Ok, my grandmother was psychizophrenic-paranoid. I am not thinking people are after me, but I do think i might halluciante.  Since I was twelve years old i pretend i am talking to someone who is not there. IT is like role playing, I carry on conversations with them and kind of an actual life. I change them all the time too and tehy are always personas i get from off of television.  Am i psychizophrenic because i talk to people who arent there.  But the thing is i know they arent real and when i dont talk to them for a while i miss them.  But it is not like they talk to me, i talk to them and i make up what they answer back-like roleplaying.  So is that actually halluciantig or is that just role playing. I am really worried because i dont want to turn into my grandma.\nPlease help
127647
If I were in your situation I would go seek the help of a psychiatrist who can correctly hear your story and diagnose you. Schizophrenia can come in different forms. One form being auditory hallucinations. You say that they "don't talk to you," however, so I don't really know if that is considered an hallucination. \n\nI think that you could start researching the disease by going to http://www.schizophrenia.com/ . This might help you learn a little about the disease.
417964
Sounds as though she is manifesting some paranoid symptoms, likely as a result of early dementia or some other organic brain disorder.  So long as she is able to conduct her affairs without affecting anyone else (except their irritation at her confabulated rationale), there is no action that needs to be taken.  Confabulation is often a mechanism that shows up when memory fails, and it may not be consciously that she is doing this.\n\nBut be on the alert for other signs, such as not paying bills/getting utilities cut off.  When her habits and behaviors become a danger to herself or others is when you need to intervene.
193610
I have this same problem. However, I use both therapy and medication. Not just for this reason, but it helps. However, you simply just have to train yourself to do otherwise. You have to train your mind to think a certain way. This may conflict with your personality, but everytime you have that feeling of paranoia, you have to conciously reassure yourself that what you're paranoid of just isn't true. You have to force yourself to think otherwise. It's difficult. But you can do it if you honestly put a lot of effort into it.
553391
First off Schizophrenia is a hereditary condition. There is often a trigger for the first episode but your friend could have slipped you stuff every day of your life and if you did not have the genetics for Schitzophenia you would not have developed it. \n\nNor could you choose to develop such a dehabilitating condition. It is in your genetics. Not something you decide to do one day. Somebody blaming you for having episodes is like blaming you for being born with two arms. It just happened, it's not something within your control. \n\nThe military of course had to discharge you. If you were to have an episode while at a machine gun many lives could be lost. Key charactoristics of Schizo behavior is paranoia and hallucinations. Would be quite easy to confuse American troops or Iraqi civillians as insurgents during an episode. \n\nI'm not sure that your community is shunning you for being discharged as much as for you being Schizo. Remember a key defining aspect is paranoia. So many of those who have "shunned" you might have not started out that way but are reacting more to your assumptions about them than anything else. Even in modern society there is a big stigma on Schizophrenics.  While on meds the worst is controlled. Off meds you will be an unpredictable and potentially dangerous disruption. Schizos are notorious for burning down houses, committing random acts of violence and other destructive behavior. Not intentionally but because of paranoid delusions. Schitzos are also well known for getting off their meds because of the severe and frequent side effects of the meds. \n\nI would suggest moving to a more tolerant community and one that's going to help you stay on your meds.  That is the key.  Your life is pretty much over if you wind up getting into the cycle many Schitzos get into with on the meds, then off, then into an institution, then back out strait to the streets. Then eventually back on the meds, then rebuilding something of a life then getting off the meds and destroying that life. Back to an institution to start the whole cycle over again.  \n\nYou qualify for disability and should get on disability. You alway want to build safeguards into your life that enforce you taking your meds. Your meds are your lifeline to society. They are your ability to function and avoid the misery that charactorizes the lives of most Schizos. Most important, your actions when in a state of extreme paranoid delusion may take an innocent life and that will haunt you the rest of your days. So taking your meds is crucial. Staying on them is crucial. You need to build a life that forces you to stay on those meds. That allows for problems which will occasionally come out even while on your meds. Sounds like where you are at right now is a bad place to be. That it will only increase your problems. That is the LAST thing you want.  Low key, low pressure environment is what you want to set up. A certain amount of regimentation. A group empowered to keep you on your meds, get you help when you fall of the meds and watch over your stuff if your locked up for a time. Some folks you can trust even through the paranoia. That will take the effort to make sure your staying on your meds. That you will listen too when they say take your meds. \n\nYou have a hard road ahead of you. I do not envy you. I've watched others go through it. I would not wish it on anyone. Heed my advice and you can save yourself a great deal of sorrow.  The mechanisms of your disease are finally starting to be understood and one day there is hope for a real cure. Until then your meds are your crutch. Your lifeline to the world and a semblence of normalcy and happiness.
