Schizophrenia - General Discussion

coppermason38 said:I was just describing the one person I actually know who lives with schizophrenia—and it really makes me wonder if everyone else dealing with this condition looks or functions the same way. It seems to me like there are massive differences between people with the diagnosis, especially when it comes to how they manage to adapt to everyday life.
Altec—she’s already been hospitalized three times. She refuses to follow any kind of treatment plan because, according to her, she’s perfectly fine—but then, whenever it suits her, suddenly she’s "sick." Basically, she won't take her medication, or if she does, it’s completely inconsistent. And since she isn't willing to help herself, she doesn't seem to care if anyone else tries to help her, either.

It isn't her fault that she got sick—nobody chooses that—but if she refuses to commit to treatment or take her life seriously, then there’s really nothing anyone can do.
I personally know quite a few people living with schizophrenia, and they aren't anything like her. Many of them are highly functional, hold down jobs, maintain romantic relationships, and stay strictly on top of their treatment and doctor appointments. Of course, I also know those who have a much harder time—life isn't always easy for them—but even then, they consistently follow their medical advice and fight to keep going.

I know someone diagnosed with F21 who consistently refused medication because they simply wouldn't acknowledge their condition. This individual lived entirely within a fantasy, claiming to have massive wealth in the bank and making constant, nonsensical references to the mafia. If you haven't personally encountered someone struggling with this specific illness, it is difficult to truly grasp the reality of it.

feralseal182 said:I know someone diagnosed with F21 who consistently refused medication because they simply wouldn't acknowledge their condition. This individual lived entirely within a fantasy, claiming to have massive wealth in the bank and making constant, nonsensical references to the mafia. If you haven't personally encountered someone struggling with this specific illness, it is difficult to truly grasp the reality of it.

The worst part is exactly that: many people with schizophrenia, or other forms of psychopathology, reject the reality of their condition through incredibly sophisticated rationalization. It's a lack of insight into their mental state and a refusal to accept the diagnosis. Then again, there are those who do possess self-awareness and accept their disorder...

The fact remains that there are moments, or fragments of time, where a person with schizophrenia exhibits entirely normal behavior and cognition. Professionals often overlook this, labeling them strictly by the diagnosis and viewing them through a single lens—which is just stigmatization. There are exceptions among certain psychiatrists and psychologists, but usually, they "don't have the time" to fully grasp the schizophrenic experience...

It is also a fact that there are various forms of schizophrenia. Beyond the descriptive definitions, there is an enormous range of individual variations in behavior and social adaptation within a single diagnosis...
It can be genuinely difficult to determine whether someone's bizarre behavior, heavy irony, cynicism, or provocative rudeness toward others or doctors is an expression of schizophrenic personality deterioration, or if it's simply their primary character structure existing outside the scope of the disorder itself...
In professional circles, we often speak of "residues." While successful pharmacotherapy and social rehabilitation are the ultimate goals of treatment, something from the original disorder almost always remains (the residues). This might manifest as poor social integration, lingering traces of mania, or certain bizarre mannerisms in either the expressive-motor or the ideational-affective domains...
As I mentioned, there are so many individual variations that a one-size-fits-all explanation is impossible. Still, we have achieved quite a bit more today than we did a century ago...😁

And you know what the absolute worst part is? The way people treat those of us living with schizophrenia like we’re some sort of lower class. When I went to my high school reunion, everyone was asking how I was doing—but it was always that superficial, "oh, how's your health?" kind of check-in; honestly, a few people even went out of their way to avoid me entirely. And all those people who promised we’d grab coffee sometime? They either never called back—even after I gave them my number—or they reached out once and then just vanished into thin air. It’s infuriating, because before all this, I actually fit in perfectly fine with everyone.
Then there’s the dating scene... God, it’s pathetic. The second I tell a guy I’m interested in that I have a mental illness—boom—I basically cease to exist to him. If he even bothers to reply to a text, it’s nothing more than a polite formality.
On top of that, I’m finishing up one degree—I just have my master's thesis left to go at 🙂—and now I’m starting my second year of undergrad at a different university 🙂. Not to brag, of course, but I actually earned the Dean's award and received four different scholarships because of my grades. But to these people? None of that matters. My achievements don't count because of my diagnosis.
But look, not everyone is like that. The people at my university who actually understand what I’m dealing with treat me normally and hang out with me—I’ve even tutored a few of them. I have one best friend and two other close girlfriends, even if we don't see each other constantly.

