I’ve Been diagnosed on 2 separate occasions with schizophrenia.
However I am not on medicine and feel fine
Is it possible I just had 2 psychotic breaks/ psychoses??
Yes you can this was me for almost 2 years on the onset of my symptoms before it all spiraled out of control. Don’t underestimate schizophrenia.
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I tend to be able to functional pretty well even off meds. I definitely am not asymptomatic off meds though, I definitely have very clear symptoms. If you have not been on meds for an EXTENDED period of time (i.e. 6 months-a year) and have had NO SYMPTOMS in between at all, then yes I would start questioning your sz diagnosis. It is also possible to have acute psychotic breaks if under a great deal of stress.
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Not enough data to offer an opinion, nor am I qualified to offer one. Something to ask a real medical professional about.
Welcome to the community.
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What if it was just one psychotic break but only negative symptoms since. Do other diseases mirror the flat affect and memory problems. Although idk if intrusive thoughts count as positive symptoms or not.
@Thebigempty043
Many people diagnosed with sz and sza also struggle with intrusive thoughts. It seems to be a common feature.
Well if you have had symptoms for 6 months or more you probably have schizophrenia. My psychiatrist told me that some people have one episode and go on and they are fine but it doesn’t change the diagnosis.
No, when you have sz you have daily symptoms which makes living with it a real challenge. Medication can help but it is far from a cure.
If you are not on medication and feel fine as you claim, then you do not have it.
Yes, some people with ‘acute’ episodes have a good prognosis with or without meds; it is also possible that you’ve been misdiagnosed.
There’s pretty strict guidelines as far as a psychiatrist diagnosing someone with schizophrenia. It requires at least two or more symptoms being present for 6 consistent months. Symptoms include negative and positive. I do think there were some recent changes to the DSM-V but I believe it was in regards to the names of certain conditions; if I’m wrong, please feel free to correct me!
Also keep in mind that Schizophrenia is not the sole cause of psychotic symptoms. Environmental psychosis, bipolar w/ psychosis, depression w/ psychosis, etc.
All things considered, it’s possible to have the symptoms without having full-blown schizophrenia, and possible to be misdiagnosed.
I had my first breakdown in late 2002 and was diagnosed with sz in 2003. Went into hospital four times. Three years later I went into remission and in 2007 I came off my meds. From then till 2012 I was relatively fine I didn’t think I had sz anymore and any symptoms went unnoticed except maybe excessive religious preoccupation and voices telling me I’m a saint.
In 2012 I relapsed and started meds again. The following year when I was in hospital the fifth time they reconfirmed I have sz. Since then it’s been on and off symptoms and still taking meds. Got a better understanding of sz now - it will always be there even if I go thru normal periods.
So yes you can have schizophrenia and go thru periods of little or no symptoms. It comes and goes for most people with sz.
Absolutely - schizophrenia is, for most people I think, an episodic illness. It comes and goes in terms of severity and symptoms.
And - just because you “think” you don’t have symptoms, doesn’t mean you don’t. Most people with paranoid thoughts, for example, don’t believe they are having paranoid thoughts. Its only when things get really really bad that they are serious enough where people are taken to the doctor (sometimes against their will).
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