Voices? Anxiety? Advice please!

Ok, here's the question...

I know that we all have an inner voice but can that inner voice tell you to harm yourself or others? What does this mean? Is this the onset to schizophrenia?

I don't work and I haven't done so for the past 10 months. On top of that, I'm HIV , I have chronic back and leg pain etc etc. Everything is really stressing me out and I'm having thoughts of hurting myself and when this happens, I think of other things - positive things.

I take Lexapro 10mg for panic disorder and depression and these thoughts have been around for the past week and I thought maybe it was my anxiety. My worst nightmare would be something happening to my daughter or husband and sometimes I think, oh no, what if I hurt them in my sleep or something and this makes me anxious and I start to panic.

Any thoughts?

I'm not hearing voices as in what we here when others talk.. It's my own voice - not other peoples voices if that all makes sense?

I used to feel the same way. Please take this into consideration. It worked for me, although I am not you.

I had overwhelming anxiety. It turned out to be my use of Splenda. Yup Splenda. How could something that taste so good, be so bad?

I like to say sucralose, not Splenda, because that is what Splenda is. And it is in a lot of stuff. Sadly, the package doesn't have to say Splenda or diet to have sucralose in it. You have to read labels. So, you might be using it and don't even know it!

Sucralose is poison. It ruined five years of my life. I had a laundry list of medical problems while taking it, including overwhelming anxiety, depression, mood swings, insomnia, gastrointestinal issues and more.

Go ahead, google: anxiety splenda or anxiety sucralose or insomnia splenda or insomnia sucralose

The slogan, "Made from sugar..." is very misleading. Splenda might be made from sugar, but it is far from sugar. The resulting chemical is an organochloride (chlorocarbon). Organochlorides are typically poisons.

carbon monoxide - made from oxygen so its like a breath of fresh air

You need to keep them thoughts out of your head, as simple as it sounds, when your having the thoughts, just take a deep breath and let that thought leave your mind.

This sounds related to your depression, alot of people have violent thoughts during a depression, which is why you need to work to get out of this depression.

If this matter is bothering you alot, please tell your doctor, they really can help you and may refer you to a professional.

Ask Phoebe.

PLEASE PLEASE TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR ABOUT THIS

If your concerned about harming your family - by harming yourself - you will be inflicting an awful situation that they will have to deal with -

don't put anyone in jeopardy - talk to the doctor that prescribed the lexapro - maybe you haven't been taking it long enough for it to reduce your depression.
or maybe a stronger dosage is in order.

make an appointment immediately - don't put yourself or anyone else at risk.....................

Stress, and lots of it. Take a breather my friend and next time stop trying to diagnose your own, there is always a big bias in doing so. I'm not fully equipped to establish that HIV causes a particular amount of stress in a medical model but I'm certain the hormonal rate has increased and therefore stress in a bi-product. No, this isn't schizophrenia,. if you are curious then check and see if any relatives have schizoidal problems, this can be inherited.

when you say thoughts of killing. Is it your own thoughts? I know i have had horrible thoughts before. I think i would definitely call the doctor. or one of those help hot lines. Im sure your medicine could have an effect on it too. how long have you been taking your medicine? i know my husband took some Medicine and it gave him thoughts of suicide and he actually tried to do it too.It is also listed that the medicine he was taking can cause that.

I understand. I would get help to find out why you are thinking about it. You need to kick those thoughts out.

Yes that is a symptom of schizophrenia. It's very serious and I know it sucks but you really do need to talk to a doctor. I think you made a very big step by starting on here and getting opinions because things like this are very personal and it's hard to seek help. But you know what you need to do. I hope you do the right thing. For your family's sake, and your own.

I really think you need to discuss your concerns with your Doctor, it could be a side effect of your drugs or condition, or it could be something more. No one here can diagnose you, if you are concerned for your families safety you really should speak to a Doctor honestly about it.

