do i have schizophrenia?

Question

i started seeing a psychiatrist in october (two months ago), and since then have recieved two medications and counseling. i started taking Lexapro and then Klonopin, and my psychiatrist hasn't specified what my diagnosis was. she has made references to 'my anxiety' and 'my intrusive thoughts' as well as excessive thinking and overanalyzation of things, which implies i'm being diagnosed for general or social anxiety. however, this has never been completely verified. when i asked if i had depression, she doesn't respond directly, seemingly avoiding a labe. recently, she suggested i take Abilify, telling me it would 'help clear my thoughts' and 'fix my thinking process'. after i took two pills, i looked up what it was on the internet to get more information on what it is used for, and the first most common treatments are for 'schizophrenia' and manic depression (bipolar disorder). do i have a personality disorder? is it so serious my counseler can't tell me, or i can't tell what she says?

ok, so if i don't have schizophrenia, what do i have? is it anxiety? depression? both? is one worse than th e other? i'm really confused as to EXACTLY what's wrong with me, i wish i could just tell. how could one deduce this from what i mentioned, or would more details be nessacery?

Answer 1

As someone who also seeks help from a mental health professional (or two), the fact that your Psychiatrist does not answer your questions does not sit well with me. You need to be able to put your trust in this person, and know that you are being treated properly. You are the patient, and the psychiatrist should absolutely be able to telly ou what your diagnosis is. On that note, meds that are prescribed these days are used to treat many different diagnoses. While it may be most common for the meds to be used to treat schizophrenia, etc, that does not mean that is what your Psychiatrist has generally prescribed it for. My advice to you, is 1. do NOT stop taking the meds prescribed for you. To do so could be detrimental to your health 2. Ask questions. Be involoved in your plan of treatment. Make sure your Psychiatrist KNOWS you need these answers. it is totally their job to explain things to you, and not hide them. This is YOUR mind. If you still get nowhere, please, please PLEASE (while staying on your meds!!) seek the care of another mental health professional, and by all means - address your concerns about the first professional with your insurance company, etc. Good luck and stay strong!!

Answer 2

Hi!

First of all, I would never go to a therapist who refused to tell me why I was taking a medication or why I need it. I agree that not everyone needs a "label" but it is important some of our Clients and is certinally helpful so that you can educate yourself ( I am a therapist).
Lexapro and Klonipin are great for anxiety and depression. They can be used for both social and generalized anxiety disorder. Abilify, while in large dose treats schitzophrenia, in small doses, helps someone relax, sleep and have a more stable mood. Again Abilify in larger quanities can be a mood stabelizer for this with bi-polar disorder.
From the anxiety in your question, I would probably say you've got an anxiety disorder and possibly OCD by the intrusvie thoughts. If I were you, I would educate yourself on these disorders and also find myself a new Doctor who was more interested in me than throwing scripts your way.
I seriously doubt you have a personality disorder or schizophrenia!!!

EDIT: You obviously have an anxiety disorder but you must tell us all your symptoms in order to know what your most approprite diagnosis or diagnosies are. Even with all the symptoms, us not knowing you personally would not allow one to diagnose you, however, you can be steared in the right direction!!

Answer 3

Not many psychiatrists are labelling peopel with schizophrenia these days because there might be legal suits in the offing as schizophrenia is an easy cover-all diagnosis which has proved scary for the recipient and the population at large and can be legally challenged.

Technically, by their rules, it is one of the major severe and enduring illnesses where a person is out of touch with reality.

For practical purposes a diagnosis of personality disorder is given when the patient does not respond to drug treatment.


This is not logical given how few good drugs there are out there

You may have more severe suffering and be labelled wiht a personality disorder when all it means is that there isnt a drug to help you.

The labels are not real any more that the equator is a real lien around hte earth that you can see and touch. They are a way of organising patterns of symptoms and may prove to eb an innefective way when we get more research and information.


Medications for mental illness are not finely tuned there are only so many uppers and downers and balancers in chemical form, all of which are used/tried on all labels depending upon the severity of the system the whim/preference of a particular doctor or their hunch and your bodyweight etc. etc.

It is not scientifically calculated and we are really still in the very early days of trying to find relief for people's mental suffering.

Some meds work well but are addictive.

