I might be becoming schizophrenic.

[The Corparation]

See a psychologist, and a psychiatrist. Both will help.

[Ravineworld]

Dude you need to seek help if that is your situation

[Frisivisia]

Wait a second, these are the symptoms of being a stoner, not a schizophrenic.

[The Atlantean Menace]

The good news is that if you're sane enough to think you're schizophrenic, you probably aren't. Something isn't a delusion if you think it's delusional.

I realize that sounds stupid, but it makes sense when you think about it. A delusion can't be a delusion if you think it's a delusion, because a "delusion" requires you to fully believe it.

Also, you know that comedian who talks about how someone broke into his house and replaced everything he owned with an exact copy? Yeah. There's a delusion where people actually seriously believe that.

I'm assuming that it only occurs in people who are seriously mentally ill, because a sane person would realize that if that happened, it didn't matter at all.

[Neamon]

Step aside everyone, I have experience.

My father is a schitzo (although never diagnosed), and his mother is a diagnosed schitzo. His grandmother too, altho she was never medicated. My father is not medicated either.

Firstly, the person above me is correct. If you are a full blown schitzo, you will almost certainly be in complete denial, and beleive nobody who says that you have it. Secondly, if it runs in the family, you may very well have it. If it does not, there is only a very slim chance and I wouldnt worry about it if I were you. Third, I would definately visit a doctor to confirm this, because even if you do get non-professional advice, you can never get the medication for it without a prescription.

To wrap things up, I looked at your list of things here, and crossed out what I am not, and left alone what I am. We apparently share a lot in common as far as schizophrenia goes. Which isnt something to worry about, I hope.

I don't hear voices, and I don't have visual hallucinations. The things that worry me the most are:
-I have relatively often (at least twice a month) episodes of deep depression

-I often feel completely emotionless and apathetic

-I have trouble relating simple concepts and ideas to people sometimes. I can see them in my head fine, even visualize them and how they work together, but I can't verbalize them.

-I often have delusions that I'm the smartest person on earth and that I'm going to overthrow the current political ideologies and implement my own. These are usually accompanied by fantasies of inventing interstellar travel and creating my own civilizations.

-I cannot connect emotionally with people at all. I have no close friends that I can relate to or share my feelings with, just transient acquaintances who I talk to semi-regularly.

Best of luck to you anyway.

---

[The Atlantean Menace]

Oh, having read your symptoms, it's more likely that you're schizoid, not schizophrenic. Symptoms of schizoid personality disorder:

It is characterized by at least four of the following criteria:

1. Emotional coldness, detachment or reduced affection.
2. Limited capacity to express either positive or negative emotions towards others.
3. Consistent preference for solitary activities.
4. Very few, if any, close friends or relationships, and a lack of desire for such.
5. Indifference to either praise or criticism.
6. Taking pleasure in few, if any, activities.
7. Indifference to social norms and conventions.
8. Preoccupation with fantasy and introspection.
9. Lack of desire for sexual experiences with another person.

[Neamon]

Oh, having read your symptoms, it's more likely that you're schizoid, not schizophrenic. Symptoms of schizoid personality disorder:

It is characterized by at least four of the following criteria:

1. Emotional coldness, detachment or reduced affection.
2. Limited capacity to express either positive or negative emotions towards others.
3. Consistent preference for solitary activities.
4. Very few, if any, close friends or relationships, and a lack of desire for such.
5. Indifference to either praise or criticism.
6. Taking pleasure in few, if any, activities.
7. Indifference to social norms and conventions.
8. Preoccupation with fantasy and introspection.
9. Lack of desire for sexual experiences with another person.

Yes, but SPD is a common fore-runner to schizophrenia.

Now I'm not saying that the OP is schitzo, or schitzoid, not yet anyway, but from what he's written, he is very capable of developing it in his future.

[The Murtunian Tribes]

Do you know how many of those symptoms I show? I still seriously doubt that that eans I'm paranoid. The problem with self diagnosis is that, even if you actually have half a clue about what you're saying (which I highly doubt you do), you're still to biased to make an accurate assesment. All those syptoms you pointed out are also common symptoms of things like ADHD and various learning disorders*.

In short: get a professional.

*Delusions excluded.

[Buffett and Colbert]

Never self-diagnose.

[Neamon]

Never self-diagnose.

/thread

You know, despite all what I said earlier. Go see a doctor.

[The Congregationists]

Disclaimer: I AM NOT A PSYCHIATRIST. So take everything I say with that in mind. That said, I have some experience with the mental health system (there was a time when I needed a lot more) and an on again/off again fascination with this subject.

OP, I read through your symptoms and I have some experience with the field, being diagnosed with F-21, ICD-10, which is called, "Schizotypic Disorder". It fits every single one of your bolded symptoms, except the delusions.

