Any advice?

DX'd - Other
1

Hi,
I’m new to this website forum so I’m not sure if I’m posting in the right spot or if anyone will have the time to read or respond to this but I figured I would give it a try.

So I began seeing a psychiatrist for a wide variety of symptoms in February, just after I turned 18(had too wait to get in until I was 18). She had mentioned I could very well be on a path of the onset of schizophrenia. I’ll share the symptoms I’ve had, then I can continue the story.

Symptoms;

-Visual hallucinations- ie seeing things that weren’t there such as figures while driving, fast moving black shadows, etc
-Auditory disturbances- a big one was hearing(also while seeing) family members talking to me when in fact they hadn’t said anything. I’ve also had instances where I’ve heard sounds such as a phone going off or someone talking while no one was around.
-Speaking to myself- I have conversations in my head with myself, and also occasionally with a voice I felt I couldn’t recognize. Topics with this voice were mainly discussing suicide plans and encouraging me to kill myself or harm myself, also encouraging me to cut ties with who I’m close to because I hold no significance in their lives and they no longer care about me.
-I had one out of body instance about a year ago where I swore I was a friend of mine who had committed suicide the year before. It lasted about a minute but nonetheless it was a scary feeling.
-Very bad depression and anxiety. Sometimes the anxiety being accompanied by feelings like I may pass out if it doesn’t calm down.
-Very inconsistent sleep patterns, either far too little or too much sleep.
-Feelings as though nothing around me is real
-Feelings as though I am not alive, like my body is moving but I’m not there
-Very bad suicidal ideation(I have had suicide attempts in the past, as well as a previous history of self harming)
-Very obsessive thoughts, also obsessive behaviors. To give an example, I count to five being very fixated on what I’m doing ensuring I get 5 seconds, or 5 of whatever I’m trying to do. Like, I’ll take 5 steps at a time on a sidewalk block, or stare at a green light for 5 seconds while driving, or things along those lines.
-Sometimes I have a flat affect, where I show no emotions and I don’t feel any particular way.

  • I had a period of time where I was very afraid someone was watching me and I had an obsession with the possibility that the government could be listening to myself and my family.
    -Very sudden detatchment from those close to me and feeling completely different about them for periods of time.
    -Extreme irritibility and anger outbursts

I’m sure I’m forgetting some symptoms, but those are just to give you an idea. Anyway, my psychiatrist began me on risperidone, which I thought after a while and a couple dosage increases, worked very well. However, she decided two months ago to take me off it. And I decided I would stop going this month and I’ve just realized on my way home tonight that the visual hallucinations are beginning again. I’m not sure if thats because the risperidone has left my system or what it could be.
But, I would like your opinions of if you think its possible this could be the beginning of schizophrenia or some type of schizo disorder, or any other mental health conditions you may think it relates to.
Thank you in advance for your time and opinions, I really appreciate it,
Jen.

2

Hey and welcome Jen :slight_smile:

We can’t really diagnose you here, can be sz can be another thing, we just don’t know.

I find it very weird that your psychiatrist decided you should stop the medication, do you know why?

Maybe find a new psychiatrist?

1 Like
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I am an authority on this, having experienced it (derealization) very acutely for many years, and still do to some extent. I’d totally give you advice over private message, if you want it. :slight_smile:

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Yes I understand no diagnoses can be made here, just looking for some insight and opinions
And she wanted to stop it to see if symptoms would come back and to see if I would be better off on another medication she could try

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Sure I would love that, send me a message

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Ah well in that case, you should tell her the symptoms came back. Don’t give up just yet. :slight_smile:

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One aspect of your symptoms I can identify with is the plausibility of some of your hallucinations. It is plausible that your family would be talking to you. My auditory hallucinations were plausible too. Sometimes I would be in a restaurant hearing people talk about me, but the restaurant was empty. I kept wondering if those people were hidden out of sight, like in the back of the store, but that didn’t make much sense either. If your symptoms are that strong and that consistent there is a good chance you are schizophrenic. I think I heard someone say that if you are psychotic for six months or more they consider you schizophrenic. I can identify with some of your other symptoms too, like loss of sleep. I’ve been awake for days before. I would be very assertive about telling your therapist or case manager about your symptoms. I don’t think your symptoms should go untreated.