anxiety or schizophrenia?

[mama23babies]

I have been experiencing anxiety and panic attacks for awhile now. I used to only have them when i was alone with my children,but lately they happen when my husband is with me and while out at the stores. I know my normal anxiety and panic attack symptoms,but my latest worry is that someone is putting something in my drinks to harm me. My paranoid thoughts are starting to worry me. I am afraid I could have some form of paranoid schizophrenia or something. I tend to worry about alot of things,but never anything like this. Has anyone with anxiety experienced anything like this! Am i just worrying or could it be worse!

[anonymous9264]

Yeah I actually have both anxiety and ocular migraines. But the one exacerbates the other.

[mama23babies]

Thank you for sharing you experience. Although it makes me sad that so many of us are going through this it makes me feel better to know that I am not the only one having these crazy scary thoughts.

So do you have an anxiety disorder or did the ocular migraines actually cause your anxiety? I hope that you and everyone suffering from this horrible disorder find peace!

[lexicon66]

schizophrenia and bi-polar are two things I have but schizophrenia does not have to be just seeing things that are not there or that you just think you are someone you're not. Anxiety causes paranoia. You need to be on benzodiazepines, Xanex, Ativan, etc...

Remember that there is many kinds of schizophrenia and bi-polar they also have diffrent degrees of severity. I am completely able to function and I have pretty sever bi-polar and schizophrenia (effective) Anxiety plays tricks on your mind it can be a nightmear but remember its more then likly GAD (general anxiety disorder).

[anonymous9264]

I had a similar experience sort of. Well instead of paranoid thinking I started getting "hallucinations" during a panic attack.

I have also done some hallucinogenic drugs in college so I was afraid terribly afraid I was going to be schizophrenic.

Turns out I was having an ocular migraine and my anxiety took the best of me. Anyways... I guess it's a relatively common fear in anxiety, fear of losing control of your mind or fear of going crazy.

[mama23babies]

I have heard that anxiety can't turn into schizophrenia. I just wish I knew where all of these stupid paranoid thoughts come from. I am so afraid that I am going to lose it and not be able to care for my children at all!

[mama23babies]

Thanks for the reply! I guess I just let my anxiety get the best of me at times. I hate to worry about stupid things like that. I know realisitcally that no one would put anything in my drinks to harm me,but cant figure out why I worry so much.

I'm not on meds. I tried several last year and they made me way worse. I have an appointment with a new psych next week so hopefully he can help me. I have heard that when you are really sensitive to the meds that starting on really low doses can help so i am going to mention that to him!

[anxious551]

Without other symptoms like hallucinations or disorganized speech or behavior I would say schizophrenia is extremely unlikely. It sounds to me like this is another manifestation of anxiety. Odd delusions/obsessions can occur during an anxiety episode.  I knew of one woman who was continually afraid that she had run over a small child with her car and had to keep stopping and looking anytime she felt the slightest bump. You didn't mention if you are taking any medication but it sounds like you could benefit if you aren't already. Anxiety can really cripple your quality of life.