a type of social anxiety? or psychosis...

ive had problems with this for a few years now im 23 now, and was 20 when all this started. the shrinks seem to want to believe that i have schizoaffective disorder (a mix of schizophrenic and bipolar symptoms).

i agree with the bipolar part but the schizophrenia part i seem to question a bit.

i can hear thoughts of other people when im in close disstance to them and both of us are not talking. at first i feel uncomfortable, thn anxious and finally i hear a thought of theirs. i feel quite anxious when these situations occur. do any of you have similar experiences and has the doc diagnosed you with social anxiety instead of psychosis?

this happened today:
i was anxious on the bus and a chick was looking at me she was sitting behind me. these where some of her thoughts:

your a nice guy.
your alright.
are you gay?
a jew.
what are you on?
your on something?
medication?

keep in mind that if im home alone or walking in the woods or somewhere away from people i never hear anything. its related to some form of social anxiety or is it generalized anxiety or is it just plain schizophrenia?

Hi, distorted. I'm not a psych, but it sounds like you might have some social anxiety in addition to what the shrinks think you have. We all feel like we're being judged when we feel self conscious around people. I hope you can get the help you need and maybe it might help to talk to a therapist too.

distorted wrote:keep in mind that if im home alone or walking in the woods or somewhere away from people i never hear anything. its related to some form of social anxiety or is it generalized anxiety or is it just plain schizophrenia?

Hi distorted,

I too have the exact same problem as you. I hear (or i think i hear) peoples thoughts only when im close to them. Its really frustrating me because as soon as i hear a thought (90% of the time a negative comment) i either get angry and give them the evils or get anxious. I have social anxiety and im pretty sure its the subconcious part of the brain playing tricks on me. Ive been on Fluxotine for the last 2 months and it has really helped me alot but just lately ive been hearing peoples thoughts alot. Ill ask my doctor what he thinks this is on my next visit in a couple of weeks and ill let you know what he says.

distorted wrote: i can hear thoughts of other people when im in close disstance to them and both of us are not talking.

you THINK you can hear thoughts of other people...but really you cant. Its impossible... you are just having anxiety and a social phobia.

My friend asks me all the time if I think people can communicate with their minds, and he just had psychosis.

I'm not an expert either but 'hearing' the thoughts of others sounds like a form of psychosis to me, especially if you hear them as audible voices. Social phobia is more about feelings of anxiety in group/performance situations...shyness/self-consciousness, if you will. It involves fear of being judged but not perceiving other peoples judgemental thoughts directly, as far as I know. A person can have symptoms of more than 1 condition, however, and they can be related, which sounds like what you're experiencing.

I'm new to the forum so hello. I hope this as an appropriate share.

I took a Spiritual Depth class at a seminary I applied to. I was rejected because of social problems so I took a class to see if I could get along. While everyone was having an experience of the divine, I was taking a journey in to hell. During meditation I saw disturbing visions. When I relaxed and had fun I had shoulder/neck pain. One day we did an exercise where we sat across from another student and discussed some feelings. There was a noisy hub-bub in the room. Then we were instructed to share our feelings again, but silently. I heard the same hub-bub and got angry at the people who didn't listen to the instructions. I looked around to glare at the violators and realized their mouths were shut. It was very upsetting and I thought I must be mad. Luckily the teachers were pretty hip, one was a shrink. They did not find it unusual. I had some friends who are psychics and they did not think me nuts. I often "sense" other's thoughts very clearly. I especially know when people fear me. When I have a concern like this I do not let ANYONE diagnose me. I get several opinions from people I trust, some doctors, some not. What is "crazy" in a shrink's office might be "gifted" in a psychic's. It is important for me to tell someone professional. You might want to read Holographic Universe by Talbot and Carl Jung.