Anxiety Disorders related to Schizophrenia?

Hello. Just found your forum - what a great resource! I have a questions for anyone that can offer some insight. I am a 32 year old male, and have taken 40mg of paxil for 6 years now. I have been struggling with anxiety disorder for about 10 years. I have periods where all is well, and then I have some episodes where the anxiety peaks back through. I have worried about everything from having AIDS to having cancer to...well you name it. I can always work through my obsessive thoughts, but one thought gets me every time i have an episode - it's the thought that my anxiety/mind will cross over into schizophrenia. that is my worst fear - that my anxiety will get so bad that it will develop into schizophrenia and i will have to be hospitilized for the rest of my life away from my family and friends. that scares me to death. this thought is so believable to me because when i am feeling my worst, it feels like my mind may "give" to the anxiety. i guess my question for you guys is this: is it possible for this to happen. is there a chance at all that i could become schizophrenic? thanks for any insight. kind regards, ac.

Hi, acleme1. I can sympathize and empathize with you 100% in relation to your anxiety feelings. Eleven years ago, when I was 14 I went through a bad bout of panic attacks which were "cured" after a couple months of taking medication (Imipramine, way back then). After living a couple extremely stressful months my panic attacks came back full force, after 11 years of feeling fine. I have been taking Effexor for the past three weeks and have already noticed a difference in how I'm feeling, except that now I have a similar feeling to what you describe about becoming schizophrenic or going completely insane. When I am out in public and talking to someone it doesn't feel like I am talking even though the words are actually coming out of my mouth. I understand what people are saying or doing and I can respond but it doesn't actually feel like me that is doing the action - more like an automatic response or that someone else is controlling me... so weird and difficult to explain.

As for you, I would suggest that no your mind will not "give" in to the anxiety, especially since you've been dealing with GAD for about 10 years and your mind has not "given" in. I have to constantly be reminded by others or remind myself that I have been in this state before and came out just fine, and you can do it too.

My recommendation to you would be to try to get to the point where you dont have to take medication any more - six years is a long time. What works for some doesn't always work for others, and I am one that does not like to take medication of any sort although in this situation I knew I had to and I want to quit taking it as soon as possible.

Best of luck to you in your recovery and if you have any other questions feel free to contact me.

Hello,I too used to think Id develop schizophrenia,my degree of anxiety was so strong and powerful,It is a daily battle of questions that need answering a numb hand will turn into will I get a stroke and die,In my opinion you must reasure yourself,it is just your anxiety,It is your mind you are in control and tell it very firmly so.then forgetit,mikey

Just started researching on this, have had it for a couple of years, not on anything (not really into taking tablets), but nice to know that there are other people out there also dealing with the issue.

Hi acleme1
I know EXACTLY how you are feeling!! I am 25 and suffer from anxiety. I too freak out about getting some sort of disease, but the MOST scary 1 is that I will get schizphrenia and that is more frightening than having cancer.
The thought of being here, but not being here is the most awful fear i have ever had.
I worry almost daily, and i just try to tell myself it is just a fear and that i am totally in control of it. Which I think I am - I hope!
When i am busy I don't think of anything so i am not obsessing over it. My GP suggested to just keep busy.
I have suffered from panic attacks for about 5 years and went and CBT. It was great and really eased it. The therapist told me to do some EPT or some sort of tapping and it really works and i suggest that you look into it
good luck

acleme1 wrote:

Hello. Just found your forum - what a great resource! I have a questions for anyone that can offer some insight. I am a 32 year old male, and have taken 40mg of paxil for 6 years now. I have been struggling with anxiety disorder for about 10 years. I have periods where all is well, and then I have some episodes where the anxiety peaks back through. I have worried about everything from having AIDS to having cancer to...well you name it. I can always work through my obsessive thoughts, but one thought gets me every time i have an episode - it's the thought that my anxiety/mind will cross over into schizophrenia. that is my worst fear - that my anxiety will get so bad that it will develop into schizophrenia and i will have to be hospitilized for the rest of my life away from my family and friends. that scares me to death. this thought is so believable to me because when i am feeling my worst, it feels like my mind may "give" to the anxiety. i guess my question for you guys is this: is it possible for this to happen. is there a chance at all that i could become schizophrenic? thanks for any insight. kind regards, ac.