348580
I would approach someone and talk about this. You may have depression (which can manifest itself as paranoia). Don't wait to talk to someone. If it isn't anything serious you can stop worrying about it. If it is something a little more serious, you need to get help as soon as possible.\n\nThese things are common in many people. The important thing is to get help and work through it.\n\nGood luck to you.
336859
you do hear voices in your head when you have schizophrenia. My brother has it. You also have a lot of paranoia. It's like a break from reality, it's NOT multiple personality disorder. You might need to see a doctor.
543780
Hello: I would like to make a suggestion. If at all possible please look for a therapist. I'm not suggesting this to be rude. You say that there was a lot of fighting in your life as a child. That is emotional abuse. Yelling, name calling, fighting, screaming matches that is abuse. If you are having flashbacks and repressed memories to me as a survivor of abuse both emotional, and other it seems like there are things that maybe you need unburden your heart with. There seems like there could be a lot of pain to perhaps work out. I have P.T.S.d and flashbacks are something that I deal with  I have anxiety and I have repressed memories. I encourage you to please talk to someone. A pastor, relative, friend, or therapist. Please for if nothing else at all then to help with your blood pressure. I have worked through many problems and still have a long way to go. If it seems like I am reading to much in to this then perhaps I could be. It just sounds like something is troubling your heart.\nGood Luck and I'll keep you in thought and prayer.
651042
This is only a suggestion.  Get away from the psychiatrists and psychiatric drugs.  Read the book, "Dianetics, The Modern Science of Mental Health".  It is available in all the major bookstores and only costs about $6 in paperback.  Reading it may give you some insights on why you have these reactions.  It worked for me :)
362730
♥♪♦♫ this happen to my mother and from her experience I do not wish to share this but trust me anyone that is telling you that you should be the one to get one is not your friend even the people that are on the Internet they just don't care but I do. DON'T MESS WITH IT BECAUSE YOU WILL NEVER BE THE SAME AGAIN. WHAT IF A SPIRIT THAT USED DRUGS CAME THROUGH YOU DON'T YOU THINK THAT SAME SPIRIT WILL STILL WANT TO USE DRUGS BECAUSE NOW THAT IT IS GOING THROUGH SOMEONE ELSE THERE FEELINGS ARE STILL THERE TO DO THE THINGS THAT IT USE TO DO. LEAVE THINGS ALONG THAT YOU HAVE NO CLUE ABOUT INSTEAD WHY DON'T YOU LEARN HOW TO SOUL TRAVEL THAT IS REALLY FUN AND IT IS MUCH MORE BETTER, BECAUSE YOU ARE DEALING WITH YOUR OWN SOUL  instead of somebody else's. Here is a hint a lot of place's stop selling them because guess what there are false advertisement that this is a game it is not a game my dear it HELL that the Ouija board is inviting you to. So the question here is not where can you buy one the question here is will you know how to find your way back out from the hell that you are going to face once that soul seeker comes through your front door. I hope that I have helped you I really did not mean to yell at you but I would like you to know that this is serious.
