Schizotypal Personality - Is It The Beginning of Schizophrenia?

[@DrTraceyMarks]

WATCH NEXT - *WHAT IS SCHIZOPHRENIA?* kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3q8iGyAn79ghdU

[@spellbound9536]

Hi Dr.Tracey I have a big doubt about which one is better and why to treat mental or psychological diseases or illness between dms5 and cie-10

[@youalreadyknow6763]

I agree with that

[@AB-pr4uc]

Dr. Tracey, how do you distinguish between Schizotypal and ASD? Is paranoia or interest in paranormal things the key difference?

[@PickledPixiePie]

I HAVE A QUESTION. Preface: I have a theory that the paranoid line of thinking that Trump and therefore Fox were pushing, in which Fox opinion hosts have recently admitted they knew were false, possible induced a achizo-effective type mania in people or triggered people that probably have it and just aren't aware of it. I'm an Independent. So, I view both sides of things. During one rally, Trump told people, "What you're seeing and hearing isn't what's really going on..." In that context, he claims to be the "truth teller", and the result is a cult-like following that defies logic. Not that this embodies ALL Trump supporters, but a LOT of them seem to have schizo-typical symptoms. So, my question (political stuff aside) is can schizpeffective bi-polar psychologically and therefore artificially be induced via a combination of demoralization, paranoia, and blind faith?

[@sr2291]

​@@AB-pr4ucInterest in paranormal isn't magical thinking.

[@Sfpamsuke]

"Anyone can have aspects of the various personalities without manifesting it as a personality disorder..." I honestly wish people said this more about personality disorders and even other disorders. It's so invalidating and stigmatizing when people self diagnose something like OCD because they like to have their coloured pens in order.

[@GnosticMindTrain]

A lot of people self diagnose simply because doctors can't see them over insurance or schedule doesn't match up or doctors don't get them. I feel like doctors don't get me so in the past I self diagnosed but now I believe there's nothing wrong with me at all, despite not having a job and having no friends. I basically gave up with mental health. I'm 25.

[@Sfpamsuke]

​@@GnosticMindTrain Now that you mention it that way, I realize my experiences are probably different than yours (I assume you live in the US). That's real terrible to go through and I can't fully understand how you feel but have heard a lot of bullshit about the medical system there. Just the inflated med prices anger me to such a great extent. In Canada it's less being unable to afford 'health care' but more those beyond diagnosis of depression or anxiety are thrown under the bus and basically treated like they don't exist and are better off dead (but if you're someone with the actual diagnosis and you say that, you're accused of catastrophizing while 'advocacy' groups say the same with praise). I apologize if it seemed like unwarranted bitterness... and for this unintentionally long ramble-rant. Thanks for mentioning this as well!

[@GnosticMindTrain]

@@Sfpamsuke Mental health doctors can't figure me out. I seem to be a mystery. I really don't care what I am anymore. I used to go to a mental health facility, they just passed me from doctor to doctor in a short period of time. Kept pushing drugs on me when I really didn't need it, I just wanted to chat. Forget labels and forget help. I'm gonna be in my parents house forever and no one will stop me unless I get famous or something were people can finally notice me and I get some money.

[@bbranden1750]

@@GnosticMindTrain Watch the video again.

[@reversepolarity8981]

I'm on the autism spectrum and can't stand when people do this. Or will tell me I'm not actually autistic because of a certain trait I have related to ASD that they have as well. It's such a facepalm moment.

[@samsula123]

I love how you make complex concepts digestible and relatable.

[@DrTraceyMarks]

Thanks a lot Sam 😊

[@funeralangel8262]

Me too ! 👌☺

[@reznog12]

indeed

[@tayzonday]

Yeah I’ve been formally diagnosed with schizotypal personality disorder but I’m not schizophrenic.

[@jesseasner7330]

What made you want to get diagnosed?

[@ElasticGiraffe]

First I see you commenting on Anton Petrov's astronomy vids and now here? You really get around the information sector of KZbin!

[@destinedlester]

[@michaelduvau572]

good for you chocolate rain

[@grillinnchillin4009]

@@ElasticGiraffe Lolyeah, I forgot where, but I saw him comment on another video not too long ago and thinking "wow" Very interesting to see tbh

[@sabrinacle]

My husband is diagnosed as this. He is a wonderful man

[@c-LAW]

Is a personality a "diagnosis"?

[@oberlion3595]

@@c-LAW technically yes, I think. If it's in the Personnality Disorder category, it's probably that it is worth a "diagnosis", for all the problems it can brings in a life.

[@kathrinjohnson2582]

Sabrinacle ev I'm glad to hear you say that. ❤️

[@p_serdiuk]

@@c-LAW What's diagnosed is not the personality itself, but the way in which it has fractured under certain genetic and environmental circumstances.

[@c-LAW]

@@p_serdiuk Then why is it called a "personality disorder"? And how and why can one diagnose circumstances? It's double speak: acting as if personality are both traits and symptoms (as in medical condition) -- but when pressed, they'll tell you it's not medical while speaking with their forked tongues.

[@kimberlypalmer947]

I was diagnosed with this along with some others. I have good days and bad. I pray for anyone that's going through this. Keep ur head up

[@nikicarrie4071]

Me too. Bad days are so bad

[@kylepatrick5252]

I have it too scary sometimes

[@heyborttheeditor1608]

As someone whose had this (traits of it, though not the full thing), I can 100% see how it could lead to full psychosis in a bad environment. As far as how I got out of it, healing that essential attachment piece was my ladder out. People were able to anchor me down to earth. Simply coregulating and rebuilding the trust that I could be at ease in relationship, that I could trust, was absolutely what got me out of my personal hell. Now the further on my path I get, the more I heal this relational damage, the better my life becomes. I didn’t know if I would ever be in the place I am now, and from here I am only optimistic. Thanks for your quality content.

[@gjiversonful]

I have STPD and have noticed a few things. One is the social anxiety comes even with chat rooms and social games on the internet, people Ive never met in person or even seen. Second, I would like others to know is the social anxiety with human bonding and attachment is the cause of all the other symptoms which are just symptoms of being alone without a person to check thoughts against and is the largest source of suffering. Hope that makes sense. Every video I see except yours glosses over the attachment issues for the more "Hey these people look funny and believe weird things."

[@apathyrocks6056]

I have been diagnosed with this when I was depressed. I just tend see my own state as purely egosyntonic. It is hard to collect thoughts around some people at times. I prefer to rely more on processing insights than raw processing stimuli as default. Global sort of thinking which lacks concrete basis - extremely top down and abstract. Sometimes I make weird metaphors and I really like to unravel hidden meanings and I think I'm quite good at this (I even try to make schizophrenic ramblings understandable). Inclination towards mathematics, philosophy, mysticism and science (not as in facts but as in patterns). Unconventional yet sometimes very effective problem solving skills. Illogically logical - tendency to make sense /invent ways out of very hairy stuff. Routine kills me inside. Uncommon ideals such as thinking that we live in a simulation, life is a hoax and we should abstain from reproduction to aim for extinction to avoid suffering etc while still having exclusively positive feelings towards individuals. I have had few hallucinations and powerful religious experiences but I just tend to bring in the personal BS detector before I do anything stupid. This diagnosis as such makes me bit upset because I see it personally in terms of OCPD vs OCD. I might sound and seem OK and sometimes very intellectually focused and even very expressive but I hide the fact that I feel huge discomfort around people. I have had friends but initial discomfort and lack of commonality later on has made me cut ties. I also like to shock people with whimsical dark stories and mannerisms...

[@markellboyd1665]

All of this describes me. Does it affect your memory, do you have any anxiety?

