am i schizophrenic?

Question

i cant explain things because my mind cant function
i feel like everyone is out to piss me off
at night i have conversations going on inside my head that keep me awake
sometimes i respond to my thoughts as in ''talk back''
i want to escape from people all the time
when im around people i feel lethargic and drained and unintrested in conversation but at the same time anxious
i dont enjoy life or anything in it
my mind tells me people are watching me so i get paranoid
i feel like exploding inside i have all this rage
i hit walls and smash things
from being a todler i never socialised i hated it
even around people who understand me i dont want to socialise because my minds having conflicts and im in another world
if im on my own and im walking past people i keep thinking they are going to attack me, im paranoid
i see it in my mind, i see this vision of me getting attacked
ive been diagnosed with social anxiety and depression but im sure i have schizophrenia

my social anxiety and depression was diagnosed by a retarded shrink who made me wait an hour and half in the waitin room

i felt insecure as a todler when i was on my own, i felt like ''out in the wild'' and thought someone was going to do something to me
ive been on ssri's many of them for SA and the side effects were immense, currently on beta blockers for panic attacks but its no cure
the other day i had a vision of someone throwing an iron at me so i smashed the iron, i dont know why

i visualise groups of lads stabbing me and beating me to the ground and its like im waitin for it happening becuase i know it will even theres no reason for it

i isolate myself to avoid such happenings and if people are around me my minds going crazy, and i always think they know its happenin and theyre looking for me to react. i anticipate whats going to happen and it does! it freaks me out and i get frustrated

i cant distinguish between 'thoughts' & 'voices' thats my problem

sorry to go on but with the iron incident i thought i better explain it more detailed

was layed on the bed and i visualised the iron and then some voice in my mind said ''im going to throw this at you'' so i got up and went psycho and smashed the iron on the floor
the thing is the voice was shallow and didnt come from the outside
whoever said it really said it to piss me off and its just crazy, its as though someone is there that i cant see
i know its really happening but i feel so hmm......like i cant explain it because i can see myself its looney! but its happening

Answer 1

Bob, i'm afraid no-one can answer this question with
more indepth knowledge although u have given quite alot to go off. You say u have been diagnosed with social anxiety and depression, this in itself says so much. My question however would be who diagnosed u with these conditions, your doctor or were u refered to a psychiatrist for an assesment?.
As i keep refering to ur question i can for certain tell you this NO u are not necessarily schizophenic. There are many types of depression and most display alot of the characteristics u have described, lethargy, feeling drained, uninterested in convosation etc. Being diagnosed as suffering from social anxiety doesnt help either however, one of these conditions can anmd does very often cause the other.
You also state something i find interesting "From being a toddler u never socialised - i hated it" This should have been looked into when u were a tolder. Why did u never socialize, why did u hate it?. Were u prevented from doing so for some reason if so this is where your hate or to be precise "fear" began.
From how u describe your feelings i imagine youre on anti-depressants and probably sedatives. There are are many ant-depressants available as there are sedatives and if taken in combination this can make the symptoms u describe seem more real and unbarable to cope with.
I would most certainly go to ur doctor as soon as u possibly can as some of the most common side effects of anti-depressants u have described. Ask your doctor to do a "Serum Level " check on any medication u may be taking for your condition as it sounds to me as though your on too high a dosage of whatever medication you are taking OR the medication is not right for u and u need it changing to another anti-depressant. Unfortunately anti-depressants all have unwanted side effects and the only thing that can help aleviate the effects is the correct medication and dosage. You may still have the same side effects but far less severe.
Also, if taken in conjunction with sedatives for anxiety which thay commonly are this only hightens the sense of lethary and the sense of "Being here, seeing and feeling it but some-how not being part of it ". The feeling that u are in another world and that ppl are talking about u / watching u is common to both problems as is the fear of being alone.
Please See Your Doctor or Psychiatrist A.S.A.P. and get your meds checked out.
What u have described can represent both depression and mental illness as a sense of paranoia can be displayed in both conditions. However, what concerns me is what little informatiom you have given with regards to ur feeling this way since being a toddler. What if any investigations were taken at this point? as i strongly believe your problems began then. Had u had therapy then i doubt your problems would have escalated to the extent they are now.
When u see your doctor plz if you haven't already done so tell them about this period in ur life. Going off everything u have said if u are not in therapy already talk to ur doctor about it because u really do need to see a counselor. Also, make sure your doctor understands where ur coming from and should u be told anything u dont understand do not be embarrassed to ask him to explain everything in a manner you understand.
I CANNOT RULE OUT MENTAL ILLNESS at this point, but i would certainly look into any medication u are on and the question of therapy . Should u not get satisfaction with your doctor or psychiatrist remember that u can always request a 2nd opinion.
I hope u get the professional help u really require as it will change your life completely around for the better.

