Ok Guyz..Just some insight on what we've been talking about with the inner voices, or whatever you want to label them..I think that the fact that we DO know that these voices are not real, and audible in the sense that we hear them outside of our heads, and also the fact that we acknowledge them as strange and disturbing,just reinforces that we are NOT schitzophrenic..Usually the voices schitzo's hear are real to THEM, and they aren't able to differieniate them from reality..The difference is..We can..I've done some research on Schitzophrenia, and it says that the voices are so real to them that their in a whole dimension and world of their own..They also try to shake these voices out of their head and talk back to ''THEM''..I know that I, dont talk back outloud..So theres a big difference..What do you guys think? Hope this is somewhat of a relief and something to consider. ~Jenna~

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~This Beauty I know, Comes from inside My soul..Dont need You to tell me I'm Pretty to know I'm Beautiful~

Those are some very good points! I've also done a lot of research, and I've thought about all that too. The only time I talk to mine, is if they get to loud, I'll say stop. (if nobody's around) I've just been trying to find out if schizophrenics really HEAR the voice, or if it's just in their head, or if some hear them, and some only in their head. (thinking about this gets confusing!!) You know what I'm saying? I thought forever that everybody had these voices in their heads, until onetime I tried to tell my dad about it, and he couldn't follow me at all, and looked at me like I was saying something really weird. I'm just concerned that this could be the start of schizophrenia, but it could just be my OCD telling me that. I dunno! But thanks for the info, keep it coming!!! Maybe we can figure out what we have together.

Peace!

At first my doctor told me that I wasn't schizophrenic, which was a huge relief to me. Infact his words were "you're definitely not schizophrenic right now". Then a month later when I went to see him he wasn't so sure after I described the 'voices' to him. Now I don't know what to think or believe. I too worry that this could be the start of schizophrenia and the reason that I can differentiate between reality and 'what's in my head' is because this is only the begining. The other avenues that I believe this MIGHT fall under are extreme OCD (pure obsessional type) or possibly schizoaffective or a mild schizo disorder of some type. I was diagnosed as bi-polar back in '97 but I only fell under the depressive diagnostic, I've never had a manic episode. Not knowing what it is and being left in the dark about the whole thing is what really gets me...The only reason I went to see a doctor was because I started hearing my friend's voices in my head, sometimes in conversation other times they would make comments to me on what I was doing or thinking or whatever. This phenomenon is quite scary because the 'ongoing commentary' fits into a schizophrenic guideline. I also imagine these elaborate scenarios in my head involving me and my friends, kind of like 'what ifs' of life. I don't know if that made any sense but if you can relate then you'll know what I'm talking about. From what I understand neither one of you is taking medication for, I on the other hand take zyprexa and I must say the side effects outweigh the 'voices' symptoms. I went off of it once already but had to get back on it not because the 'voices' were unmanigable but because I panic and have lots of fear that I'm schizophrenic. I'm 22 years old and this is the ripe old age that schizophrenia usually starts. Sometimes it looks like the peices fit, but I hope they don't. -Arebe

I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN ABOUT PLAYING OUT THE "WHAT IF" SCENARIOS! I find myself doing this several times a day about whatever is going on. No, I'm not on medication. The voices haven't been bad until about two months ago. Now they won't go away. Sometimes I'll be sitting around, and I'll think, "Hey, the voices are gone." Then it'll hit me, that before I said that I was having some conversation in my head, so they never really stopped, and just wasn't paying attention to them for a few mintues. (I hope that makes sense) Schizophrenic, or not schizophrenic.. this is the question. It's not as easy to answer as I once thought.

Hey guyz! Sorry it took me so long to reply..I slept alll day..I have to do that when I'm having such bad anxiety and panick attacks, I cant take being awake..So I Just use my klonopin and xnanx..The Xanax gives me really bizzare vivid dreams..and when I wake up I still feel like I'm in it..Like I cant tell where the dream begins and ends..I dont like it..But I dont like being awake either..you know what I mean? Its so frustrating? How old are you musicgurl? Omgosh my boyfriend just left me for the next 5 or 6 hours and I'm already freaking out..I HATE being left alone..I feel like I'm going to lose control and go crazy..Anyways..About if they actually hear them..I THINK they do hear them like someone actually talking to them and their more demonic..like voices telling them to do things that they dont want to..That must be scary as hell! Its disturbing having the conversations that we have inside our heads and the fact we cant just shut them off..But actually having ppl you dont know talking to you in evil tones or whatever would be much worse..Ok..so we'll research it some more..But musicgurl, I honestly doubt you have schitzophrenia..it sounds more like anxiety and panick disorder to me and the ocd! Have you been diagnosed with anything? I know these ppl are suppossed to be knowledgable in the mental health field, but most of them dont really know anything and are just there to dispense medication..I've actually had to tell my dr things! lol..Anyways I hope we figure this out and keep talking..Take care =) W/b! Jenna

