What is the difference between Schizophrenia and DP?

What is the difference between schizophrenia and DP? I'll tell you a symptom I have and you might think otherwise. I have this symptom to where I will random either smell or see something from my past and my mind will shoot me into that particular memory again. It's like I relive it. No I'm not hallucinating but I feel there. The emotions. The vibes. The feelings I had then. It's like the step before hallucinating. Sometimes it's not even a memory but just something complete random, I will feel in another place. Another time. Watching a movie and feeling the vibes from it and thinking I'm in the movie. Like truly feeling the environment almost changes, my environment. I'm still here but not at all. The best way to describe it, is the feeling right before you fall asleep and your still slightly conscious but you start dreaming and drifting into a dream. That is what is happening to me but wide away in the middle of the day. I do not think that is Depersonalization, it must be something worse...

Firstly, schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder and DP is a dissociative disorder. Schizophrenia is characterized by delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, disorganized or catatonic behavior, and/or negative symptoms. DP is characterized by persistent or recurrent feelings of derealization and depersonalization. You can have overlapping symptoms, but they are very different disorders. I suggest looking up the diagnostic criteria for both if you want more information.

I cannot diagnose you, but nothing you described sounds like a definite symptom of psychosis. (Except for thinking you are in the movie, but that's very dependent on what you mean.) Many people who depersonalize can think they are in psychosis because they feel so detached from reality. But I really can't say anything from what you wrote and I'm not qualified to. Whatever it is, the symptoms are bothering you and the only person who could diagnose you is a doctor. If you're distressed by it, reach out for help. Good luck!

Thank you for your reply. I broke down and went to my doctor the other day and he said I'm far from psychotic. and said it was ptsd flashbacks mixed with Depersonalization. Though I'm having a tough time believing him, and i dont know if thats me being psychotic or if its my OCD...

I'm glad you got help! I was actually told by a therapist that what I experienced was acute stress disorder which is a form of PTSD. I would believe it, it's common for people with these symptoms to feel they are psychotic. But even if that were the case, it's all treatable.

Thanks again!

I know how you're feeling. I thought I was developing schizophrenia for a while a number of years ago, but now that I've been in therapy for a few years, I've come to realize that I have DDNOS (now known as OSDD). There is such a thing as dissociative hallucinations. I get them, too. It's more than just DP, but it's not psychotic.

It sounds to me like you're getting intrusive memories. Very common in dissociation.

Take care...

What are instructive memories Tangle?

Sw48 wrote:What is the difference between schizophrenia and DP? I'll tell you a symptom I have and you might think otherwise.

You describe flashbacks. Very typical flashbacks. Flashbacks are not symptoms of schizophrenia. Flashbacks often do occur together with depersonalization but although you mention DP you do not describe any DP.

Your doctor called it.

Una, i dont really know why I have PTSD. I mean, I've had a lot of panic attacks from OCD and my mom has cancer... I did go through some bad depression before the DP and PTSD though... on going depression i guess.