How do you know if you are schizophrenic?

Unusual Beliefs
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I have been believing the tv and the world has been targeting me for some years now, 5 years and now i don’t know if its all real or not. How do you know if you are schizophrenic? Ive been diagnosed by a doctor, tried over 6 medications, been hospitalized a numerous amount of times. How do you know if you are schizophrenic? When did you realize that what you were experiencing wasn’t real?

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I think you check all the boxes. You have schizophrenia.

For me, I had a full psychotic break and cops drove me to the hospital. They drugged me up.

I was prodromal a couple of years before that. I was hearing voices, had paranoia, thought I was being targeted.

I also saw signs that weren’t there. I thought I could speak to angels and god. I’m normally an atheist. So being religious was very out of character.

It takes time for the meds to work. Which ones have you tried?

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How many years did it take for you to realize you were delusional? And far as medication, ive tried olanzapine, risperdone, paliperidone, abilify, haldol, and latuda.

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You get diagnosed. Once you get diagnosed, it. can change, but most likely you will have it for life.

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When did you develop insight?

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A lot of people can be hospitalized, hear voices and have delusions and still have no awareness or insight that they are schizophrenic even if they’ve been diagnosed. The thing is, a person is hospitalized for a reason, they don’t just stick people in hospitals for no reason (especially six times). You are given a diagnosis for a reason.

Common symptoms of schizophrenia are delusions and hallucinations. If you are displaying those symptoms for a significant length of time you can get diagnosed with schizophrenia.

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Pretty soon after I was diagnosed, like several months. Some people can be diagnosed and go years without thinking they have it.

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After my psychotic break two doctor’s and a nurse told me I suffered from psychosis. Then after some time a doc told me it was Sz because I didn’t recover. Also I was hearing voices like hell. I just knew that this wasn’t normal.

Some schizophrenia sufferers don’t think there is anything wrong with them and refuse meds. They don’t believe the diagnosis which is sad.

How long did you try meds? It takes some time for them to kick in. Have you tried clozapine?

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For me, when ive been at my worst i had no insight whatsoever. Gradually i became insighful of the illness but also suspicious of the validity of it at times. Then i got to a point where it seemed obviouse i have sz. The thing is, i became so depressed when i accepted ive been completely delusional for a long time. And the things i experienced werent real. I almost wanted to be a little insane again so life wasnt so empty. These days i see the folly in that way of thinking though. Im basically completely acceptinf of the diagnosis now and understand it. Trying to build my life back up these days.

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This happened to me as well. It was some kind of crisis.

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Thats good for you. I still don’t believe i have it but hey. Maybe it will all come together one day.

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Ive been experiencing this for 5 years. Ive always been medicated. Never tried clozapine because of the side effects.

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I hate that im dealing with this, and i want to build my life back up as well. But first i need to develop some insight because I don’t have any. I believe its all real.

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I’m sorry your treatment hasn’t been working.

I’m on two Ap’s, Vraylar and Zyprexa. It took a couple of tries before we found something that worked. I have a few side- effects: fatigue, tiredness, being dull, but am prepared to live with it.

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@anon36467691 have you tried therapy? If not, it might help with recongnising the false beleifs.

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Im taking olanzapine at the moment. Hopefully i can get the right medicine and clear this up because its been a rough time for me.

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It took me a couple years to fully understand my false beliefs. It took getting on the proper meds for symptoms to fade. Delusions slowly faded after that.

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I’m on 20mg a day! How much are you on?

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I haven’t tried therapy yet. Plan too though. I know thats part of the treatment for schizophrenia.

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I hope i can get the proper meds and put an end to this delusion once and for all.

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