Hello guys. Just as a background: I have a father whom I lived with many years who was schizophrenic and a mother who I do not know much about but I believe she may be mentally ill as well. Well in the past day or two I have been feeling paranoid of becoming schizophrenic as if something is just going to snap and I will start to hear voices. I was just googling stuff about schizophrenia yesterday and I got in too deep and started to be worried. I am 21 years old and have never done any drugs including marijuana, but do get drunk on special occasions and drink a beer a couple times a week. Anyone been in this situation and has some advice?
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Speaking as someone who has suffered a psychotic episode and is awaiting an official diagnosis, be it schizophrenia or bipolar or something else entirely, the best advice I can give you is to simply live your life and take care of yourself, minding any potential triggers. My pdoc told me my anxiety about developing schizophrenia is on par with schizophrenia itself in terms of severity.
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Welcome, how is your daily routine like? Usually schizophrenia doesn’t come out from nowhere
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I guess my daily routine consists of going to the gym in the morning, then work or school, then I read a book or study before sleeping. Nothing unusual
How is your social life? 
I have a few very close friends, many associates, dont have a girlfriend at the moment. Im mainly focused on my future honestly
Any other worrying symptoms besides this fear of waking up with voices?
Not that I can think of honestly
See a qualified doctor
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Insight is very rare. I’d say live your life and don’t worry too much. It is in your family though so avoid pot and street drugs. Alcohol doesn’t seem a problem to you so that isn’t a concern.
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Yeah your just worrying yourself too much, if your parents had schizophrenia there’s only about a 10% chance you can get it from them. Don’t psych yourself out buddy live your life. You seem to be doing good!
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If this is your only symptom I think that you shouldn’t worry too, remember that even if your father has it, you are still more likely to remain healthy than to develop it.
Avoid drugs, be social and live your life.
Common warning signs are social withdrawal, flattening of emotions or outbursts of anger and concentration difficulties that cause social and professional problems. If you start to experience these symptoms contact your doctor.
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Even tho you have a parent with sz there is still roughly a 90% you won’t get it. If you don’t ave any of the symptoms I wouldn’t worry about it. I would note that even tho it is legal alcohol isn’t safe and is the only drug to date that has brought out my sza. But I was already in a bad way and as said above I don’t think you need to be to worked up.
I think im just freaking myself out because I lived with an unmedicated ffather alone and saw all the horrible experiences first hand. And I know that he became schizophrenic due to hard drugs and extreme stress. Thank you guys for the advice
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Stay away from amphetamines, even those prescribed for adhd. Cannabis, Wellbutrin, antidepressants. Pcp. Most psychedelics.
Monitor yourself, do you have strange thoughts? Delusions? Hallucinations? Do you feel sluggish, emotionally flat and sleep all day. Disorganized? Paranoid? Cognitively incapable.
If none of these symptoms emerge at any point before you reach mid adulthood you may be in the clear. Just keep an eye out for these things.
the only symptoms I suppose I have are perhaps a bit of sluggishness if Im at home doing nothing. I think it would be a stretch for me to say I am emotionally flat, because I dont really sense changes from my childhood, though perhaps I feel as if ive always been a bit emotionally flat( which may be due to the fact that I lean towards the introverted side). But I would say I am the most motivated I have ever been and as sharp as ever in academia( where I do really well)
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I also felt very motivated before I developed schizophrenia, I personally think it might be due to differences in brain chemistry involving dopamine. There is also a connection between the manic high of bipolar disorder and psychosis in schizophrenia I believe.
Make sure to keep tabs on all of this, also acknowledge that if its going to happen its going to happen.
Some people enter an at risk state in early adulthood and emerge symptom free afterwards and go on with their lives. Others, I think about half, go on to develop psychotic disorders.
Make sure you avoid stressors in your life and always get enough sleep. You may have a genetic vulnerability to this, if you have any unusual experiences talk to your doctor.
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You can have Schizophrenia if you get too much (but too much) stressed or you suffer a very traumatic event in your life.
See ur pdoc as soon as possible …!!!
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