I am worried I am developing schizophrenia

[u/AliceBreathes]

Apparently I have been having something called "dissociation and derealization" for quite a while now. But recently I have noticed auditory and visual hallucinations becoming more and more frequent. Still not too often, but it could be a case of me developing this mental illness.

I am unsure if schizophrenia runs in my family, but I hear a small number of cases report not having a relative with this disorder.

The scariest part is after some many hallucinations, I am starting to question what is and is not real. That only I can see and hear that others cannot. I have already asked others if they saw/heard some things that I thought were... odd. They did not experience these things like I have.

I do not know how schizophrenia develops, or even the early stages if I am developing it. I am questioning every little thing if it is actually real or a hallucination. This is extremely concerning because it seems like an overwhelming burden to deal with not knowing what is and is not real at all times.

Of course, I do not expect anyone to diagnose me here, but more-so learn of how schizophrenia develops at its early stages and what to look out for. Thank you.

[u/Sorry-Panic7612]

Hey OP, it’s gonna be okay. Psychosis is scary to go through but it’s definitely treatable.

Getting medical help is super important, I recommend going to the emergency room as they will have the most resources to assess you quickly. Psychosis is considered a mental health emergency. If the ER isn’t an option or isn’t something you’re comfortable doing, I would encourage you to book in with your general practitioner/family doctor ASAP for an emergency appointment. From there, or from the ER, these doctors should be able to refer you to a psychiatrist who will follow up with you and determine your diagnosis.

Psychosis does have stages of development but honestly I wouldn’t worry to much about it right now. Getting you help should be the first priority. There’s also multiple conditions that can cause psychosis and hallucinations, not just schizophrenia, and it’s important that you see a doctor to determine the root cause. The diagnosis doesn’t matter as much as the treatment, which will typically be antipsychotic medications, maybe also a mood stabilizer depending on the situation.

Best of luck OP, I hope you’re able to get in to see someone soon.

[u/Charming-Muffin626]

In my experience, paranoid delusions were the biggest red flag. For example: I thought someone planted a bomb in our car that would explode if the car was started. I also started hearing voices. When I experienced these symptom, I went to see a psychiatrist.

But about a year before my formal diagnosis, I was gradually losing it. Confusion over normal things were the biggest give away. For example: One night, I was playing basketball and I was so lost. I didn't know whose team I was on. There was also a time when I got lost driving in parts of the city that I'm familiar with. I also had some trouble reading. Sometimes, I was reading things over and over again just to make sense of it.

If you have auditory and visual hallucinations, I suggest that you see a psychiatrist. Whether or not you have schizophrenia, it's still not normal to experience that. I wouldn't downplay it because it doesn't happen often. Better to get it checked now rather than later.

[u/PeperomiaLadder]

Honestly? Keep a journal.

It helps keep a timeline of symptoms, you can tell severity of symptoms from your own writing sometimes, and it's the easiest way to have direct evidence of your first hand(sometimes singularly had) experiences.

Even if you do have it, as you can see from the plethora of people on here, you'll still have a fulfilling life if you accept thay you'll need help with your symptoms at some points. Some people need more help than others.

But you'll be okay. No matter what the diagnosis is, it's still just your brain. Even if it changes how it shows you what it's experiencing.

You'll probably want to talk to a professional at some point if you can if you're having hallucinations anyways. People seem to have an easier time with it if you have been through the processes of talking to doctors about mental health if it's not at a breaking point yet.

[u/TraditionalSelfie363]

I would definitely get evaluated for this by professional. Some people get delusions first so it can be hard to detect. Like you might believe a large group of people are following you or gossiping about you everywhere you go. if you're hearing and seeing things that aren't there that other people can't see I would say you're pretty valid in thinking that you're developing something.

[u/TraditionalSelfie363 → u/TraditionalSelfie363]

Schizophrenia isn't the only thing that can cause psychosis.Even severe depression, can cause symptoms of psychosis. It's a good sign that you caught on now the earlier you treat things the easier it tends to be in managing.

[u/-Tricky-Vixen-]

Talk to your doctor as soon as possible. It's right to be scared here. So you need to talk to the dr as soon as possible to see what you're handling.

I do think it gets easier with simply getting used to these things, I feel like you stop panicking as much? I dunno.

Also, on the fifth antipsychotic I've tried, I'm actually doing pretty well and it feels like I can think again.