[@visitorv5284]

I can relate to a lot of this^ except for the thinking that life is a simulation and the religious or supernatural experiences. But I find most magical thinking and conspiracy theories quite amusing. Still, I question myself way too hard to be able to develop any firm belief coming from my imaginative and rather inductive thinking. My problem with relationships comes from the fact that I seem to be observant and judgemental of other's behavior, while my behavior remains misunderstood because unlike me, people do not invest any time trying to undertand the odd. Sometimes I like to think that anxious or delusional people tend to worry about or see what is not there with the same intensity "normal" people avoid thinking farther from their noses. Makes one wonder about the roots and the evolutionary meaning of "insanity". One of the marks of intelligence is the ability to entertain an idea without believing in it. This tempts me to see schizotypal as people gifted with advanced imagination, therefore intelligent, poisoned by repeatitive unpleasant life experiences rather than being inherently flawed. It is the painful expereince that the person, as a defence mechanism, tries to rationalize throught their ability to accept with ease constructs of the imagination and this can be very tricky. I was able to understand what the person in the video meant by their comment. Both because I am inclined to think in abstractions and having an idea what allienation really feels like. I explain both with my struggles with dyslexia. From early age I was forced to develop a system of thinking that, to my understanding at the present moment, makes more conncetions between fewer neurons compensating for grey matter abnormallities, which seems to be a common trait of dyslectic and schizotypal. The method is much more efficient than the normal learning process as it compels one to focus on patterns and principles rather than just linear combinations of facts but it has a number of downsides: makes you less precise, more prone to uncontrollable leaps of imagination; it is slower at processing correctly new information; leads to dissatisfaction with here and now, which is a problem in synchronous communication. Under prolonged stress, building of connections ceases and you are left with (fixated on) the paranoid experiences and ideas. I cover 3 to 4 of the criteria for schizotypal on a very stressful day, which has happened only once that I can recall. I felt as if a fly is following and starring at me. This was triggered by a period of prolonged isolation, hostile environment and years of experiencing unexpected traumatic events in a row. A well deserved break from sanity, I suppose :D

[@pine.marten1663]

​ @Visitor V ​ At the original comment from Apathy Rocks and yours, I can relate. To begin I'm not saying I have Schizotypal, nor been diagnosed with it. First time hearing about this which gets my fire for learning burning. It's just I noticed I meet each criteria and it intrigued me. So to start, when it comes to the processing insights to metaphors. [Though my metaphors adapt to who I am speaking to. Ex: My mother was a nurse. When my father who unfortunately suffers NPD left, insert trauma scapegoat cliche story that's too long and off-topic, I taught my mom how to do basic mechanical repairs on her vehicle relating human anatomy in an understandable way for her to process the vehicle's parts. Or for another, my southern great uncle who didn't trust vaccines, I related his experiences with war to break down the immune system's functions as military soldiers with different positions then correlated memory cells as national intelligence planted to insure that another severe war will not break out by ceasing any threats quick and efficiently by knowing their enemies. Which led to vaccines and how it's like chess and mock wars, a 'fake' war for tactical training to train a national intelligence base for a possible threat of said nature, and how to terminate any war breakout as a just in case measure. I even doodled since he was visual which I tend to do and he felt calmer and more open to getting vaccinated. Tad off-topic.] So from metaphors, you can get a glimpse I'm very diverse with concepts due to my outstanding love for learning. If it's hands on, the better. I have a bottom up analysis approach and I find pattern recognition that, also gets me out of hairy situations where MacGyver nicknames would drop. It's just once I study something I learn there are connections in another field and next thing I know I'm needing to thoroughly understand every aspect which leads me along with things like Neurology, Geography, biology, psychology, heck mythology to mechanics from cars to planes, house appliances to computers.. Jack of all trades master of none I guess. (._ .) Turns out I was late diagnosed just a few years ago with ASD, which seems to host a lot of traits of the DSM-5 involving Schizotypal. Even ASD adults show having reduced grey matter for the majority of studies, some even mentioning increased volume but I haven't thoroughly examined the sources to state that's a fact but there are studies out there. As for thinking and speech. I cannot summarize to save my life. So this entire comment is about to be a novel when originally this started off as a simple, yea I relate before I couldn't stop typing. As for suspicious and paranoid thinking... I chop that to significant childhood trauma and post traumatic events that contributed to CPTSD and an annoying Triple F response, fight/flight/freeze, that causes me distress as I find ways to not suffer Borderline Adrenal Failure again and heal my burnout by reducing stressful or triggering scenarios that I have not yet gained a hold of to cease a stressed response. Now, before I started looking within I was extremely rigid to the point I would have meltdowns in defense of my beliefs. For reference, I'll be real I do have a new way of thinking where 3 times a charm isn't coincidences. Which leads to odd beliefs. I will admit mine is very out there, and I haven't come across any that quite view it as I do besides those around me who have experienced the same ordeal. If not for them, none of this would have taken serious root because I use to be agnostic. Too many weird things in my life had occurred that made no scientific or logical sense, which brought immense discomfort not knowing the truth or at least a logical scientific theory. Long story short, extensive studies of Quantum Physics has lead me to lean into studying Electromagnetism and the study of Energy. [Unfortunately Energy is such a... broad case, but like how Biology, Neuropsychology, geneology, ect. are all leaves of the same tree, Energy is that tree.] --- (x_x having to reply to my own reply to see if it replies part of my accidental word vomit)

[@pine.marten1663]

Basically, I'm aiming to prove all religion and science are two sides of the same coin. Everything from matter, which generally includes atoms and any combination of particles that's still energy, to frequency and vibrations, sound and light, are all connected. Telepathy and Clairvoyance exist but not in exaggerative terms in movies. Humans have their own electromagnetic fields they generate, or in some religions, this is the aura. When you tune like a radio with someone by synching 'vibing is a relatable term' you are aligning on the same frequency and can intuitively cross moments of shared thought, say the same sentence at the same time that was random and had nothing to do with the topic to give coincidence to know the other well. Sixth sense if you will, in ways of how animals know to travel the world or sense disasters before they occur. Even having premonition dreams that if not for documenting anything I find out of the ordinary with my usually mundane life, no one would have believed me about experiencing my mother's wreck in a dream twice in one night before she had it 2 weeks later. Though, all I had was an intuition that it wasn't a simple dream. Was too lucid with a sense of dread I normally don't feel waking up without the weird dreams I could have. Yet from sharing the exact details in a text timestamped with a friend, my mom had also texted my aunt about the wreck and what had happened 2 weeks later and the entire scene matched up from the speed and sudden stop of traffic after looking down at my center console to grab my drink and lookup. I didn't find out about the wreck until 2 days later when my brother called me up severely spooked with my sister because they remembered me prior asking everyone to not be stupid on the roads because I had a bad dream about a wreck. Though only my friend I texted knew the details because my family at the time didn't care too much for what I had to say. Yannow, the eccentric oldest with a troubled past of acting out because of our father. So. Energy. Add in double-slit experiment and how positive energy attracts positive and negative to neg you start seeing my view as some comboggled yet ironically organized mess of Spirituality, Quantum Physics, and the fact that: “If you want to find the secrets of the universe, think in terms of energy, frequency, and vibration.” - Nikola Tesla. Magic is Science. Science is magic. Yet enough with that rambling. Bottom line, I spend hours and hours researching all avenues and angles of different perspectives, seeing patterns from one specialized field to another and how everything is connected but segregation and usually narrow minded scientific fields don't usually collaborate to see the simplest solution in front of them. Having a black and white view of facts rather than seeing the spectrum leading to root causes. Now that I have funds in my very late 20s for college I can start applying this with thesis paperwork and real live data to start supporting my theories in case anyone is wondering why I'm dropping this out of the blue. Kinda a hobby but also something I'm super passionate about because I've personally seen results, and if it was just me then I'd not say anything in fear I was delusional, but thankfully my friends and family have seen my results proven several times to lay claim in a positive direction [as in the health bit is variable and fluctuates. Usually with positive results leaning towards fact rather than theory because try getting into a healthy habit of eating a real healthy diet to see hormonal imbalances balance to heal the body of auto-immune disorders and diseases while simultaneously working with the mental trauma to heal the mind of mental illnesses with willpower to fuel the spirit. Mind, body and spirit need to run at the same time, yet time is limited with no down-time to recoup from 9-5 or 60hr weeks and/or non-safe environment/lack of structural support to get in the habit. We are social creatures, and unfortunately cannot do it alone.] Which leads to feeling extremely uncomfortable in relationships. Learned the hard way about not being able to do things alone. Only so much you can achieve and it can also lead to narrow tunnel minded thought processing without external influences to ping pong and pattern recognize ideas off of. Can't say I'll ever feel comfortable, to many variables from the slow process of self-love, healing childhood trauma, insecurities, to being hurt by a lot of people but I've learned that progress requires community, networking, and positive support group. Without being authentic to risk meeting new people, you risk missing opportunities. That rejection is actually a form of protection. And that Isolation is extremely dangerous... Something about isolation that harms the mind and I am thankful for friends who recognized I accidentally isolated myself when I moved out due to tunneling a 9-5 job, the pandemic hitting, and having no time turned into no motivation for friends that soon led to a very dark, depressing state of mind. Looking back was like a terrifying sludge that snuck up and started pulling me in while I wasn't looking. My heart goes out to anyone who is in a similar state or was.. You don't see it, but I'm thankful my coworker/friends took note from previous experiences of their own to reach out and pull me out of the sludge. Even with that, doesn't mean I want connection but my coworker friends struggle with their own stories, understood I was just as unique, and included me as one of their own. It led to very emotional, conflicting matters and a night of crying for the first time in years but honestly if isolation wasn't dangerous and we weren't social creatures I'm content with being disconnected while I take the long route of learning things on my own to accomplish things on my own as I had growing up from fixing cars, house appliances, my own health with fewer risk factors involved by self-experimenting with diet and understanding the entire human anatomy. Even my own mental health, though I do see a therapist. Therapists see therapists. I look at it as I'm extremely stubborn and don't listen to my own advice so I ping-pong from my therapist to get to the bottom of what troubles me and understand myself better. I had to swallow that reality pill of understanding that we all have limits. I just sorta feel guilty I sought out a therapist to ping-pong what I already knew to new illuminating aspects about myself I had not yet recognized rather than actually seeking straight up help. I guess also, it's because I know that no one will improve unless they themselves want to no matter who is giving advice, and I wanted to improve just in my own way. O.o; ...Well, looking up at this, I see my ADHD took over. I felt like I had a point here but it became more of a weird freaking confession I felt like sharing out of the blue. I rarely put myself out there like this. Regardless, I hope this makes sense to someone and is relatable in some fashion or form. Y'all stay safe, be authentic, and the likes during these troubling times. :D

