Bipolar Disorder, Depression, Schizophrenia

^No probs, and you can always ask your psych. about it, too. My psych. stressed that things we discuss are confidential. I wouldn't see why that couldn't also apply to a minor.

pretty sure i awoke some kind of latent schizophrenia last weekend after i stopped taking my prozac in favor of combining e with shrooms. idk if that's possible though. what does it feel like to be schizophrenic...

future-ore:

pretty sure i awoke some kind of latent schizophrenia last weekend after i stopped taking my prozac in favor of combining e with shrooms. idk if that's possible though. what does it feel like to be schizophrenic...

I don't think you have schizophrenia. If you did, you wouldn't be asking if you had schizophrenia.

Also, if you did, it wouldn't be latent. Early twenties is usually when schizophrenia manifests itself.

But if you're really worried about it, talk to your psychiatrist.

deathpunch:

And I have a cutting problem and I can't get over it.
Any suggestions about the cutting?

Here is Mibba's Self-Injury Thread, where you can seek information and support.

My uncle is schizophrenic. We haven't had contact with him in 15 years. He is apparently homeless. He ran away and refuses medication. Not sure where he is now or if he's alive.

My step dad, his brother, is bipolar. And he is just as stubborn. He refuses medication and denies his condition even though he's been diagnosed.. and his behavior is evidence enough. He is unimaginably difficult to live with.

I think I have depression. Mild depression, not acute. I know all the rules about self diagnosing, but I'm fairly confident in my diagnosis...especially because the first time I thought about it was when I took a depression self test for a health class, and it came back positive.
I freaked, started researching...and the more I find, the more I become certain.
I don't know what to do about it, though.
I don't want to deal with my parents about it, and I'll have to if I go to a doctor.

I have so many family members that have the three of those illnesses, and I'm terrified that I'm the next one. I know I suffer from depression, but I'm starting to think it's worse than just depression anymore. I just...snap. My parents don't think anything is wrong with me, so they refuse to send me anywhere.

Bipolar, or something like that, runs in my family. My grandad had it, my uncle, and my mom she takes meds for it. Now she's saying I sort of have it, and thinking about it, I think I do. I don't want to jump to self diagnosing but all the symptoms of Bipolar disorder point to me. I'm happy one moment and I just snap and start yelling and screaming and slamming doors. My mother knows I have it but she doesn't do anything about it. I used to have medication for it but I stopped taking it, I refused to take it. I'm afraid i'll get as bad as my uncle and he's well he's pretty much insane.

flyer.:

I think I have depression. Mild depression, not acute. I know all the rules about self diagnosing, but I'm fairly confident in my diagnosis...especially because the first time I thought about it was when I took a depression self test for a health class, and it came back positive.
I freaked, started researching...and the more I find, the more I become certain.
I don't know what to do about it, though.
I don't want to deal with my parents about it, and I'll have to if I go to a doctor.

I was like that too. I just kept thinking that there are people who have it worse than I do and I was being selfish. It got to where I wanted to die again, and I finally told my mom two weeks ago. I have been living with mild depression with six years and I just went to a psychologist yesterday. It was stated that my bio-chemistry is heavily out of order and I'll be going to a psychiatrist to see what he thinks about putting me on anit-depressants. I'm so glad I told her, because for the first time, I'm hopeful that maybe I won't be a worthless failure. I'm not saying you should y'know freak out and be on medication, but if you feel like your being selfish for wanting help, then I think you should at least try to get help. I hope you work it out though.

^
You're completely right. It's not selfish to want to take care of your mental health. It's actually very unselfish. Because the sooner you get help, the less likely that you'll create some huge mess that your parents/family will have to clean up/deal with. I wish my dad had listened to me when I said I needed to go back to the hospital. But he didn't and a month later I ran away from home after meeting an internet predator.

I'm on venlafaxine for my depression and they've upped the dosage. I'm just wondering if the side-effects puts anyone off. When I start a new dosage of this, I get bad nausea and tiredness and does anyone think it would put people off?

^ I'm on the same thing, and have the same side effects each time I take it :/
It isn't as bad when I take them with food, though. It just depends on the day.

I used to have depression, and I thought I was over it, but now I'm starting to feel it again and I'm getting worried. I'm going to try to go see my doctor in the next couple of months, but for the time being, what can I do to keep myself positive?

This probably sounds like a dumb question, but how does one get themselves diagnosed or checked out for depression? The past five months I've been having major mood swings, I've been shutting myself out from some people, I can't talk to my mom or her boyfriend without snapping on them, and I cut from time to time. It's not a constant sadness, though, and I don't know what's wrong. I'm happy a lot of the time, but I cry myself to sleep a couple nights a week. I've also been drinkng almost every weekend. It's kind of like an escape. My grandma who I was really close with passed away a couple weeks ago, and I just recently broke up with my boyfriend. It seems like it's gotten worse. I need help, please.

^ A few years ago when I got 'tested', I answered a questionnaire sort of thing and from that my GP could tell my levels of depression, anxiety and stress. From that she suggested me to some psychologists and they worked with me, but I was never on medication. I think each case is different. But I think I'll be getting 'tested' or whatever again later this week, so I'll let you know what happens then if you want.

Yes please! I'm not always sad, and I never have thoughts of suicide or anything, but I want to know what's wrong. Clearly my actions and things aren't normal.

^ Okay, so I went to the doctor yesterday but I don't think I can really help you much, because she said that even though my history with depression might be playing a part, it's probably not simply that. I'm going to get blood tests and stuff just to check that everything's alright, but obviously that can't tell you whether or not you have depression, just if it could be any other factors. If I were you though, I would go to a GP and see what they think. It's always best just to acknowledge it, and not leave it getting worse. What you've said is pretty similar to how I've been feeling lately, and you really just need to take that step and go see a GP. From there on you can work out a plan of action.

Thank you so much, I really appreciate it. I'll look into it. :)

Right now, I'm kinda just letting depression ruin my life.

I don't know what to do about it.

I was never really diagnosed with depression. But the doc did say that I had it... ???

I hear voices and I see things. Not totally unnatural, unbelievable things. But I see people. I have terrible gorey nightmares at night and I'm paranoid all day.

But I'm sad every day. Even if I seem happy ... even to myself ... I still feel sad, deep down, y'know..