I have two cousins that are schizophrenic. They both developed it in their teen/early twenties. I don't believe it's possible to develop schizophrnia at such an advanced age - your brain has fully developed.

I'm currently having a lot of trouble with the problem you mentioned. I have to reasure myself on a daily basis that I don't have schizophrenia, typically by looking up symtoms. Rather than reassuring me, this usually leads to more anxiety, but I can't resist. I think it may be OCD pure o, because it's definately reached the point of obsession. No matter how convinced I am at any point that I don't have schiz, the fear still overtakes me as if I'd never proven to myself that I don't have it. Most disturbing I think so far is some auditory hallucinations I've started having recently. Not voices, whistling. It always happens under the same circumstances: when I'm in a class that causes me a lot of stress. It usually happens in the midst of an anxiety attack, because I find that when I start to calm down the whistling stops, or even if I just leave the class and take a quick walk around the halls. Of course, even knowing that this isn't consistant with Schiz auditory hallucinating, it still invokes a great deal of stress and fear. Sometimes I can be perfectly fine, if I'm distracted or if I read something encouraging about people with similar symptoms.. I just wish there was some test or screening that could be done to find out if I have schizophrenia so that I could stop obsessing!!

By the way, think I should get the whistling thing checked out? I've heard it can be a symtom of OCD, and many other things, but it's still concerning. I'm yet to see a professional about any of this. Sorry for the long post =/

Noah wrote:

I'm currently having a lot of trouble with the problem you mentioned. I have to reasure myself on a daily basis that I don't have schizophrenia, typically by looking up symtoms. Rather than reassuring me, this usually leads to more anxiety, but I can't resist. I think it may be OCD pure o, because it's definately reached the point of obsession. No matter how convinced I am at any point that I don't have schiz, the fear still overtakes me as if I'd never proven to myself that I don't have it. Most disturbing I think so far is some auditory hallucinations I've started having recently. Not voices, whistling. It always happens under the same circumstances: when I'm in a class that causes me a lot of stress. It usually happens in the midst of an anxiety attack, because I find that when I start to calm down the whistling stops, or even if I just leave the class and take a quick walk around the halls. Of course, even knowing that this isn't consistant with Schiz auditory hallucinating, it still invokes a great deal of stress and fear. Sometimes I can be perfectly fine, if I'm distracted or if I read something encouraging about people with similar symptoms.. I just wish there was some test or screening that could be done to find out if I have schizophrenia so that I could stop obsessing!!
By the way, think I should get the whistling thing checked out? I've heard it can be a symtom of OCD, and many other things, but it's still concerning. I'm yet to see a professional about any of this. Sorry for the long post =/

Some of this stuff you might outgrow. I've heard that once you get passed your early 20s, it lays off a bit. Something you might try is to not resist so hard. If you believe you have schizo, just tell yourself, "Okay, I have schizo, now I have to get back to what I'm doing."

It sounds to me like your antidepressant isn't at a high enough level. I had panicy thoughts for a long time and then I met the right person. My psychiatrist. She raised my daily dose by 50 mg and the worries almost immediatly stopped. Not completely, but it was very very much better. Life calmed down, I went about my life and eventually lowered the dose back down to the original 150 mg.

Ask your doctor about a dose increase. If you are seeing your primary care doctor for a mental health issue, I would advice against it, find a well qualified psychiatrist. Preferably one who speaks english as their primary language...communication is the key. I wasted two years with an indian doc and he nearly killed me..

wish you well

hearing whistling can be an auditory hallucination or even high blood pressure from a rapidly beathing heart, but schiz auditorys don't have to be voices, they can be thoughts seemingly coming from the outside, clicks, buzzing, or whistles. You should see your doctor to both check your blood pressure and heart, and if that is all normal, your psychiatrist to check your auditorys. What you are describing is a lot more unusual than a straightfoward panic attack.

I too worry if I will one day become a schizophrenic. I suffer from OCD, anxiety and depression, and have done since aged 9, I’m now 19. Throughout my childhood I was grossly, violently abused by my schizophrenic father and much of my OCD is related to fear of abusing anyone close to me, as well as other fears concerned with contamination. About five months ago when my OCD was at its peak I was admitted to a mental hospital. A doctor told me that my thoughts had gone beyond OCD and could be described as psychosis. I was put on resperadone to relive it. The doctor told me as my father was a schizophrenic normally my chance of getting it would be around 10%,but because I have already been experiencing psychosis I am much more likely to get it, especially seeing as I have been ill since such a young age. When I asked so how likely is it, she avoided telling me but I gathered by her reaction that she didn’t seem optimistic. This has been really playing on my mind since, does anyone know what the chances of me getting it are roughly?

