Very little in the way of hallucinations and voices for me but I had massive grandiose delusions.
I assume youāre referring to a stereotypical schizophrenic, a person who hasnāt taken a shower in a month, is inappropriately dressed for the weather, and is talking to himself. Then no. Iām self-employed, own a nice house outright, and Iām in a wonderful relationship.
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HM, I have voices in my head, but I donāt have auditory hallucinations. I do get delusions and panic attacks because of them. I have social anxiety because Iām worried everyone is either talking about me, or making fun of me. I do occasionally have tactile hallucinations (where you think you can touch/feel something that isnāt there). And I have strong mood swings. Strong paranoia, intrusive thoughts, thought-broadcastingā¦and those are just the big issues.
Though officially my doctor has me labeled as Schizo-Effective Disorder, I think because I long stretches of depression mixed in with my episodes. Iām not bi-polarā¦Iām not up one minute and down the next, its more of a constant down with me. Or Iām middle of the road/just numb.
I think every case of schizophrenia is somewhat unique, we just have similar symptoms, different experiences. That being said I think Iām a typical case of schizophrenia. Diagnosed in my late teens to early twenties. Was paranoid. Didnāt have hallucinations. Started hearing voices after a few years of diagnosis.
I dont think there is anything like a ātypicalā schizophrenic. I am high functioning on my meds but I do have typical symptoms like voices, thought insertion and delusions. Also agitation, sometimes pacing or rocking, and self-harm. Feelings of deadness and lack of motivation. Typical sz symptoms with unique element.
For example Alien, the man in my head is unique to me. Maybe others also have a man/woman/demon etc in their head but they call him/her by other names, thatās what makes it unique.
Fortunately on meds I am almost symptom free.
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I donāt fit in with neurotypicals. I donāt fit in with SZs. I donāt fit in.
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My psychologist explained it to me as a wide scale. Like autism. You can have autism and be on the spectrum but where on that scale varies from person to person.
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I didnāt experience your typical prodrome with negative symptoms and increasing positive symptoms. I did have an hour long acute episode a year earlier, but nothing really in between.
My sympthoms are pretty bad if I let them develop. Worse and worse they will get, if I indulgeā¦