mysteriously mental illness.. please help..?

Question

my cousin is a healthy 18 year old. recently somethings been wrong. She came home from college with a mental breakdown. It's gotten worse. She has a 1.7 GPA even though she is NOT stupid. She is lucid but every once in a while she'll say strange things that are impossible. I was talking on the phone with me last night and said that she was gonna apply to UCLA and they would HAVE to take her in b/c she was a genius. She also said that as a hobby she was going to find DaVinci's missing painting. She said that like DaVinci, she was a genius and she knows that he hid "clues" in his paintings and books. She has also said that she found the solution to earthquakes.
Im really worried about her and she is currently seeing a therapist. All her life BEFORE college was totally healthy. she just "snapped" i guess. She is refused to take meds because she fears meds will make her schizophrenic even though it isn't a known side affect of the medicine. does any 1 recignize this symptoms? please help

drugs are def. not a contributer (my aunt had the doc. test for them)
p.s. answers so far are very helpful : )

i don't THINK she's doing drugs but she once admitted to me that she was willing to try anything once (and it was a convo about drugs and alchohol)

just one last detail
you guys say she might be schizophrenic which is really breaking my heart but.. does schiz. go away or is it permanent?

Answer 1

The most likely thing would be Bipolar, Manic, with Psychotic Features.

It sounds like she is having grandiose delusions (false ideas of being powerful, important, special, etc.)

Schizophrenia is also possible, but Bipolar Disorder is more common so that's the first thing I would suspect.

Also, I don't want to say Schizophrenia because I don't know if she is having any of the other symptoms of Schizophrenia like social withdrawal or blunted emotions. You didn't mention anything that sounds like that; all you mention is psychotic delusions.

I used to play in band with a guy who was later diagnosed with Bipolar, Manic with Psychotic Features and he told me all kinds of impossible things about having a big recording studio in France.

She could actually be diagnosed with either Bipolar, Schizophrenia or Psychosis Unspecified; depending on what the doctor thinks. It's not unsual for somebody's diagnosis to change over time or when they go to a different doctor.

Whatever the main diagnosis is, it sure sounds like she is having psychosis with delusions of grandeur (as described in the DSM-IV).

It could also be Brief Reactive Psychosis or it may be directly related to drug abuse. Psychosis can be long term or short term.

Answer 2

I don't know exactly how to say this, so I'm just going to put it out there.

It sounds like your cousin has symptoms characteristic of schizophrenia. Of course, there is a long list of symptoms that fall into this category, so it is not my place to diagnose your cousin.

However, feeling like she is going to find DaVinci's missing painting by examining clues is not healthy. This is also true of her feeling like she has found the solution to earthquakes. I have heard similar stories from a person who was checked into a clinic for schizophrenia. What seems to be different between this person's and your cousin's is that you said things will happen "every once in a while". If things like this start to occur more frequently, I would strongly advise seeking professional help.

If you feel this is something that her therapist should know, I would try to tell the therapist personally. Your cousin's therapist will not be able to tell you any informaiton about your cousin's sessions (due to doctor-patient confidentiality), but if you express your concerns to him (and if you tell him directly, you can include your first-hand story), I am sure he will be glad to hear it. Sometimes people can act normal around others (especially when there is limited contact and you're already under the mindset "well, this person is going to ask me things about my life"), but will behave differently around close friends and family (aka the guard can be let down).

I hope this is able to help. As I said before, it is not my place or yours to diagnose your cousin with any mental or psychological condition. However, I'm glad you are looking out for your cousin and I hope things will get better in the end.

Answer 3

If she has meds, she should take it. She needs to continue seeing her cousellor. Then again, she is young and may be just acting out or even just having "fun" with you. There may be nothing wrong with her. What you describe doesn't sound too over the top considering her age. How do you know she "snapped" or had a mental breakdown? Is this a confirmed diagnosis? Just continue to offer her your support by saying you are there for her if she needs to talk and encourage her to take her meds. I am sure her therapist is aware or will become aware of any behaviour that you feel is odd.

Answer 4

It is not as common in females, but schizophrenia will rear it's ugly head in a individual who is 17-18. They can have a normal life beforehand and then develop the disease. The medical community is unsure why the onset of it starts in late teens. If I were you I would speak to my parents about your worries.
If she is seeing a therapist , he/she would realize this better than anyone. I don't know the case, it could be a million different things, but I am judging it due to her age and what you have said she is exhibiting. Schizophrenia is a life long illness, but there are great drugs on the market to help.

Answer 5

I have a couple of intellectual issues, all associated in combination I wager, and I have a equivalent "crisis," it is extra every day established than per month. For a couple of hours I'll suppose fine, I'm gunna do that and I'm gunna quit doing this and blah blah. But then I lose it, and suppose depressed, and many others. I do not fairly argue with individuals, however that is my persona, I simply do not say something although I'm screaming at them in my head. And I hate after they blame the "sickness" too, however I do not consider I ever fairly come to think its the "sickness" however I have my explanations for that =s Soo probably it's natural, however I do not know, I'm no longer open approximately my disease with individuals due to the fact nearly they all are "normies" and they are not so excellent afterwards :) 'least no longer in my enjoy.

Answer 6

Have you ever seen the movie with Russel Crowe "A Beautiful Mind" its based on a story about a man with Schizophrenia and your daughter seems to be displaying many of the symptoms discribed in this movie - see if you can find it and rent/buy it and watch and see if your daughter is similar to the charecter in the movie.

The other thought is Bipolar - you are describing thoughts of grandure but you havent described any lows so I dont know if this would be right.

Just a couple of ideas for you anyway but I would get the movie and then try to get her some help.

Answer 7

Sounds like she is having a nervous breakdown. College can make people lose it when adjusting is too hard sometimes. Mental illness usually occurs in ppl like 19 or 20 yrs old for first onset. Seeing a therapist is the best thing for her at this point it sounds like. Some drugs like lsd or shrooms can make people go crazy too, ask her if she has done anything like that while at college??

Answer 8

If she has been suffering from severe depression it could be that with psychosis, She needs to be seen by a psychiatrist as soon as possible. There is something going on that needs to be addressed. She will be OK after she gets on the right medications, however there needs to be a diagnosis first.

Answer 9

Schizophrenia IS permanent.

But I think she may actually have Bipolar Disorder.

Whatever she truly has, she NEEDS to seek the help of a Psychiatrist ASAP. A Therapist only talks to patients, they are not qualified to prescribe medication

Answer 10

could there be any street drug use by her? Talk to her about it.