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I'm really sorry you're going through this...it must be pretty scary experiencing all these symptoms.

I too love to do research...and what I've realized is that many disorders share similar symptoms...or have symptoms that a healthy person would have.

Sometimes lack of sleep can cause delusions, paranoia, and cause you to hear voices. It can also cause anxiety, which can further inhibit you from sleeping.

Do me a favor...read a few articles on sleep deprivation...not to diagnosis yourself with a sleeping disorder--but to undignosis yourself with schizophrenia.

Then tell Mom you've been having trouble sleeping and you want to see a professional about it. Talk to the professional about your experiences...and together the two of you can tell Mom exactly what is going on. Okay...breathe...everything is going to be fine...

This happened to me last summer, but not with schizophrenia. And first off let me tell you, I am 100% certain you are not schizophrenic. These countless hours that you have done researching have only made you think that you suffer from schizophrenia because you believe that if you have one of the symptoms you have them all. The more that you know about this the more you will be afraid of it.

Last summer i completely convinced myself that i had a brain tumor, I had a blinding headache that wouldn't go away for months, I always felt like i was confused and other things. I got it checked out and i was perfectly all right, but that even scared me because early stages of brain tumors don't show up on head CT scans, but then it just stopped one day and i have no idea why or how. I kept myself up all night every night worrying about the what now seems most pointless things.

Trust me YOU are the only one who is driving yourself crazy. This is also just a side effect of puberty as well as the hormonal levels change in your body you start feeling different and it effects you in all different ways. Including making yourself feel like your losing sleep. You will feel better if you get yourself checked out, Because nothing is more satisfying then peace of mind.

Just keep your head up and stop thinking the worse, start researching alternatives that this could be and you will make yourself feel so much better, because the more you learn about something the more you will think that, that's what you have. Just trust me on this your doing it to yourself

I think you should just tell your mother. I know you think she won't want to hear it, but if she loves you, she will want the best for you, and will take you to a doctor that can help you. With proper medication, you can get these troubling symptoms under control and get back to your regular life. Without it, you will keep feeling stressed out, irritated, or have more delusions (if you are indeed schizophrenic). I think you should just talk to your mom. That's what parents are there for. If you don't think your mom can handle it, tell another family member that you trust.

P.S. You won't have to go to a mental hospital unless you "do something crazy" (e.g. try to hurt yourself or somebody else). That is why you want to try to see a doctor now, so you can get the medicine you need, and get your symptoms under control. If you keep losing sleep and keep feeling angry, you might lose control over your life. So don't even worry about that right now. People don't just throw other people in mental hospitals any more.

Hopefully your mom is very understanding. You definitely need to see a doctor who can assess your feelings and depression. Hearing voices is definitely something to be concerned with. If your mother doesn't help you or just blows you off, go to your school counselor or another family member. You could get the phone book out and look up crises hot line and call and talk to someone there. Keep talking to someone until you can get help. I really don't think you need to be in a mental hospital, but you do need to get a doctors help. At least you are recognizing that there is definitely something about you that isn't right. It could be just a chemical in-balance which most of the time medicine will take care of, but only a doctor can determine that.

Best wishes

Honey, Calm down, You are okay. This is a disease that many people suffer with. It is okay to ask for help. Please tell your mother, and tell her you would like to see a psychologist. They have medicine that will help you, and schizophrenia can get worse without treatment. Please tell someone. If you are afraid of what your mom might think tell your school guidance counselor and they will help you get the help you need. You need to do this for you. It will make you feel better. You will sleep better, and you will just be able to feel more normal. I have a friend who has schizophrenia. She stayed very private and really didn't want anything to do with anyone else. She also had trouble sleeping and would get so scared sometimes, as if something or someone was standing beside her. When she started taking medicine for it, she improved 100%. She was a totally different person. She slept, and her attitude and performance around other people was completely changed. So, please. You are soo young. Tell your mom. She loves you and would want to help you. You are not alone. There are people there for you.

Hi,

OK i do not think it is schizophrenia, the age of onset for that is most commonly at 18+

i think that your mom wold just be happy to know that there is something that she can get you help for but so i would tell her. just tell her the fact's let the Dr put the name to the problem (they are a little better at it then you and i).

if you read the DSM then you would know there are so many things that are possible and i am shore that you could pick out 20 different possible disorders for yourself. so i would problem that your not schizophrenia due to the age and that you have only the one part of it. there is many things with that disorder that you would need to have before you could be given that one so it is not so bad yet.

one person has said that it could be from your not sleeping well and this is right that could be all that it is, and that would be so much essayer to treat and is totally fixable too fully so lets hope that it is that :)

your mom if she loves you as much as you seem to love her well be there for you and will help you every step of the way. but if your still worried by it then maybe the school nurse can help. but just let the Dr do the name for the problem

good luck with this

First, pat yourself on the back for having the wits and courage to identify the problem early on and possessing the maturity and sensibility to work on a solution. I've had friends who danced around the issue as late as their last year in college, to disastrous results!

Now don't label yourself yet until you get a professional opinion. Find out what kind of health insurance your mom has and ask what kind of psychiatrists are covered under her plan; there should be a big telephone-sized book which lists all doctors covered by whatever insurance co. (preferably local). And if it's as serious as you say it is, ask your mom to take you to a shrink herself.

Be prepared for some confusion from her part or other loved ones since 'head' matters are usually met with a healthy degree of skepticism (speaking from experience). But she's your mom so she loves you and will help you get whatever medical treatment is available for you.

And don't give up if your family doesn't have health insurance because you may qualify for state-sponsored aid especially if you're a minor (the extent of aid will vary depending on which state you live in.) Good luck girlie!

First, you need to sit her down and say you think you need to see a doctor. Be honest with her and explain that you've been experiencing voices that aren't there and that kind of thing. Make sure she takes you to the doctor, preferably a psychiatrist but your regular doctor would be fine. S/he'll steer you in the right direction from there.

Schizophrenia is a very treatable illness as long as you're willing to take your medication religiously. Have her research it online with you. We only truly fear what we don't know.

Good luck, hun.

You should see a counselor like a school one, he or she may suggest you to a psychiatrist who gives medicine to people with mental disorders. The medicine really helps it can help you get rid of your voices and imaginations. Maybe write your mother a note or gently tell her, I think getting help is the right way.

Also there are NAMI organization to help your mother get to know what schizophrenia is all about.

You can hear voices when you don't get enough sleep. It's much more likely you're suffering from an anxiety disorder which is disrupting your sleep. Talk to your Mom. She'd want to know. Tell her you can't sleep and start there.