[@sayusayme7729]

@@pine.marten1663 thank you

[@gillian2325]

I love that you do clear, straight forward videos like these that don't demonize people with these symptoms or disorders. I'm wondering if you could at some point make a video about how and why some people can only expereince either a limited range of emotions or a limited depth whereas some people experience the full range and depth. I've heard that these may be related to disorders, brain trauma, prolonged drug use or brain damage or other factors. I also feel like a fair amount of folks like to go around saying certain people can't ever feel love or empathy & while I'm sure that's true in some cases, in my experience anecdotally with people, there really is a whole spectrum. I'd live to hear about this topic from your pount of view.

[@Novarcharesk]

No one 'demonises' them 🤣

[@maisieburns822]

I like this video it shows how complex mentally ilness is As someone who in high stress Time can have fears of loosing control after been in fight of flight mode for days on end it’s often common for me to be scared of developing schizophrenia ect ect and in reality you can no see how it’s not possible.. bad thoughts ain’t anything more than bad thoughts Watching these videos are interesting and most importantly educates us! Okay we might not need this information however it’s great to know. Another great video !

[@DrTraceyMarks]

Thank you Maisie. And thank you for your curiosity and interest in mental health. We are complex individuals 😊

[@simonjimenez4663]

​@Dr. Tracey Marks how are you doing beautiful 😍

[@estherwilliams6666]

This is interesting because I know several people with ASD that have these traits.

[@coco_rthritis6462]

@@frogfrogfrogd Wow thank you for sharing. I relate to most if not all of what you said, even being diagnosed schizoaffective as well. Again genuinely thank you for sharing.

[@jofox1186]

I am autistic and I have some of the traits of schizotypal PD. For example, I find eye contact very uncomfortable, I sometimes seem a bit odd or "out of step" with others, I find friendships difficult etc. However, I think the reasons for these similar behaviours might be different between to two disorders. For example, I find friendship hard because I can't read body language or tone of voice and I misunderstand a lot of communication on a social level. I can communicate as a scientist perfectly well and I'm a good teacher, but at a party I'm lost and miss a good percentage of communication that the people around me seem to get. So, at a party, they might all suddenly laugh and I will have no idea why. The reasons people with schizotypal PD might struggle with friendships might be due to different causes to this.

[@BravePatriotism]

I love how you explain things so clearly & slowly, my brain has time to take it all in.

[@emilysquier9019]

I have not been diagnosed with this but I find this to be the most relatable thing I have found on this channel. I find it hard to find my words and when they come out it is a lot slower than other people, and the connections I make confuse other people quite a bit. I find myself trying to hide and adapt to others in public. I feel selfish for asking others to take the time to understand me. I have always wanted to be able to connect with others but I find it very difficult. This video hit home when it mentioned that the more you know someone the more it fuels the fire for you to think that they have bad motives towards you. I often refer to my mind as my brain. Example: "My brain is upset." Even typing this I notice that I will start a thought then jump to another, forgetting where I am completely. Which makes me wonder if I also have adhd. But then I think maybe anxiety stops the thought on its own. Either way my thought process is constantly disrupted and misinterpreted (or so I believe) by other people.

[@nikicarrie4071]

Me too

[@norincognito]

I can relate to it. Interesting detail that you mentioned, I also tend to associate my personality with my brain, not sure how it is uncommon

[@Kikibugt]

I am a CMHC student and am finding your videos to be extremely helpful in breaking down confusing disorders that have many overlapping characteristics. I made a much higher score on my last test after watching your videos before I studied the DSM-5. I just want to say thank you for being so concise and helpful!

[@christopher-ace-azevedo5509]

Dr, Tracy, Thank you so much. I am currently in my Master's of Clinical Psychology, and I wish I had found this before my last final diagnosis class this semester, really would have helped my final grades. What a resource, you break down each topic and explain the DSM and are truly able to tease out the nuances in difficult disorders and make it make sense.

[@ellenhall9731]

I look forward to seeing your videos every time I am on KZbin. Thank you for sharing your knowledge. It has helped me understand so much. Your videos are so professional and well done.

[@zennynjau3111]

Great video! I have been diagnosed with this and it's sometimes really hard for me to explain it to my family. You got some good points here, now I can explain my symptoms better! :)

[@aggievv]

I am so glad that You changed the thumbnail in the schizophrenia video :))) Much love, Aggie

[@DrTraceyMarks]

Thanks AW. 😊👍🏽

[@RavensandDandelions]

Thank you for this, last week I was diagnosed with Schizotypal personality disorder 💁🏼‍♀️

[@123gp1833]

This is in my family. My mother especially. Plus a splash of schizophrenia.

[@DrTraceyMarks]

Splash 😃

[@aseal6412]

thank you for the straightforward explanation. when it's hard to organize your thoughts, i think we rely on metaphors and assume others will get it but they don't. when they don't understand we feel misunderstood and alienated. but it's about learning to take time to adjust for others in the same way you want them to for you. i hope i can get better at expressing my problems in treatment. i only know because i was diagnosed with borderline due to hospitalizations and later this. it's all so new to me and a lot to process, it's scary because i am not confident i will be able to explain my thoughts enough to get help, but i am trying. i want to understand myself and feel connected with people

[@karifaller9284]

Thank you so much Dr. Marks for keeping us all up on mental health issues in a professional but personal way. I love how you deliver your message and I am very grateful for the work you do. xo

[@Muhammad-gm9yh]

Same percentage as bipolar is very interesting about misdiagnosing it.

[@DrTraceyMarks]

Yes I was surprised when I saw that. It was a higher percentage than I expected

[@MrJerryStevenson]

@@DrTraceyMarks how would you misdiagnose bipolar. My therapist is inching towards this diagnosis but I have had toxic exposure from chimney gasses for two years plus drug rehabilitation.

[@claraguzman6842]

This is the most informative (and easy to understand for the lay person) video I have seen on the subject. Thank you.

[@lifestylemedicinals8692]

I'm not a fan of labels becaus I've seen and personally experienced how that can affect a person, but I can't help but relate to this label more than I'm comfortable with. But then again, I feel the same way when I watch most videos that outline the symptoms of odd personality behaviors. When I was younger, I would have thought I had undiagnosed autism or something of that nature, but in my adulthood (especially after trauma and drug abuse), I relate to these more "scary" personality disorders. (My parents are naturopathic doctors, so they tried to never go to the allopathic doctor. Plus, I chose to suffer in silence and not tell them I was struggling to be a normal human being) Anyways, I'm never left feeling like I've gained a fully satisfying answer when I watch these videos on personality disorders. Almost like what I am and what I go through psychologically, socially and emotionally cannot be properly labeled or diagnosed. This is why I find labels dangerous and unhelpful sometimes. What I have noticed is that if I "believe in and serve God", set intentions, pray, meditate,engage in positive self talk, eat proper nutrition, take the right supplements, exercise, work hard doing what I love, interact with people even when I don't want to, and practice my hobbies...then even the most uncomfortable symptoms I usually experience by default go away. It may even have lasting impact, but if I drift from habitual consistency over a long enough period of time, those "schizo" behaviors and dispositions resurface. But I'm not going to lie, though, I'm kind of a weird person even when I'm doing well, I just have learned good social skills over the years to mask my out of the box-ness unless I am around the right people . With all that said, I feel like I was born seeing things differently and being able to excel at most things I do other than social interactions and mathematics. I also had a really benevolent heart towards people and animals, and a reverence/respect for authority figures and all people. That predisposition got damaged a bit after drugs, alcohol and trauma, but it's still there driving me at my core usually. Though I hardly experience emotions anymore, I do still deeply feel love, empathy and altruism towards everyone and everything. I wonder if there's anyone else who feels this way or has experienced this? Like you were born gifted and with a lot of love and still you still are, but since you never really fit in and life kind of jaded you rebelled, did drugs and harmed your soul to the point of feeling a bit schizo? 🤔 I apologize for my long winded comment 😅 I'd love to hear your experience if any of this resonates with you 🙏

[@trolloftheyear7963]

Got this diagnosis, but still wonder if I'm on the autism spectrum, and just happen to have magical thinking included. Can you explain the difference between schizotypal and what used to be called Aspergers ?

