Hello everyone. I’m new to this site and I’ve been increasingly concerned over the past few weeks of being in the prodromal period of schizophrenia. For years now, I’ve thought I only had dissociation/depersonalization/derealization. However off and on I would sometimes worry about psychosis/schizophrenia. These worries are back and more serious than ever. These problems started for me about 5 or 6 years ago in late 2011 after recreational drug usage. I had a bad experience and after that wasn’t the same. I developed depersonalization and derealization along with likely HPPD (Hallucinogen Persisting Perception Disorder). Over the years I’m not certain whether or not I’ve gotten worse, but I definitely have not gotten better. This started when I was 18 years old and I am now beginning my mid 20s. So the possibilities of prodromal schizophrenia seem quite high. The symptoms/experiences I am most worried about are visual disturbances (everything looking strange outside, visual snow, colored spots, ground warping/breathing), increasingly worse sleep problems (horrid insomnia, day/night reversal), and cognitive decline. I also have other negative symptoms like trouble handling stress, thinking in general, trouble with conversation, etc. As for positive symptoms, they’re low at least for now. I’ve never seen things but have had what I think are functional auditory hallucinations very briefly. Or at least being worried I heard whispers. Please tell me what you think.
Welcome! 
Did you talk about this with a psychiatrist? How long have you been off drugs?
Yes, many times throughout the years. It was eventually sort of decided that they thought I developed depersonalization disorder. I have high doubts about this. When I look at the list of the top signs/symptoms of the prodromal phase, it seems I have every single one, or at least many of them.
Edit: I’ve never touched drugs since then
Is there someone in your family with sz? Do you work/study? How is your social life? 
Only a trained professional knows how to ‘contextualize’ and spot these ambiguous symptoms. Moreover there are many false positives and so they don’t predict that you’ll be schizophrenic but that you are at risk.
No, no family history of psychosis that I am aware of. My social life has been non-existant for quite some time now, which is of course, a big worry of mine. I understand this can be a part of the prodromal phase as well as poor occupational functioning. That is also another concern of mine as I never feel like doing anything as a result of negative symptoms or cognitive issues. And when I do have a job I do not perform well. I just barely held onto my last one.
I do not believe that drugs cause of sz. They can exasperate sz but they do not cause sz. I had “episodes” with and with out drug use. I believe drug and alcohol use among sz is higher than the normal population because of the tendency to seek relief from the mental anguish through self medication If one is sz or sza he or she should stay away from any non prescribed drugs or alcohol. It is good that your are doing that,
sadly it may take an episode to be properly diagnosed. Are you taking medication for any symptoms?
No, I haven’t taken any medication now in years. Medication I’ve taken in the past was for anxiety.
When I look back I can see that I was sza from an early age. I didn’t have my first mental break where I was hospitalized until I was 26 . I did have problems when I was 15. They put me on haldol for a while I was in the hospital and in drug and alcohol treatment. I look back now and I had severe depression in my late teens and early twenties. I really don’t know what to recommend. I currently have a relative who is around 20 and she has shown symptoms but no one will do anything because she isn’t that bad all the time yet. If it were me, I would talk it over with your psychiatrist and maybe see a psychologist for some more in depth talk.
I had it as a kid and during Prodromal period. You would definitely know if you had it. Literally everything slows down and life gets flipped upside down…
I don’t know if you have prodromal sz or not but you might want to consider some supplements that are thought to be helpful.
Omega 3 fatty acids/EPA,DHA
Vitamin D (more than in a multivitamin)
Sarcosine
NAC
This stuff won’t hurt in any case, so long as it is taken in safe amounts.
There’s info on this site on sarcosine. I’ll edit this post in a minute with something on NAC.
@anon9798425 thoughts?
It does sound like it could be the prodromal phase. Schizophrenia can have a quick onset or an insidious one, sometimes with many years of being in the prodromal phase before you experience your first psychotic episode. Probably the most relevant marker of the prodromal phase, the one to look out for, is a decline in functioning. Usually, this involves social functioning, academic/work functioning and cognitive functioning. You could also experience negative and positive symptoms, like you have already mentioned. The important thing, though, is that you see a professional about this. If it is prodromal schizophrenia, it’s very important that you get diagnosed as soon as it becomes clear that it’s actually schizophrenia, as this can have a significant effect on your prognosis. Also, try not to be too concerned. With early detection, good treatment and good cognitive functioning (which it sounds like you have), you can live a very good life with schizophrenia, and even possibly recover completely from it.
So it can definitely last as many as 5-6 years?
Yes, it can last that long and even longer, but 5-6 years is more than the average length of the prodromal phase.
I am seeing a new therapist tomorrow, and then my old psychiatrist early next month. Will they be able to tell exactly whether or not I’m in the prodromal phase?
There is no way to know if you are in the prodromal phase, they can only tell you that you are at higher risk.
Zeno is right, but they can follow you up. If you are at risk for psychosis, they could help you deal with your symptoms, which can help you function better and hopefully reduce the risk that you’ll develop psychosis. If you do develop psychosis, they can pick up on that even if you are already past the point of realizing that you are ill and need help.
@Tom21, would you describe your experience as a “moment to moment March of psychological change”?
Can you elaborate on that please?
Do you feel like your mindset changes from one moment to the next? Do your symptoms often change? Like, one day the disconnection may be bad, then another day the cognitive impairment may be the issue - is it like that?