P.S. Since I got sick, I’ve really only been out to a party or a club three times total. I simply don't have anyone to go with, and while there are nights where I genuinely want to go out, it's hard... I wish I could start fresh with people who actually know my situation, so they wouldn't freak out if I happen to have a panic attack. But it's not like I'm always in the mood to go out anyway—not that anyone ever invites me regardless...

Kimberly Cook5 said:And you know what the absolute worst part is? The way people treat those of us living with schizophrenia like we’re some sort of lower class. When I went to my high school reunion, everyone was asking how I was doing—but it was always that superficial, "oh, how's your health?" kind of check-in; honestly, a few people even went out of their way to avoid me entirely. And all those people who promised we’d grab coffee sometime? They either never called back—even after I gave them my number—or they reached out once and then just vanished into thin air. It’s infuriating, because before all this, I actually fit in perfectly fine with everyone.
Then there’s the dating scene... God, it’s pathetic. The second I tell a guy I’m interested in that I have a mental illness—boom—I basically cease to exist to him. If he even bothers to reply to a text, it’s nothing more than a polite formality.
On top of that, I’m finishing up one degree—I just have my master's thesis left to go at 🙂—and now I’m starting my second year of undergrad at a different university 🙂. Not to brag, of course, but I actually earned the Dean's award and received four different scholarships because of my grades. But to these people? None of that matters. My achievements don't count because of my diagnosis.
But look, not everyone is like that. The people at my university who actually understand what I’m dealing with treat me normally and hang out with me—I’ve even tutored a few of them. I have one best friend and two other close girlfriends, even if we don't see each other constantly.

P.S. Since I got sick, I’ve really only been out to a party or a club three times total. I simply don't have anyone to go with, and while there are nights where I genuinely want to go out, it's hard... I wish I could start fresh with people who actually know my situation, so they wouldn't freak out if I happen to have a panic attack. But it's not like I'm always in the mood to go out anyway—not that anyone ever invites me regardless...

Wilhelm Reich once remarked that the most devastating thing humanity carries forward—whether on a small scale or a massive one—is "emotional plague"...
This type of character biopathy can be fleeting, but there's a risk it becomes chronic once it gets woven into the social fabric...
Emotional fever is essentially a state of stagnation—a blockage of one's natural drive toward joy and vitality. When that life force is stifled, it inevitably curdles into the worst possible character flaws...
Resentment toward anyone else's success, bitterness toward those who actually enjoy life, a constant urge to slander and actively devalue others... an inability to feel joy, pure snobbery, and a chronic tendency to look down on everyone else. It’s a lack of work ethic paired with a total incapacity for pleasure, all spiraling into sadistic tendencies that take on truly feral proportions. This emotional plague manifests in everything from warfare to individual acts of brutality—think the Inquisition or the darkest ideologies of the Nazi regime. It shows up in the way people destroy lives by spreading lies and then working tirelessly to make sure those falsehoods stick...
Consuming food only fuels one's own stagnation and the inability to actually enjoy life...

Wilhelm Reich argues that a person struggling with schizophrenia is actually more authentic and relatable than someone consumed by emotional instability. He suggests that even if a schizophrenic individual acts bizarrely, they remain fundamentally natural. In contrast, he views "emotional turbulence"—what most people call a "normal human character"—as the ultimate distortion of personality, which typically manifests through social dysfunction...

Take a woman who is consumed by her own bitterness—someone crushed by an "emotional sphere" of self-loathing because she lacks both aesthetic appeal and any semblance of vitality. She can’t find joy in anything else. She hates herself, and more importantly, she refuses to allow anyone else to be happy... If she catches sight of a beautiful young woman, or even someone physically flawed, she reacts with frantic, hysterical accusations. That girl is a witch; that man is a demon. Slander and direct insults spread easily through the masses, triggering a collective contagion where everyone rushes to take "protective" measures. Once a local preacher gets involved, he’ll quickly validate the hysteria. He’ll claim the girl is a witch because she bewitched him, and since he, as a man of God, cannot permit himself to feel attraction, it must be her dark magic at work. And so, the Inquisition begins...
So many innocent people suffered because they couldn't control their emotional volatility, and back then, there just wasn't any way to manage it...

So I’m doing a little deep dive online and stumbled onto this wild theory.

Some psychoanalyst was talking about "ideas of reference"—basically when someone feels like everything they hear or see is somehow tied back to them personally, like there's this hidden meaning meant just for them...😁

But honestly, it makes me wonder—is there anyone out there who *doesn't* connect what they read or see on the news back to their own life? If I'm not comparing information to my own experiences or the people around me, what am I even supposed to do with it?😁

Like, I'll be watching the weather report, see that rain is coming, and naturally, I start thinking about how it’s gonna mess up my plans or what I'll end up doing if I can't get out...

