I have suffered from psychosis since I was 13.I know they say that it is not possible to have a psychotic break that young but it happened.
When I was thirteen I started believing that people could read my thoughts.At first I thought the idea was absurd because of science and how there was no evidence to prove that telepathy was real (which is ironic considering I was not raised in a scientific background…although they did put an emphasis on Science in schooling so I guess that affected me.)
Anyways I shook off the thoughts but by the time I was 15, after learning about witchcraft/spiritual beliefs, I became convinced that maybe science wasn’t right and that telepathy was actually possible so since then as I cannot find evidence that telepathy is real then I am forced to believe people can read my thought by analyzing seemingly meaningless ideas and contributing them to thought broadcasting.
It is impairing my life and do not know what to do! I saw a earlier post on this website about thought broadcasting and I was wondering if anybody had any advice?
I have had these thoughts for four years now.In a year i am legally an adult and I will seek therapy/medications for this.However I have heard that the longer the psychosis goes untreated that the less likely you are to recover…is there any truth to this claim?
I tried to seek out treatment for my psychosis at 15 but we could not get it for personal reasons so I vowed to get treatment when I was 18.However I am getting worried about my future.Does therapy and medications work for someone with extreme delusions versus someone who has less strong delusions and would it work when I have had it left untreated for years.It has gone on for so long that I cannot pinpoint the triggers (which is said to help psychotic people) as everything triggers me.Like literally everything.I think everything is a sign.I guess I should try to make a list of all my triggers…how did you people deal with triggers in therapy? How did you analyze your delusions and did they ever truly go away?
Lastly I have had specific delusions about one person.Thanks to my witchcraft delusion i believe that it is somebody trying to make me obsessed with said person but I know that’s crazy but it still feels weird! I have had very strong delusions about one specific person for many years and it is driving me nuts! I had not one but two different delusions about them! I don’t understand why?! I am not close to said person?! I have met and seen so many people and yet they are the ones I have delusions about! If I had to say how many I would say that 50%-70% of my delusions are about them/thought broadcasting related to them and the other 30%-50% are about thought broadcasting to random people/people in general.Why is this? Is there something wrong with my brain? Like what is the neuroscience behind this? The psychology/psychiatry behind this? What hormones/chemicals do I lack? What part of my brain is damaged? What is wrong with me to have delusions that a person I do not even know is reading my mind.Like sure I think that of everyone but it is worse about them! Why them? Any thoughts? Ideas? Experiences?
Please comment below and I am sorry if I rambled on a bit.Thank you if you so so much if you bothered to read it all!
You asked a lot of questions there at the end. The short answer is they don’t really know what causes schizophrenia (If that’s what you have) but there’s a lot of research on it. I recommend reading the main schizophrenia.com website and checking out the news section of the forum. You can search for topics in the upper right of the page.
Can you have your parents make an appointment with a doctor for you? Sounds like you need to tell a professional your story.
It is possible to have onset at 13, or even younger although that’s pretty rare. It happens.
Are your parents not on board with treatment? Because it would be great if you could find an early intervention program, there’s lots of services provided, not only medication, but counseling, job services etc.
It is better to get treated sooner but we also have members here who spent years untreated and are doing pretty good now.
If you truly can’t get meds because of your situation, what about some of the supplements like sarcosine, and sodium benzoate which are available on the Internet. Those are not a substitute for meds but they’re better than nothing. Also, fish oil, vitamin D, a multivitamin and B complex may be helpful.
Can you elaborate on the personal reasons you couldn’t get treatment already? What you need is to see a psychiatrist and get medication. Maybe some CBT therapy.
@moonwalker
No they do not understand modern psychology/psychiatry as they grew up in poor uneducated areas.My parents are good moral people but they do not understand how mental illness works so they refuse to believe there is anything wrong with me.My mother has also struggled for decades with my uncle (her brother) in taking care of him.My uncle constantly has emotional breakdowns full of aggression, unhealthy coping mechanism, and being impulsive.My half-brother killed himself too.So I am sure my parents do not like the idea of yet another relative having mental issues after all they’ve been through.
They also came from a spiritual background so they believe that things like mental illness can be “cured” with incense.So no I cannot get treatment at this time which is why I posted on this forum.
I am simply worried that if and when I get treatment it will not work after such a long time.