I apologize for the long post, I guess I feel that a somewhat broad explanation is in order for me to explain my symptoms... thanks in advance for anyone who can relate, or help me identify my problem.
I haven't discussed this with anyone and I've only began within this year to determine there is definitely something mentally wrong with me. After researching symptoms on the net I have isolated two conditions which fit my problems the best - those being paranoid schizophrenia (possibly developing) and social anxiety disorder (to say the least).
I'm now 22, and since early childhood I've always felt like I was very different from other people. Since puberty I have been pulling myself from social interaction more and more, and within the last 4 to 5 years I have really been paranoid about what people think of me and what I have to say. I used to be able to express intelligent thoughts, but even though I can think it, the words will just not come out especially when I'm in the least bit uncomfortable with the person I'm speaking to - which would be anybody but my mother I suppose.

Even though I'd love to have a social life, every time I'm in a situation where I'm supposed to speak to others, or I am sitting around with people I get extremely nervous/anxious. I fear people are noticing the fact that I am on edge and I can't just sit still. Everything I do bothers me - I will look in one direction away from the person(s) speaking, then think that it's noticeable that I am intentionally doing this, so I will glance at someone, lookaway, look at someone else... shake my leg and get antsy. This repeats exponentially until I find a reason to retract myself from the interaction. Because of this and other factors I don't enjoy being around 'normal people' my own age. I have friends, but they are those that I feel sub-consciously that I am at least equal to - I guess social losers?(not to insult, but I guess as identifiers of the personalities that I can identify with)
As a result, I've gotten into drugs, namely just marijuana, but I've experimented with a few things - namely cocaine and speed. The reason being probably has more-so to do with the social acceptance I've obtained because of this. When I'm around others my age who share this 'hobby' I feel I can be more myself without feelings of persecution. I don't worry quite as much about how I'm acting around them, maybe because I justify to myself that I'm just acting that way because I'm stoned or whatever.

All these drugs seem to make my anxiety worse when I'm on them - and when I'm off except for one- Xanax. I've had Xanax several times although I don't do it much, but when I do it's like a huge weight off my shoulders. It's the one time in my life when I feel like a kid again, and I get a taste of the ambition and quick wits and social capability that I had when I was young that I miss so much. The other crap I do just to get screwed up with friends because its something different - not sober and lonely.
With this in mind - here is where I can't tell if I have a minor schizophrenia problem or if it's just bad anxiety. What I've read about paranoid schizophrenia seems to fit in with the feelings I have other than the anxiety... and the stuff I read online says that use of speed and cocaine can mimic or intensify the symptoms of schizo. Of both times I did speed, and a few times that I've done coke... I had auditory hallucinations that seemed as real as day of people that were really in the other room. Good friends of mine actually that I rationally know wouldn't do anything wrong to me. Once for example I was at a friends house after doing some coke, and after a while I started getting an intense version of my social paranoia, so I went to lay down in his room for a while and attempt to take a nap. While I was in there I heard them talking about how I need to get the fuck out and how I wouldn't leave them alone. I heard my friend, plain as day, say something like 'if he doesn't leave I'm going to stab him' and things like that. It continued for as long as I tried to listen. I went back out with them and they weren't talking, but I still felt like they were thinking it and I thought they could tell I knew that they were plotting to attack me or at least that they hated me. I left and said I'm sorry for overstaying my welcome.
That instance was a bit more extreme than anything I've experienced when I wasn't under the influence, but I can relate it to the thoughts I have on a consistent basis. This brings me to wonder if the drug just brought out an underlying problem that is developing.
Does anyone have anything to say about this, or any input whatsoever? I appreciate comments of any kind. Thanks for reading, it's a relief to have just put this down in writing because it's something I dwell on all the time to myself... even if noones listening it helps.
I've lost my job and many relations and connections because of my paranoia - if not my behavior. I just want to identify my problem before I try to fix it... I have no money and I'm risking to lose my car and my credit is already ruined because of screwing up and it's not what I ever wanted. It's not like I can afford any sort of professional treatment so this is my only outlet for the time being. Thanks again.

