What those with schizophrenia think are happening.

I know, it's a long list. My 26 year old goddaughter has schizophrenia w/bipolar mostly depressive and has lived in my city for nearly 8 years now and is living with me now, again. She has been on SSI since she was 18 and her medications work well overall but after all of these years here she is moderately better than when she came but certainly not where anyone would hope she would be after 8 years.

But my reason for this thread is an oldie that has come up before: she claims that random people she does not know spit on her for no reason and is adamant that this is happening and I have heard this more than once over the years. This is a nice looking young lady who in no way looks or acts odd so there is no reason why anyone would spit on her out of the blue. The last time was when she got off the bus last Friday. I am 65 and nobody has ever spat upon me and I've asked others if they have ever had it happen and they've all said 'no'.

So how common is this with those with schizophrenia and what is the best way to address it?
People do spit, but she takes it and other things as being directed and intentionally at her personally.
I've tried to tell her that most people tend to be so wrapped up with themselves, how they look, what is going on in their lives, to be concerned with somebody who looks so 'normal' but although I hope a logical and reasoned argument would work, it clearly has not yet because I realize it's not about logic and reason. But it is disheartening.

Im sorry to say this. But she is 100% correct! This is real. People are divided between actors and non-actors(Trumans, from the movie the Truman show) People spit at me as well and doing fake-cough, and throat sounds. So sorry to say this but she is right. You're either a actor or you are not.

I've had people spit at my feet and look at me angrily, but they didn't spit on me. People follow me and when I'm in a store they will cough when I go by. It seems like a set-up wherever I go. People fake coughing and following me around. People are strange and they do gang stalk people they don't like, to try to get them to be thought of as schizo, destitute, suicidal...all kinds. There is a lot of bad people. I try to be positive but look where the US is going. Racists are everywhere and so are other bad people. So, I don't know if somebody spit on her, but it is possible.

You will be surprised what this world has turned into over the last decade or so, they don't have to spit on you to have had the intention of doing so. Instead they spit onto the ground or do something else odd, some people are more likely to take notice but all people do kinds of things to insult people. I've even caught people flipping the bird that were trying to be quick as to not be noticed.

I believe this is called delusions of persecution: that everyone is out to get you, mad at you, or doesn't like you. It's obviously a delusion to normal people (unless they deserve persecution) but it is very real to her. Therapy might help her rationalize these feelings and would help her be more happy and well adjusted.

This sounds very similar to my experiences. I would have delusions of reference and believe everyone knew who I was and everyone would play mind games with me. People would mock me for being an asshole and I believed I had some sort of negative reputation that seemed to follow me around. I attributed significance to almost every conversation or action (including laughing or spitting) strangers would make and began to think I was on some sort of reality tv show. Delusions of reference are very strange indeed.