Do I really have Schizophrenia?

Hello,

My name is Ragav and I'm 20 years old. I'm from India.

Last year about this time, I was having the following symptoms:-

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Fatigue
Feeling tired and restless
Anger
lack of spontaneity
blunting of social skills
depression
problems judging what is emotionally significant
lack of emotional feelings and attachment to things
terrible mood swings
being rigid, stoic and serious all the time
feeling like a really old person
feeling like I'm really boring
oscillating between extremes of feelings
poor eating and sleep patterns etc
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I visited a psychiatrist in here and after several tests and all, he diagnosed me with "Schizophrenia" (Schizophrenia with depressive element). He also said that nervous tension and depression were some of my symptoms and that I've had this condition for quite a long time.

However, I did not have any symptoms such as auditory hallucinations or delusions etc.

As I read more about schizophrenia, I figure that almost everyone with schizophrenia has auditory hallucinations and/or delusions. So I'm wondering if I really have schizophrenia or not.

Can any professional help me with knowing if I do have schizophrenia?

Thanks.

You could go to a different doctor and get a second opinion if you feel you've been misdiagnosed.

My uncle has also been diagnosed schizophrenic and he never had hallucinations or delusions... So I guess it's possible, or else you and him both had bad doctors (which is possible, his former doctor who diagnosed him decades ago was on radio and TV for a while and he is a moron).

Doesn't sound like schizophrenia to me.

Ragav, I sincerely believe that you need a second opinion on the diagnosis from a senior psychiatrist before you start any prescription drugs. I could recommend Dr N Gopalakrishnan in Chennai - he performed a near miracle for my cousin who was suffering for last 10 years with unremitted symptoms.

Keep in mind that Schizophrenia is just a word. All of those symptoms occur in schizophrenics, yes, but why not try and treat the symptoms and see if it helps? What I mean is, if you have poor sleeping patterns, make it a point to go to bed at a decent time. Make it a point to try and eat healthier, get exercise, and do things that make you happy. Don't worry about having schizophrenia, and I bet things will get a whole lot better.

I usually do not have hallucinations but I match most of the criteria for it. It could be primordial (if that is the right word) but doctors do vary in their diagnosis so a second opinion isn't a bad idea.