I wanted to try and be brave and write a post about this, i hope what i wrote is acceptable, and doesnt upset anyone.
But i have experienced hallucinations, and i find it so very terrifying. I see dead bodies, im not going to go into detail though. But its so scary to see, and zombies, and just not knowing if what im experiencing is real or not. When i experience these things, i think they are ghosts, and they are trying to communicate with me. But i so wish theyd go away, as they terrify me so. Luckily, i havent experienced them in a couple of weeks now, as my meds have been increased. But im scared they are going to continue for life. I worry i may have schizophrenia. That label is something that terrifies me. My doctor wrote that there was no doubt i was psychotic, and even that word scares me. Although strangely, i felt kind of relieved to hear it, that they had finally worked out what was wrong with me.
Does anyone else experience visual hallucinations like these?
There is a horrible amount of stigma around schizophrenia and psychosis, it is very scary. Have you heard of John Nash? He had severe schizophrenia but still went on to be a Nobel Prize Winner. Remember the diagnosis is just a word to describe your situation, it doesn't change you who you are.
Have they given you any tips for dealing with the hallucinations? I've been told looking into lights can help, obviously don't use too bright ones, but like, focussing on the residue of the light can help. Also try to make a joke out of it, impossible as it sounds, don't react, try to stay calm and ignore it.
There's other diagnoses apart from Schizophrenia that include psychosis, and you'd need an assessment by a psychiatrist to confirm what exactly. Depression, some of the personality disorders, bipolar, as well as an illness called Psychotic Disorder NOS. It can also come about when you're under a lot of stress and/or not eating or sleeping properly over a long period of time.
I have a slightly different perspective on psychosis to the medical view, and see it as the manifestation of deep unconscious conflicts that are terrifying to come to terms with, and 'haunt' people, for want of a better word. It's kind of 'split off' and attacks you emotionally. Working through these conflicts in psychotherapy, with the help of medication, as you are taking, to keep you 'grounded' in yourself and reality, can really help.
Schizophrenia is a type of psychosis. I have been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. A man was following me where I went and I felt people were plotting against me. As well as lots of other things, (it's a long story)
I was getting strange smells and tastes, at one point I wouldn't drink water because I thought it was contaminated. Now this is both a hallucination because I found the taste different but also a delusion that I was being poisoned.
Maybe yours is a form of psychosis but it may not be as bad as schizophrenia.
I know how you feel I wish I never had it it's a scary title and so labled and stigmatized. But don't forget that it's mainly all to do with chemicals, too much of one, not enough of the other. There is nothing wrong with you. Don't be afraid. Just talk to people and tell them what's happening in as best detail as you can because that's the best way you can get effective treatment for what's happening.
I understand you are afraid of the label schitzophrenic. I am too; I worry constantly that they will slap it on me and i'll never be able to get a job or something irrational like that.
To be honest, psychosis is a scary word too. Until I take it to its meaning of being "out of contact with reality". Then I just laugh because it makes it sound like i'm a character in a sitcom who isn't fully there, mentally. Sorry, that sounded a little strange but I try to deal with these silly things as best I can.
Schitzophrenia can't just be slapped on you though, there are wide diagnostic criteria for such disorders, and what you're experiencing may be something completely different. Maybe have a speak to your doctor and see what he says? Put your mind at rest either way.
I havent heard of John Nash, but that has inspired me to think i can get better because he has achieved something great and still has the label. So maybe i can do this too. No-ones given me any tips on how to deal with the hallucinations, but i will try the light thing next time-thanks fallen rain.
They have said i may have psychotic depression or schizophrenia. But the names worry me. Will i ever be employed with that on my record?
Thanks Katie for those links, i looked on them and they seem quite helpful. Reading Pete's story makes me feel like someone else understands where i am coming from.
Lyssie, i have experienced that too where i wouldnt drink water because i thought it was contaminated. I also thought that my food was being poisoned, and i went 2 and a half days without eating or drinking anything because i really thought i was being targeted. It got really scary.