Answer 2

You describe some classic symptoms but not all. However, few schizophrenics have an insight into their ilness and this indicates you're at the outset of your illness or are having an axiety crisis within a certain personality type.
That you have difficulties that need addressing is beyond doubt. However, you might be best to just go to your doctor, a different one, and describe only your Symptoms, ie, your thoughts, feelings and inclinations . Leave the diagnosis to the doctor. You seem a little too willing to hang a label around your neck and more afraid of this label than anything.
Is it possible you got hold of the notion of being schizophrenic and are being introspective all the time and looking to justify this??
Either way, you're best to get it checked out as quickly as possible because, if it's the symptoms of a schizophrenic breakdown you have, then phenothiazine medication halts the disease in it's progress but should be prescribed within a year. It may not be this. Just remember to confine yourself to your symptoms when you see a doctor again.

Answer 3

I was going to be a smart alec and answer with something flippant, but after reading your symptoms, I think there may be something serious going on, as opposed to an overreactionary response to stress.

In other words, you should seek counseling and help as soon as possible. The social anxiety and depression can manifest in the ways mentioned, and the stress of not being able to cope with these conditions may lead to the internal stuggle you feel. Schizophrenia is generally marked by less ability to organize and communicate thoughts, so trust your mental health care professional to make the call, but also report the lack of progress you have made and see if there are other treatment options, as well as looking for a second opinion.

Good luck, and ignore those who answer this with a smart alec comment. They likely did not read the whole thing.

Answer 4

The first thing that you have to remember is that not all doctors (especially psychiatrists) know everything. From the symptoms that you describe, you definitely sound like you could be a candidate for paranoid schizophrenia. Although, the only real way to know for sure would be to go on a medication that is designed for that and see if you feel better or worse. Also, without knowing all of your symptoms, it is hard to make an accurate assessment on Yahoo Answers! Things to look for:

lack of emotion - the inability to enjoy regular activities (visiting with friends, etc.) as much as before
Low energy - the person tends to sit around and sleep much more than normal
lack of interest in life, low motivation
Affective flattening - a blank, blunted facial expression or less lively facial movements, flat voice (lack of normal intonations and variance) or physical movements.
Alogia (difficulty or inability to speak)
Inappropriate social skills or lack of interest or ability to socialize with other people
Inability to make friends or keep friends, or not caring to have friends
Social isolation - person spends most of the day alone or only with close family

If you feel as though you have more than one of these symptoms, then I would recommed switching doctors immediately and find out! I wish you the best of luck and remember that you CAN get better!

Answer 5

0) Your explanation seems to be very clear and detailed. Here are some thoughts...

1) It is very useful to avoid an extreme diagnosis, especially by some helth professionals - some kinds of treatment or help are much better to reverse the problem back to some kind of contentment.

2) Swift action is required to keep you out of mental hospital, especially if you have never been in one. This seems to be a social reality. I am not complaining about mental hospitals as such.

3) Signing yourself into mental hospital would be much preferable to being signed in.

Answer 6

I lived with a guy years and years ago and he turned out to be skitzo. We didn't know it at the time he wa diagnosed later after I had kicked him out because he was always accusing me of stuff. He would have serious dillusions of things that never even happened. He talked to the tv once..something about "them watching us through the tv". I could tell you things that he'd said that would make your hair stand up. He'd just make things up in his mind..if you think you have some kind of problem like that..you need help now. The longer you let it go untreatd the worse it's going to be and the less effective treatment is going to be.
Good luck

Answer 7

Well paranoia is definitely a telltale sign of Schizophrenia. But keep in mind that a lot of people have traits of a lot of diseases. One thing to remember is that if it's not interfering with you living your life, it's not as big of a problem, and probably not considered to be the "disease" and instead would only be a "trait".
So if you are thinking that they want to attack you and you turn around and hit them, or if you take off running, or something like that, it's worse than if you are able to do a "reality check" and understand that it is just in your mind and not real.

Answer 8

Schizophrenia is when you see people and things that are not there and you don't see things that are. It's a total break with the real world. Do you hear the voices of OTHER people in your head or are you just arguing with yourself?
You are probably paranoid and very depressed. Also sounds like agoraphobia (fear of people and public places)
See your local councilor. Meds might help.
Good luck.

Answer 9

not sure if you have it or not only a phychiatrist can judge that most people with schizophrenia hear the voices on the outside of their head the same way you would hear a real person talk not just inside your head but sounds like you definetly do have something. x

Answer 10

Go back to the doctor, and tell him or her how you feel, and what you think you may have. They will eaither send you to a specialist or give you more or different meds. Also, try going to a physcologist., have you seen the movie "Donnie Darko"? In a way, you seem to be like the guy in that movie.