People with panic and anxiety attacks; Am I schizophrenic?

Question

I have been having severe panic and anxiety attacks since i started going through pueberty, I often have them at least one or two a week, but what frightens me the most about this is now (more and more) I hallucinate by hearing and breifly seeing things that I KNOW are not there, some times there scary sometimes they are not. I have been researching schizophrenia alot lately and I absolutely think i fit the description for a mild case or lower level schizo, but when i watch people who have it, they are always SOOO much more extreme than me, infact ive only seen non functional with reality type schizos. Its scares me to think that i might turn into one someday in the future since my symtoms only get worse. I used to only get attacks alone, now i get them anytime. i still have control without totally freaking out but for how long? does anyone have an idea what might be wrong. i havent gone to a doctor cause im live in a small town where the doctors are all quacks, and i dont have insur..

I have been having severe panic and anxiety attacks since i started going through pueberty, I am now an adult!!! I often have them at least one or two a week, but what frightens me the most about this is now (more and more) I hallucinate by hearing and breifly seeing things that I KNOW are not there, some times there scary sometimes they are not. I have been researching schizophrenia alot lately and I absolutely think i fit the description for a mild case or lower level schizo, but when i watch people who have it, they are always SOOO much more extreme than me, infact ive only seen non functional with reality type schizos. Its scares me to think that i might turn into one someday in the future since my symtoms only get worse. I used to only get attacks alone, now i get them anytime. i still have control without totally freaking out but for how long? does anyone have an idea what might be wrong. i havent gone to a doctor.

I forgot to mention in the above paragraph i am now an adult! I am super paranoid, i often times WILL NOT EAT home food, because im extremely afraid that it is contaminated, i wont go in bathrooms, and other off the wall things like that, some of you who have already answered this, sorry for not giving you enough detail, THIS IS ALOT MORE SERIOUS than most peoples cases... maybe that will give you a better idea, oh, i have also hide in my car one day at work for almost my entire shift after having an attack/hallucination... very frighting... and i do smoke marijuana which i recently read greatly increases your risks... which i did not previously know.

Answer 1

Your panic and anxiety attacks, if really severe, can mess with you. Puberty is the age when hormones kick in, adding to the mix, but is also the age when schizophrenia can begin to a lessor extent. Common age to 'present' is 18-22 or so. Younger does happen, though.

You don't have to be completely "wacko" to be schizophrenic; but you could be suffering from some sort of bi-polar disorder which can also lead to hallucinations.

The only one who can diagnose for sure is a doctor; a psychiatrist, not a medical doctor, not a psychologist. There are physical symptoms of true schizophrenia which can be found in CAT scans or MRIs - the brain reacts differently to stimuli.

Please contact a school counselor who can better direct you to an agency that will help. Small town/quacks can be replaced by quality care at little or no cost, you just have to find out where it is available in your area.

Answer 2

I have panic/anxiety attacks I also hallucinate eversince I was about 14 I have been diagnosed with bipolar with psychotic features because mostly I'm depressed and I hallucinate I too thought I was schizophrenic but when I finally told my doctor's everything they came up with that but insisted on me seeing a psychiatrist because they say with mental illness I'll get tons of diagnoses and be on tons of medications until they find the one that works for me right now I am refusing treatment due to pregnancy and I have extreme depression and anxiety/panic attacks I fear the next time I see an hallucination because the ones I see are very frightening I can say it's been about 5 months since the last time I was at work and I was taking an item out a bin and a monstrous type hand came out it freaked me out so bad I left my job so I understand the frustration good luck if you have any questions you can contact me.

Answer 3

I have had anxiety attacks in the past. Now I have panic attacks that were bought on due to my Dads death. Believe me panic attacks are different from anxiety. The only time I have ever hallucinated was when I was younger and wanted to and when the Doctor had me on an anti-depressant for the anxiety. You need to find a Dr to go to and quit looking up all these illnesses,sometimes people can bring the symptoms of these things on themselves. My aunt did and she was finally diagnosed as a hypochondriac. Good Luck On Liefs Journey!!!

Answer 4

I am single mum. I have been suffering for panic attacks for some 15 years now, though it was not until recently I understood what they were. They were progressively getting stronger and more frequent, stopping me from some days even leaving my house. I read Panic Away Course and it all made perfect sense.

I am not saying I was not terrified of putting theory to action, I was more scared of that than the next attack! But I decided to view it as a game, one I had control of and could therefore not lose!

So i laid my chips down and delt my hand... Before I know it I was waking myself up as I had forgotten why I was trying to stay awake!!! I slept for a full 6 hours that night, first good nights sleep I have had in probably years. The next morning I woke full of positively, that also a feeling I have not had for quite some time.

I had always known it was a mind over matter game, but never knew the rules and therefore how to play the game, let alone have the advantage and win!! This course is showing me how to not only cope but in time win! and get my life back. View here a video presentation http://tinyurl.com/PanicAwayR

Answer 5

First of all, try to calm down. I know, I know... very punny. But I have had panic attacks for years *and* I have a super-active imagination. Very dangerous :-)

Before you go diagnosing yourself via the Internet, please go to a psychologist or a school counselor. No kidding; when I was in my teens, I didn't know whether I was psychotic, manic-depressive, lazy... And the panic attacks just made things worse!

Go to a professional, and talk it through. There are ways to cope with panic attacks. Take care of those, and you'll probably feel a lot more centered and secure.

Good luck.

Answer 6

It may not be an anxiety "attack" but it could very likely be a lot of anxiety... I've struggled with anxiety my whole life and there's a huge difference between anxiety itself and a panic attack. You should definitely see a doctor about this though.

Answer 7

Hi there, I just laugh about my past 3 years of panic now. I was not able to go anywhere without carrying xanax. Fear of having another attack was the most important subject of my days.When i first found joe barry's web site i started to cry because of my happiness.

Free audio to end anxiety and panic attacks fast?

Answer 8

I would go to a psychiatrist, and describe to them exactly what is going on. Also, if you are taking a medication currently, some of them can have adverse effects. People with post-tramatic stress disorder can experience anxiety attacks aswell. Think back, have you or someone close to you had anything traumatic happen in the past? You may have a mild form of a mood disorder, not necessarily skitzophrenia. Some people with mood disorders can have hallucinations if they are taking a stimulent. I know how difficult it can be to see a doctor without insurance: good luck!

Answer 9

If you are a natural person you should try cognitive behavioral therapy. It was the only thing that has helped me with my horrible health anxiety. Read here https://tr.im/23HX5

Your thinking determines your quality of life. Your thinking is what causes you these feelings:

Anxious, fearful, stressed or depressed
Constantly worried, or angry about something that is happening in your life
Struggling to overcome obsessive and negative thoughts.

If you change your thinking, you will change your life. This is the basic idea behind CBT for anxiety. The Cognitive part is where you learn nee methods and ways to change your same old habits and thinking patterns. If you keep thinking and expecting the worst – You will continue to suffer.

Answer 10

I think you normal and everyone feels and hears a presence of some sort....but just not often enough to care or let it get to you, or maybe some kind of psychological denial....whatever it may be , If you really feel it is bothering your life then tell your Parents and they will seek the doctor that you need....As for panic attacks, also very normal especially if going through puberty, (hormones changes, can make you seem crazy) again tell your doctor and he may be able to elevate your hormones or prescribe something to relax you....