Help in figuring out whats wrong with my friend

I have an old friend (also an exboyfriend of mine) that exhibits some really strange behaviors sometimes. I am not well-versed in psychology, and don't even know if he fits the role of a schizophrenic. I'm hoping that if I list some of his symptoms, someone can tell me what might be going on inside his head. I really want to help him (so do his other friends and family) but we don't know where to even begin.

Here are some of his odd behaviors:

-Has alot of difficulty sleeping
-Thinks there is something people aren't telling him - some sort of secret. He cut off ties with many of his friends because they wouldn't "tell him what was going on."
-Admits that he has lost touch with reality
-Is horribly uninterested in every hobby he once had - the only thing he cares about is getting drunk or doing drugs
-When he is drunk, his symptoms are exaggerated. For instance, he will lock himself in the bathroom and talk to himself (though it sounds like he is talking to somebody else). He'll cry, suck his thumb, rock back and forth, etc.
-Compulsively lies, even so much that it seems as if he believes his own lies.
-Seems like he has no hope in life. Has no plans for the future. Quit job, dropped out of school.
-Tries to kill himself (only when around other people) or threatens to.
-Recently admitted he feels like a part of him is a homosexual.

For a while I thought he was an alcoholic or a drug addict, but I (as well as alot of my other friends) are alcoholics and go to A.A. and we don't experience any of the things I listed above. Like I said, I have no idea if this describes a schizophrenic (it seems like some of his symptoms point to schizophrenia, while others point to bipolar or multiple-personality disorder).

Any help anyone can give would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

Hi, jnd325! Maybe all the drinking and drug use is making him paranoid (other people on these forums have mentioned that) or maybe something else is manifesting itself. Hopefully someone who knows more about this will be able to give you more information and feel free to read this forum, but we couldn't really tell you for sure if he has a certain illness. He needs a doctor. You could maybe start with the alcohol problem and take it from there. If you'd convince him to get help for that and if a decent psych sees him, maybe they'll be able to figure out everything that is happening to your friend.

Im not a professional, HOWEVER i have schizophrenia, AND successfully diagnosed myself b4 my doctor did. But I can tell you what you have written jumps out at me, and in my opinion he is SUFFERING from a schizo affective disorder.I HAVE BEEN WHERE UR FRIEND IS I too have/do:
1) talk to myself in the bathroom (bc it feels safe)
2) constantly (if not always) lose touch w/ parts or all of reality
3) Have always wanted to kill myself
4) find myself horribly uninterested in all aspects of my life (even sex, food, & future)
5) rejected society/reality (quit dozens of jobs, push all my friends away)
6) feel paranoid, even though it's unwarrented

its important you know some of the symptoms/triggers of most schizophrenics such as:
that while drugs/drinking worsen schizophrenia, they ARE NOT the cause.
regression (such as sucking thumbs, rocking back forth, etc) such as you described is a serious symptom of a psychotic disorder
delusions (thoughts that arent true [lies] but that they believe are true beyond a shadow of a doubt)
hallucinations (seeing things that arent there)...however often he wont know that what he sees isnt real, he will think its real
disassociation- basically rejecting reality/society either partially or fully

I could right about it all night and still wouldn't have said enough, and you should really read into schizo affective disorders and see if it sound like whats going on... BUT WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW (IN MY OPINION) is your friend needs psychiatric help ASAP or he will most likely become a threat to himself or others. Unfortunately schizophrenics are stereotyped as violent/suicidal... BUT THATS NOT FAIR, we are just confused and dont know any better.