schizophrenia in real life?????

[liesagain]

I was wondering if anyone here that has real life experience with schizophrenia would share their experiences with what the symptoms loooked like in the very beginning...........
specifically what did it look like in the late teen years.........

thanks

[steamvessel]

I was diagnosed with mild schizophrenia when I was 18. I am pretty sure that I would not still fit the diagnostic criteria. But things were pretty crazy for me back then. I didn't hallucinate, most of me symptoms are what are classified as 'negative' systems; namely, apathy, withdrawal, blunting of emotions, isolation. However, I did have a problem confusing fantasy with reality, don't we all? If I were to describe it one way, it would be like feeling yourself wandering around in a body that is not yours and that is changing all of the time, but your reality is set in your emotions and visualizations of a child. I don't think I was really a part of reality because I wasn't mature enough to take part in that reality. The disease really does have a lot to do with emotional development and the symptoms are a reaction to that. I eventually got better, and actually went on and got a degree in psychology. It's actually hard to remember what it was like back then, probably because it was so hellish that I don't care to remember. If you've ever been on drugs or drunk and are having a hard time interpreting reality in this state, then that is the best way I can describe my experience.