Schizophrenic, Bipolar, Did?

Thanks for the book recommendation.

I know DID well.

I would not bring this question to the DID group if it were not already presented here, but I am wondering if a young boy, about age 12 who keeps seeing the same man and the same car following him, (and is terrified about it) could simply be normal. After all his parent is DID and his childhood was not within the norms, but he was never abused. I know it's not DID for sure, but schizophrenia would ring a bell except that this child is developmentally soiled. As in extremely athletic. Could this have anything to do with being bipolar?

DID wrote:I am wondering if a young boy, about age 12 who keeps seeing the same man and the same car following him, (and is terrified about it) could simply be normal.

Do you know to what extent, if any, this is a delusion? Has your son pointed out the man and/or the car to you?

Take what you like and leave the rest. Always consult a professional if the symptoms get worse.

Im sorry your having problems and not feeling well.

DID (i.e. Dissociative disorder), at extreme levels is similar to Schizophrenia in many ways. That has been my conclusion. It can be similar in the experience. However, they are two different conditions. My therapist asked if I see things or hear delusions that I act upon. Voices or visual that are consistent that I cannot shut off. The answer was no. I do hear voices at times. When Ive had PTSD breaks, I see things, blurred and distorted colors/perceptions. My equilibrium was off.


One general point I will make. Because the mind is weakened and torn apart, anything can happen.

Una+ wrote:

DID wrote:I am wondering if a young boy, about age 12 who keeps seeing the same man and the same car following him, (and is terrified about it) could simply be normal.

Do you know to what extent, if any, this is a delusion? Has your son pointed out the man and/or the car to you?

He has pointed out the car. He insisted it kept showing up where we were one day, no matter where we were - that same black car seems to be everywhere! It terrified him! We stayed in a motel and he was certain the man that checked in next to us was that man. I never saw him though.

-- Sun Apr 15, 2012 4:38 pm --

OMNICELL wrote:DID (i.e. Dissociative disorder), at extreme levels is similar to Schizophrenia in many ways.

I know dissociation quite well. He is not dissociative. Other than his insane like temper that nothing can calm, seeing this man and car that appear to him to follow him, are his only symptoms - until I think more about it. His teachers would describe him as brilliant, difficult and stubborn. He is the problem child in their classroom. He must have things a certain way. His hair, his clothes, etc...

DID wrote:He has pointed out the car. He insisted it kept showing up where we were one day, no matter where we were - that same black car seems to be everywhere! It terrified him! We stayed in a motel and he was certain the man that checked in next to us was that man. I never saw him though.

Your son could be right that it is the same car and man. That does not mean the man has an intent connected with you or your son. Or if the man does have such an intent, it is not necessarily bad. Sometimes there are strange coincidences. Once I drove 2000 miles on a long trip that took days, and I kept seeing the same van driven by a couple with a baby. They kept passing me. Eventually we started waving to each other. They were taking the same route but they stopped every hour or so to attend to the baby, then they would drive fast to make up time. My fantasy was that they had a goal of passing me before their next stop.

DID wrote:Other than his insane like temper that nothing can calm, seeing this man and car that appear to him to follow him, are his only symptoms - until I think more about it. His teachers would describe him as brilliant, difficult and stubborn. He is the problem child in their classroom. He must have things a certain way. His hair, his clothes, etc...

Okay, he is very intense, with some obsessive and compulsive traits. Many brilliant people are that way. It is part of what makes them brilliant. Is he generally very observant? I would respect that, which means I would investigate the car and the man. Learn the tag number and other details to help make a confident ID that it is *this* car and no other. Learn the man's name and his business. Keep a written log of sightings. If this does not set you at ease, take the log to the police and ask them for advice.

I recommend Gavin de Becker's books The Gift of Fear and Protecting the Gift. They are similar in content, so read either one, or both. One point he makes is that when a predatory man is attracted to a woman with a child, usually his target is the woman and his attraction is sexual.

Una+ wrote:Okay, he is very intense, with some obsessive and compulsive traits. Many brilliant people are that way. It is part of what makes them brilliant. Is he generally very observant?

I recommend Gavin de Becker's books The Gift of Fear and Protecting the Gift. They are similar in content, so read either one, or both. One point he makes is that when a predatory man is attracted to a woman with a child, usually his target is the woman and his attraction is sexual.

No way it's the same man or car or anyone actually following him. This is not just a one day thing and he reports it to many people, not just to me and they don't see anyone. It happens when he feels afraid or abandoned for the most part - or just after such an episode of feeling alone. He is very observant -rather than dissociated.

Okay. I would still have him keep a written log of time and place where he sees the car, the man, or both. This may help him to feel more in control of his anxiety, and may help both of you to identify what in his environment may be triggering him.

This doesn't sound normal, but even if it were delusional, delusional does not equal schizophrenia. Children go through a lot of changes, and periods of abnormal behavior are normal. How long has he had this worry?

Thanks for your interest and help Una.

This has been going on since about last Christmas. I have asked him to tell me when he sees the man and I will go and get the guy.