Ok, I realise I said I'm on a sabbatical, but I wondered how this idea might go.
Basically, I'm Schizotypal, not sure whether I'm Schizophrenic or Schizoaffective yet (probably the latter given that it's schizophrenic phases with underlying chronic depression.)
Now I know there are other people on RYL with this stuff going on, it's awful, and sometimes it's great to know there are other people with it going on-even if we don't see/experience/hear the same things specifically, I remember a thread on V2 recently where I found it really reassuring to hear about other people's stuff-you can go a long time feeling like a total outcast, and that you're completely alone-doesn't help with stress much.
So yeah, basically, if you've stuff like this going on, maybe we can use this as a place to purge our minds of all the excess crap, focus a bit more, or whatever other purpose it might end up serving.
Think that's it basically, reckon it might be an idea, if not, don't sweat it, whatever suits-just thought it might be a goer.
Simon.
Constituting a personality disordered threat to society since 1989.
You're not alone, believe me.
I've been having a rough patch with delusions and hallucinations and particularly mood swings lately, it seems when I begin to recover from an eating disorder, an obsessive complusion or SI the psychosis kicks in. I haven't been diagnosed but believe me, what I'm going through right now is far from sanity.
Umm I don't really know what else to say, feel free to PM me anytime you want a chat or anything.
[Also I'm sure in v2 I posted a post like this, more of a rant really, and I'm sure you replied, anyway it made me feel much better]
Take care, hope you feel better.
x
Feel free to PM me any time; whether you want support or just a chat! x
"She's been everybody else's girl
Maybe one day she'll be her own"
ive suffered schizoaffective disorder for about 6 or 7 years, so be it only diagnosed for the last 3... its a living nightmare but i must say i think i have got it mostly under control. episodes are few and far between now, however dillusions and hallucinations are a daily thing. the paranoia seems to be minimal at present but its only a case of when it will return. for me the absolute worst part is how totally utterly numb you can feel. this alone has pushed me into some very dangerous water in the past and there is not a day goes by that this feeling is not with me..
anyhow, i could go on for ages, its been to long since i had a right good rant but i shant, not now...
feel free to contact me if you want to chat or anything, at least your not alone.
ps, add me to msn if you wish, i dont mind :)
hush little baby, don't say a word, and never mind that noise you heard
it's just the beast under your bed, in your closet, in your head
I was wondering if I could maybe bump this zombie thread and get some advice? I apparently have traits of schizotypy, as well as BPD. The treatment programme I'm on the waiting list for is BPD based and I was wondering if anyone had any tips on coping skills for the more ST traits?
How do you manage? Especially things like the 'unusual thoughts' and paranoid fantasies?
ETA: if I shouldn't have bumped this or it's no longer in the right place then please lock and I'll ask elsewhere.
I know this is a zombie thread, but perhaps it could be useful to have it bumped in general for those who suffer from this or can relate. It may be helpful to have support or just to know you're not alone.
Anyway.
JodMum,
I can relate.
Could you try and rationalize with yourself? Try to reassure yourself when the symptoms are rearing their ugly selves? Maybe write down things that challenge your symptoms?
It's quite hard to do this sometimes, though.
This is just one example, but if you have a specific paranoia in that someone is out to get you/in danger when around others/someone will hurt you - it can be difficult to say to yourself that this is false and not true at all, & to actually believe it's not true.
Suffering with paranoia can be so anxiety-provoking, but you do need to try and put some logic into yourself and rationalize with yourself.
Could you go into more detail about your symptoms and the specifics? Maybe I could try and help more, or others could try to help more?
Thing is, a lot of the things I can't talk about because that's not allowed. I'll try and talk about the things I'm allowed to.
I have really bad transient 'paranoid' thoughts, though recently they have become more prominent, about people reading my mind. There is a specific person who I know can do this and I have ways to manage and keep her out. But I also worry she has sent people, or has found a way to teach others how to do it. So when I see cars or people outside or someone is following me somewhere I know they can get in my mind too. And they can use my body to make me hurt people.
I am able to use logic in some things. Like when I see a 'message'for me somewhere I am able to work out that it's probably not for me.
When things get reall scary I shut off my mind and live in a dream/fantasy world. I am almost always aware I'm doing this and I'm still able to engage and talk to people in the real world. I just feel like there are fewer consequences and I feel safer. This is when I see most of the creatures.
Then there is the man and I'm not allowed to talk about him. And the voice which I can talk about but I think is separate to these things I have mentioned.
JodMum, I think deep down you know that these things you're experiencing are not true, and the paranoia/delusions are far far far from the reality of the situation.
Are you not able to get any help with this? It appears to be really affecting you, do your team not know how bad it is, or are they just unsure of what to do, or maybe more focused on your BPD?
In BPD, you can suffer with paranoia/delusions, too, but yours seem quite severe, and it sounds like you really need some help with it all, maybe some form of therapy or medications to help with the anxiety it no doubt causes.
I wish I could help you more JodMum, but I am here for you always, I won't judge & I'll probably be able to relate & help you feel less alone at least, 'cause feeling alone can make things all the worse.