I apologize for the long post, I guess I feel that a somewhat broad explanation is in order for me to explain my symptoms... thanks in advance for anyone who can relate, or help me identify my problem.
I haven't discussed this with anyone and I've only began within this year to determine there is definitely something mentally wrong with me. After researching symptoms on the net I have isolated two conditions which fit my problems the best - those being paranoid schizophrenia (possibly developing) and social anxiety disorder (to say the least).
I'm now 22, and since early childhood I've always felt like I was very different from other people. Since puberty I have been pulling myself from social interaction more and more, and within the last 4 to 5 years I have really been paranoid about what people think of me and what I have to say. I used to be able to express intelligent thoughts, but even though I can think it, the words will just not come out especially when I'm in the least bit uncomfortable with the person I'm speaking to - which would be anybody but my mother I suppose.
Even though I'd love to have a social life, every time I'm in a situation where I'm supposed to speak to others, or I am sitting around with people I get extremely nervous/anxious. I fear people are noticing the fact that I am on edge and I can't just sit still. Everything I do bothers me - I will look in one direction away from the person(s) speaking, then think that it's noticeable that I am intentionally doing this, so I will glance at someone, lookaway, look at someone else... shake my leg and get antsy. This repeats exponentially until I find a reason to retract myself from the interaction. Because of this and other factors I don't enjoy being around 'normal people' my own age. I have friends, but they are those that I feel sub-consciously that I am at least equal to - I guess social losers?(not to insult, but I guess as identifiers of the personalities that I can identify with)
As a result, I've gotten into drugs, namely just marijuana, but I've experimented with a few things - namely cocaine and speed. The reason being probably has more-so to do with the social acceptance I've obtained because of this. When I'm around others my age who share this 'hobby' I feel I can be more myself without feelings of persecution. I don't worry quite as much about how I'm acting around them, maybe because I justify to myself that I'm just acting that way because I'm stoned or whatever. All these drugs seem to make my anxiety worse when I'm on them - and when I'm off except for one- Xanax. I've had Xanax several times although I don't do it much, but when I do it's like a huge weight off my shoulders. It's the one time in my life when I feel like a kid again, and I get a taste of the ambition and quick wits and social capability that I had when I was young that I miss so much. The other crap I do just to get screwed up with friends because its something different - not sober and lonely.

continuation because of the 4000 char limit.
With this in mind - here is where I can't tell if I have a minor schizophrenia problem or if it's just bad anxiety. What I've read about paranoid schizophrenia seems to fit in with the feelings I have other than the anxiety... and the stuff I read online says that use of speed and cocaine can mimic or intensify the symptoms of schizo. Of both times I did speed, and a few times that I've done coke... I had auditory hallucinations that seemed as real as day of people that were really in the other room. Good friends of mine actually that I rationally know wouldn't do anything wrong to me. Once for example I was at a friends house after doing some coke, and after a while I started getting an intense version of my social paranoia, so I went to lay down in his room for a while and attempt to take a nap. While I was in there I heard them talking about how I need to get the fuck out and how I wouldn't leave them alone. I heard my friend, plain as day, say something like 'if he doesn't leave I'm going to stab him' and things like that. It continued for as long as I tried to listen. I went back out with them and they weren't talking, but I still felt like they were thinking it and I thought they could tell I knew that they were plotting to attack me or at least that they hated me. I left and said I'm sorry for overstaying my welcome.
That instance was a bit more extreme than anything I've experienced when I wasn't under the influence, but I can relate it to the thoughts I have on a consistent basis. This brings me to wonder if the drug just brought out an underlying problem that is developing.
Does anyone have anything to say about this, or any input whatsoever? I appreciate comments of any kind. Thanks for reading, it's a relief to have just put this down in writing because it's something I dwell on all the time to myself... even if noones listening it helps.
I've lost my job and many relations and connections because of my paranoia - if not my behavior. I just want to identify my problem before I try to fix it... I have no money and I'm risking to lose my car and my credit is already ruined because of screwing up and it's not what I ever wanted. It's not like I can afford any sort of professional treatment so this is my only outlet for the time being. Thanks again.