I do not think I have schizophrenia as I only experience delusions but without the catatonic behavior and hallucinations so it is probably a different psychotic based disorder.However schizophrenics have similar symptoms and it is a widely known mental illness so that is why I posted it on this forum.I do not believe I have schizophrenia as I only experience delusions.
I do want to get CBT therapy and medications.
How likely is it to work for someone like me.
I posted a lot of information but to simply:
13 - Paranoid thoughts about people talking behind my back
13 - People talk about things I think about.I believe it is telepathy.I know Science says there is no evidence so i shake it off as a coincidence.
13/14 - I have delusions that people are talking terribly about me indirectly
15 - After having learned about witchcraft I start believing that my telepathic beliefs were real.I stop being able to function as my delusions increase.I now think people watch me in the shower and that mind reading is possible.
16/17 - The telepathy delusions are so strong that I feel that i am lost in my mind.Thankfully I do not socialize much due to being introverted so I just ignore it at home but even then it tortures me.
The real problem is that my delusions are specific to this person that I know of and it is driving me nuts!
In general I feel like I cannot function!
So yes I want medication and CBT therapy but will it be effective? I have had various delusions and I do not know what is possible at this point.
I have thought broadcasting beliefs 24/7.
I think people can read my thoughts, see what I dream, and see what I imagine in my head.
I want to get better but I worry it will not work even once I start treatment.
How would I find out what is causing my delusions if my delusions are so complex?
That is really what I want to know.Thank you for replying.
I forgot to add that I have a very unhealthy diet so I do not get most of my vitamins…does this affect me and my psychosis in any way? I know the body’s organs are interdependent and whatnot…
I eat mostly meat and highly processed foods so I assume that I do not get any of these vitamins.
If I can I will try to get some.
I thought my post had been deleted so I resent it.I apologize for my mistake.
Ok you have a lot of symptoms. And the fact that you parents are unwilling to get you help is sad. However if you can get yourself to a psych hospital there is sometimes a ward for adolescents and you can be seen and treated asap. If you explain your symptoms to the ER room they will take you to the right area. Do some research on the best hospitals in your area for psych and go. You can receive treatment immediately, no need to wait.
Anyone else want to add/correct me on this?
Sounds tough. I don’t know what to tell you if your parents don’t support you seeking treatment. I can’t find any good answers online.
Could you maybe call a psychiatrist or mental health hospital and see if they can offer any advice?
Hello and welcome to the forums! Sorry you’re going through so much.
It does sound like you’re going through something serious. It could be schizophrenia, it could be any number of other psychotic disorders, and it could be something physical like a brain tumor. There is really no way for us to know, since we are not doctors. I hope you can see at least a primary care doctor soon, because you need an evaluation.
If your parents won’t consent to treatment, there are still a few things you can do on your own. My brother uses this workbook to treat his delusions and paranoia, and it has been very successful for him. Get the paperback version, not the kindle version, because you need to write in it
The book teaches you how to identify triggers, and how to use mindfulness exercises and rational thinking to challenge your delusions.
You can also buy the game MindFlex. It is $100 so it’s might be out of your price range. But it uses neurofeedback technology that will train your brain to remain calm in times of anxiety, and to keep your rational mind active. It is just a game, but it uses the same technology as therapeutic neurofeedback machines. Practicing for ten minutes every week might help you. If your parents would be willing to take you to a professional neurofeedback clinic, thawould be ideal, but you can do this on your own if you can’t get the real thing.
Sarcosine is a supplement that helps negative symptoms. Negative symptoms are the inability to feel things, lack of motivation, disorganized thinking, and things like that. If you struggle in those areas, sarcosine can help. You can order it from the ads on this website, and it is $30 for a three month supply.
You may feel like you’re drowning in your delusions right now, but you’re actually doing better than lots of people. You recognize that they are delusions. I know that doesn’t stop you from believing in them, but it will help you. And don’t worry too much about the delay in your treatment. I waited ten years before getting treatment, and I am doing very well right now. It is better to get help right away, but you can still make a full recovery once you turn 18.
By the way, a few of your repeat posts got caught in the spam filter and had to be deleted. That’s where they went. If you post the same thing more an once, the filter automatically hides your posts in case your account got hacked.