Is that actually what they mean, or am I totally misreading this? Are we all just a little bit schizoid at heart?😁

I honestly think we need to take a much closer look at how these systems actually function under the hood—it’s easy to get caught up in the surface-level hype, but if you really dig into the mechanics, there's a lot more complexity than people realize. I've been sitting with this idea for a while now, and the more I reflect on it, the more convinced I am that we're missing the bigger picture by focusing on the obvious stuff. It isn't just about the immediate results, either; it's about the long-term implications of how these structures are built from the ground up. I know some might disagree, but from where I'm standing, the logic seems pretty airtight once you strip away the noise. kaže:
So, I was doing a bit of digging online the other day—just falling down one of those classic rabbit holes—and I stumbled upon this really fascinating theory.

So, I was reading this post from someone describing what they call "ideas of reference"—basically that feeling where you think everything you hear or see is somehow directly tied to your own identity, like there’s some deep, hidden meaning being sent specifically to you. It sounds like a textbook description of a schizoid personality type experiencing those kinds of distortions. It's that intense sensation that the world isn't just happening around you, but is actually reacting to you or speaking about you in some coded way.😁

I honestly have to wonder—is there anyone out there who actually reads a news story or watches a segment on TV without immediately connecting it back to their own life? I mean, really think about it. If you aren't filtering information through the lens of your own experiences or comparing it to someone you know, how are you even supposed to process it? Without that personal baseline, how do you find any context for what you're seeing?😁

So, I was just sitting here checking the weather forecast—it looks like rain is definitely headed our way—and naturally, my mind started racing. Once those clouds start rolling in, I can't help but overthink everything. I find myself already mentally mapping out what tomorrow is actually going to look like, and more importantly, what the backup plan is if I get stuck indoors and can't get out to do anything.

Is that really it, or am I just totally misreading the situation? Are we all just a little bit schizo?😁

There’s a massive difference between looking at a weather forecast and actually thinking it relates to you personally—like, you check the app just to decide if you need to grab an umbrella before heading out—and falling into that weird headspace where you believe your own thoughts can actually summon a storm, or that lightning strikes are some kind of cosmic punishment because you skipped washing your hands before dinner. One is just practical planning, while the other is something much more intense.
The whole concept of "relationships" is honestly just a wild, manufactured idea—but seeing things through your own lens? That’s perfectly normal. It’s not some kind of pathology; it’s just how reality works.

copperhound99 said:So I’m doing a little deep dive online and stumbled onto this wild theory.

Some psychoanalyst was talking about "ideas of reference"—basically when someone feels like everything they hear or see is somehow tied back to them personally, like there's this hidden meaning meant just for them...😁

But honestly, it makes me wonder—is there anyone out there who *doesn't* connect what they read or see on the news back to their own life? If I'm not comparing information to my own experiences or the people around me, what am I even supposed to do with it?😁

Like, I'll be watching the weather report, see that rain is coming, and naturally, I start thinking about how it’s gonna mess up my plans or what I'll end up doing if I can't get out...

Is that actually what they mean, or am I totally misreading this? Are we all just a little bit schizoid at heart?😁

Are you absolutely certain the text specifies a schizoid personality rather than schizophrenia or schizotypal disorder?

My own psychological assessment leaned more toward me being schizoid, but this is the first time I’ve ever heard anyone suggest there was any connection to delusional ideas regarding relationships or other manifestations of insanity. To be perfectly honest, I have never experienced any kind of productive psychotic symptoms in my life. 🤷

Eric Gray2 said:

I honestly think we need to take a much closer look at how these systems actually function under the hood—it’s easy to get caught up in the surface-level hype, but if you really dig into the mechanics, there's a lot more complexity than people realize. I've been sitting with this idea for a while now, and the more I reflect on it, the more convinced I am that we're missing the bigger picture by focusing on the obvious stuff. It isn't just about the immediate results, either; it's about the long-term implications of how these structures are built from the ground up. I know some might disagree, but from where I'm standing, the logic seems pretty airtight once you strip away the noise. kaže:
So, I was doing a bit of digging online the other day—just falling down one of those classic rabbit holes—and I stumbled upon this really fascinating theory.