This occured to me to. Wikipedia has a write up on "Schizotypal Personality Disorder" that says the following:

A disorder characterized by eccentric behaviour and anomalies of thinking and affect which resemble those seen in schizophrenia, though no definite and characteristic schizophrenic anomalies have occurred at any stage. There is no dominant or typical disturbance, but any of the following may be present:
Inappropriate or constricted affect (the individual appears cold and aloof);
Behaviour or appearance that is odd, eccentric, or peculiar;
Poor rapport with others and a tendency to social withdrawal;
Odd beliefs or magical thinking, influencing behaviour and inconsistent with subcultural norms;
Suspiciousness or paranoid ideas;
Obsessive ruminations without inner resistance, often with dysmorphophobic, sexual or aggressive contents;
Unusual perceptual experiences including somatosensory (bodily) or other illusions, depersonalization or derealization;
Vague, circumstantial, metaphorical, overelaborate, or stereotyped thinking, manifested by odd speech or in other ways, without gross incoherence;
Occasional transient quasi-psychotic episodes with intense illusions, auditory or other hallucinations, and delusion-like ideas, usually occurring without external provocation.
The disorder runs a chronic course with fluctuations of intensity. Occasionally it evolves into overt schizophrenia. There is no definite onset and its evolution and course are usually those of a personality disorder. It is more common in individuals related to schizophrenics and is believed to be part of the genetic "spectrum" of schizophrenia.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schizotypa ... y_disorder

Thing of it is though is that the O.P seems to have a conscious awareness of the existance of a problem and that things are not as they should be. This is not typical of personality disorders, and most definately rules out schizophrenia.

So Diseased Imaginings: you know your enemy. The battle is half won. But listen to what people are saying here. Avoid self diagnosis. It could be schizotypical disorder, but I don't know. If you can, get at least one professional opinion, prefferably more than one. Avoid pot like the plague. I had some (but not all) of these problems in my late teens, and drugs made them exponentially worse, despite offering a temporary reprieve. So don't self medicate either. Look into transcendental mediation and relaxation techniques. Stuff like Yoga, meditation, Tai Chi and the like can do wonders. But make sure you're under some kind of medical supervision or under the guidance of someone trained in these arts. Although it's hard, try not to dwell on or obssess about your condition. That only makes it worse. Try to get out of your head and into external activities: hobbies, social life or whatnot if you can. Don't think of yourself in negative terms. Again, it's hard. The symptoms of the condition can constitute a kind of "evidence" that you are really screwed up. Don't think like that. Beating mental illness is sometimes a matter of putting the cart before the horse in the way you think about yourself. Believe this condition can be beaten, or at least reduced enough that you can live a normal and happy life. That's not easy. Your symptoms are powerful, but your mind is more powerful still. Faith can move mountains. Above all, do all in your power to avoid thoughts of suicide and for God's sake, don't act on them.

P.S.: And no one's going to institutionalize you! Not unless you want them to!

That depends on where he's from. In my jurasdiction, a person can be institutionalized against their will under some circumstances, and I think expressing thoughts of suicide fall under those circumstances.

[Mosasauria]

I doubt it. I experience the same things. All the fucking time. Does that mean I'm schizophrenic? Possibly. Go see a psychiatrist if you want to confirm your suspicion. Acting on suspicion alone in a way other than proving it is a very foolish choice.

[The Corparation]

Moral of this story: For sound psychiatric advice, screw the psychiatrists and use Wikipedia instead.

[Neamon]

Moral of this story: For sound psychiatric advice, screw the psychiatrists and use Wikipedia instead.

I'm pretty sure that a good portion of the people here suggested seeking professional help.

[Yuktova]

Don't listen to the voices. That is not a leprechaun telling you to burn stuff.

But seriously, you can free-call these guys for help.
(800) 969-6642

NB- Don't trust 4chan.

I don't hear voices, and I don't have visual hallucinations. The things that worry me the most are:
-I have relatively often (at least twice a month) episodes of deep depression

-I often feel completely emotionless and apathetic

-I have trouble relating simple concepts and ideas to people sometimes. I can see them in my
head fine, even visualize them and how they work together, but I can't verbalize them.

-I often have delusions that I'm the smartest person on earth and that I'm going to overthrow the current political ideologies and implement my own. These are usually accompanied by fantasies of inventing interstellar travel and creating my own civilizations.

-I cannot connect emotionally with people at all. I have no close friends that I can relate to or share my feelings with, just transient acquaintances who I talk to semi-regularly.

thanks for the link though, and I definitely know better than to go to 4chan with this

As I bolder the part that I can relate, sometimes I think that if with Carl Sagan's guidance, (I know he's dead, but the texts he has written are good, his ideas are sound) I could overthrow the government, and help humanity reach the stars, that my goal. Although the rest of the symptoms I can't relate to.

[Don Linguini]

First thing they will tell you when you do a psychology or medical degree is not to self diagnose. See a professional.

[The Corparation]

Moral of this story: For sound psychiatric advice, screw the psychiatrists and use Wikipedia instead.

I'm pretty sure that a good portion of the people here suggested seeking professional help.

Yeah but The Congregationists had so much more helpful advice.

[The Zombie-filled Ruin]

Now you seem like a hardcore RPer. Look, cal lthat number. They can recommend you to anything better than we can.

I'm afraid to. I feel that if I do actually reveal this to professionals, that I'll be diagnosed as an insane person and won't be allowed to lead a normal life. I'm almost done with my undergraduate degree. I want to live a successful life. I don't want to be marginalized by society as some decrepit freak incapable of thinking and creating. I don't want to be institutionalized.

No offence, but it seems kind of pathetic to avoid looking into help because you're afraid that you might turn out to really need it. Their power to ostracise you is largely confined to what you allow them to have. C'mon, cowardice never helped anyone, now has it? I don't, as I said, wish to insult you, but anyone can overcome any fear of theirs if they don't allow themselves to shy away. Go for it, you can do it!