Q: Wondering; opinions appreciated.
Hello Rain,
I understand your worry about what's going on and for that reason I would seek out a professional now rather than waiting to see when it's going to happen.
Because if it turns out you have SZ, the quicker you get into treatment, the better the outcome. A delay of even a year could have irreversible consequences if you need medication.
SZ is a highly treatable medical condition and people can and do recover from this illness every day. People who get treatment right away could even see their symptoms go away or be greatly reduced, resulting in their having a mild form of SZ as opposed to the severely symptomatic form that can occur if treatment is delayed.
So put your mind at ease and talk to someone now. If you are under 30, that's all the more reason to get your blood tested to rule out or confirm SZ along with a psychiatric intake with a doctor. This is because SZ usually strikes when someone is in their late teens or early 20s.
I wish for you to have a good result when you reach out. While you wait for the doctor visit, keep monitoring what goes on. You have the advantage in that you are aware something isn't right. I would like for you not to have SZ. However, if you do, remember that as I said, people can recover from it.
Best regards,
Christina
What kind of blood test can rule out or confirm sz? I didn't think there was any way to diagnose sz other than by diligent observation of symptoms by a professional.
Carolyn
Clarification:
I'm sorry, I wasn't clear. The blood test would be used to determine if someone has a medical condition that is causing psychotic symptoms, for example, [street] drug use or some other medical condition that causes similar symptoms.
No blood test at this time can confirm or deny SZ. I believe in typing the response I conflated the reason for taking the blood test.
Regards,
Christina
Hyper-vigilence is a common symptom of post traumatic stress disorder, but smelling strange things is sometimes a symptom of schizophrenia. Your other symptoms could be caused by a number of things. Seeing that schizophrenia runs in your family, I would definately get checked out as soon as possible. I've read that they can sometimes prevent schizophrenic symptoms turning into full blown schizophrenia if treated early enough. So if I was you, despite your desire not to get out, try to get to a professional, who respects you and takes you seriously, as soon as possible. I am not determining by what you wrote, that I believe you have schizophrenia for sure, because many of the symptoms can also be related to having a full blown anxiety disorder.
Important:
We hope you find this general health information helpful. Please note however, that this Q&A is meant to support not replace the professional medical advice you receive from your doctor. No information in the Answers above is intended to diagnose or treat any condition. The views expressed in the Answers above belong to the individuals who posted them and do not necessarily reflect the views of The HealthCentral Network. The HealthCentral Network does not review or edit content posted by our community members, but reserves the right to remove any material it deems inappropriate.
Featuring Content From:
By using this service, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them. The consumer health information on is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice or treatment for any medical conditions. You should promptly seek professional medical care if you have any concern about your health, and you should always consult your physician before starting a fitness regimen. Copyright © 2012 Remedy Health Media, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