191907
Dear Hertzenator,\n\nI have deeply researched such phenomena for a while now.  The responses of "zbelle" and "jellies1324" are correct.  \nHowever, some things.  There are spirits and then there are ghosts.  Spirits are the light entities which have already been to the Other Side or whatever one wishes to call it.  They are pure beings, beings who, upon their death, have embraced that "light tunnel" and God and followed their soul way home.  They will never scare you or make you feel uncomfortable when trying to contact you, in fact, they are very subtle regarding that, and one has to be very sensitive and attentive to everything that is going on around them if you are expecting a spirit to send a message to you, they are rarely flashy or terrifying when they contact you.  If they are unknowingly frightening you, they will back off when you just say so out loud and ask them not to "bug" you like that.\nGhosts, however, are human energies who, upon their death, were either killed too quickly, had what they felt was "unfinished business", or plainly refused to embrace the light, or, they may not know they are dead!  In the case of a ghost, "zbelle" and "jellies" wrote what any educated "ghost phenomena" individual would write.  You must be an individual who emanates a specific light around you, and it is that light that attracts ghosts, because, guess what, you have the gift and ability to help them!  I would encourage you to study and develop your gift, and be that light which helps guide the "lost, confused" souls "home", to embrace that tender, loving light that is calling to them.  Now, these ghosts are actual people, and like people, they may not always listen.  They may not always be reasonable or even kind, but do not be afraid.  Whatever they do, a ghost energy cannot harm you.  You have the gift and everything else that you need in order to utilize it.  Please, have faith in yourself.  Ask him or her their name, see if they respond in some way.  Be open to responses of all kinds!  Ask them how you may be able to help.  Tell them if they know they are dead, they can go home now.  If they won't until something has been resolved (I have come across cases like that), see if they can show or tell you what they want done.  For example, a woman's ghost stuck around a subway station and unknowingly kept spooking sensitive individuals.  An energy sensitive woman acquaintance of mine went to help investigate, and it came out that the woman was waiting for somebody to listen to her, she wanted her murdered daughter's body found where she pinpointed it and she wanted it properly buried, only then did she leave.  \nOr, it may simply be a stubborn individual who refuses to accept the fact they they are dead, that they can go home, that they will not go to "hell" unless they send themselves there.  All they have to do is accept their death and go on to their loving spirit home where all their friends and family are eagerly rooting for them.  You may wish to recruit the help of another sensitive individual like yourself and see what they both of you can accomplish.  You can turn out to be the hero in that soul's path!  Please, if you find that the ghost is difficult to deal with, if it is panicky or in a distressed state, as some are, definitely enlist the help of others like yourself who believe and are open and sensitive.  Do not get discouraged.  They think it is their home first and foremost and they maysee youu as the intruder, so please be sensitive.  And above all, please do not let these efforts of mine be in vain.  Take action, take any action.  And when it is all resolved, which may take months, years, or minutes, you will be so much more confident, brave, calm, and efficient in such situations.  You may even learn to find humour with these ghosts or even spirits, they are, or were,  individuals, after
474520
Fireworks,  I can't say that I really believe in ghosts but I have a friend who does.  In fact, I had to admit this, but sometimes, I've had that same feeling, peripherally, seeing someone and distinctively FEELING it but turning to face it and there's nothing there.  I told her this and she told me that perhaps I was visited by a spirit.  Of course, I listened to her but I was thinking, wow, she's crazy.  But...I'm not so sure.  So, she  belonged to this group that met, spiritually.  Some of them were gifted to see these spirits.  I know this might sound crazy but they went around the room and "saw" these spirits, which were normally spirits of someone that person knew.  For me, the woman was seeing my aunt who had just recently passed and told me that everything was okay and for me to stop worrying about her.  \n\nThe English word "spirit" comes from the Latin spiritus, meaning breath.\n\nI know that these "spiritual" sightings can be a lot of hogwash but you know, I have to say that I do believe it is possible.  I was frightened by this when it first began to happen but I really believe that what you see is not imagined.  I'm serious.  I still see them (not as often as before) but I think I am no longer afraid since my friend had me go to one of those meetings.  \n\nYes, I think it's normal.  I also think people will not admit they see it too.  Honestly, I won't admit it either.  Just here....because I think only a few close to you will believe you.  I do have another friend who believes in ghost.  So does my husband.  I don't admit it with them because - I think I'm too scared to open up the realization that this can be true and I'll be seeing them all the time.    \n\nI think if I didn't watch scary movies so often, I would be afraid of these spirits. :)
344049
Oh sweetie, I feel you.  My sister committed suicide and shortly after I also started to see and hear things.  Yes, it is stress related (or so a therapist has told me - he said they're called delusions actually).  They can be so frightening but they do go away, and a Dr. never did me any good.  But maybe you could try a school counselor?  If what you see scares you my best suggestion is pray hard!! That helped me, and tell yourself over and over: this is NOT real, I AM safe!
270679
Shadow people are rather disturbing. I find it completely strange that every story I hear of shadow people are incredibly similar... even from people who would never believe in that kind of thing... and have never even heard of shadow people before. A friend of mine explained her experience to me. She discribed it as a solid black figure, tall, standing on her stair case. She also explained it as wearing a cape (later on I found out that it is common for shadow people to be discribed as hooded) I had at the time never heard of anything like this before. Then a few months later another friend brought it up... this time he knew something about them. After that I did my own research... The stories check out... but the question remains- What are they? Most interestingly they are a relitively recent phenomenon. I am thinking that they are something quite separate from ghosts... I have never heard of someone being physically harmed by a shadow person.. but people do find them terrorfying. Who knows what they are! I know this doesn't answer your question... but I hope it helps.
