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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 7 of 7. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Thrud on April 17, 2001, at 23:16:37
Hi all.
For about the last six months I have been trying different AD meds for a depression/anxiety problem I've had for about ten years. More and more lately I've noticed that I've become more "spacey", regardless of the drug I happen to be on at the time. It is as if things are becoming more confusing and reality is making less sense to me. I find myself withdrawing more from social situations. I'm scared that it is the onset of schizophrenia, since my mother suffers from it (the paranoid version). I have not yet experienced any hallucinations, though. Is this what it is like to slip into schizophrenia?
Thanks.Thrud
Posted by mila on April 18, 2001, at 1:30:10
In reply to How do I know if I am going schizophrenic?, posted by Thrud on April 17, 2001, at 23:16:37
Dear Thrud,
dissociative experiences that you describe are part of several of different disorders. I had these experiences when
my anxiety was at its worst.In order to rule out the possibility of schizophrenia or other non-mood disorder, you'd have to undergo some tests.
In schizophrenia specifically, there exist so-called 'markers', the most highly researched is called smooth-pursuit
eye movement or eye-tracking, the brain structure, particularly in males is different (most importantly, PRIOR to
the onset of a disorder), etc.If it is of any help to you, there is only 17% chance for you to have inherited a disorder your mother has.
In any case, remember, that it is not your fault, that there is much you can do about it, and that there are quite a
few gifted docs out there. And guess what, some of them had been diagnosed and treated for schizophrenia. For a
great story of this kind, seeOvercoming the impossible: my journey through schizophrenia, by Ronald Bassman, Ph.D. in : Psychology Today,
January/February 2001.mila
Posted by Thrud on April 18, 2001, at 3:15:59
In reply to Re: How do I know if I am going schizophrenic?, posted by mila on April 18, 2001, at 1:30:10
> In order to rule out the possibility of schizophrenia or other non-mood disorder, you'd have to undergo some tests.
> In schizophrenia specifically, there exist so-called 'markers', the most highly researched is called smooth-pursuit
> eye movement or eye-tracking, the brain structure, particularly in males is different (most importantly, PRIOR to
> the onset of a disorder), etc.I never knew these tests existed!
> If it is of any help to you, there is only 17% chance for you to have inherited a disorder your mother has.I have 4 symptom-free siblings....I may be the unlucky one! But thanks.
For a
> great story of this kind, see
>
> Overcoming the impossible: my journey through schizophrenia, by Ronald Bassman, Ph.D. in : Psychology Today,
> January/February 2001.
>
> mila
I will definitely check it out.Thank you very much indeed for sharing that with me. I feel much better and now have some leads to follow.
Thrud
Posted by mila on April 18, 2001, at 4:43:41
In reply to Re: How do I know if I am going schizophrenic?Mila, posted by Thrud on April 18, 2001, at 3:15:59
dear Thrud,
I am so so sorry, but I gave you the wrong number...
17% chance is only for being a child of a schizophrenic parent who is a fraternal twin herself.If your mom is not a twin herself, you'd have to be one of her 20 babies to have a chance to be at risk for a certain spectrum of psychological disorders.
Also, i forgot to give you a reference for an article that lists different disorders where dissociation might be present:
Boon, S.,& Draijer, N. (1991). Diagnosing dissociative disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry, 148, 458-462.
Please, forgive me my mistake, luckily the correction is in a better direction :)
mila
Posted by Crystal on April 19, 2001, at 13:53:13
In reply to Re: How do I know if I am going schizophrenic?Mila, posted by Thrud on April 18, 2001, at 3:15:59
I just wanted to share with you that I totally understand what you are feeling. My mother is schizophrenic and that has always been one of my biggest fears. It is hard. Hang in there, the odds are on our side!
crystal> > In order to rule out the possibility of schizophrenia or other non-mood disorder, you'd have to undergo some tests.
> > In schizophrenia specifically, there exist so-called 'markers', the most highly researched is called smooth-pursuit
> > eye movement or eye-tracking, the brain structure, particularly in males is different (most importantly, PRIOR to
> > the onset of a disorder), etc.
>
> I never knew these tests existed!
>
> > If it is of any help to you, there is only 17% chance for you to have inherited a disorder your mother has.
>
> I have 4 symptom-free siblings....I may be the unlucky one! But thanks.
>
> For a
> > great story of this kind, see
> >
> > Overcoming the impossible: my journey through schizophrenia, by Ronald Bassman, Ph.D. in : Psychology Today,
> > January/February 2001.
> >
> > mila
> I will definitely check it out.
>
> Thank you very much indeed for sharing that with me. I feel much better and now have some leads to follow.
>
> Thrud
Posted by CraigF on April 23, 2001, at 18:32:17
In reply to Re: How do I know if I am going schizophrenic?Mila, posted by Crystal on April 19, 2001, at 13:53:13
My Grandmother is schizophrenic and my father is bipolar. I never feared being one or the other when I was young, but I was always very depressed and anxious, and also gay (still am)
In college, however, thanks to drug use, mounting anxiety, and my sexuality issues, I began having feelings I could not distinguish, as well as intense social anxiety, paranoia, rumination, night terrors, and constant fear.
I was sure that I had gotten one or the other, maybe both.
I'm now 29 and fairly stable/happy on Celexa. But the fear of falling off the edge of sanity combined with severe anxiety was the worst of all conditions. I knew this, as it had nearly destroyed my mother's life as well, but knowing this changed nothing.
Take the test, but rest assured that you can most likely be treated with anti-anxiety meds.
Best of luck
Posted by Doo on April 23, 2001, at 21:31:34
In reply to How do I know if I am going schizophrenic?, posted by Thrud on April 17, 2001, at 23:16:37
Hi Thrud,
I just want to say that I know what it is to fear the damn dark hole. I don't have any family history of psychoses, but I myself experienced a drug-induced psychosis, which turned my life into a nightmare for years. Whenever I hear kids doing some mushrooms, I tell them that it can be dangerous, very dangerous, even though I know they will do it anyway. Since that day, it's been more than 5 years now, I have periods that scare me a lot. That fear is really, really bad. It's life an intense fear of death, of dissolving. I don't know why I talk about it, I guess I need to share it with poeple who know what I'm talking about.
Take care,
Doo.> For about the last six months I have been trying different AD meds for a depression/anxiety problem I've had for about ten years. More and more lately I've noticed that I've become more "spacey", regardless of the drug I happen to be on at the time. It is as if things are becoming more confusing and reality is making less sense to me. I find myself withdrawing more from social situations. I'm scared that it is the onset of schizophrenia, since my mother suffers from it (the paranoid version). I have not yet experienced any hallucinations, though. Is this what it is like to slip into schizophrenia?
> Thanks.
>
> Thrud
This is the end of the thread.
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