I've been afraid to tell anyone what I'm going through cause I'm afraid of the truth. Maybe you all can help me. I need to know if it sounds like I may have SZ. My story is long, so please bear with me.

In 2000 after I had my son I started having wierd feelings...afraid of dying, feeling like I was in a dream, forgetting conversations, feeling like things were being repeated over and over. I finally went to see a psychiatrist and he thought I had panic disorder. He prescribed me meds, but I couldn't take them cause then I would start panicking about what I took. Well...these symptoms, for the most part, had started going away. I would have occasional anxiety attacks, but it didn't feel like I was always having one like before. Last year my neihbors had a shoot out. One man was killed in the apartment. I couldn't stay here in fear of them coming back to try to get me. When I did stay here I stayed up all night hearing different noises. That finally went away and I'm back and not as afraid. Recently, I started showing signs of panic attacks again. Now it's seems to be getting worse. Sometimes what seems to be someone elses voice will say a name in my head. It's usually just a name or a word I can't even make out, but it's not all the time. Just 1 a day to 1 a wk. I worry myself about having SZ so much I don't know if I'm making myself that way. I sometimes see things and start questioning if they are really there or not. Like someone broke down on the side of the road, nothing unusual. Again, I'm feeling like things are being repeated all the time. I can have a conversation and minutes later forget what I just talked about. Does this sound like SZ? I'm afraid of the truth, but I need to know. I am a single parent and I don't know if it's my panic attacks causing me to feel like I have SZ or if I really have it. Please give any and all advice you may have!! I get shakey just telling my story. Is that normal?

Also, no one around me says I act any different when I feel like I am. They say I just seem nervous.

judging just from what you've written it doesn't sound like you have schizophrenia. Now if you are hearing full blown conversations in your head that are talking about you or if you start "hearing" voices that are commenting on your actions or thoughts then that could be schizophrenia. I think you're in the clear.

NOR it sounds like anxiety just like what i got, i suffer with the exact same thing, i am also a single parent.. BUT i am so paranoid and i fell that not only people are talking about me or staring at me , they only got to rub their nose or do something else and it makes me feel as if it is a sign to someone else to get me... sort of thing.. and much more happens too.. i will post a message soon when i can think of the right words my mind is so blank at this time dont know what i am talking about... GO see a phsyc and get reassessed if u r worried thats what i am going to do.. good luck let us know

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dipps

Hey there. Hang in there, okay! I have recently been diagnosed SZ, but the symptoms you mention above don't sound to be SZ. The voices suggest a possibillity of your being SZ, but you can hear voices when you are extremely depressed and/or anxious (which I was not prior to the onset of my recent experience as an acute sz). Most probably you are overly anxious and the terrible experiences you relate indicate that of course you'd be afraid ... terrified, actually. Thus any small noise or sound out of the ordinary is clearly going to freak you out. Try to go somewhere where you can relax completely for a while. You will come right. Just hang in there, and talk your feeling over with a professional. He/She will be able to inform you more fully re your condition than anyone on this site.