So, I was reading this post from someone describing what they call "ideas of reference"—basically that feeling where you think everything you hear or see is somehow directly tied to your own identity, like there’s some deep, hidden meaning being sent specifically to you. It sounds like a textbook description of a schizoid personality type experiencing those kinds of distortions. It's that intense sensation that the world isn't just happening around you, but is actually reacting to you or speaking about you in some coded way.😁

I honestly have to wonder—is there anyone out there who actually reads a news story or watches a segment on TV without immediately connecting it back to their own life? I mean, really think about it. If you aren't filtering information through the lens of your own experiences or comparing it to someone you know, how are you even supposed to process it? Without that personal baseline, how do you find any context for what you're seeing?😁

So, I was just sitting here checking the weather forecast—it looks like rain is definitely headed our way—and naturally, my mind started racing. Once those clouds start rolling in, I can't help but overthink everything. I find myself already mentally mapping out what tomorrow is actually going to look like, and more importantly, what the backup plan is if I get stuck indoors and can't get out to do anything.

Is that really it, or am I just totally misreading the situation? Are we all just a little bit schizo?😁

There’s a massive difference between looking at a weather forecast and actually thinking it relates to you personally—like, you check the app just to decide if you need to grab an umbrella before heading out—and falling into that weird headspace where you believe your own thoughts can actually summon a storm, or that lightning strikes are some kind of cosmic punishment because you skipped washing your hands before dinner. One is just practical planning, while the other is something much more intense.
The whole concept of "relationships" is honestly just a wild, manufactured idea—but seeing things through your own lens? That’s perfectly normal. It’s not some kind of pathology; it’s just how reality works.

Hold up, wait a second... that doesn't quite track for me. I mean, my grandma, for instance, thanks God for every little thing she does because she genuinely believes that’s how things are meant to be...,,,,,

Another example... you can definitely summon stuff with your thoughts too... look at that whole "The Secret" craze with the books and movies... you're supposed to manifest everything with your mind... so if I get hit by a car one day, am I supposed to say I thought it into existence?...

See... we really are all a little bit schizophrenic... We connect dots and analyze things based on whatever makes us feel better. I blame one thing, you blame another...🙂)) We just link everything together however it suits us. That's my take on it...🙂)

My point is just that when you start reading up on those mental health symptoms, it feels like half the population fits the description (and I'm not even talking about schizophrenia)... I mean, who hasn't felt a bit of anxiety, or a rush of adrenaline, or a headache, or just general unease, and then started overthinking their behavior... like, "did I do this wrong?"... so what, is a "healthy" person someone who never feels any of that? Go ahead, find me one person like that...😁😁

copperhound99 said:Hold up, wait a second... that doesn't quite track for me. I mean, my grandma, for instance, thanks God for every little thing she does because she genuinely believes that’s how things are meant to be...,,,,,

Another example... you can definitely summon stuff with your thoughts too... look at that whole "The Secret" craze with the books and movies... you're supposed to manifest everything with your mind... so if I get hit by a car one day, am I supposed to say I thought it into existence?...

See... we really are all a little bit schizophrenic... We connect dots and analyze things based on whatever makes us feel better. I blame one thing, you blame another...🙂)) We just link everything together however it suits us. That's my take on it...🙂)

My point is just that when you start reading up on those mental health symptoms, it feels like half the population fits the description (and I'm not even talking about schizophrenia)... I mean, who hasn't felt a bit of anxiety, or a rush of adrenaline, or a headache, or just general unease, and then started overthinking their behavior... like, "did I do this wrong?"... so what, is a "healthy" person someone who never feels any of that? Go ahead, find me one person like that...😁😁

Every functional person out there carries a mix of psychotic and neurotic traits within their personality. So, to answer your question—are we all a little schizophrenic—the answer is yes, absolutely.

It's only when a specific trait becomes so intense that it starts interfering with daily life that we actually call it a disorder...

Look, not everyone is a little bit schizophrenic, believe me. Schizophrenia isn't just being "quirky." It’s when your thoughts have zero basis in reality—it's a world of pure nonsense where you're convinced your imagination is actually happening. You try to convince everyone else that what you're seeing is real, even though it obviously isn't.
Here’s a simple way to look at it: imagine you genuinely believe you just got an invite to a royal wedding for William and Kate. But obviously, you didn't.
A healthy person is someone who sees the world exactly as it is.
And another thing—if you were actually having a psychotic episode, you wouldn't be sitting there on the internet reading up on symptoms.
In my book, schizophrenia isn't about having "intense personality traits." It’s a biological disorder, plain and simple, just like cancer or diabetes.

