Not sure what I’ve got... | ADHD Information

Please be honest, I can handle brutally honest information because I greatly enjoy bettering myself. Please don't put me down though haha.

I was diagnosed with ADHD a few years ago. My parents knew I had it but never told me and never did anything about it until I was in college. When I met with the psychiatrist for the interviews and tests, there were a few things that I honestly forgot to mention about myself, and was never asked about. I'm not sure, but I think I might have a mild form of schizophrenia. Here's why...

I am having a very difficult time typing this because when I have these experiences I get extremely negative emotions flooding into my body. It doesn't happen as frequently as it used to, but I see things that aren't there occasionally. This started when I was in high school and was most frequent a couple years ago. At the peak of it, I was seeing this same figure 2-4 times per week. It is a black, about 6'2'' person like shape that always is facing my direction. There are no distinct features (no fingers, no face, etc...).

Thankfully it seems to be going away because I haven't had this vision in several months now. To add to everything above, I know for a fact I am a very different type of person than anyone else i've ever met. I find it very difficult for others to understand me fairly frequently. At times I get extremely paranoid for absolutely no reason. My life has never been stable, I seem as if I go up and down on emotional waves lasting for weeks or months varying from being great and achieving to being extremely self-destructive. I was researching catatonic schizophrenia and it seems to nearly parallel what I've been explaining.

Thanks for the input. I am interested in knowing what others think.

Hey red,

I don't know anything about Schizophrenia, but I get paranoid when I'm alone to the extent that I can't go into the kitchen and often have to lock myself in either the bedroom or living room and turn on all the lights on the house.

This post was interesting to me, http://www.adhdnews.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=31959& PN=1 but as your figure is a distinct person, it would be very much worth telling your psychiatrist as it seems to be signifiacant.

Thanks for the reply. To the best of my knowledge I haven't been emotionally of physically abused (other than a high school relationship, but I got over it and dealt with it through counseling even though I didn't think it was anything that needed counseling).

I've only told a couple people about this in my entire life. One of them is studying to be a psychiatrist and a neurosurgeon at the moment. He said that the most common hallucination schizophrenics have is similar to what I am describing.

Common people, don't be scared to respond to my post haha (obviously not referring to eat)That's Queen Eat to you!

Hi, redeyesurfman. You have one of those long "handles" like me. Sometimes it gets tiring typing it when logging in!

Well, just in my humble opinion/just a few suggestions: How about going back to the psychiatrist, who evaluated you for ADHD and discussing your concerns further? As you know, the psychiatrist would be the one to make determinations from symptoms, pursue further testing, etc. There is more than one disorder that may include symptoms you describe above; one can't assume it would be schizophrenia. The doc is the best avenue right now.

Feel confident in the fact that you want to address difficulties in your life and don't sweat the stigmas attached. You are smart to try and deal with your challenges in a constructive way. Knowledge is power! My DS is ADHD and on our journey through the school years, etc., the more we learn and the more experience we get, the better off we are.

please tell a psychiatrist or doctor and let us know how it goes. Alot of schizophrenics have similar cognitive problems as children as add. It is always best to get help as early as possible with any kind of condition such as this. I really wish i had obtained help for add and depression alot sooner than I did.

One of my best friends at university developed paranoid schizophrenia and so i have a little idea of what you are going through. I reallly wish you the best of luck.