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Mental issues - is this normal?
Dread Pirate Arbuthnot
OMG WRIGGLYT O X O P L A S M O S I SRegistered User regular
OMG WRIGGLYT O X O P L A S M O S I SRegistered User regular
I went through a period last year where I hit the absolute bottom of the pit in terms of depression. I had gone through about five anti-depressants in two years, was skipping school, and things like getting out of bed and making a bagel were extremely daunting to me and usually ended in tears. Last May, I was hospitalized for a period of eight days (in patient), two weeks (out patient) and was put on Wellbrutrin. I've done a lot, lot better since then. I was also diagnosed with an anxiety disorder.
There's one thing I'm worried about though: when I was there, I was often asked questions like "Does the TV talk to you? Do you get messages from the radio? Do you feel like people are talking about you when you're not there, or planning something?" Every checkup I was asked this. Now I feel like they suspected something and I'm worried.
Lately I'll get this totally irrational fear that my mom has hidden cameras and I'll get very, very afraid, frozen with fear in the hallway about it. Or if I'm around people, I'm constantly worried that they are complaining about me while I am gone.
Is this normal with what disorders I have?
There's one thing I'm worried about though: when I was there, I was often asked questions like "Does the TV talk to you? Do you get messages from the radio? Do you feel like people are talking about you when you're not there, or planning something?" Every checkup I was asked this. Now I feel like they suspected something and I'm worried.
Lately I'll get this totally irrational fear that my mom has hidden cameras and I'll get very, very afraid, frozen with fear in the hallway about it. Or if I'm around people, I'm constantly worried that they are complaining about me while I am gone.
Is this normal with what disorders I have?
Dread Pirate Arbuthnot on
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I am not a doctor.
The questions you were asked are just standard questions. They're designed to gauge your reaction to the questions themselves as much as study the answers. Mental disorders can quite often go hand-in-hand, and things like paranoia can be related to 'hearing voices' etc. so while you're there they check for other related things as well.
Has your paranoia always been part of this, or is it something you are experiencing recently?
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I've been experiencing it for at least a few months, but I can't really remember it beyond that. It ramps up when I'm stressed.
They were probably trying to rule out schizophrenia or schizophreniform disorder, both of which can manifest with symptoms which look alot like depression, and are comorbid with depression (meaning that a person with depression is more likely to also have schizophrenia than the general public).
The paranoid thoughts that you're having are definitely troubling. It could be that it's a strange symptom of an anxiety disorder. Without a doubt you should tell your doctor about them.
Again...I am not Dr. GoodOmens, and it's been a long time since I got that degree.
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Yeah, next time you have an appointment (or make one if you feel it's warranted) and tell them about this. You said you were diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, did they not give you medicine to address this? Bupropion (as far as I remember) is just for treating depression, so it wouldn't treat your anxiety.
I had a roommate (and a best friend) who did almost the exact same thing as you. Got really depressed and committed herself to the psych ward for a week or so. Afterwards, they put her on lexapro and lorazepam. The lorazepam was for anxiety, and she took them whenever she had an anxiety attack.
Again, only your doctor will know what to do, all I can do is offer anecdotal advice.
Definitely do not worry about the questions that you were asked previously. As has been said, those are standard questions used to detect all sorts of mental issues. Back 10 or so years ago I had to go see a psychologist for awhile, I had to take a test with tons of questions like that one it, and when the results came back he actually explained the results to me and how they related to the answers I gave.
An interesting thing I learned from that, I have borderline Schizoid (or maybe Schizotypal, I forget, it was 10 years ago and those are both very similar) Disorder. I'm not full on - there was an actual score sheet thing basically and average was 40-50, having the disorder outright had a score of 70 and mine was 65+. The effects of the disorder have also been picked up on by others I know who have pointed them out. Those sorts of questions check for these and several other things.
You shouldn't be worried. The better your doctor understands you, the better he can help you.
Talk to your doctor about this. Don't delay or hide it, just be honest. This could be side effects of the medication, or new symptoms you're having. Either way, your doctor should know so he can help. If these are new symptoms, then the earlier they can be treated, the more likely the treatment will be successful and prevent worsening of the symptoms.
Also, if you're taking any illegal drugs (weed or anything else) to self-medicate/have fun/whatever, I'd suggest you stop taking them and only take the medication your doctor suggests. Medication will help you; drugs will probably make it worse.
These *can* indeed be part of anxiety disorders, they don't have to indicate paranoid disorders/ psychosis. What's happening is that you are experiencing these thoughts, most likely, as intrusive thoughts - that would explain your very anxious response ('frozen in fear') to them because you know what they could, in some cases, signify. Even if they weren't intrusions, these types of thought can, as I say, be pary of an anxiety disorder.
The fact that you recognise these fears as irrational really proves you aren't delusional. Here's the thing about delusions - unless you totally, 100% believe them, they aren't proper delusions and you probably are not psychotic.
My guess is that like me, you have some degree of phrenophobia - a fear of madness. This is understandable as madness represents the ultimate loss of control, and control is often what anxious types are all about.
PM me if you'd like the address of a good anxiety forum.
Yes.
As someone with a history of depression and social anxiety, I can vouch that these are standard questions. I always got asked them and I assume they are part of the normal battery of tests.
As for the paranoia, I also had it. No cameras though. In my case it manifested to make it seem that everyone was intensely interested in me. I felt like I was constantly being watched and talked about. Right now I think it would be pretty cool for everyone to always watch me (since I think I'm an awesome dude), but back when I had social anxiety it was like I could never measure up to their expectations and the weight of their stares would crush me. So, it seems to be a totally normal part of social anxiety.
It seems to help her to be reassured that things are ok, so maybe a close friend or your doctor could help keep you level. Having the right meds does help a good bit as well. More than anything knowing the "seed" as it were of her anxiety seems to help her get over it and move on. I think diagnosing the orginal thought that created the watershed kind of allows her to view it in a more logical light as opposed to emotionally.