[@reverendbug]

I was diagnosed with this a few years back and it felt like you were reading my life. I was diagnosed much later in life than I should have been, and as it turns out I have bipolar disorder too, and with the two together my brain was all kinds of messed up by the time I got treatment. Still struggling with some of the symptoms even with therapy and medication, but I have a lot more emotional support these days than I ever did pre-diagnosis, and I am definitely doing better now.

[@arlenealmeda3850]

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[@vickimendesreal]

I’ve been binge watching your videos for almost 24 hours now. English isn’t my first language and I haven’t been sleeping so when I say this, I really mean it: your voice is surprisingly calm and I love how you explain things. Not good for my paranoia, but I love learning

[@Shay_TheUnpopularOpinion_]

I’m so thankful for your channel. It’s helping with my psychology classes AND my anxiety . 😂💕💕

[@JW-cp1uv]

Dr. Tracey, thank you for explaining the different breakdowns of the schiz- words. Why there seems to be about 173 different schiz- words seems a bit schizo- of the lexicon originators themselves! My own personal experience in dealing with the language obfuscation from doctors has been a bit maddening because it's anything but helpful! It's like having your car towed to the repair shop to have some broken part fixed and the mechanic purposely gives you language that they know you don't understand. In one 11-minute video you elegantly explained the minor observable differences between the differing types that has been really hard to decipher just by re-reading the definitions over and over and over. Well done, bravo, and thank you.

[@dylanpringle9364]

It's all respect my father, I feel like I'm studying what happened to me as a child growing up with the father that had undiagnosed schizophrenia or something, maybe he had yeah there's no there's no way that I couldn't have been anything else thank you for your information that you're putting out here I've been teaching myself high School Middle School everything on my own because I had a weird crazy upbringing and three younger brothers I just want to understand so I can have compassion instead of anger thank you

[@fatimamatar6799]

Thank you so much doctor for making mental health and psychiatry much easy understandable :) I’m a medical student in my last year and your videos really helped me ❤️

[@yodaguy6956]

I am so glad I found this channel, I've been messed up for a long time and finally fully realizing it, but it is is so confusing trying to figure it out because of the complexity of the various conditions and overlap of symptoms. I'll watch a video like this and tons of it will scream out as describing me, then the rest will be the complete opposite. I feel so twisted up lately I can't even keep a steady line of thought to try to figure anything out

[@kailyn1059]

Can you make a video on being a mental health professional. What inspired you? What do you like and dislike most about the field? Your journey to where you are in your career today.

[@randomdude2306]

I was diagnosed with this and I can relate to everything you say in the video, from thoughts on how everything is somehow related to me, to having severe communication problems, to having a need for close relationships but having a *very very very* hard time forming one, could you possibly make a video on how I could start working on these issues and possibly get better at communication and forming a relationship with other people? I have to say, having a need for close relationships but also being unable to form one no matter how hard I try is like living a nightmare and I would greatly appreciate any help, Thank you and have a great day. 🙏🏻

[@RoBoTrOnIc1001001]

Hello Doctor Marks. So i am very glad you have made this video. This issue seems to be running in my family, with my uncle actually have been diagnosed officially in the ‘00s and many other family members having severe undiagnosed mental health problems in general. All the men seem to come down with these same paranoia issues + grandiose thought patterns after a certain age and with drug use. It is a very interesting thing because i myself have seen doctors before claiming i may have bipolar type 1 or a narcissistic disorder.. of course after i tried magic mushrooms 🍄. Part of my own issue is that as a graphic designer/english student/ visual artist is i exhibit many of the same bizarre traits/Mannerisms that propel my intellectual creativity and i love that; however, those same ideas are the ones that keep me from connecting with people at times ( i do still have many close friends - just my roomates and family). I find i have a very difficult time not thinking within some realm of a paranormal or dreamlike trance as a focal point to my direction. It scares me and i have a very hard time with controlling the thoughts. My thinking is almost entirely emotional fixations on the surrounding environment with relevance to some kind of greater purpose and meaning. To add some context, My grandparents had ties to the children of god cult back in the day where my aunt was born... and so there has always been a sense of mystery to the origin of our relationships familial structure. And much of that had severe consequences with drug and alcohol addiction. My parents were separated when i was fairly young (2-3) so i find i have a strange way of relating to both parents and their partners along with my siblings. I have found that i dont quite belong anywhere in life, so it has always been my desire to persevere and make meaning out of the chaos. I know i am quite cognizant of where i am in life, but anxiety fears and frustration often control me to the point i cant even trust family members and close friends let alone hold down a steady job.. i often predict circumstances and at times feel i am connected to some astral plane of spirituality (i think we all have this capacity but some dont want us to find this place) i found as the pandemic hit that things have been getting more complex lately. Google algorithms predict my every move, driving me further into ominous habits and consuming media that doesn’t necessarily contribute to a good wellbeing. Everything feels so close, yet so far these days. We are arbitrary and certainty.We will all die at some point. The world truly is black and white but some of us can see the colors. I dont know how much longer i can take this madness. Living under people with all the mislead ideals. I love people but cant ever seem to make them think so.. another thought pattern that could just be my own overly judgmental inner critic. I also love this feeling yet hate it. I know it will only get worse if i stay quiet. Two complete extremes but sometimes if i focus i can get what i need. Anyways i just dont know how long i can make this work. Thank you to anyone who reads this. I hope you find what you are looking for in life.

[@aliciamarie9586]

Thank you for these videos, doctor. I happened upon your videos by chance early this morning; a storm woke my toddler & I couldn't get back to sleep. I immediately subscribed. I've been in hospitals & therapies for about a decade, though the past 5 years I've been working with an amazing team & have been managing quite well (*pats on my own back). Being misdiagnosed with schizophrenia in the beginning resulted in a major sigh of relief after officially being evaluated & diagnosed with this (truthfully, scary) schizotypal personality disorder. I did experience bodily hallucinations, things like trickling under my skin & unusual curiosities around mechanisms internally operating my body (not to mention really small 'people' doing the operating). My first experience with the symptoms of this disorder actually sprang up when I was between 3-5 years old, & i vividly remember my VHS of Aladdin seemed to be trying to talk to me. I walked out of that room talking myself through what nonsense that was, though what a strange experience. I tell you this, rambling on about far too personal experiences on this rather inappropriate venue, to say thank you. You say it yourself in this video, this disorder really is not talked about, & for those of us who live with it & the people with others in their lives living with it, it is reassuring & less of an unusual characteristic to be able to define & observe these behaviours & recognize them for what they are. It makes it less overwhelming. So, again, I thank you for what you are doing. This is invaluable & is no doubt helping thousands of individuals. XOXO

[@vanessasouthern1792]

Your videos are excellent. I never lose concentration, which is amazing for me. Fascinating and insightful. Makes me not feel so bad about struggling with CPTSD. THANKS 🇬🇧

[@mirrorimage5423]

Your demeanor is very agreeable. What is fascinating to me as well is that comments on (your) videos seem to add to your assessment training.

[@Ejazzz]

Dr. Tracy, you're wearing a FIT. Like always. Thank you for being amazing!!