I apologize for the long post, I guess I feel that a somewhat broad explanation is in order for me to explain my symptoms... thanks in advance for anyone who can relate, or help me identify my problem.
I haven't discussed this with anyone and I've only began within this year to determine there is definitely something mentally wrong with me. After researching symptoms on the net I have isolated two conditions which fit my problems the best - those being paranoid schizophrenia (possibly developing) and social anxiety disorder (to say the least).
I'm now 22, and since early childhood I've always felt like I was very different from other people. Since puberty I have been pulling myself from social interaction more and more, and within the last 4 to 5 years I have really been paranoid about what people think of me and what I have to say. I used to be able to express intelligent thoughts, but even though I can think it, the words will just not come out especially when I'm in the least bit uncomfortable with the person I'm speaking to - which would be anybody but my mother I suppose.
Even though I'd love to have a social life, every time I'm in a situation where I'm supposed to speak to others, or I am sitting around with people I get extremely nervous/anxious. I fear people are noticing the fact that I am on edge and I can't just sit still. Everything I do bothers me - I will look in one direction away from the person(s) speaking, then think that it's noticeable that I am intentionally doing this, so I will glance at someone, lookaway, look at someone else... shake my leg and get antsy. This repeats exponentially until I find a reason to retract myself from the interaction. Because of this and other factors I don't enjoy being around 'normal people' my own age. I have friends, but they are those that I feel sub-consciously that I am at least equal to - I guess social losers?(not to insult, but I guess as identifiers of the personalities that I can identify with)
As a result, I've gotten into drugs, namely just marijuana, but I've experimented with a few things - namely cocaine and speed. The reason being probably has more-so to do with the social acceptance I've obtained because of this. When I'm around others my age who share this 'hobby' I feel I can be more myself without feelings of persecution. I don't worry quite as much about how I'm acting around them, maybe because I justify to myself that I'm just acting that way because I'm stoned or whatever. All these drugs seem to make my anxiety worse when I'm on them - and when I'm off except for one- Xanax. I've had Xanax several times although I don't do it much, but when I do it's like a huge weight off my shoulders. It's the one time in my life when I feel like a kid again, and I get a taste of the ambition and quick wits and social capability that I had when I was young that I miss so much. The other crap I do just to get screwed up with friends because its something different - not sober and lonely.

I have another half of this that I can't fit due to the 4000char limit i guess I'll try posting it later.

I'm sorry I didn't mean to spam. It wasn't showing more than one post until I registered. I tried fixing it and it looks like it just posted it over and over. Only the first two posts have anything new on them.

James, the first thing you must do is STOP taking illegal drugs. I too have social anxiety, for as long as I can remember (I am 45). I used alcohol in HS to fit in, but as I have gotten older, I find that I am comfortable with my shyness, and I even enjoy small gatherings and participating in Church activities. My recommendation is to get involved in activities that will boost your self confidence. For me, accepting Christ in my life, joining the Navy out of HS, graduating from college, getting married and having kids gave me a sense of purpose in life that I lacked in my younger years. I wish you the best.

James> Is your anxiety associated with heart palpitations? If it is please let me know.

My short story is as follows:
1. Mortgage with 2 kids-good job.
2. Conmpany go's broke left without income to support family or pay mortgage.
3. Stress levels rise anxiety levels kick in.
4. Find an un-skilled dead end job which i am not suited to and makes my stress levels worse and continued anxiety.
6. On the verge of a breakdown as debts blow out and wonder will i lose home and will i and family end up on the street.
7. Heart palpitations occur as a result of withdrawing from society as a whole.
8. Visit doc -prescribed meds- nothing works.
9. tried everything there is to try and be normal as I once was from visiting Doctors, Psychs, reading books etc..i just can't seem to over come this crap. nobody understands the daily pain which occurs. It feels like theirs a spirit in side me that just takes over my body at will and theres nothing i can do.
I used to be the centre of a attention the main man the person who could make speeches in front of people without a problem, who used to laugh constantly, not anymore it just doesn't happen anymore. I have one bad episode in my life and now I am constantly suffering i just understand. If there someone out their who can assist please do.

I have the exact same fear. I am completely obsessed with it. I just got put on Zoloft to try to ease the anxious thoughts. My psychiatrist told me that there was no way I was schiz but I still can't shake. By the way, I am 35...way past the age but I'm still scared sh*tless.