Some doctors avoid giving labels because they dont want to stigmatise the person.

Some becaue they dont want to be had up for misdiagnosis.

Soem becasue they are trying to find out if hte meds are working before labelling as that woudl hold more water.


Doctors are only human and the system is stacked against them being truthful. Although I have known a few honest enough to say I don't know! They mostly don't because they feel we need to have trust in their power to heal us.

Answer 4

You have only been seeing this doctor for two months, that is about 8 visits at the most; hardly time for any real diagnosis or for the medications to really take effect. It takes a long time to get to know a patient and to make a diagnosis after he/she gets your history and symptoms. This is especially true for all the types of schizophrenia; believe me you don't want a misdiagnosis of schizophrenia. It sticks with you as a stigma for life. I suggest reading up on all the disorders you and others have suggested you might have. You can do this easily on Yahoo! web search by just typing in only the disorder name and pressing search.

By the time you have gone through all the disorders and know the symptoms and treatments well you'll be as informed as your doctor. It is easier to just take the meds as she prescribed, be patient, question her and trust her. It takes time; there are no "silver bullets" in the mental health field.

Good luck in your research, good mental health, peace and Love!

Answer 5

Firstly, neither schizophrenia nor bipolar disorder are personality disorders.

I take Abilify, and its role is to stabilise the moods and/or treat psychosis.

You sound very anxious about what exactly is wrong with you. It's very common for people with anxiety to think that their symptoms are of something more serious. Explain this to your psychiatrist, and ask for a diagnosis. Even if she can only give a brief preliminary diagnosis, it might set your mind at rest.

You're well within your rights to ask your psychiatrist directly what each drug does.

To me, it sounds like you have depression and anxiety, but nobody can diagnose you over the internet. You really need to talk to your psychiatrist and try to get some answers from her. If she refuses, ask for a second opinion and hope that you get someone who talks to you more.

The links in my sources tell you about anxiety, schizophrenia and bipolar disorder, so you can compare your symptoms to those.

Answer 6

to start with loopy del is fallacious - it may possibly NOT be cured by way of remedy. It may also be effectually TREATED however there is not any remedy for schizophrenia. It is an excessively very rough sickness to regard. My grandmother has it. She has battled with remedy all her existence and it's nonetheless very rough for her. She eventually observed a remedy in her 50's that set to work fairly good, however her dose has been upped such a lot over time, and he or she nonetheless hears voices from time to time. If the voices inform her that she are not able to stroll, then she collapses while she attempts to get up. It regulations her mind from time to time. As a long way because the 25 factor, I have no idea however i have heard of persons having it as early as 22 years ancient. As a long way as youngsters having it?? I do not feel so - certainly not heard that - constantly heard it was once early 20's (same op_'s reply mentioned youngsters have it) ***btw - very fascinating query!

Answer 7

I'm not an expert maybe someone could help you more but it sounds like it could be a personality disorder to me she might not want to tell you because they tend not to want to place a label in case you live up to it or it just makes things worse. The 1st pill is what someone with a general anxiety disorder takes the 2nd one if the 1st pill isn't working and the 3rd is prescribed for schizophrenics she could be thinking you have the negative symptoms of schizophrenia but doctors don't always use pills for what they are commonly or meant to be used for since they tend to have multiple uses it sounds like to me that you didn't respond to your 1st pills so she offered another one

Answer 8

My son is schizophrenic, and it is a difficult and painful diagnosis. Ask to see your medical records and ask outright for your diagnosis. It has helped my son to understand how serious his illness is, and it has given us all a place to start to mend the heartbreak of his burden. We have pulled together as a family, and are willing to do what it takes to help him. I am very happy to report his medications help him tremendously, and he is doing better daily. Just understand that the term schizophrenia is a broad term to describe a whole range of disorders, and it doesn't define you specifically with the Hollywood sterotype. Don't obsess, just do the work and get better.

Answer 9

You have the right o insist on been told why you are given a medication. So next time you see your psychiatrist tell them you want to know and would like a diagnosis.

Answer 10

If you had schizophrenia, you probably wouldn't be able to write your question. Bipolar disorder is also unlikely because one of the main symptoms is denial. Your seem to be anxious. Give your psychiatrist and yourself some time to come up with a treatment that helps you feel better.