[@DrTraceyMarks]

Hey Meghan. It’s actually an Apple Watch ⌚️ I started to get a FIT

[@beautyforumbyangela]

I love your channel & appreciate you. I also appreciate your ability to explain a mental disorder in such a way that it is understandable & articulate. My nephew has been diagnosed with schizotypal disorder. Unfortunately, I believe he is developing full blown schizophrenia. Thank you for the information. I will pass this onto my sister-in-law so she can be better equipped to manage her son's disorder. Thank you. Blessings 💕

[@DrTraceyMarks]

Thank you Angela. I hope the video is helpful for your sister-in-law. Here’s one on schizophrenia kzbin.info/www/bejne/h3q8iGyAn79ghdU

[@markdrost8458]

Any video of yours that brushes with psychotic features is really hard-core, good one dude!-

[@mylexnet]

Dear Dr. Marks, thank you so much for your videos. Could you please make a video of autism spectrum disorder especially in women and how it can look like a personality disorder? Thank you. Have a great day

[@RiiFT]

It's fascinating to see the details for all the different entries in the DSM-V. They're not always clear though, that's where Tracy Marks here always helps break it down with details and examples. I do wonder if all of it is theoretical though. I've spoken to several professionals across different psychological fields and yet to find an attempt to apply this type of thinking towards patient recovery. I feel discontent and reserve towards traditional treatment options and always find that my serious personal concerns don't get taken seriously. I'm glad that Tracy can provide me some hope and insight where other professionals could not.

[@haileycaine7406]

Would it be possible for you to do a video on the intense rage episodes that come with bipolar disorder? and what to do to combat them? I've really hurt myself before and accidentally put myself and others in danger trying to deal with them and I'd love to hear a professional's advice, and there doesn't seem to be a lot of material on the subject that I've found.

[@lynndiedricks6280]

Yes, please do a video on rage in bipolar

[@NoirVelours]

@@lynndiedricks6280 Link it with bipolar rage too.

[@symoneb382]

I can communicate with my ancestors and can sense spiritual things. I use tarot but I relate all of this to my spiritual path

[@DieezahArts]

If magical thinking comes with/from the culture you are immersed in, I'm wondering if it changes how a psychiatrist looks at you for doing the things you just mentioned...

[@FreeSpirit47]

It seems that people who believe these spiritual attributes to be false have never had such experiences or might not have recognized them when they had them. Also, is not open to recognizing the experience. The spiritual life chose me.

[@itsamunyall]

You are right and don't let anyone tell you it's not true, that's what they want, they want us to be 'normal' and not communicate with our ancestors

[@evaschroeder4020]

@@DieezahArts I am a catholic and believe in catholic mysticism. I was raised catholic I have had spiritual experiences all my life and many many many people have! It may be helpful to know a friend of mine was agnostic but had skitzotypical personality. If she's attributing every spiritual experience to a mental illness then it sounds like Dr. Mark's may be an aithiest.

[@albdamned577]

@@DieezahArts the medical field historically has had a poor track record of dealing with cross-cultural issues. It is true to this day. Doctors are people, like everyone else, and have their own biases. Also being people, doctors are as bad as everyone else at acknowledging their own biases.

[@kathrinjohnson2582]

Great video. Great topic. Cluster A disorders are fascinating. I would love it if you did more on them. Thank you.

[@DrTraceyMarks]

Yes they are interesting. That’s probably why it’s the only cluster where I’ve made videos on all of them. There are three. I did paranoid personality kzbin.info/www/bejne/rXrCdmeqqqZsZ5I Schizoid kzbin.info/www/bejne/gaGTmnqjjd9qfNU

[@labeisa]

I've read about this disorder a couple times while studying but barely could understand a thing. your video helped me a lot!

[@franciscofco]

I wish Dr. Tracey was my Doctor because I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks and I feel very vulnerable and she seems well documented and I swear this is all I need

[@dumpster_fiyah]

A great deal of these symptoms seem to add up to "the bloke's a bit weird." This seems like a poorly understood syndrome.

[@Microtherion]

It probably is. To this day, psychiatry is a discipline, but not a science as such. It always makes me laugh (sarcastically) when an expert cites 'not making much eye contact' as indicating serious mental disturbance. As it happens, I have a slight anxiety disorder, but (before I ever had symptoms of that) I was never 'big' on eye-contact, because in nature, it signifies either intimacy or aggression. Among 'primitive' peoples, it still does. In our culture, if someone is neither needy nor aggressive, they are clearly 'slightly mad'. A lot of the DSM is similar. 'Fails to conform to ridiculous cliches'. 'Consistently avoids thankless tasks'. Etc. :)

[@marywilliams9858]

The DSM is going to be rewritten. I think you are brave to be on KZbin. Keep being fabulous if it is in your hobbies, writing ability, joke-telling or listening ability.

[@actuallyaardwolf]

That’s the problem with mental health institutions, they don’t seem to properly define what humans are meant to be and act like, or why. Probably because they would have to base it in religion.. simply saying most of the people act in some certain manner isn’t evident of normalcy in thought.

[@elizabethgrey6040]

I have at least 6 of these and I’m pursuing a diagnosis in a few days. Wish me luck!

[@ab6964]

how did it go?

[@elizabethgrey6040]

@@ab6964 My therapist said “you have a cluster A personality disorder and of those schizotypal fits best” so I’m gonna take that as therapist lingo for “yes you have it.” Apparently it’s already in my assessment documents so I guess that’s that 🤷‍♀️ Therapists in my area tend to be very much not clear about stuff.

[@buidseach]

I think the most important thing when treating it is to firstly recognise when your thinking is unrealistic and then constantly challenging that thinking when it occurs, especially the harmful thinking.

[@stefanlindstrom-entreprenology]

you are very skilled, but you also have a talent for telling a lot without being wordy.

[@rubycubez1103]

This is a great video. I relate to most of these characteristics esp the eye contact. I feel very uncomfortable and ppl end up staring at me because they notice I can't keep eye contact. After working remotely for a yr, I can't bring myself going back to work. I feel like it's gotten worse.

[@namelessenigma]

Thank you... This is a great video. It is very informative. I wish everyone could watch it and help understand. I have some real-life examples for you. I feel like people in photos can see me. I don't look in mirrors because I know there will be someone there or something bad will happen. I avoid a certain room in my house because there is a presence there that will come out if I say anything around the room or go in it. I have felt the undeniable physical sensation of a hand on my shoulder twice. I sometimes see random colorful swirls in black veiling my vision. I have had an experience where my 'spirit'/mind literally left my body while I was fully awake and concious - I had my body sitting up in the present but I was also my seperate mind at the same time. My senses were fully engaged and aware in two places at once. There is no rational explanation but I know what I physically experience. It does not feel mental. I hate when people look at me in public because I know they can see through me to every one of my thoughts literally or they want to hurt me. It makes me very uncomfortable to be around people because of this. I always feel like I'm in a fake reality, it is suffocating. Streetlights look too bright but too dull, the air is heavy and plasticky. I relish the very rare times I feel like I can breathe real air and the world shifts right to what it is supposed to be. I wake up from the constant dream I am in, literally. Everything is unreal and it is too much sometimes that I want to die. Times and dates are specific and help a little.They say once or twice is a concidence but when it happens over and over and over and over again, it is a pattern and a reason. You know the butterfly affect? That. Ironically, I don't believe in ghosts or supernatural anything. I am an atheist. Yet I know there is something bigger and beyond me present when I am in a place people worship. I do not believe BUT I know what I feel. I just can't deny what my body, mind, everything has experienced. I am unable to explain it in human words. Or even to myself. It's not belief or faith, it's innate experience. It is undeniable, you would know if you felt it. I know LOGICALLY - is is a delusion - but it's like burning your hand in a fire then pointing to the blister and saying burning it didn't really happen. You still have the blister. And by using certain 'strange' words and formatted sentences - it feels RIGHT to me and makes more sense to me but confuses everyone else. Oh well, at least I know I'm not the only one that is like this.

[@stevengreidinger8295]

If you would, I would like Dr. Marks to comment further on using imaging to diagnose mental illness (schizophrenia vs. schizotypal vs. others, dark tetrad, borderline, bipolar vs. major depression). I wonder what imaging can say about the severity of mental illness as well. I assume imaging would be studied in conjunction with DSM-V symptoms. The DSM does not really seem to be about the physical state of the brain. We can get hints about whether someone has schizophrenia from brain imaging, but that doesn't seem to be used enough.

[@DrTraceyMarks]

Hi Steven. We’re not at a point where we are using imaging to diagnose. We see patterns on imaging that correspond to different disorders but the findings aren’t specific enough to one disorder to be able to diagnose the illness based on those findings. For example with schizophrenia we will see increased ventricular size. But other disorders can have enlarged ventricles as well.

[@albdamned577]

lol I got my brain scanned, I had nothing unusual besides it was clear from the scanner I likely got migraines (I do). Right now anyone trying to diagnosis based on those scans will have about as much luck as a phrenologist. According to them, Marquis de Sade was a fine outstanding gentlemen with no mental issues at all (I am paraphrasing a bit lol).

[@elielsolis]

The problem with this type of personality labeling is that we think everyone should act and be the same, but we are all diferente in many ways.