Schizophrenia manifests when a dream is mistaken for reality—like being convinced you committed incest when you actually never did.

My mother-in-law suffers from what’s called psychoactive schizophrenia—it’s a heavy diagnosis, really. But honestly, on top of the clinical side of things, she struggles with significant cognitive impairments too. I can't tell if it's just part of the illness or something else, but she's unable to handle basic tasks, doesn't know how to manage them, and frankly, refuses to try. It leaves her completely dependent on my husband and me. For the longest time, she never stayed consistent with her medication or kept up with her appointments at the psychiatrist. Ever since I moved in after we got married... well, I finally pushed for some real help. We eventually managed to drag her to a specialist, and she’s been attending sessions now. She was prescribed Zyprexa and Faverin. However, ever since she started this regimen, she has become incredibly lethargic. She spends her entire day in bed, she’s lost a significant amount of weight, and she barely speaks. She just wants to be alone, staring at the TV or sleeping. At first, I thought she was just adjusting to the new meds, but it’s been three months now. It’s like the light has just gone out in her. Her parents have passed away, and she’s only 47 years old. You truly cannot imagine how difficult her personality is, or how draining this whole situation has become. My husband remembers how tough it was when he was growing up; his grandparents tried everything they could to help her back then, but nothing worked. She’s cycled through various medications before with zero results. Either these specific pills are totally numbing her, or she’s subconsciously avoiding taking them.

William Evans10 said:My mother-in-law suffers from what’s called psychoactive schizophrenia—it’s a heavy diagnosis, really. But honestly, on top of the clinical side of things, she struggles with significant cognitive impairments too. I can't tell if it's just part of the illness or something else, but she's unable to handle basic tasks, doesn't know how to manage them, and frankly, refuses to try. It leaves her completely dependent on my husband and me. For the longest time, she never stayed consistent with her medication or kept up with her appointments at the psychiatrist. Ever since I moved in after we got married... well, I finally pushed for some real help. We eventually managed to drag her to a specialist, and she’s been attending sessions now. She was prescribed Zyprexa and Faverin. However, ever since she started this regimen, she has become incredibly lethargic. She spends her entire day in bed, she’s lost a significant amount of weight, and she barely speaks. She just wants to be alone, staring at the TV or sleeping. At first, I thought she was just adjusting to the new meds, but it’s been three months now. It’s like the light has just gone out in her. Her parents have passed away, and she’s only 47 years old. You truly cannot imagine how difficult her personality is, or how draining this whole situation has become. My husband remembers how tough it was when he was growing up; his grandparents tried everything they could to help her back then, but nothing worked. She’s cycled through various medications before with zero results. Either these specific pills are totally numbing her, or she’s subconsciously avoiding taking them.

Could you be referring to schizoaffective disorder?

And what's even harder is that on top of her psychological condition, she's also mentally ill.

What exactly do you mean when you say she's "mentally ill" in addition to her psychological condition? If you could clarify a bit, people here might be able to give you better feedback... since terms like psychiatric illness, mental illness, or mental health issues are usually used interchangeably, it's a little hard to tell what you're getting at.

and I honestly find it hard to believe they’d even bother remembering her. Her husband is the only one who really knows—to him, she’s always been this way. Ever since he can remember, she's lived with this illness.

William Evans10 said:Or maybe she’s just convinced that every single person walking down the street is staring at her and whispering behind her back...

Yeah, right. Like there aren't like 90 percent of people just trying to get through downtown without being bothered. As if everyone actually has eyes on her...😕

copperhound99 said:Yeah, right. Like there aren't like 90 percent of people just trying to get through downtown without being bothered. As if everyone actually has eyes on her...😕

That just isn't true.

And seriously—stop trolling.

Eric Gray2 said:That just isn't true.

And seriously—stop trolling.

Alright, thanks for the tip—I guess I’m one step closer to becoming just like you now...

So now you're gonna tell me how someone's even supposed to unlearn those fucked up ideas about relationships... if they've already taken root...

Hey everyone...
I dealt with anxiety and psychosomatic issues when I was a kid. Stopped seeing my therapist back in early puberty. Now, I’m starting to suspect a personality disorder because I check every single box on the list (even if Googling symptoms isn't exactly a medical science). My moods are all over the place—panic, fear, constant shifts. I have this urge to jump into risky situations, then wake up the next day full of regret. I also have huge amounts of empathy. It’s a lot. On my dad's side, there are two cases of schizophrenia in the family. What are the actual odds that I'll end up with it?