If you don’t mind me asking what state do you live in? Some states have laws on minor rights regarding healthcare. Also there are laws on involuntary commitment … Some states only require that you be mentally ill and not a danger to yourself or others… I hate giving advice to a minor to go against their parents though. I don’t really know what to say about your mother telling you your symptoms are caused by witchcraft. You’re in a tough situation.
I live in Florida.I did not even know I could potentially have rights as a minor to these kinds of things.I also didn’t know psychiatric hospitals were still a thing.I hate to go against my parents too but I don’t know what to do.I am not going to be able to get treatment until June 2018 and that’s after I even find health insurance and a good psychiatrist.So it could even take longer than that.I mean I can wait if I truly have to but I would prefer not to as I am worried I will become more and more delusional over time.Thank you for replying.
I will try and see if I can get the book through a debit card.Amazon accepts debit cards right? My family doesn’t use credit cards.If I can I will at least get that book.I want to learn how to identify psychosis triggers and to try and be more rational.I do not believe in any spiritual stuff that isn’t proven by science and I like using scientific facts and the scientific method so to see myself be so irrational when I consider myself a rational person is very frustrating!
Also what is a neurofeedback clinic? I have never heard of it!
I do not know if they would feel comfortable with that.They would start prodding as to why I want to go.
They don’t let me go out much and when we do we go to familiar places.They are overprotective so we tend to not like going to new places.So if I went somewhere new I would have to explain why and that would prompt the question as to why I would need to go to a neurofeedback clinic or what that even is.
I also do not know if I can buy Sarcosine.I don’t ever buy things online.I would also need an excuse to buy them.
Also thank you I do know I am better off but it is still frustrating to deal with these delusions as I still believe in them and sometimes I worry I will give in to the delusions and start believing they’re 100% real.
Thank you it is nice to know that I still have hope even if I wait a long time!
I do not know.My parents would need to know why I want to go to a psychiatric hospital and I do not know if I could lie to them about why I am there.They don’t talk me to many different places to begin with and then when they do they need to know why and where it is and they need to come along with me.
I wouldn’t know how to even begin explaining to them why I am in a psychiatric clinic.
As I said to a fellow user:
I do not know.My parents would need to know why I want to go to a psychiatric hospital and I do not know if I could lie to them about why I am there.They don’t talk me to many different places to begin with and then when they do they need to know why and where it is and they need to come along with me.
I wouldn’t know how to even begin explaining to them why I am in a psychiatric clinic.
Also would I be allowed, if by some miracle, they took me there to go in alone? Would I need my parents with me? Also would I need health insurance to get treatment because I don’t have any and even if I did I wouldn’t know if it covers psychiatric treatment.
What you can do is make a phone call to the psych hospital and explain your situation m. They will be able to point you in the right directions and will better know your options. They may be able to help talk to your parents or coach you. A phone call is easy too
I researched Florida laws, and this is what I found. It looks like you have the right to confidential psychiatric care as a minor. But I still don’t know how you would go about getting to the clinic and back, or who would pay for your bills. Do you have any medical insurance at all?
Here is a list of free clinics in Florida. I don’t know if any of them have mental health care, but you can call the ones near you and ask. Even if they can’t help you, they might be able to point you to a place that can. Do you have any friends who can drive, or do you live near public transportation?
http://www.needymeds.org/free_clinics.taf?_function=list&state=FL
I found this quote:
“Mental health for minors is placed in a special category. Minors 13 years of age and older do not need parental consent to obtain mental health diagnostic or evaluative services by a mental health professional. The purpose of the evaluation should be to determine the severity of the minor’s issue and the potential for harm to the individual or others if additional help is not provided.21 Despite the authority to evaluate a minor, a mental health professional does not have the authorization to prescribe medication, use somatic methods, make use of aversive stimuli or employ substantial deprivation.22 The minor can also receive crisis intervention services including psychotherapy, group therapy, group therapy or other verbal therapy.23 If the minor has more than two visits in a one week period for either evaluative or therapeutic services, then parental consent is required for additional care.24 Mental health professionals may choose to provide the evaluative or crisis care to minors, but they are not statutorily required to do so. The minor is responsible for payment for these services if the parent is not involved in the request for care.25”
from this website:
I guess I could do that.Maybe they could explain in very simple terms my issues to my parents and to help get me treatment.I mean I am skeptical but I guess it could work.I will try phoning or emailing people to see what I can find.Thank you very much.