127950
Visions and hallucinations do not come from God- they come from a chemical imbalance in the brain.  Not knowing the exact circumstances, I'm going to throw out a few ways to get this person help (I appreciate the confidentiality issue).\n\nThe first thing is, has this person ever been diagnosed?  If he/she has, then he/she probably has a diagnosis of a formal thought disorder, such as schizophrenia, or bipolar or depression with psychotic features.  As such, they should have been proscribed an antipsychotic drug of some sort.  As they are not on any pharmacological agent, then I must assume they have either stopped taking the medication or, have never been to a psychiatrist.\n\nIf they have never been to a psychiatrist, then they need to go.  If they have stopped taking their meds, they need to start again.\n\nThis is easier said than done.  See if you can't reason with them.  Try to get them to either go to the doctor or taking their meds (whatever the case may be) as a favor to you.  Or to God.  Or whatever.\n\nWhatever you do, do not challenge the hallucinatiions.  This is only going to put the person on the defensive, and push them even farther into delusional thinking.  Instead, listen to what they are saying, but don't respond to the literel or logical content, respond to the emotion.  Empathize with the emotional content of the hallucination.  Try to "get inside their world," and find whatever reality based bit you can, and work off of that to help lead them back into the real world.\n\nThis is going to be near impossible without meds.\n\nYou mentioned "brain-washing."  If this person is in a destructive cult, then the best thing to do would be to be supportive of that person.  Let them know that you are there for them.  Depending on what has happened with this person, you may be able to take legal action - check with a lawyer or the police.  However, do not call a "deprogrammer"- they are as bad as the cultists they try to "save" people from.  Plus, it's basically kidnapping.  Whatever the type of religion this person is involved in, you're right, you can not restrict their ability to practice that religion.\n\nIf the person is a danger to themselves or others, you may have no other recourse but to put them into a mental institution.  This can be done, against their will, in most states.  It may be the best thing you can do.
646867
I am also bipolar, and very knowledgeable about the illness.. The doctor always knows best but has no real chance of being in a position to help if he has to make guesses at her condition. \nI am thinking that perhaps her bipolar disorder may have morphed into a more serious combination of many different afflictions as a result of her age and the traumatic loss of her life partner..\nFind a way to speak with her doctor or psychiatrist and explain the finer details of her actions.. she may not be honest with him because of the paranoia of how he might try to help.. might be schizophrenia, dementia, post traumatic stress disorder.. or even being bipolar with new tendencies (it gets much worse over time, especially when treatment is abandoned and she stops the meds) \nlook into these possibilities. Doctors know best, always.. but they need your help to be effective, especially in your grandmothers case.. when she isn't being very cooperative and taking a much more proactive approach towards her own wellbeing. She needs her medicine.. and she needs your help to get this under control. It seems that she is in a bad spot with being so mixed up in all of the emotions of what is happening all around her. Powerlessness is a horrible thing.. it seems she desperatly needs a helping hand. \nEducate yourself to whatever the possibilities for her behavior might be in a clinical sense so you can be helpful to the doctors. \nDo your part to get her the help she needs. Good Luck .. :)
294300
As a route to 'recover' memories, it is discredited.  A close friend was in 'treatment' about 10 years ago with a therapist who thought this would be a key to his problems.  \nHis wife happened to mention to me about his horrific past.  When I questioned her, I found out that he and the therapist had invented a past that was impossible, due to my knowledge of his whereabouts during that time period.  The invented 'past' was heavily themed with his phobias and obsessive thoughts that he should have been working on freeing himself from.\n\nUnless the lack of involvement with her past is causing problems in the present - let it be.  If it is in combination with problems in the present, consult a regular licensed psychologist.
475483
You could be suffering from some sort of Psychosis.  People experiencing a psychotic episode may experience hallucinations, entertain delusional beliefs (grandiose or paranoid delusions), undergo personality changes and may show disorganized or sporadic thinking.  But you should get the professional opinion of a doctor.  \n\nBut it also could be linked with other little things...meaning you could be perfectly fine, but maybe dehydrated or something similar that would cause your body to have hallucinations.  Again, paying a trip to the doctor might be in your best interest. Especially if this seems to interrupt your life in a negative way or if it is worrying the people around you.  In any case, good luck.  Hope this helped!