Best Wishes

Auditory hallucinations are what hearing voices are called. Please seek assistance from your physician or therapist. There are medications to help alleviate this symptom. Yes this could be linked to schizoprenia or it may be something else.

contact your doctor asap..he needs to change your meds...some people just can't take the strength they are on or need stronger meds..or different kinds...He will help you. Medicine is changeable...but your family is precious to you....I know you wouldn't hurt them on purpose.

Call the doctor now!

Talk to your dr . If it gets bad go to the er and tell them you want to comit your selfe for evaluation the team there can get u straitend out .

See your doctor and tell them how your feeling, they may need to look at your medication

if its an actual voice you hear n not just yourself, go see a doctor asap.

You need to talk to your doctor. For the sake of your daughter.

Look u need to be strong i know wat its like im on antidepressant pills, paxil CR please dont do something that will hurt the people u love im begging u, its not going to be worth it, dont give into wat the voices say dont let them laugh wen they see there jobs have been acomplished. Spend sometime to pamper yourself and eat healthy, if u are on hiv meds keep taking them and exersise do stuff to keep u occupied and please if u believe in God take time out to pray, cus wether u want to believe it or not he is in control and this storm u are going through is just a test. please dont harm urself, i love u even though i dont know u. Good luck

I used to have voices in my head.. yeah.. weird, but apparently it was due to some chemical imbalances in my head which was causing this to happen. I took meds for a few years and a bunch of therapy and I can honestly say I don't hear them anymore.. Given this was all the way back in Middle School, I was 12 at the time I believe? I'm 21 now.

As far as your pain.. I understand you and I'm sure if you would go to the doctors they can prescribe pain meds that could help with the leg pains & back pains.

Keep trying to think of positive things... I know it's so hard to when things seem so downhill all the time. I suffer from depression and anxiety too.. and lately my life has been a total mess.. It's mostly relationship things that have bringing me down. Girls mess with your head it seems and I get attached so easy and care so much.. when they say they are about you and just pretty much.. say FU the next day It's rather unsettling.. I'd say to myself I just won't love again, or care, but the fact is I hate being alone more than anything. But.. enough about my issues..

If you aren't already regularly going to counseling, I'd suggest you take a minute out of your day to find someone who can see you on a regular basis. And it also sounds like you could use an increased dosage in your medication.

Sorry if none if this helped, but I wish you luck.

early stages of schizophrenia,

The symptoms of schizophrenia vary from one person to another, and they can appear either gradually or suddenly. At first, symptoms may include mild feelings of tension, inability to sleep or concentrate, and a loss of interest in school, work, or friends.

As the illness progresses, people with schizophrenia experience symptoms that include psychosis, which is a general term for a number of major psychiatric illnesses in which a person incorrectly evaluates the accuracy of his or her perceptions and thoughts and makes incorrect conclusions about reality.

most people with schizophrenia are not violent; they are much more likely to be withdrawn. People with schizophrenia are not especially prone to violence. When violence does occur, it usually takes place at home and is directed at family members and friends.

the earlier you seek help the better and good luck.

I am sorry for your problems and I do have some experience with the sort of problems the mind and cause us. However I am not a psychiatrist and while they don't know everything I would think that someone qualified in that field is the best person to help you. I have no experience with Lexapro but it may be that it is no longer doing the job for you and it may be a good idea to see if you can move to a different drug. I do know that as good as any psychiatrist is they still don't know what drug works and what does not in every case so it is a matter of trying until they find something that does help. Thinking positively is a very very good idea in these circumstances so keep trying to do that

you need to go to your doctor for an evaluation. hearing voices of any kind may be a sign of a serious mental health illness. you have to be open with the doc, and not hold any information back so you can be diagnosed properly. alot of people feel like they will be giving something up or loosing their pride or family by going in to the hospital, but you will not, you will gain the support of your family and the hospital staff. HIV can also onset an early form of dementia, it also seems like you are having some coping issues that surround your present circumstances. share your concerns with your husband, you do not need to hurt yourself or others. the earlier you get help the faster you will be in recovery. i work in a psychiatric department with many people who have all of your conditions and then some, they leave a different person from when they came in, because they leave with empowerment. good luck!! please make sure you get help!!