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Does anyone know about schizophrenia?

47 replies

Janos · 18/04/2009 19:07

Obviously it's not something that can be diagnosed without a medical professional being involved but what are the symptoms? Does anyone have experience of this?

Thanks.

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jooseyfruit · 18/04/2009 19:21

positive symptoms include hallucinations (seeing/hearing/tasting/smelling/feeling something that isn't there),
mostly voice hearing, although i did nurse a poor bloke who believed all his food tasted of shit.
delusions,a fixed false belief.

negative symptoms,
depression, lack of motivation, self neglect.

loads of other things.

Janos · 18/04/2009 19:31

Thanks jooseyfruit.

What about paranoia/feel angry all the time? Would that be part of it? What would 'count' as a fixed false belief?

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CakeandFineWine · 18/04/2009 19:32

yes it could be!
is it about yourself or someone else?
What are there symptoms?

scottishmummy · 18/04/2009 19:38

it has a spectrum of presentation.ranging from moderate to severe.for accurate diagnosis go see gp.

Schizophrenia is characterised by distortions of thinking and perception (can be visual or auditory)eg perhaps hearing voices and is usually accompanied by emotions that are inappropriate or blunted.

Typically loss of motivation and/or interest in activities or others.social isolation or withdrawal.changes in personality,perhaps feel more fearful

an individual may believe that their private thoughts are known by others or that external forces are influencing his or her actions in ways that are often bizarre. Additionally, the person may lack insight and may not appreciate that there is anything wrong with his or her mental state.

Mood is usually shallow, frivolous, or inappropriate for the situation. Social withdrawal and emotional detachment are common. In addition, there is often a disturbance in self-initiated, goal-directed activity with inadequate interests or poor motivation.inability to follow sustain maintain activities

overall intellectual abilities are usually maintained,but can be cognitive deficits (such as impaired memory or concentration)

  • Hearing voices when no-one is around
  • Strange beliefs
  • Disturbances with thinking or concentration
  • Managing daily activities
  • Managing social interactions, work or studies

the course of the illness is different for everyone else.many many people manage on prescribed meds.

the label schizophrenia is stigmatising and unfortunately people do experience prejudiced

ScummyMummy · 18/04/2009 19:40

Hi Janos. This Mind factsheet is good, imo. And the Rethink factsheet, also excellent, can be downloaded from here. Hope this helps and that you are ok- can be a v worrying time when you first start researching schizophrenia, I know. Hope you are getting lots of support.

jooseyfruit · 18/04/2009 19:40

a delusion is a fixed false belief, an example would be the old chestnut of the psychiatric patient who believes he is Jesus.

paranoia is something people with a schizophrenic type illness may experience.

paranoia and feelings of anger could be attributed to drug use too.

scottishmummy · 18/04/2009 19:44

Look at Royal college of psychiatrist leaflet

Janos · 18/04/2009 19:47

Not me. It's someone I know. Ok my exboyfriend.

We split up because of his behaviour (erratic moods, heavy drinking, weird texts) - I would like to point out btw that he has had little/no contact with my DS and we have never lived together.

Considering getting back together - last night we had a nice chat, wished him good night, looking forwrad to seeing him later and he said same.

2 hours later I am woken by phone going and these horrible, weird, aggressive texts that read like the ramblings of someone who is delusional/paranoid. If you read them you would think (at the least) this person is not right in the head (bad phrase I guess but best I can think of).

The reunion is definitely off but I'm disturbed by his behaviour. I think schizophrenia might be a possibility. I don't know.

I know it's not my problem of course and I can't do anything per se but it's hard to switch off the caring bit that worries.

Not sure what I'm asking really. Just concerned. I probably can't do anything anyway

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Janos · 18/04/2009 19:48

Thank you everyone for taking the time to post while I was rambling away! I will take a look at those links.

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Janos · 18/04/2009 19:49

jooseyfruit when you talk about drug use inducing paranoia/anger would that include heavy drinking?

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CakeandFineWine · 18/04/2009 19:51

No alcohol wouldn't cause it
sounds more like a mood disorder to me

CakeandFineWine · 18/04/2009 19:51

But need more info really!

scottishmummy · 18/04/2009 19:51

yes heavy alcohol can exacerbate symptoms.alcohol is a depressant anyway and does affect mood and behaviour.

jooseyfruit · 18/04/2009 19:52

sounds like you've made the right decision.

hope you are o.k, is ex ds's dad?

Janos · 18/04/2009 19:57

Difficult to give more info without giving out personal details about someone who hasn't given their permission, CakeandFineWine. Hope that doesn't sound rudem not meant to.

What makes you say mood disorder?

Just trying to get a grip on what is causing such worrying behaviour, and when I was talking to someone about it they thought maybe schizophrenia? That's why I'm asking.

Links are v helpful,thank you.

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shinyshoes · 18/04/2009 19:57

There are different types of schizophrenia. Not all of them are paranoid.

My mum is 'disorganised schizophrenia'

I think there are 3 types. She's fine if she takes her meds, but unfortuately she keeps coming off of them and won't believe there has ever been anything wrong. Which results in her being sectioned under the mental health act due to bizzare behaviour.

She came out in feburary this year after another spell in there.
I think there is
Catatonic
Paranoid
disorganised.

Please seek help if you think there are symptoms. My mum has alienated every family member there is and has very few social skills.
LOOOOOONG story which I don't really want to go into.

Seek help. Please.

Janos · 18/04/2009 19:58

No, he is not DS's Dad, fortunately.

I don't know..I would like to help but you can't help someone who doesn't want help, can you?

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Janos · 18/04/2009 20:00

I have encouraged him to go to docs, offered support etc but he brushes it all off and thinks his behaviour is fine (which it isn't).

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jooseyfruit · 18/04/2009 20:01

a diagnosis of schizophrenia is by no means a scary life sentence anymore. with a holistic approach, including medication, and early intervention teams, voice hearing groups etc many people live a fulfilling and rich life.

scottishmummy · 18/04/2009 20:03

schizophrenia has a spectrum presentation,varies individually

there are support groups enter postcode this page or MIND too

bottom line accurate diagnosis cannot be undertaken on internet.face to face assessment required

just it gets a bad press,and stigma

jooseyfruit · 18/04/2009 20:03

although he does sound like he has a drink problem. does he remember sending you those texts or speaking to you.

Janos · 18/04/2009 20:07

Yes, he remembers sending texts.

He seemed fine when I spoke to him. Don't know if he was drunk or not when sending texts but on past behaviour probably

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Janos · 18/04/2009 20:08

Thank you Scottishmummy. I agree face to face assessment is needed but he is unlikely to go to his GP which I guess would be the starting point.

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foxinsocks · 18/04/2009 20:10

I would try to gently encourage medical help

my mother was first said to have schitzophrenia but then it turned out she 'just' had depression with psychotic episodes.

Tbh, I think it can be quite difficult to differentiate to the average person between different diagnoses!

I wonder if he would go to the GP with you? Or would you rather not get involved.

scottishmummy · 18/04/2009 20:14

oh so tricky!you suffer to see someone you care about potentially unwell