Mental health problems

[Cerys]

Hey,
This is hard for me to post..

I have loads of worries, but my main one is how I think I'm hallucinating. (Other problems listed at the end)
Basically my hallucinations started a few months ago when I was walking towards the car on the way back from school and I saw my brother in the front passenger seat and he actually turned and looked at me, so I sat in the back seat as he's in the front seat. But when I sat down there was nobody infront of me - like I imagined him being there, but it was so lifelike. I couldve sworn he was real..
Since then there's been situations just like this where I've seen things which weren't there. Then I've started to hear things, for example someone repeatedly shouting my name and telling me to stop what I'm doing when there's no one there.

This has become much more frequent, like it happens every other day.

I just don't know what to do...
I don't know what's real and what isn't anymore..

What should I do? Like, is there something wrong with me?

If you wanna know anything else just ask.

*also, I find it very hard to concentrate (get distracted by tiny things) very paranoid, very awkward at being social (basically avoid social situations), trouble sleeping, irritable, find it hard to show my emotions, anxiety. *

[Samantha]

Think you should go to your doctor or tell your parents at least. They may know what's wrong.

[Munex]

Definitely see a doctor! You simply have to. You wouldn't ignore a broken leg, and nor should you ignore a mental illness.

[wixard]

this could be anything, tell someone now so you can go see a doctor.

and take this test

http://www.schizoid.info/

[FlyingJesus]

Lack of sleep coupled with an abundance of anxiety can definitely lead to hallucinations, although I think it's rather more likely that it's actually a case of your brain mixing up situations and making you remember the wrong things rather than affecting your eyes directly - it amounts to the same thing but hopefully that isn't quite so scary I've personally had a fair bit of experience with this during the very worst times of my own mental health, and genuinely the best solution is to come up with a way to mediate your sleep patterns as that affects just about every activity that your brain is or should be capable of.

In the long term you of course need to combat the anxiety as if you leave that alone it paves the way for all sorts of godawful psychoses, but short term to help you begin to manage things better it really will be the lack of sleep (or any kind of disordered sleeping, including too much) that's causing the immediate problems. It is worth seeing a doctor for advise on treatment but be aware that in most places they'll advise against sleeping pills and will not want to prescribe them to you as there are some dangerous side-effects, and it's far more likely that they'll want to schedule you in for some sort of sleep therapy, most likely CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) which requires a lot of conscious input on your part, but is definitely worth it if you can work with them to eliminate at least some of the bad processes going on in your head.

One unfortunate fact that is extremely important to note is that with most cases of poor mental health there's no quick fix, but increasingly there are better and better treatments which, if coupled with your own strengths and willingness to work, can have genuinely life-changing long term effects


and don't take online mental health tests (or any online health tests of any sort tbh), they always tell you that you ought to be institutionalised and completely fail to take into account that certain things don't affect everyone in the same way

[Munex]

this could be anything, tell someone now so you can go see a doctor.

and take this test

http://www.schizoid.info/

I got 87; A normal result is 15 to 65 points.

[Stephen]

Might be from lack of eating

[Cerys]

Think you should go to your doctor or tell your parents at least. They may know what's wrong.

Definitely see a doctor! You simply have to. You wouldn't ignore a broken leg, and nor should you ignore a mental illness.

But its like.. what would you even say to the doctor? 'I think I'm crazy'? I'd have ot persuade my mum to let me go to the doctors first anyway and that'd take a while :S

this could be anything, tell someone now so you can go see a doctor.

and take this test

http://www.schizoid.info/

Took it and scored 101 - but like Tom said, most tests probably won't be very accurate, but thanks anyway :3

Lack of sleep coupled with an abundance of anxiety can definitely lead to hallucinations, although I think it's rather more likely that it's actually a case of your brain mixing up situations and making you remember the wrong things rather than affecting your eyes directly - it amounts to the same thing but hopefully that isn't quite so scary I've personally had a fair bit of experience with this during the very worst times of my own mental health, and genuinely the best solution is to come up with a way to mediate your sleep patterns as that affects just about every activity that your brain is or should be capable of.

In the long term you of course need to combat the anxiety as if you leave that alone it paves the way for all sorts of godawful psychoses, but short term to help you begin to manage things better it really will be the lack of sleep (or any kind of disordered sleeping, including too much) that's causing the immediate problems. It is worth seeing a doctor for advise on treatment but be aware that in most places they'll advise against sleeping pills and will not want to prescribe them to you as there are some dangerous side-effects, and it's far more likely that they'll want to schedule you in for some sort of sleep therapy, most likely CBT (cognitive behaviour therapy) which requires a lot of conscious input on your part, but is definitely worth it if you can work with them to eliminate at least some of the bad processes going on in your head.

One unfortunate fact that is extremely important to note is that with most cases of poor mental health there's no quick fix, but increasingly there are better and better treatments which, if coupled with your own strengths and willingness to work, can have genuinely life-changing long term effects


and don't take online mental health tests (or any online health tests of any sort tbh), they always tell you that you ought to be institutionalised and completely fail to take into account that certain things don't affect everyone in the same way

Wow ;o thanks for taking the time to write this! c:
I suppose the lack of sleep would play a major role in all mental issues, like you said, so it's probably a good idea for me to go try out that CBT thing.
I don't really know what to say in reply to that other than thanks loads, its helped me understand more etc

thanks so far, guys.

[buttons]

i agree with tom that it could be lack of sleep but generally hallucinations of that sort only happens if you've been awake for 3+ days but you say it's becoming more frequent. i wouldn't leave anything down to chance either way so most definitely get an appointment with your GP or a health advisor asap. i would advise against talking to anyone other than a professional because unfortunately any sort of mental illness is still looked down upon despite any benefits it may bring. don't want to scare you but it does sound like mild schizophrenia at the very least but obviously i'm not a doctor and it isn't my place to say, it's just the first thing i think of when i hear about hallucinations, social awkwardness (which wasn't always there) and difficulty concentrating.

what other sort of hallucinations do you see? what happens when you lose concentration? say if you're watch tv does it ever become hazy then you're no longer interested? do you find it difficult to start tasks? when you hear this person shouting your name and telling you to stop, do you recognize the voice? please don't pass it off as 'lack of sleep'. while it's entirely possible, this shouldn't be happening for months on end and it's better to get tested just incase. i've had problems with sleep but it hasn't affected me to the point i've lost concentration completely or become socially withdrawn, seen anything or heard anything i shouldn't. you don't need your mum's permission to go to a doctor when it's something that's going to be good for YOU, so you can explain to her but seriously think about going yourself if she isn't willing to take it seriously.

anyway, mental health issues are nothing to be embarrassed about. you're not "crazy" and it's not something you chose to have. many people will have one at one point (or a million if you're me ). one of my favourite past times is researching successful people with mental health issues, the amazing things your brains can allow you to do with a so-called 'abnormal' disorder.

[The Don]

If you have anything, I would guess it closely resembles Münchausen Syndrome (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%BCnchausen_syndrome)

In Münchausen syndrome, the affected person exaggerates or creates symptoms of illnesses in themselves to gain investigation, treatment, attention, sympathy, and comfort from medical personnel. In some extreme cases, people suffering from Münchausen's syndrome are highly knowledgeable about the practice of medicine and are able to produce symptoms that result in lengthy and costly medical analysis, prolonged hospital stay and unnecessary operations. The role of "patient" is a familiar and comforting one, and it fills a psychological need in people with Münchausen's.

edit: oh wait, this one is more suitable http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%BC...en_by_Internet