obsessive thoughts

[cary500]

I'm always obsessing about what is life. My mind goes wild all the time. I always wonder why we are here, what are humans? What is the point of living if there's so much pain and negativeness in this world. Why are things the way they are...Why this and why that. It drives  me nuts, I suffer from a lot of anxiety because of it. When I go out I always think, why am I here and what are these humans doing here. And I always wonder why we should be with someone like get married and have kids, whats the point of that?? What is falling in love and why does it exist? Every time I'm with a guy it always ends up  that I get all these thoughts and I stop seeing him. Its like my mind does not want me to have fun or to be happy. Is this some type of OCD?

[cary500]

Okay, I feel abit better now that its more clear. Schizophrenia runs in my family so I got scared. I don't want this disorder, or any disorders. I'll do what ever it takes to be normal again.

[ILADVOCATE]

No of course not. I know what ocd is and I know people who have it. What you were describing sounded a bit different but if you at all times can perceive reality but just have obsessions that prey on your mind then no that would not be psychosis at all. Regardless since you can distinguish between what is real and what is not for ocd cognitive behavioral therapy is very helpful (for specific people I know someone I knew diagnosed with ocd was able to stop taking 4 hour showers after cbt). That's not to say I don't have aspects of ocd as well in addition to my other disabilities. That's all I meant. Sorry for any misunderstanding.

[infoseeker74]

Schizoaffective disorder is one of the more common, chronic, and disabling mental illnesses. As the name implies, it is characterized by a combination of symptoms of schizophrenia and an affective (mood) disorder. There has been a controversy about whether schizoaffective disorder is a type of schizophrenia or a type of mood disorder. Today, most clinicians and researchers agree that it is primarily a form of schizophrenia. Although its exact prevalence is not clear, it may range from two to five in a thousand people (- i.e., 0.2% to 0.5%). Schizoaffective disorder may account for one-fourth or even one-third of all persons with schizophrenia.

To diagnose schizoaffective disorder, a person needs to have primary symptoms of schizophrenia (such as delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized behavior) along with a period of time when he or she also has symptoms of major depression or a manic episode.

[infoseeker74]

I don't think everyone on here that has OCD or anxiety has schizoaffective disorder. I know I have OCD and I know what is reality and what is not. In fact that is part of the definition of OCD. "Obsessions are mental images, impulses or ideas that well up in the mind intrusively and unbidden. Obsessions differ from hallucinations because you know they are not real. They usually consist of a fear that something terrible will happen to you or your family. You compulsively perform irrational, repetitive, illogical tasks to alleviate the anxiety caused by the obsessions."
Schizophrenia (which according to Johns Hopkins affects only 1% ) Schizophrenia involves "disordered thinking (reflected in a disturbance in the logical and coherent structure and form of speech), delusions (fixed beliefs that are odd or highly unusual) and hallucinations (hearing sounds and seeing things that don't exist for others). Usually a person with schizophrenia has trouble distinguishing what is real from what is in his head."  

Again people with OCD can distinguish what is real from what is not, they just can't help reacting to their phobias; hence where the compulsion comes into play.

[ILADVOCATE]

I'm sorry if you read my post the wrong way. Schizophrenia and other psychotic disorders are treatable with antipsychotics. Very much so. Its just the term that's scary. I say this having made a full recovery from schizoaffective disorder. Please don't think of another label/term to worry about. Just speak to your psychiatrist more closely about the whole concept. It took me a while to come to terms with it too but like other psychiatric disabilities it is treatable. Better to have an understanding of what might be going on but only a psychiatrist can provide an actual diagnosis. Before medication I used to question reality and couldn't remember my parent's faces. But after taking medication all those issues were resolved. Talk therapy and if warranted behavioral psychology (especially for ocd) is good too.

[cary500]

I am insane? I feel all panicky now that you told me this..I don't want to be crazy I feel crazy...Don't know what to do about this, I just want to feel and be normal.

[ILADVOCATE]

That sounds more like "feelings of unreality" which I have had before recovery from schizoaffective disorder and may be a form of psychosis. I have obsessive thoughts at times (I may very well have ocd) but in the past I was told that the obsessive thoughts masked psychosis which was obviously a problem for me before my current recovery with the Phase II antipsychotic in FDA study (for more information google "Dr. Javitt, glycine", my specific case study will be published in a psychiatric journal). That is still being studied and may be used as an adjunct (additional) antipsychotic agent eventually (as I am the first to recover from it as a stand alone antipsychotic) but naturally there are many currently available antipsychotics. You may have ocd and you may have, schizophrenia, schizoaffective or bipolar with psychotic features or something related in addition. It depends what else is going on. Speak to a psychiatrist about this specifically.