Schizophrenia: The Most Horrifying Mental Illness

Simon's Social Media:

Love content? Check out Simon's other YouTube Channels:

[adamb]

Back in the early 90s I dated a woman that was diagnosed as a paranoid schizophrenic. I can honestly say it was the most intense and sometimes terrifying relationship I've ever been in. When she was on her medication she was the most amazing person I'd ever known. Unfortunately, on those occasions when she would stop taking her meds it turned into a frightening roller-coaster of a ride. One day she just up and disappeared. Absolutely nobody had any clue as to what happened to her until a few years later when I was walking in a completely different city and I found her living on the streets. I took her to a restaurant and bought her a meal and we chatted for hours. Then she just got up and left. I never saw her again.

[DJSTRANGLER]

As a schizophrenic, I can say that hallucinations and delusions aren't by themselves terrifying, but over time losing grip on reality is absolutely debilitating.

[iknowexactlywhoyouare]

There’s nothing worse in life than being betrayed by your own mind

[Orangeyougladx]

I had a friend who had schizophrenia and he never told anyone. Anyway, one day he got real quiet in gym class and whispered “do you see him?”
Me and my friends all looked around confused. Apparently, one of his delusions was a man in a black trench coat that followed him around. He held one of my other friend’s hands until it went away.
Till this day I think about him and hope he’s ok. He looked genuinely terrified.

[honestlyihaventdecidedonay]

my mother was schizophrenic, she took her life around 3 years ago- can honestly say all the stigma around people with psychosis and the stereotype that all of them are violent couldn’t be further from the truth. i couldn’t have asked for a more caring mom. miss her everyday :(

[silverriffs]

My best friend had a psychotic break, it’s been 3 months and he still hasn’t been the same. He’s been in the psych ward for a month and calls me every few days and he’s always speaking in riddles talking about a new delusion he has. The most devastating part is his sense of humor is completely gone, he used to be the funniest guy I knew now I haven’t heard him laugh in months. I just want my homie back man. I love you Chris and I will always pick up the phone when you call no matter how ill you are or how dead ended the conversations seem.

edit 2 months later: he seems to have pretty much fully recovered from the episode although there’s always the looming possibility of relapse. Thanks for the kind words y’all it means a lot

[SchizoetryOfficial]

I was diagnosed Schizophrenia in 2012. I can happily say that after all these years, trying different medications and other things, I am about 95% symptom free and on a medication that works really well. I'm working part time and also learning game development. I'm doing really great.

Edit: Thank you all for the kind words. As for what medication I'm on, I've been on Risperdal 1mg for the last few years and it works great for me. However, schizophrenia is on a spectrum just like Autism. What works for me might not work for you, you just have to find a good doctor and experiment until you get it right. It's a combination of medication and many other things, such as a good support system (family and friends), a good sleep schedule, and eating right. I also self medicated with nicotine and alcohol, and sort of have a schedule for when I drink (never 2 days in a row, and I don't buy more when I run out). Alcohol is kind of a tightrope in that if I drink too much, my symptoms come back, but if I drink just the right amount it gets me out of my head and I can just be happy with no voices or delusions. I don't recommend trying to manage the disorder unmedicated. I've never seen anyone come out good who wasn't on meds. I'm in a support group on Facebook called Schizophrenia Unlimited, and the admin has been an absolute gem of a person. If you need people to talk to who know what you are going through, I recommend checking out that group.

[lancemoore]

Suddenly I don’t feel much self pity for having bipolar 1, schizophrenia is truly terrifying and my heart goes out to anyone that has to deal with this disorder

[jakey]

My granddad was schizophrenic. He developed it in 2008 after he lost his house due to the financial crisis. My nan passed away from cancer in 2021 and didn't get to say goodbye to him as he put himself in hospital due to voices telling him to hurt her. He walked 8 miles to the hospital at 3am by himself whilst hearing voices screaming at him to hurt my grandma. I cannot fathom the strength that took and I'm so proud of him. He commited suicide in December 2022 after trying to submit himself to the hospital. They wouldn't let him into the hospital as they didn't believe he was in a crisis, so he walked 6 miles to a bridge and jumped into the river where he drowned. My heart bleeds for anyone who suffers with these types of illnesses.

[empressmarowynn]

I had a friend in high school who was an incredible artist. His schizophrenia would cause him to see the wildest things ripped straight from a horror movie and so he would paint what he saw. The problem was when he took his meds he wouldn't have the hallucinations and therefore didn't have anything to paint. So he eventually worked out a schedule where he would set aside specific days to paint and on those days he wouldn't take his meds, but he would have someone nearby in case he had any problems and to make sure he took his meds when his allotted time was up. This system worked for him for a few years but I haven't seen him in decades so I hope he's still doing well.

[OlyChickenGuy]

As a schizophrenic, I appreciate your coverage of this disorder.

A bit of trivia I read years ago that I found very investing: People in highly developed societies with auditory hallucinations tend to report more often that their voices are negative or malicious, while people in less developed societies tend to report that their voices are positive, helpful, and benevolent.

[THECODAKK]

i’m schizophrenic and the hallucinations don’t bother me too much since when i see them i feel so out of it i’m barely able to acknowledge their existence. i get very common delusions that my cats are demons trying to kill me and that’s way more scary than any hallucination i’ve ever had

[inkmime]

I have an uncle who's about the hardest working man I can ever think of who sadly still finds himself chronically homeless or incarcerated because of the lack of options for treatment for someone like him. He's a talented sailor, the man can *captain a shrimping boat*, but the symptoms are debilitating for him whenever they begin manifesting once again. Man deserves better, deserves to be understood more. The paranoia is crippling, I wish more people would understand that.

[steveowens]

My son was diagnosed with schizophrenia 6 years ago . Takes olanzapine daily without fail. Last year he graduated from Brighton university with a first in psychology and is thinking of doing a masters . His goal is to work and help people with MH issues.

[mullcrumthesage]

I would not wish schizophrenia upon my worst enemy. For those of you reading this comment that have it...stay positive and stay strong. We love you.

[rex]

i should not have watched this when I’m this high

[rhov-anion]

After a childhood of being diagnosed with various mental health issues like depression and plain "laziness, " my sister finally was honest with her therapist and admitted to hearing voices. These voices whispered that she was a failure, ugly, unloved, and some screamed at her to kill herself. She had been fighting against those voices her whole life. Just surviving to the end of the day was a battle. She's never tried to harm anyone, though. She's funny, intelligent, a published writer, she holds multiple degrees, including microbiology, Medieval English Literature, and she studied abroad twice for a Masters degree in Spanish Literature, becoming fluent in Spanish. She's now a high school teacher, which seems far below her potential, but just managing to live such a productive life with her constant battle with mental health is impressive.

[criticalmaz]

I watched the only person I've ever loved disappear into his own head. It was confusing, terrifying and heartbreaking. I ended up homeless, suffering a complete mental breakdown, after he turned on me. That's partly why I went back to college to study psychology -- my way of coping is to learn and hopefully understand.

[lovefromwonderland]

Schizophrenia honestly seems like a really debilitating, terrifying mental illness. Props to those who suffer from it, you guys are true warriors :(

[margot]

I am diagnosis with schizophrenia. I have my first episodes for a month. I really thought it was real until recently i began to recall everything. I keep hearing voice of people who hurt me day and night. I can't turn it off. My thought become so foggy that i was no longer in control. I am afraid of talking medicine but i am training my mind to experience the pain and embarrassment again and again by recalling every details. I really am recalling everything again and again to recognize my triggers. I pray for those who is going through this. It's difficult.