[@chanda-aime6388]

Yes! Seems as if conditions are labeled based on folks being "different" and not much more. Not directed at this doctor, just in general.

[@albdamned577]

I think the biggest thing you are missing (It isn't explictly mentioned) for these kinds of cases, the patient really has to agree that something is not right. If you don't have that agreement before hand, you won't get a meaningful diagnosis. The therapies relating to this disorder mostly deal with emotion management (CBT therapy). This condition is usually comorbid as well, with something like depression or BPD.

[@lameduck3105]

No one is saying that people should act and be the same. But if your actions and way of thinking leads to discomfort and social isolation, then it is when it is considered "different" than the norm (pathological). If you can't leave your house because you're paranoid or you have to wash your hands in bleach for 30 minutes straight every two hours, then you clearly aren't well and it's not just a matter of behaving like others but getting help to overcome problems that lower your quality of life in general. Humans are a social species and not being able to make or maintain social relationships is by definition a problem, just as seeing or hearing things that aren't real is a problem and debilitating for the person experiencing it. It isn't just a matter of conformity but a real pathological problem, just as a dog that won't eat or go for walks is unusual and a sign of pathological issues.

[@elielsolis]

@Hunter Rayna just accept your self for who you are. You flaws and weaknesses. Going to some psychiatrist to label you, just adds to the problem. I had psychiatric problems also, but it wasn’t until I just accepted my self for who I was, that I became at peace with my self. We are all different in our physicality. I personally have OCD in some cases it become very debilitating but you know what else. It’s also my strength. I use it for my benefit. I maybe very obsessive in my thoughts patterns but it has also helped me with my musical skills and work related. So, we are not all perfect. We have our strengths and weaknesses. Some of the greatest discoveries where made by people who where obsessed and not right mentally sometimes. Just accept your self.

[@AurielArts]

I agree- this can be a slippery slope and often not logical. Magical thinking for instance is seen as a mental health problem when a lot of that is actually describing an overlap of spiritual practices, and that is not okay, but religious dogma is because it is more socially accepted. Rising from the dead, water to wine, and not everyone takes it as metaphors. There is also overlap between the neurodivergent (eye contact and elaborate speech). Everyone has challenges and gifts and pathology diagnosing can box people in.

[@PBTKaizen]

Helpful info that gives some clarity. Question I had was related to the #2 point - odd beliefs or magical thinking that influences your behavior and is inconsistent with subcultural norms .. who and how is a subcultural norm defined ? Is it by an organization or is this by country? Would this mean that in certain cultures where there is stronger faith in higher power , or belief in dreams and interpretation of dreams, respect for the gift of visions(which not everyone has) , faith in the unseen and belief in spirits and ghosts or other things we simply cannot prove which I guess would fall under clairvoyance - would you say all those people fall under the category of schizotypal ? Because for those ppl or cultures that may be their predominant way of thinking and it may seem odd to us in the west but many countries in the east who have been around fir a lot longer support visions and have this strong belief in the spirituality, god , etc... even in US... if clairvoyance means “sending things supernaturally without any obvious data which to base that conclusion” then belief in God and spirituality and things unseen will place a lot more ppl into the schizotypal spectrum... I’m having a challenge with this... The other thing I’d like to ask , do you believe or accept or are aware of the 4th force in Psychology (newest addition) referred to Transpersonal Psychology that delineates from the humanistic perspective and brings a strong focus on targeting the spiritual dimensions ... in which they help people let go of ego attachments and transcend the self through various spiritually based practices.... I think two people in this area were Fowler and Wilber but I’m sure there are more ... just haven’t delved deep into it yet especially in eastern traditions.... I saw your video on psilocybin which is exciting but this approach also helps ppl transcend into a more spiritual realm and some who’ve been atheists, come out with a new sense of belief in higher spirits/visions/signs etc ... I don’t know that we could take such beliefs and mark them as schizotypal.... in a lot of cases they’re not a one off , it becomes a new belief and their way of life and for millions of people faith in the unseen, prayer, then seeing results of their prayer through signs around them is part of their whole being and existence which is why I also think the 4Th force in psychology (transpersonal) has been added and is accepted so that we refrain from potentially misdiagnosing .... Just wondering you personal views on this...

[@lameduck3105]

Regarding the 2nd diagnostic criteria; Odd beliefs or magical thinking: That is regarded to be in contrast to subcultural norms in the area the person is brought up in/lives in. It is not a point that by itself can give someone a diagnosis (you need 5 of the 9 criteria for that) but is regarded as a possible symptom. If you are brought up in a highly christian area but you believe in and worship a divine rock instead, that would be considered inconsistent with subcultural norms. The symptom is described as being outside of the norm of the society it presents itself in. So if you live in an area where people do believe in witchcraft and clairvoyance that wouldn't qualify as being outside the norm if you do that too.

[@DisabledPsychedelica]

Anyone else lowkey love the way the author of the ex speech pattern talks? It’s unique, and once you take the time to look at it... you can see how it’s beautiful as well. Idk, I just enjoy it 😂

[@coco_rthritis6462]

Same. It's beautiful, melancholy, clever, maybe even a bit cynical/jaded. Not to mention relatable lol

[@georgemarsilio5122]

you have an excellent way of explaining things...hope you have much success on your channel..and millions of subscribers!!!

[@DieezahArts]

You mention something about magical thinking outside of sub cultural norms if I remember correctly. But what about those of us who were raised in cultures where magical thinking isn't considered abnormal (even if it's generally viewed as evil)? I'm from the Caribbean island of Martinique and in spite of the iron grip of Christianity on the majority of our population of African descent (and of mixed heritage) beliefs rooted in the remnants of our inherited African spirituality clashing with the Christian traditions imposed on us by the oppressor persist to this day. How can you then tell if someone is just being heavily influenced by their cultural background and the upbringing that comes with it vs. being plagued with personality disorder traits? I have a friend who is also from here but who lives in Paris. He's been struggling with his mental health for a while and was afraid that the psychiatrist he had been seeing were not really helping (besides giving him meds) and I asked him the uncomfortable question no one had asked him at that point: "Were all of your psychiatrists white?" And the answer was yes. I told him that there was a very real possibility that these people, in spite of all their qualifications, may have been unable to fully understand what he was dealing with because they were unfamiliar with our very particular culture and with the set of beliefs and specific issues that come with it. The reality of people born and raised here can't be compared to that of folks raised in the parts of France which are not colonial territories...

[@evaschroeder4020]

Your friend may be possessed and need an exorcism. Or at least demonically oppressed.

[@xoch1717]

this comment is so important!! I’ve been experiencing things that are considered “gifted” in my religion Santeria and I don’t know how to process these events. I’ve been depressed before and during these experiences so I want to go to therapy but I’m scared to talk about these events. Will it even be helpful if they’re not knowledgeable or open minded about spirituality? It’s also so expensive.

[@huntc9985]

@@xoch1717 the right therapist for you will not judge your spirituality, or treat you as a subject in a clinical study, rather focus on what is troubling you and how to help you improve your life and self, not find a label/category to define you. therapy is not a search for a label. labels are helpful insofar as guiding the course of therapy, which is a tool for personal healing. also, it is unethical, irresponsible, and highly superficial for a therapist to use religion/spirituality as diagnostic criteria for a disorder. paradoxically, the intuition of therapists can be blinded by logic---a product of the sterile manner in which psychology is often taught and defined (exemplified here by a doctor with 1 million subscribers promoting false stereotypes). but most therapists are not like this. a good therapist will not judge or jump to conclusions. also, there is also no need to put so much pressure on yourself to be 100% open immediately. however, therapy is what you make of it---and feeling safe to show and explore your true self in therapy is key. but a good therapist will not coerce you into doing so---rather pick up on your struggle to open up and help guide you to feel more comfortable sharing. therapy is a marathon, not a sprint. paradoxically, exactly what you are seeking help with is key in getting the most out of therapy: patience. at the end of the day, you are your own therapist, and anyone else is just helping you learn how to help yourself. therapists are just other humans---all very different, and perfect connection is not guaranteed, no matter how much training or certification someone has in analyzing personalities. realistically, most people do not connect with their first therapist---especially not on the first visit. but even if you don't, get your money's worth! let such an encounter be therapeutic, as a trial that strengthens your ability to be introspective and express yourself confidently (rather than giving up on therapy, generalizing it by one or a few unsuccessful experiences). you may encounter a therapist who you have a fundamental personality clash with---or who prematurely slaps a label on you which you do not agree with, causes you distress/self-doubt, or damages your faith in therapy. trust your intuition---you know yourself better than anyone else. a good therapist will not tell you who you are, but help you discover and express yourself. however, if you feel a therapist is misunderstanding who you are, consider expressing this, before emulating exactly what has offended you: jumping to the conclusion that they aren't the right therapist for you. therapists have different approaches---some are blunt at first, as "reverse psychology" to encourage you to be introspective and open up/challenge their perception of you, to accelerate connection. you can do the same thing to them to gauge their manner---challenging their strategy can help identify whether you truly misunderstand each other, or they were just trying to accelerate connection. above all, you must establish a boundary between your individuality and labels. you are not whatever diagnosis a therapist gives---if you put 10 of them in a room with you, they would all probably disagree on a diagnosis anyways!