Asystole, i often wander what is wrong with me and what label i will be given and which one is the correct one. By the child team i was told it was BPD, when i was an inpatient, i was told i had mild psychosis, and now im told it may be psychotic depression or maybe schizophrenia. I just dont know whats wrong with me, and i wish i knew.
Oh, i feel so frightened.
Don't be frightened, it's nothing to be scared of. I know the word "schizophrenia" is pretty daunting in itself. Let alone being told that you might have it.
Maybe write down your fears and show them to your psych. When I was explaining to my psych about something, he asked me if I could write it down and I did.
ooh sweetie! Your not alone. I hear voices and think that there is someone in my house when I am alone. Mine started with a fear of spontaneous combustion ( a childhood fear) that I had as a child (thanks to my parents lol who put haunting/mysteries books for me to read,nice eh?). Since then I have heard voices saying Im going to die of it,esp when in a trance/sleepy state wouldnt sleep at night, scared of it happening to me. When awake I do hear voices saying Im going to die,sounds like mumbling , whisperingetc, and sounds that a person would make, throat clearing, sighing etc when Im alone.Sounds I cant place.
Your never alone. It is frightening. Believe me, I thought I was getting ghostly messages,or demonic voices.
I am not on medication, and am aware of my trigger of psychosis, however it has not made things any less frightening.Much better now. The way I have had to deal with it is tell myself it is IN MY MIND, which can be hard when you see and hear things that seem so real. Support helps too.
We're all here for you too.
Dont be scared of schizophrenia, the psych seems to know that it is your mind. and hey yeh! John Nash had Schizophrenia. They say that the most creative people deal with forms of psychosis.
Feel free to PM
XXX
Schizophrenia is a type of psychosis. I have been diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia. A man was following me where I went and I felt people were plotting against me. As well as lots of other things,
thats happeneing to me too.
Sorry about your experience hun, i dont have any advice tbh, but im glad you havent ahd it for a few weeks
xx
I understand how frightening this can be cause I go through the same on daily basis , may be not the same images that you see but it is still scary to me and annoying !
I have been seeing hallucinations daily for the last hmm year or a bit more , I have never ever told anyone about it cause i don't wanna anyone to treat me like i;m different . I see a psych now but he has asked me about voices that i rarely hear and didn't ask me about hallucinations . I don't think i can bring up the topic , It will take me lots of courage to speak up esp that i have learned to live with it .
But here i am 19 years and about to get my driving lisence and i know it will be very dangerous to drive while there are things in front of me moving and falling making my whole body freeze and making me concentrate on them instead of concentrating on the road , I have to do something about it , I hope i can find enough courage to tell next session with my psych .
As for the now while i'm typing this post , there are shadows and lights in the space around me , I've learned how to cope with it so far !
I know how you feel , so if you ever needed to talk just PM me x
A little angel fell into my arms at the 7th of december 2010
I went and I felt people were plotting against me. As well as lots of other things, (it's a long story)
I was getting strange smells and tastes, at one point I wouldn't drink water because I thought it was contaminated.
I told my psych about that , that i think that people keep talking about me and trying to hurt me and said that It's not true , and he gave me pills which i refused to take , but he said that it was ok not to take them , but i have to deal with all the confusion and stress that this may cause alone .
A little angel fell into my arms at the 7th of december 2010
if you want to be inspired about people with hallucinations etc, then should watch "a beautiful mind", its a movie about John Nash. He went on to create a new econmics equilibrium which stil influences trade to this very day. I know hallucinations are scary, I see blood coming out of the walls, i also have auditory hallucinations and i have never been labelled schizophrenic. My partner is schizophrenic and due to his medication in all honesty he is more sane than i am.
im schizophrenic and have the same symptoms ofa few opf you here dead bodiesblood outof walls, spirits etc just so youknow your not alone, but i dont knowwhat else to say,im sorry x
that I had as a child (thanks to my parents lol who put haunting/mysteries books for me to read,nice eh?). Since then I have heard voices saying Im going to die of it,esp when in a trance/sleepy state wouldnt sleep at night, scared of it happening to me. When awake I do hear voices saying Im going to die,sounds like mumbling , whisperingetc, and sounds that a person would make, throat clearing, sighing etc when Im alone.Sounds I cant place.