Ok..one more thing to add..arbe I know exactly what you mean by what if this is my descend into schitzophrenia? I Just turned 21 last Dec And I definately want to START my life..Not being living in constant fear..I've brought this up sooo many times and I get the same response with every doctor..Including the fact that I've told them My grandpa on my fathers side (My dads gone now) has schitzophrenia..That I'm very bright and dont sound like it at all..That doesnt relieve me tho..

Yeah, I'm 22 and my whole life I wanted to be a cartoon animator. That's my big dream, but now it seems as if that dream is shattered because of what's been happening to me. To me the voices are REAL enough to be a big problem in my life. I know that they aren't aliens or bad spirits or any of that crap, but they won't go away. I also suffer from other symptoms besides the 'voices'. I think the other symptoms are OCD symptoms or pure obsessional. I get these horrible images in my head along with sensations to match the images. For instance, I've mentioned this many times before, pencil stabs to my eye. Why is it a pencil? I don't know, but it's very ironic being that I used to draw all the time before all of my problems started last August. Ofcourse I also know that these sensations aren't real, but they make me cringe internally and give me bad anxiety. Sometimes the thoughts are triggered by something like if I see a pen or pencil lying on a table then my brain automatically creates the scenario of me being stabbed in the eye by the object in question. It's very morbid and horrible. I told my sister about these stabbing thoughts and she said it sounded like severe OCD...whatever it is I just want it to stop. Then there's all the side effects of my medicine...God I could go on and on on how crazy I am but I'll stop here and save more for another time. Thanks for listening and I wish the best to both of you. -arebe

Hey guyz. Well, I feel like the kid in this convo.. I'm only 16. That's one reason why I'm so worried, cause I'm afraid by the time I'm in my 20s I will be crazy. Hopefully it is only my OCD, I haven't been diagnosed with it officially, but it runs in my family, and I fit most of the criteria. I don't have many compulsions though, so I think I'm pure obsessional, like you said arebe. You're right Jenna, it probably just is anixiety, that runs in my family too. I just hope we can all get in control of it!

God bless.

The problem is that what is happening to us, I'm pretty sure, is more than just anxiety. Hearing these conversations and these commentaries does definitely spark anxiety but I don't believe anxiety is the root of this, atleast in my case. From what I've read we (as in Jennaca & musicgrl) are all undergoing some type of similiar phenomenon. We're kind of stuck in between a rock and a hard place. Cuz our symptoms are not that severe to be called schizophrenic but the symptoms definitely cannot be denied. We know that these auditory anomolies are just ruminations that our brain creates. It's almost as if one foot is in the crazy door but the rest of us isn't. Within the coming weeks I'm going to see a new doctor and get a second opinion on this. My doctor doesn't think I'm schizophrenic but he doesn't know how to treat my symptoms other than with antipsychotic medication. The medicine does help a little but the underlying problem is still there. I don't know what else to say other than I hope both of you overcome this and if you find out some kind of information that we could benifit from then by all means share it. Thankyou the best of luch to both of you. -Arebe

Musicgurl (I'm not sure what your name is) lol..You wont be CRAZY..We just feel like we are..I dont like that label as having a mental disorder as crazy..I dont think other Ppl percieve us that we..its just the way we view ourselfs cuz thats how we FEEL..Musicgurl are you on any medication for anxiety disorder and do you ever have like panic attacks?

Girls
I'm a bit older than you. From what I can read you have never really met a person who had schizophrenia.
Stop worring. You've seen too many scary movies and you probably have OCD. Being neurotic doesn't make you psychotic. Stop (slowly) taking benzodiazepines they are addictives and bad for your mental health. Do counceling and therapy: you need some real support and reassurance.
Fibrine

I've known someone on the internet that did, and he had extreme delusions and acted really, really weird..and believed he had powers and all that..So if you think its our OCD, are you saying from you you've heard it doesn't sound like schitozphrenia to you? And do you have it yourself?