[@franskel9647]

Hi Dr. Tracey, Can you do a video about the difference between negative symptoms in schizophrenia and depression in bipolar? Thank you

[@ihuman7253]

I have schizoaffective disorder and this video explains exactly how my personality is.

[@leanna2624]

My mom was undiagnosed but I knew her thinking was magical when she thought I was a witch at 14 years, and she said cars would go through her. When I learned of schyzotyple it was a relief to understand she was different and why.

[@princeofb7383]

Thanks so much for doing this vid, there's a total lack of representation out their for people with this, my Dad is one and I'd say he fits the bill pretty well.

[@SummerRuby86]

I'm an LMSW studying for my LCSW-C and your videos have been really helpful at breaking down the differences so that I can better understand differentials. I also wanted to say that I really appreciate your non-pathologizing language and explanations.

[@LKelz]

Hi !Dr . Tracy ! Can you please do a video on the link between depression , trauma and creativity? And how anti depressant affects them ? I have OCD and depression due to employment issues and family issues . Sometimes i ruminating about them uses my trauma as an inspiration to create stories .I am taking zoloft now and I find myself hard to focus on things because it puts me to sleep right after i take it . What are your thoughts on mental illness and creativity? What about how anti depressant interfere with someone’s creativity when they use their trauma as a source of that ? Would love to hear your thoughts on that!

[@beanstalk0202]

I know there's something wrong with me and I guess I kind of know it.....but as I much as I sometimes feels seeking help I don't want to open about it anymore...... because people around me think that I'm faking it or trying to gain attention since I don't want to study anymore or things like that...... I've constant body pains and headaches but all I can do is take painkillers without anyone knowing and also I was once put on medication for anxiety and depression but I stopped taking it because I felt that I was faking it. I don't know what am I supposed to do.

[@OpalHopal-PSALMS6b6m]

Just spoke to my family and has small group of friends and was very much social today. Ironically witnessed something that really is on another level...

[@rawadyonus5659]

Amazing and great video Dr. I've been trying to understand the similarities and the differences between Schizotypal personality and Schizophrenia for a while now. This video very helpful

[@chaneykane3828]

I was diagnosed with this and it 100% aligns with everything in this video.

[@frankypadilla5579]

I subscribed to this channel when it was at 500k subscribers. Now it’s 1.5million. 🎉 congratulations

[@francisco4724]

Thank you, Doctor - I'm so glad your channel exists :-)

[@DrTraceyMarks]

Thank you Francisco. Me too 😊

[@JJ-rp2df]

Thanks for clarifying. Related but different things not to be mixed up. Even symptoms of either don't really qualify unless expertly diagnosed. Good for self awareness

[@deniskozlik611]

Thank you for another explicit and detailed video.

[@aufwiedersehen9626]

Oh I understand now why one of my psychiatrists diagnosed me with this one, I guess. I feel though that my situation is so much different from the inside - anxiety, early trauma so heavy that I've started to actually communicate when I was like 15-20+ y.o. (I don't know how I can call whatever it was before that), feeling of core defectiveness, fundamental guilt for who I am. My mom looks autistic or having ADHD or both, and I can see now that we have similarities in thinking styles. So my way of self-expression plus hyper-systematisation might've looked hella odd. My depressive general disregard for appearance with some self-expression details were looked at as eccentric. Odd bodily sensations - oh, truly lots of stuff that could lead to it including medication and hypermedication + hypersensitivity when under stress (almost always). Ideas of reference always have been of trauma nature. Other than "they are definitely laughing at me" kinda stuff - complete disregard for any superstitious or religious stuff, just a subtle wish something extraordinary existed 😅 And also inappropriate affect - I think, completely trauma driven. I guess it still might be anything hiding behind my trauma though or nothing at all, but the time will show if it comes

[@Fuzzle1985]

Pretty sure my mom has this. She told my dad she could tell people were in love with her just by eye contact, dresses like a crazy hobo, is super paranoid even of family, and still acts awkward AF with my paternal relatives that she detests but has no others to fall back on in the US. The fact these symptoms persist through cultural norms (Chinese) says it is a legit disorder.

[@courtneymeyers82]

Sounds like your mom has gone through severe abuse and your family likes to scapegoat her, instead of supporting and caring for her (which is what healthy families do) - if so, she has every right to be paranoid. If I could talk to her, I would tell her to go no contact with all of them and minimal with you, her symptoms would improve greatly I do believe severe narcissistic abuse can create schizotypal disorder BTW- I detected zero empathy in your comments and a lot of shaming. Maybe be a better son toward your mother, instead of throwing her under the bus for laughs and to please your father and his family - who are mean to her

[@Ashleycycle]

Weird I have this as well. I have a crazy relationship with my adult jehovah Wittness parents . I also dress like a hobo and what she says kinda makes sense . I love know I love my children and I know she loves you

[@amym.9563]

Thank you for these educational videos ❣️would it be possible one day soon you make a video for using psychedelics to help with mental health ?

[@DrTraceyMarks]

Hi Amy. I have an updated video on where we currently stand with psychedelics. It should be out in a couple of weeks. We’re not at a point where it’s approved for treatment so I don’t have dosing recommendations.

[@TeemoFatHamster]

Hello, I have been diagnosed with this personality disorder just today! Although I don't really think it resembles me... I would describe myself very rational and very attached to reality (I don't belive in magic, superstition, etc...), I occasionally see things moving with the back of my eye, like cats jumping or running, but they just end up being plastic bags on the ground that stood still for days, these allucinations last 1 second at best, it's something really instant. I do 100% recognise myself with the other things you said. Should I ask a second diagnosis? Is that a definitive trait of the personality disorder? Thank you.

[@marine_life1747]

Hello, could you make a video on bipolar disorder and how it relates to eating disorders? Especially how it relates to mania and how to know if it's a pure eating disorder or mania. I remember I once had anorexia with purging for a few months and then once my mood shifted, the ED went away.

[@lynndiedricks6280]

Yes, please do a video on eating disorders & bipolar. Especially binge eating & night eating & weight loss during a manic episodes & weight gain during bipolar depression.

[@vanessa271]

This doctor nails it on the head with this list...impressive!

[@seasonsstarsstudios]

This makes so much sense and the context/examples were helpful. Based on your criteria it looks like my father has schizotypal personality disorder, which makes sense because he also has narcissistic personality disorder. This would feed his delusions. In our family mental illness doesn’t always develop in young adulthood; sometimes it manifests later in life, and once it does it accelerates in development. Using my 61-year-old father as an example, he was always a narcissistic person, but his schizotypal personality traits were subdued for a long time. Over time, however, both became increasingly apparent to the point where he no longer has a coherent conversation. His narcissism I expected, however his development of schizotypal symptoms wasn’t so obvious until approximately 3 years ago. This is quite common in my family, to where half of all members (especially if they’re men) develop schizophrenia at some point in their lives and require hospitalization.

[@whoiamhowilive]

Hey, I really relate to your post from 2 months ago. Are you still around?

[@MeyyLynn]

I wish you were my doctor. I think my schizophrenia goes deeper than what I've been diagnosed with.

[@randyslabach8681]

I thank God. For you. You are the only doctor or psychiatrist who talks about things and personality disorders besides narcissism so many other things like sexual addiction from my bonding Georgie depression.❤❤❤

[@NickRyanBayon]

To be honest we're all insane though, conceptualizing reality when it is beyond concepts and fitting in a box, normal is just another conscept that is agreed on by the majority. Sometimes i wonder if we label "personality disorders" as bad when really they are just survival mechanisms based on trauma that led to defensive mechanisms and mental processes / though loops to cope. If one is conscious enough and willing they can change all this i believe, like if you think about it your thoughts affect your brain chemistry in turn over time if these thoughts / beliefs are constant it's no wonder those thoughts change the chemicals which in turn lead to physical changes in the brain structure. Thought Is powerful.

[@bellaBdaughterofYAHAWAH7]

So true!

