For several months I haven’t felt myself. It started with feeling anxious and exhausted. I went for help, had a bunch of medical tests, and everything came back normal. I wasn’t improving much and went for a mental health assessment. They felt it was stress and referred me to counseling if I needed it.
I tried several things to reduce my anxiety. That helped some and then I started to get really vivid dreams and hearing things before falling asleep. Sometimes I get the same waking up. I was worried and signed myself into a psychatric hospital. They released me after an hour and said it was stress.
That was over the summer and I’m still having the issues with my sleep. I’m not sure if this is early signs of schizophrenia or not. I still work and stay active. My anxiety is better than before, but I still don’t feel like myself.
How old are you? You may be going through the prodromal phase of schizophrenia – everyone is different, though. It’s important to remember that no one here is a doctor, and if you feel like you’re having an episode, you should dial your GP or go to the hospital.
Self diagnosis is rare but not unheard of. Most folk come unstuck by moving into psychosis.
Really it’s about function. If symptoms are affecting you living then it’s worth investigating. Sounds like you’ve been covering that well which is good. Things like depression/anxiety are serious issues too so it’s not a bad thing to talk to a psychiatrist.
The sleep hallucinations is called hypnogogia/hypnopompia, and it is not a symptom of schizophrenia.
It can be stress-induced or worsened, and dreams tend to get more wonky when the brain is overloaded.
I’ve heard the hypnogogia happens because your brain and body don’t quite agree on whether they’re awake or asleep, so you’re physically awake while your brain is dreaming.
Schizophrenia is altered reality when awake.
Sensory input that’s skewed or only perceived by you, and things like delusions.
It does sound to me like you’re stressed, and it’s starting to get to you. It could be an idea to see a therapist to get help managing your stress better before you take damage.
Sz started with environment and me feeling unreal. 3 general Drs said its stress. A few years later I tried killing myself for the 2nd time, ended up in the emergency from overdose, and was diagnosed with psychosis NOS the same day I tried killi g myself.
You may need to implement some lifestyle changes depending on what you can zero in on as a problem that could be dealt with to help relieve some stresses in your life. I found therapy ■■■■■■■ useless.
I have found that a lot of stuff can be mitigated by making changes to work, or other things in your life.
Medication can also help a lot, but you have got to start somewhere.
Psych wards are not nice places to be, and are reserved for very serious cases. I know you might have a thought that they’re places of solace in a time of need, but in reality these places have become holding cells for people who’re a danger to themselves or other people.
Keep trying to make your life better. It seems you’re trying this already, so you’re making the first few positive steps, as well as having insight - which is a massive bonus!
It doesn’t sound like schizophrenia honestly. It’s normal between sleep and awake to hear things like that. Your drs are probably right, and it’s probably stress induced. I think seeing a therapist is a great idea.
Hypnogogic hallucinations can be a sign of a sleep disorder, as well. I was diagnosed with sleep apnea and given a C-pap machine, and that really helped me. You might ask to be referred to a sleep specialist.
Also, hypnagogic hallucinations are normal. It’s because your brain is adjusting to falling asleep. If this is bothering you, you may want to see a sleep medicine physician.