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AMA

I have schizophrenia and bipolar 1 AMA

58 replies

Theodoreb · 05/04/2020 21:43

Not sure if anyone will be interested but thought I'd post here as my own way of raising awareness about my very stigmatized mental illnesses ask me questions?

OP posts:
ChillOutChick · 25/04/2020 10:05

@HungryHazelEyes

I'm amazed and shocked a child can be diagnosed after 15 minutes.

You say your child hasn't had any episodes. My understanding is to be diagnosed with Schizophrenia then you need to meet the criteria set out in the DSM5.

www.medscape.com/answers/288259-13968/what-are-the-dsm-5-criteria-for-schizophrenia

Hopefully the OP will be able to answer your other questions.

I'm so sorry you are all going through this.

Theodoreb · 25/04/2020 16:13

@HungryHazelEyes I think you seriously need to request a second opinion it took me a couple of years to get my full diagnosis, and there was a lot of in depth reports. I been known to psychiatric services since I was 15 yet didn't get my bipolar diagnosis until roughly age 22, and I was even older getting the schizophrenia added. I had had in total over two years of therapy including psychotherapy and ACAT.

It is common to have a full blood works done before diagnosis it's not that low vitamin levels cause schizophrenia or bipolar, it's that certain vitamin deficiencies can cause symtoms which mirror mental illnesses, once the vitamin deficiency is addressed the mental health symptoms clear up. But in my case and many others a person with severe mental illness may have severe vitamin deficiencies as a result of self neglect. But in those cases once the vitamin deficiencies are cleared up the symptoms remain.

I don't know the procedure where you are but here only a psychiatrist can diagnose you, a therapist can make suggestions but then a psychiatrist has the final decision.

Groups of friends don't influence me or my schizophrenia I am always the same there are people I'm more comfy with who I can be myself with meaning I'm less anxious and less closed, but I'm always the same.

Schizophrenia medication is hard to tolerate I wouldn't take it lightly ask for a second opinion first as I imagine it would be even harder on a developing body to tolerate strong psychiatric medications. If she does need these medications it will be less harmful for her to take them as going unmedicated is very damaging not just mentally but usually physically from self neglect, self harming, and with schizophrenia there is just the general lack of understanding how to care for yourself. So if she has schizophrenia then by all means the meds are the way to go but you don't want her taking them without a really good investigation I hth, I feel kinda useless tbh but I've tried my best.

OP posts:
ChillOutChick · 25/04/2020 19:44

@HungryHazelEyes another thought I had was to read up on prodromal symptoms for Schizophrenia - these are the 'early' symptoms which can often be missed but if caught early enough can be helped.

I agree with the OP to proceed with caution. Have you met with the therapist yourself? Are they a qualified psychiatrist?

HungryHazelEyes · 25/04/2020 19:55

I agree with both of you, my thoughts are also that it was a very quick, possibly rushed, diagnosis. I will fight for a 2nd diagnosis if they try to push more drugs on her, as of right now we are just sticking to the Niacinamide and seeing how she's doing. We don't have it in our family on either side. DHs gm is bipolar, but as far as I know that's it for mental health issues/ diagnosis in the family. Thank you for replying. Thinking of it just being a vitamin deficiency mimicking schizophrenia makes complete sense. I don't know if that is what the therapist had said as DH went with her, per DDs request. I'm also not sure, but I think she may be a psychiatrist, but would have to look at the papers again.

I know I sound like I'm not in- tune with what's going on with her, but there was also a lot of information overload at that time. I'm just really glad that the doctor ordered a blood test to check her vitamin levels. She's also low in iron (not surprised as recently became a vegetarian) and too much B12. His reaction of being told she has schizophrenia was also one that he was skeptical so I think that says a lot.

Theodoreb · 26/04/2020 07:36

@HungryHazelEyes

Unfortunately Bipolar is known to be a genetic link for schizophrenia, I don't know why but bipolar and schizophrenia can cause the other to manifest in a person.

It is also possible that she hasn't told you of many symptoms as schizophrenic people are very good at hiding their emotion and and what is going on.

However I wouldn't be happy with a severe diagnosis after just 15 minutes, these sort of things should take time.

When I was first diagnosed I had levels of b12 at 87 this was due to long term sleep deprivation and long term not eating, so it was investigated if that was causing the problems however in my case once my b12 were normal the illness remained, so I only had low b12 levels through self neglect. I am not sure what high levels would do to a person but I'm sure it could cause mental illness symptoms.

OP posts:
TwistyHair · 26/04/2020 08:08

Do you find your diagnosis helpful? I know some people have mixed feelings on having a diagnosis.

@HungryHazelEyes I couldn’t not comment so I hope you don’t mind OP. That does not sound right at all. I know someone with schizophrenia and that diagnosis is not given out lightly. Especially to people who are young. Some people can have one psychotic episode and then never have one again. So you wouldn’t want a label like schizophrenia when it may just be one episode when a teenager. I wouldn’t accept that diagnosis at all in just a 15 min conversation. My experience is that it takes years to get a diagnosis like that.

Theodoreb · 26/04/2020 17:48

@TwistyHair I find my diagnosis very helpful now but when I first had it I went of the rails a little so for me personally whether it was helpful or not depended on what stage I was at.

OP posts:
TwistyHair · 27/04/2020 18:06

Thanks, that’s interesting to know

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