Could I have Schizophrenia?

[askmetobelieve]

Here are a list of what's going on with me:
1. Daily Visual Hallucinations. Normally the same guy who looks very threatening. Occasionally there are black shadows and bugs.
2. I talk to people who aren't there. I know they aren't real but I can have a conversation with myself for hours on end.
3. Feel like someone is in the house watching me, or peaking around corners at me. But I never see them when I look.
4. Paranoid people are going to break into the house all the time.
5. Scared something is under my bed, can't sleep in my own bed sometimes.
6. I think people can hear what I'm thinking, like I'm thinking to loud.
7. Scared my family is going to die during the night, can't sleep because I'm to worried about them
8. Anxiety from hallucinations and paranoia
9. Constantly restless, have to move all the time
10. My self harm has gotten worse
11. I have no motivation to do anything, won't drive the car
12. Sometimes feel like the world isn't real, like it revolves around me.
13. Feel empty a lot of the time, can't cry
14. Suicidal visions in my head
15. Think the cops are out to get me

I currently have a bipolar 1 diagnosis but I'm not sure if that is correct.I didn't start to get depressed again until these changes started happening. Some of them, the paranoia, happened while I felt fine otherwise. I'm currently on Abilify and Lithium, but they don't seem to be doing much. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated, thanks.

[ILADVOCATE]

There are many diagnoses in between bipolar and schizophrenia. If a person has bipolar with psychotic features they experience psychosis only during moodswings. If they have schizoaffective they have psychosis all the time in addition to moodswings. Although it sounds worse to have schizoaffective its actually more treatable than schizophrenia. Lithium is generally a good mood stabilizer. However, there are others as well. Lamictal is one that works well on the depressive end of bipolar or schizoaffective. Google "Depression Central" for more information on mood stabilizers. As for antipsychotics of course there are many others. Abilify is just the most current one that is FDA approved. The antipsychotic agent I am on in Phase II FDA study is showing a lot of promise but I would not at this point want to speak about any options that are other than standard FDA approved medications since you say you are having suicidal ideations. However, if you've tried all approved antipsychotics and they haven't helped I'll give you some information to bring to your psychiatrist. In the meantime you can ask about what else is out there and what your specific diagnosis is.

[nart]

it sounds lke you have what i got and that is schizophrenia. get help quickly i almost killed myself because i thought it was jesus talking to me .i thought i was very special .