Latent schizophrenia?

[1114]

I'm doing some ever-so-unhealthy self diagnosis, and I'm wondering if it's possible to have latent schizophrenia and have weed not exacerbate it? I'm cool as a cat when high, but in general I feel that some my thoughts/personality traits are schizotypal.

Any insight?

 

[PriestTheyCalledHim]

Unless you have a family history of Schizophrenia I would not worry about it.

If you are Schizophrenic you would get some symptoms of it while you are sober and not just high. That's what happened to a friend of mine who's Schizophrenic. He smoked pot but got the signs and symptoms of Schizophrenia not from smoking pot but because he is Schizophrenic.

If you are that worried about it I'd talk to a therapist just to have peace of mind.

I've actually talked to psychologists about the so called "link" between smoking herb and Schizophrenia that you see in the media from anti-drug non-profit orgs that want to spread false information, and they told me how unless you are Schizophrenic or have a genetic family history of Schizophrenia you're not going to somehow become Schizophrenic out of nowhere from smoking herb.

What exactly happens when you're high? Keep in mind that some people do get socially withdrawn, anxious, paranoid, or have panic/anxiety attacks when they get too high.

 

[poak]

Unless you have a family history of Schizophrenia I would not worry about it.

If you are Schizophrenic you would get some symptoms of it while you are sober and not just high. That's what happened to a friend of mine who's Schizophrenic. He smoked pot but got the signs and symptoms of Schizophrenia not from smoking pot but because he is Schizophrenic.

If you are that worried about it I'd talk to a therapist just to have peace of mind.

I've actually talked to psychologists about the so called "link" between smoking herb and Schizophrenia that you see in the media from anti-drug non-profit orgs that want to spread false information, and they told me how unless you are Schizophrenic or have a genetic family history of Schizophrenia you're not going to somehow become Schizophrenic out of nowhere from smoking herb.

What exactly happens when you're high? Keep in mind that some people do get socially withdrawn, anxious, paranoid, or have panic/anxiety attacks when they get too high.

If my brother did a psychosis after 6-7 years of heavy cannabis usage (and he used other drugs too during this time), should I worry if I occasionally smoke pot? (his psychosis is now done and he doesn't use medications anymore).

 

[Artificial Emotion]

I'm doing some ever-so-unhealthy self diagnosis, and I'm wondering if it's possible to have latent schizophrenia and have weed not exacerbate it? I'm cool as a cat when high, but in general I feel that some my thoughts/personality traits are schizotypal.

Any insight?

Yes, it is possible. Some people with schizophrenia find cannabis in general, or at least some strains have a therapeutic effect on their condition, or at least some symptoms of their illness. For example, some people with schizophrenia find that cannabis makes their voices worse, but that it helps their anxiety to the point where they are able to function better overall.

Unfortunately much of the medical profession has taken the blanket view that cannabis causes psychosis and schizophrenia and that people suffering from it will only be made much worse if they smoke it. Of course, people are beginning to realize that they're missing the whole picture and that some mentally ill people find it useful.

Self-diagnosing is unwise and I would say it's impossible to diagnose yourself as schizophrenic without seeing a psychiatrist. You may have some of the classic symptoms, but this doesn't necessarily mean you've got schizophrenia. It could easily be something else completely and there is a reason why becoming a psychiatrist takes so many years of hard work (not wishing to sound patronising).

 

[Jabberwocky]

Schizotypal traits are not a huge problem. Schizotypal personality disorder is more problematic. A disorder is when your functioning or well being is seriously diminished by the traits. A set of traits likely indicates that certain occupations or passtimes are going to be less suited to your needs. If your functioning suits you and isn't causing huge conflicts with others I think a disorder can be ruled out.

I think sometimes rather than an individual having a pathology there is actually a poor matching between them and their environment. Neither the individual nor the environment need to be labeled a bad thing if the problem is in fact just a poor match.

 

[ford442]

i have schizophrenia and i still smoke pot.. i smoked for years before i knew i had the disease and i did not have very bad times.. some of the best times i can remember involved weed..

LSD however has given me some very strong indications that something is not right with my mind - i think that people with schiz are very sensitive to the effects of psychedelics - i have had many trips where everyone else is conversing and have a normal time and i am so tongue tied that i can do nothing but stare into space on the same dosage or laugh hysterically..
other times on lsd i have run into a supermarket and been taken to the ground by police.. i have committed vandalism.. i have seen the future.. (for real - i knew that the 9/11/01 attack was going to happen)..
i personally do not think that reactions to marijuana alone can be used to diagnose any condition..

here are some things that occur to me as a person with the exact condition:
when i was young i had no friends, i was very much a 'loner'
i had very little to contribute to conversations my entire life - i feel tongue tied and confused so much that i cannot be witty or entertaining most of the time (bad at RPGs when i was young)
i gravitated to pot as relief from the constant stress of not feeling normal
as my condition built up steam i began to lose understanding of everything - i began to believe things that were wrong.. i began to believe everything that i told myself..
i have had a lot of times spent completely alone and very confused inside..
i have had one brief girlfriend in high school - now i am a virgin at 32..

those are some of the things that i am reminded of when i wonder about my condition.. if this describes you then i am sorry, but you should indeed get a proper diagnoses..