I think I may have Schizophrenia

First, I don't know if this kind of post is allowable on this board, if it isn't, I apologize.

On a whim a few days ago, I tried to learn some things about Schizophrenia. Psychology has always interested me, so this wasn't anything out of the ordinary. However, I realized that I had a lot of its symptoms, and now I've been driving myself crazy examining every single one of my thoughts so I can see if it's rational or not. It's played hell with my psyche, and I'd like to get a second opinion here.

Among the listed symptoms I had were (in no particular order): erratic sleep habits, social isolation, the habit of not moving for very long periods of time (like, sitting on the couch, not as in moving from home to home) and being annoyed when human contact interrupts my reverie, fixation on religions/spirituality, the inability to decisively hold an opinion on anything important (be it politics, philosophy, or the aforementioned Religion), the lack of much emotion, replaying conversations I've had (with other people) multiple times by myself, delusions (three main kinds that were mentioned, namely grandeur/other people reading my mind/acting on superstition), and to top it off, I'm in the age group that schizophrenia is most likely to first present itself in.

However, I have had no hallucinations of any kind, except for once, when I thought I heard someone whispering my name when I was alone in a hotel room, but one hallucination doesn't prove anything, and it's questionable whether that ever really happened anyway.

Now here's the kicker, and the reason I can't objectively decide this by myself:

I have Munchausen's Syndrome *

It used to be a much bigger problem before I realized I had it and got a handle on it, but I cannot in good conscience deny that I wouldn't like to have Schizophrenia, and I also can't say that I would. This is also why I'm not sure if I actually hallucinated, as that could have been the kind of thing I'd make up, and it happened long enough ago that I could've convinced myself that anything had happened.

So I just want an objective source, preferably one that knows something about Schizophrenia, to tell me if it sounds like I might have it or not. Please, as mentioned before, I'm driving myself crazy.

Get yourself seen by a registered health proffesional.

I'd second this, and recommend seeing a psychologist, but noting that you have Munchausen's Syndrome to them. And otherwise being honest during the questioning.

Even if you aren't actually schizophrenic, they could provide some form of treatment for the Munchausen's.

Ooooooook. Look... you don't have schizophrenia. Just listen. Perhaps you've never studied psychology in depth before, and have never come across this problem, which is quite understandable—but the cardinal rule to exercise when studying mental 'diseases' is to NOT look for them in yourself... because if you do, you'll start realizing how easy it is to diagnose yourself (and pretty much anyone) with one mental 'defect' or another. Not all shy people have asbergers and curious child =/= ADHD. Let's just take a look at why you think you have schizophrenia:

"Among the listed symptoms I had were (in no particular order): erratic sleep habits, social isolation, the habit of not moving for very long periods of time (like, sitting on the couch, not as in moving from home to home) and being annoyed when human contact interrupts my reverie, fixation on religions/spirituality, the inability to decisively hold an opinion on anything important (be it politics, philosophy, or the aforementioned Religion), the lack of much emotion, replaying conversations I've had (with other people) multiple times by myself, delusions (three main kinds that were mentioned, namely grandeur/other people reading my mind/acting on superstition), and to top it off, I'm in the age group that schizophrenia is most likely to first present itself in."

I recommend you repost this elsewhere... except next time, don't include that part about having schizophrenia. You know what the diagnosis will be? That you have way too much time on your hands. Most people will probably call you a bum. You know why you're so paranoid about everything? Because when you have that much time on your hands, your mind tries to make you think your empty life has meaning somewhere, even if it has to make stuff up. It's called compensating for boredom.

Do you know what the real diagnosis here is? You don't have schizophrenia, you just spend too much time on the damn internet. You need to get out of the house and do something. 'Delusions of grandeur' are just a side effect or realizing that you're doing nothing with your life.

You want a cure? Get outside, talk to people and interact with them directly like any healthy social person does. Suddenly, your life will have meaning, you'll become motivated to take care of yourself, go to sleep on time and become more than just a purposeless lay-around couch potato. I don't mean to be rude. It's simply that you'll never stop feeling empty inside until you stop blaming your shell of a life on some 'disease' like schizophrenia and actually take responsibility for yourself.

Look—actual paranoid-type schizophrenic people aren't just 'paranoid' about things that don't exist (otherwise, who wouldn't be?) More rather, they're convinced that something nonexistent is happening or is around them, and no amount of proof to the contrary is going go change that. A real schizophrenic for example, will be convinced that the sun is inside him (or that he is the sun), or that he's being stalked by an assassin, or even that he has a chronic and eternal termite infestation, and no amount of conversation or reasoning is ever going to convince the guy otherwise. That's what makes him crazy. It's a real mess, and furthermore, its definitely not what's wrong with you.

edited 9th Aug '11 3:12:41 AM by Vellup

He could accept your diagnosis of him not being schizophrenic, or he could go speak to a psychiatrist. Just because someone is concerned that they might have something, that doesn't necessarily mean that their fears are unfounded. It simply doesn't mean they should jump to conclusions. And no, you're no more qualified to make a diagnosis than he is.

So yeah, speak with a professional and get checked up on. I'm a major hypochondriac, and the way I've sorted it out is this: there's no use worrying unless you get a diagnosis, but if you really think you have a problem then it's a good idea to get checked.

edited 9th Aug '11 4:33:33 AM by Heartbreaker

@OP Wow, really?

<<Civility Mode Off>>

Look pal, don't insult psychologists with your half assed self diagnosis and see professionals. You NEVER disagnosis yourself, EVER.

<<Civility Mode On>>

edited 9th Aug '11 5:05:46 AM by dRoy

Just one symptom, but "not moving for very long periods of time" doesn't mean lounging around on the couch; it means literally freezing in a position (that may often be bizarre and uncomfortable-looking) and not reacting to anything around you for several hours. Some schizophrenics also have "waxy flexibility" where they will freeze in whatever position you put them in. So you haven't really got that one.

", I tried to learn some things about Schizophrenia"

Medical textbooks carry curses. Once, I had flu, ust to check, Phil read out the list of symptonm, I had them all except backache but as soon as Phil read the word "backasche" I caught it. Don't read medical tetbooks; you will catch the symptoms.

Although some people could have been more polite about it, they are correct that you should never self-diagnose yourself with something as serious as schizophrenia. If you think you have it, you really should see a licensed physician.

edited 9th Aug '11 5:03:40 PM by RedViking

It's called Interns Syndrome, where you start to read up on a subject and find yourself applying conditions you have learned about in psychology to yourself.

It's like a fortune cookie or a fortune teller, you hear the fortune and search through your mind for some way to apply it to yourself, and it isn't healthy or correct.

Go see a professional if you're this worried about this.

One of my housemates has schizophrenia. I know what it looks like. What you have is not schizophrenia. However, it would probably do you good to talk to a mental health professional.

Okay, I'm gonna both riff on and defend OP here — I have been nearly diagnosed with psychotic depression, although the only reason I haven't been completely was due to shortened hospital time. A lot of professionals I talk to claim it's likely I have schizophrenia, and as a result, I see myself as having it for now.

Self-diagnosis is a tricky subject. It sometimes works, but more often than not, research is extremely important. Remember to look at key details, not just the most common symptoms (hallucinations, delusions, etc). This is how I found out I may have it, and talked to some professionals about it. I'd recommend talking to someone. I'm not a medical professional by any means, so don't necessarily take my word for it.

Edit: holy shit. I just saw how long ago this was posted. I misread the time stamps — damn, sorry for necroposting.

edited 15th Jul '14 7:59:52 PM by pugsmith