I know of a man who doesn’t need drugs to hallucinate. Is this a sure sign of schizophrenia Could what I wrote of him be true of a different diagnosis. I don’t want to jump to conclusions.
From what I understand, it could also be schizoaffective, bipolar w/ psychotic features, and even depression w/ psychotic features.
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Hi Keithophrenia
Thanks for your reply. It was very informative. Diagnosis can be very tricky. No I’m not a doctor.
PS How do you feel I call you Keith?
mugwort
It’s why I included my real name in my username 
Hi Keith
Thanks for explaining Please excuse me for not figuring that out. I was pretty tired when I initially posted.
Happy Holidays
Take care
Mugwort
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Its a typical / common sign of schizophrenia - but it can also be caused by other things (e.g. neurological such as a brain tumor, or as Keith mentioned, other disorders like psychotic depression or bipolar etc.
A person needs to have a full evaluation.
If you know the person - try to get them to go to an early psychosis evaluation and treatment center. Don’t tell them that their hallucinations are not real - they are real to the person. Rather - say that the evaluation center can help him deal with distressing or upsetting hallucinations or voices. See this link on how to deal with a person who is psychotic:
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now i am paranoid 
…i think i have a brain tumour !?!.. 
take care 
Yeah, I knew a gal in AA who hallucinated all the time, but otherwise was pretty normal. She finally died of a brain tumor.
Jayster
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I have some nice visuals since cataract surgery!
J.
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you made me feel so much better !?!
take care
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Hi SZAdmin:
Thanks for answering my question. So it could be SZ but not necessarily. Diagnosis can sure be tricky. I agree a ful eval is essential. Thanks for the helpful , informative links too.
I had lots of visual hallucinations for years that wound up being attributed to complex PTSD with dissociative features. They went away about four years ago and have not returned.
Some music and other sounds from time to time. No voices.
I also have major depression that has brought out other features of psychosis.
Differential diagnosis was done by two clinicians who really knew alot about types of hallucinations and how and why they appear. I did have a diagnosis of “mild schizophrenia” long ago, before the visual hallucinations. One psychologist explained to me (I wish I could remember the explanation) how the types of hallucinations differ for diagnostic purposes.
Well look at it this way…
Today’s physicists do not yet fully understand ( by a long shot ) quantum mechanics. See https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZacggH9wB7Y This is because they are not too bright.
First they say that we exist within a 4 dimensional reality, a reality that they refer to as Space-Time. Thus there exists a measure of extension across space in 3 directions, and a measure of extension across time as well. Thus it is a 4 dimensional structure of which we exist within. However, for instance, our bodies may extend across space, but we can not extend across time. Instead we are always confined to the present time only.
Thus we are limited. Outside of our limitations, is the ALL time of the Space-Time 4 dimensional environment, that is other than the present time, or OUR time. Thus there is our “inside”, and there is an “outside”
Now since today’s physicist do not include this “outside” in their understanding of reality, they remain confused.
Now for the fun part. A persons brain may be tampered with from the “outside”. You can insert thoughts, feelings, images, pain, heck you can do just about anything at all and get away with it.
HI Hereandhere. Thank you for your reply. Glad for you the hallucinations never returned. Heard of complex PTSD. Not clear what that is. I’m diagnosed with PTSD, major depression. I heard of severe depression causing hallucinations, delusions. Plus depression, mood swings can be a part of SZ. Plus dx of sza causing these symptoms.
Didn’t realize there is mild sz. Learned much from your response.
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From a DSM standpoint, there is no Complex PTSD or Mild sz. Those were said out loud to me by clinicians.
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If it is sz I’ve heard you generally get better results if you catch is sooner, so you might want to get them in in a timely manner instead of just letting it go for a few more months. Same thing if it’s a brain tumor.
Keith I don’t know if that’s true if you catch sz earlier. No offense. I just don’t know.
Hereandthere. Maybe the next DSM is going to include CPTSD. Not assuming though. Who can tell?
I think someone on this site said that if someone is psychotic for six months or longer the doctors consider him schizophrenic.
Crimby: I appreciate you letting me know it takes at least 6 months to diagnose somebody with a psychotic disorder.
Gratefully
Mugwort
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