a professional is qualified to diagnose you. I can't, and neither can anyone else here. I don't see ANY indications that you're schizophrenic, and I don't see where you got that idea actually, but I could always be wrong.

Oh I know nobody can tell me if this is my problem. I had been diagnosed with schizoaffective some time ago. The OCD part has been coming up more and more in discussions with my doctors and therapist. (my old one).

I don't think that I am schizoaffective either, never have believed that. My doctor that I have now said thats just absurd. He said maybe at the time when my pdoc had made this assumption, there may have been some indications of a psychosis. Not sure but any of my new pdocs or anyone else for that matter don't believe this to be true. This was the diagnosis that was used to get my disability years ago. When my pdoc had certified me (committed me) to the hospital my cert. forms had said that I was delusional, hallucinating and my reality was altered. I was then placed on anti-psychotic meds. They had me on so much I don't even recall many days. My sister had come to see me (once) and would not come back as she said I was completely out of it. I don't remember her coming in. She had picked me up to take me on a pass sometime after and we talked about when she had come in. Apparently she freaked out on the staff and was demanding that I was released. They asked her to leave.

The OCD part is the fact that I obsess about certain things. Even numbers, things being in a certain place (or I freak). So on and so forth. But never has a pdoc actually giving me this as a diagnosis.

So I was just asking if there is a relation. Thanks for responding to this. I will talk more about all this to my new t. He asked me if I should start to see another pdoc. I said no and he left it at that for now.

Justy

hi-

I don't know if they would be concidered related, but schizophrenia is sometimes considered many illnesses wrapped up into one. What i mean in, schizophrenics can experience a variety of symptoms such as : depression, anxiety,panic attacks,paranoia,mania,hallucinations, delusions, OCD-like
symptoms, thought disorder, flat emotions,etc.

I've read that about 50% of schizophrenics experience OC-like symptoms. (me included) before being diagnosed with schiz, i was diagnosed with Psychotic depression, anxiety with panic attacks, OCD, ADD, depersonalization disorder,language processing disorder, and body dysmorphic disorder.

The way that a doctor seperates OCD from schizophrenia is that someone with OCD will have only symptoms of OCD and no symptoms required for a diagnosis of schizophrenia: hallucinations, delusions, disorganized behavior/speech, negative symptoms,catatonia,etc.

... hope this helped to answer your questions.

-Becka

something i forgot to mention...
I also read somewhere (i think in that same book--surviving schizophrenia) that there might one day be an OCD type for schizophrenia. Right now there are 5 types of schizophrenia:
-paranoid type
-disorganized type
-residual type
-catatonic type
-undifferentiated type

...it said that there might be an obsessive compulsive type in the future because OC-like symptoms are so common in schizophrenia.
Also, i;ve heard numerous times that people with family members who have schizophrenia often develope such things like, anxiety disorders, depression, OCD, schizotypal personality disorder, etc. So there could very well be a relation/connection/link of some kind between schizophrenia and many other mental illnesses.

-Becka