[@reverendbug]

Really what it boils down to is what is socially acceptable and what the person in question is able to handle. You can be a weird person and embrace your eccentricities from here until the end of days and no one will care as long as you don't start bothering people out in public in a way that makes you seem ill, dangerous, or both. Go out and ride a unicycle while playing the bagpipes in a bikini and most people will probably giggle and take videos. Ride that unicycle into a department store and tell people the bees in your teeth told you it was a good idea and they'll lock you up.

[@vanessasouthern1792]

Excellent!!!!!

[@marquendra]

I honestly believe that a lot of psychiatric doctors are quick to label someone with a disorder back before they were heavily researched as much as they seem to be today. I say this because I was coined with paranoid schizophrenia and schizoaffective D.O by another. This honestly sounds more like what I have, but it has gotten worse with age. I was diagnosed before I was 18 due to schizo running in my family and a LOT of childhood traumas that I dealt with that I seem to not let affect me as much as they should such as molestation and being raped a few times just to state a couple of the many. What I do know for certain is that talking to doctors and being instantly put on disability has ruined my life as far as being able to get a job and keeping my child since I'm blacklisted from jobs I'd love to work in like law enforcement. I'm instantly deemed dangerous and I'm judged prematurely. I've even been declined surgeries that, had I not gotten by keeping my mouth shut about what I have, would have caused a very early death. Since I've stopped seeing doctors, stopped the meds, and stayed silent, I've flourished and even have people that follow me because they're so inspired by my confidence and my drive to be my own unique self that's not defined by my diagnoses. With that being said, your videos are heavily appreciated and very educational! I just now found your channel and have been watching to understand more of the different aspects of my disorder without it being a hindrance to my life just to go find out. I do honestly wish I could work to fix the flat affact and slow cognitive issues I have when it comes to reading people because I'm extremely inappropriate and quite horrible at reading body language unless I study up on it via YT channels that focus on psych. And I do have a very hard time looking people in the eyes, which of course makes me come off as dishonest and such, but I'm slowly working on that without it being too creepy lol! I'm subscribing to your channel today and look forward to learning more from you!

[@N0p3er5]

I got off the medication and it made it possible to leave domestic violence.

[@NanoBruv]

I had a drug induced psychosis. I still think about it and worry I might have something happen in the future. I currently do no substances (haven’t for 7months) but have many worried thoughts about becoming a schizophrenic/psychosis happening. I believe I’m more prone to psychosis. I decided I’d never do any substance ever again. It puts me at a way higher risk of something happening.

[@NanoBruv]

I get incredibly anxious and paranoid, whenever I can relate anything to the psychosis. Like if I hear a siren or such I think twice and start to worry a bit. (I heard them in my head usually when I was in that state). I had a panic attack last time Bcus of it :|

[@NadP-n3l]

Thanks Dr. Marks for these informative videos. Please, is there a video or can you make one, regarding the intense desire to be loved by others that doesn’t seem to get filled? Along with that is the uncertainty that this person craving love is unsure if they can they can give the love being sought after. There is a constant feeling of searching in people interacted with to see if this person will be the one to fill the need, but then something about that individual doesn’t seem to connect in the way or with the depth hope for. What is the core thought or thinking that drives this attitude?

[@chirondawn2966]

i was diagnosed with this 2 days ago, Ive kept my best friend for over 30 years, Ive been married to my husband over 12 years. I value my alone time and have to decompress in solitude after being in public or groups of people . I have been scared of the dark since I was a child, still sleep with night light at 37 years old. I have severe OCD, I also have a tendency to say things out loud then they happen and I have many people witness this, I always feel terrified of my bedroom closet, but nowhere else , I often feel like im being followed , but Im not into witch craft or magic, Im a christian, I do feel energy but im highly empathetic which is why i get drained after being social. So I dont have any superstitions or social anxiety. I dont think i matter enough to be the topic of everyones conversations, im not conceited or have a big ego, I dont think people talk about me behind my back, and im not vain, I dont hear or see things, I dont think I have super powers or that im superior to others. Im highly communicative and love being around people. I have two daughters that im very close to. Im open minded, pretty smart but not smartest person in the room I still have a lot to learn about myself and the world I live in. Maybe my diagnosis is wrong???? Watching this video does not feel relatable to my symptoms. Maybe Im just scared of the dark, experience coincidences and have ptsd from my childhood that makes me feel paranoid when walking alone? Maybe I have an overactive imagination? this video made me decide to get a second opinion.

[@Revelations310]

please make a DSM-5 for regular people like DSM-5 for dummies .. awesome video!

[@dmtdreamz7706]

There was a very strange feature in this case, strange because of its extremely rare occurrence. This man had once been brought to the scaffold in company with several others, and had had the sentence of death by shooting passed upon him for some political crime. Twenty minutes later he had been reprieved and some other punishment substituted; but the interval between the two sentences, twenty minutes, or at least a quarter of an hour, had been passed in the certainty that within a few minutes he must die. I was very anxious to hear him speak of his impressions during that dreadful time, and I several times inquired of him as to what he thought and felt. He remembered everything with the most accurate and extraordinary distinctness, and declared that he would never forget a single iota of the experience. ‘About twenty paces from the scaffold, where he had stood to hear the sentence, were three posts, fixed in the ground, to which to fasten the criminals (of whom there were several). The first three criminals were taken to the posts, dressed in long white tunics, with white caps drawn over their faces, so that they could not see the rifles pointed at them. Then a group of soldiers took their stand opposite to each post. My friend was the eighth on the list, and therefore he would have been among the third lot to go up. A priest went about among them with a cross: and there was about five minutes of time left for him to live. ‘He said that those five minutes seemed to him to be a most interminable period, an enormous wealth of time; he seemed to be living, in these minutes, so many lives that there was no need as yet to think of that last moment, so that he made several arrangements, dividing up the time into portions-one for saying farewell to his companions, two minutes for that; then a couple more for thinking over his own life and career and all about himself; and another minute for a last look around. He remembered having divided his time like this quite well. While saying good- bye to his friends he recollected asking one of them some very usual everyday question, and being much interested in the answer. Then having bade farewell, he embarked upon those two minutes which he had allotted to looking into himself; he knew beforehand what he was going to think about. He wished to put it to himself as quickly and clearly as possible, that here was he, a living, thinking man, and that in three minutes he would be nobody; or if somebody or something, then what and where? He thought he would decide this question once for all in these last three minutes. A little way off there stood a church, and its gilded spire glittered in the sun. He remembered staring stubbornly at this spire, and at the rays of light sparkling from it. He could not tear his eyes from these rays of light; he got the idea that these rays were his new nature, and that in three minutes he would become one of them, amalgamated somehow with them. ‘The repugnance to what must ensue almost immediately, and the uncertainty, were dreadful, he said; but worst of all was the idea, ‘What should I do if I were not to die now? What if I were to return to life again? What an eternity of days, and all mine! How I should grudge and count up every minute of it, so as to waste not a single instant!’ He said that this thought weighed so upon him and became such a terrible burden upon his brain that he could not bear it, and wished they would shoot him quickly and have done with it.’

[@raew2903]

Can you do a video on maladaptive day dreaming? And why it happens? Thank you!

[@todalio9238]

I have recently been diagnosed BPD, but it is crazy how much all the symptoms listed in this video apply to me. Could you have both? Could my certainty of having BPD mislead a diagnosis where the psychiatrist should actually have found this instead? I just began with a group for "Personnality therapy" which I hope will help, but it's with two psychologists and no phychiatrist.

[@lovingit4450]

I really appreciate this channel and this Doctor.. Thank you Doctor for your hard work ❤

[@celticstar5049]

Never knew this, excellent video, thanks.

[@DrTraceyMarks]

You’re welcome Janet 😊

[@JadeDRail]

I love learning from this channel. Always very informative and interesting. I like your necklace.

[@DrTraceyMarks]

Thank you Jade. And thanks for complementing my necklace. 😊

[@JadeDRail]

@@DrTraceyMarks Keep up the good work. I look forward to more videos.

[@thinkingjohn2099]

To diagnose myself I have traits of Schizoid & Schizotypal Personality but have been hospitalised for bipolar all good I can cope by myself especially after dumping toxic fiends

[@clintparsons3989]

I had a friend with this. He was absolutely convinced fairies lived in the moss under his mailbox. Socially awkward/silently anxious in social situations. Very artistic and articulate like anyone else on Facebook though.

[@ameliacisna1813]

Thank you so much for this video! Very informative. I'm noticing that some of these symptoms overlap with autistic traits. Is there a correlation or connection between the two?