Skip to main content

Do I Have Schizophrenia?

A woman on another blog asked the question: "Do I have schizophrenia?" She admits to drinking a lot and having confused thoughts and anxiety that someone will break into her house. While drinking she often says bizzare things and lies to family and friends. I replied:

I am not a doctor, but if I were you I would contact a psychiatrist for further investigation. The book, The Complete Family Guide to Schizophrenia is a very helpful text that I frequently refer back to for information, and is where I gathered the information I am about to share with you.

Schizophrenia and mood disorders, such as bipolar disorder and depression, are commonly mistaken. You can find a psychiatrist through your local chapter of Nation Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), the yellow pages, or your family doctor.

A diagnosis of schizophrenia depends on a number of factors including the age of the onset, how long you have been experiencing symptoms, and your level of functioning.

Some symptoms include but are not limited to the following:

  • Hallucinations
  • Delusions- paranoid, grandoise, reference, control
  • Decreased facial and vocal expressiveness
  • Alogia
  • Lack of motivation or energy
  • Anhedonia
  • Difficulty learning and concentrating
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Catatonia

When I was diagnosed with schizophrenia I was experiencing hallucinations and delusions. I heard voices and was the victim of extreme paranoia. At first the doctors were hestitant to label me a schizophrenic because I had only experienced symptoms for what seemed like a few short months, but later I would discover I encountered symptoms for a few short years. I think my symptoms started in high school, because that is when I thought I could see angels; this was a grandoise symptom of delusions.

When the psychiatrist interviewed me they asked me questions such as:

  • Do you sometimes have jumbled or confused thoughts
  • Is it hard for you to pay attention for long periods of time
  • Is it hard to have a conversaton
  • Do certain colors bother you-do they seem too bright or intense
  • Do you hear voices that nobody else can hear
  • Does your food or drink taste like it has been poisoned
  • Do you catch glimpses of someone following you
  • Do you have special powers or knowledge
  • Do you isolate yourself from others
  • Have people told you that you don't show emotion in your face or voice

The interview lasted about an hour. I was interviewed several times by different health professionals. Family members were also interviewed.

Have you ever wondered if you or loved one has a mental illness?

Comments

Unknown said…
Hmm never heard about this disease before. thanks for the info!

peace,

MESOTHELIOMA UPDATES
September 6, 2008 at 7:59 AM
Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Buddhism, My Mental Health & My Happiness by Jennifer L. Myers

Jennifer L. Myers is author of the blog, Never Give Up: Buddhism, Family, & Schizophrenia . Jennifer earned her masters in Urban and Environmental Policy from Tufts University and her undergraduate from UC Santa Cruz. She has experience working with the U.S. Peace corps in the Dominic Republic, environmental non-profits, and teaching. Currently, she is working on her memoir, Never Give Up: Buddhism, Family, & Schizophrenia. The following is her experience... Buddhism, My Mental Health & Happiness by Jennifer L. Myers When I was first diagnosed with schizophrenia in 2002 I had already been practicing Buddhism with the SGI (Soka Gakkai International) for 14 years. Still, I didn't have a very strong practice at the time. I attended local discussion meetings regularly, but I didn't spend much time chanting on a daily basis. It wasn't until the symptoms of schizophrenia - the voices whispering in my head, the screaming and yelling I heard outside my apartm...
5 comments
Read more

Lack of Trust: A Byproduct of My Mental Illness

In this entry, I'll share my experiences with Schizophrenia in regards to feeling lack of trust in others, paranoia, and isolation.... I remember my many episodes with Schizophrenia where I felt uneasy because of lack of trust in others. In the past, isolation was a giant bullying me around. Sometimes my mind would take me to a place of fear, hurt, and an unsettling spirit, which started with what seemed like a strange look, or a different feeling around an individual, when in reality it was another symptom of my undiagnosed illness- paranoia. My paranoia was rampant and dictated my life prior to experiencing a crisis, which led me to jail and into forced treatment and to receive an official diagnosis of Schizophrenia in 2007. In other words, my illness created enemies in my mind. For instance, I once believed my favorite kin was against me and I felt like she wanted me to fail, and I eventually thought she was conspiring to harm me. However, she never said anything to imply these ...
14 comments
Read more

Fear to Openness about Medication

I am concerned that I may be slipping into depression that may get worse if untreated. Prior to the birth of my child I never had a bout with depression, but as my body changed so did my hormones and my susceptibility to depression. A few months ago I was diagnosed with postpartum depression and at the time I knew I needed extra support from my my treatment team. I knew I needed to focus on my mental health because my anxiety level was up and down, it was difficult to concentrate, and I felt extremely overwhelmed and afraid my mental illness would rear its ugly head and try to destroy my recovery accomplishments. I spoke my therapist who contacted my doctor and let them know I was coming in the next morning as a walk-in, which I did and we tweaked my medication. Now, its hard to focus and to carry out minor assignments, sometimes I feel anxious for no reason, I am extremely tired and sleep more than usual, and I feel like I am on a downward spiral. Yet, I have reason to be. I have ...
12 comments
Read more