I find it difficult to follow what is happening on television. I have difficulty reading books, and I get lost half way through them (comprehension problems). Attention and memory are poor. I cannot retain material I read. I cannot do math in my head. I don’t drive a car because of attention problems. I have difficulty learning things physically, like exercises…
My doctor diagnosed me with ADD. But are these symptoms consistent with schizophrenia/schizoaffective?
I had schizoaffective since the age of 17 and was diagnosed at 25. I had delusions (not hallucinations) for those 8 years. I created a world of my own liking. But, I was functional. I was a graduate student at an ivy league university when the voices controlled me and I was diagnosed (initially with Bipolar).
I find that the doctor himself is confused. At first he said that there is no ADD, that it is not possible. Now he says it is ADD. My question is, whether the above mentioned symptoms are consistent with Schizophrenia or ADD?
I dont really have any cognitive symptoms but I do have severe negative symptoms. Some say negative symptoms affect cognitive symptoms but I am not so sure of that.
Well it takes me several minutes to sometimes hours to figure out what people are talking about. My brain is really slow. I have a lot of “Duh” moments.
Poor long and short term memory
Inability to drive a vehicle
Poor judgment
Poor reading comprehension
Poor problem solving
Inability to understand double negative questions or statements
Inability to count backward by 7
Very slow reaction time
An official diagnosis of mild cognitive impairment
Inattention spells. Its almost like absence seizures. Mind goes blank and i then need to recollect to continue.
Working memory problem unable to hold things in mind while doing other activity. Doing mental maths very tough as i forget the steps and half calculation when trying to do next step.
These cognitive defects are due to the cognitive aspect of schizo and not due to ADD. If it was ADD alone then it won’t get worse as you age instead remain almost same.
I suspect you have some symptoms of catatonic schizo. Cognitive symptoms particularly inattention spells and working memory issues are more severe in this type.
Dont have cognitive problems, I understand pretty much well and respond properly. What i have to deal is with negatives, I lack motovation and energy a lot
Darkness. Absence of life. Darkened intellectual abilities. Lack of a sense of self. It could be the result of illegal drugs though it hit five years after I quit. I read THE BIBLE on PCP- DUMB!
I also have a very strong focus. I get consumed in what I am doing. Otherwise, I cannot focus at all. It is perhaps what people with ADD call hyperfocus. Perhaps, it is related to SZ. I don’t know.
I had the issues you described when I was initially diagnosed and on fairly profound levels of meds. These days I’m able to function on a lower amount of meds and it has helped me regain my function. I work a job with a high cognitive load and I do fine.
But some of these things happen since childhood. Such as a sound filtering problem, hyperfocus, etc…This is why one psychiatrist thinks it is childhood schizophrenia and the other think its ADD and Schizophrenia. I personally think the ADD symptoms describe me to the letter.
Could be autism, I had the same issues as a kid. I would melt down if I had too many distractions in school. This was 40+ years ago so I was simply labeled as a problem student.
How is your awareness of your surroundings? Is it diminishing as you age? I mean lack of awareness of your posture. Sitting or standing for long without awareness of time passing by etc. If yes then it could be due to catatonia.