Ask HN: How can you tell if you are insane? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: How can you tell if you are insane?

#31

Post by bossrat » Sun, Oct 11, 2015, 7:42 PM UTC

qwertyFish wrote: post #5

ziles88 wrote: post #3

Hi qwertyFish thank you so much for reaching out. I have a close family member, and close friend who both suffer from Schizophrenia. Although I'd hate to make any type of diagnosis over a medium like this, I feel you've been descriptive enough for me to make an educated guess. Schizophrenia is a fairly complex disorder with varying levels of severity. What you described sounds very close to what a lot of people descr…

Thank you for that answer. My "hopeful" theory is that I did get hacked and maybe overreacted too much. However, if I am being honest, regardless I think it is likely amphetamine psychosis. I have been taking it for 3months but as month 4 started I began to take a bit more at times, possibly leading to these symptoms. I think being somewhat paranoid is positive, but I need to have a better way to assess the underlyin…

What you describe can have many explanations, and is nowhere near an extreme diagnosis such as Schizophrenia.

Anybody's brain can react the way yours did to stress; many brains are less able to handle stress; stress comes in many forms, including PTSD, drugs, alcohol, anxiety, and even lack of sleep.

You shouldn't be taking Adderol without medical supervision and whoever is supervising you taking needs to be qualified to handle this.

Re: Ask HN: How can you tell if you are insane?

#32

Post by bhouston » Sun, Oct 11, 2015, 7:42 PM UTC

The stimulant usage, of which aderall qualifies as it is an amphetamine, can lead to Stimulant Psychosis:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stimulant_psychosis

Re: Ask HN: How can you tell if you are insane?

#33

Post by throwaway349287 » Sun, Oct 11, 2015, 7:45 PM UTC

EDIT: I've reviewed the Reddit thread linked in another comment! (The Co2 guy)[1] Given that the original Reddit report was written as cogently as you've been writing I would suggest taking similar and related steps. I don't have anything more specific to add. Get things back to normal. Also you report physical illness, so this would go hand-in-hand with some similar reason. (For example, Co2 guy had severe headaches, that he didn't mention but which were a symptom.)

I've deleted the earlier version of this comment (in which I asked you to speculate on a motive for the email) as I think that it is more important to address the things that could cause these thoughts. It would be different if you didn't feel sick or weren't taking a high drug level.

I see a lot of similarities, especially because you mention physical illness (although the OP there didn't mention his headaches until prompted.) Try to solve them, as they're quite serious. Bear in mind that your judgment may be impaired at the moment, and that your family are concerned. Try to solve the external source of the issues if at all possible.

[1] Here is the thread I mean: https://np.reddit.com/r/legaladvice/comments/34l7vo/ma_posti...

Re: Ask HN: How can you tell if you are insane?

#34

Post by forgotmypassw » Sun, Oct 11, 2015, 7:45 PM UTC

You could always visit a doctor who specializes in these things to get evaluated objectively. Also cut the aderall.

Re: Ask HN: How can you tell if you are insane?

#35

Post by rorykoehler » Sun, Oct 11, 2015, 7:46 PM UTC

Why are you taking Adderall? I just read the symptoms of ADHD and that is not something worth medicating for especially with amphetamines. You're a human. We're all different and some of us have more energy than others. It's ok to be hyperactive and not be able to concentrate if that's who you are. Try cutting sugar from your diet and meditating instead of cramming yourself full of Adderall. Anyone would go crazy pumping that shit in everyday. If that doesn't help after a week or two find a professional psychiatrist.

Re: Ask HN: How can you tell if you are insane?

#36

Post by paulcole » Sun, Oct 11, 2015, 7:47 PM UTC

tdicola wrote: post #22

The correct answer is go to a health professional and have them evaluate your mental and physical health objectively.

Yes, based on the question, this is the only advice in this thread that should even be considered.

Re: Ask HN: How can you tell if you are insane?

#37

Post by duaneb » Sun, Oct 11, 2015, 7:48 PM UTC

Definitely cut down on the stimulants. This is the first step to evaluating your paranoia.

You're healthy enough to get help, friend, you can't be any crazier than the rest of us.

Re: Ask HN: How can you tell if you are insane?

#38

Post by bcjordan » Sun, Oct 11, 2015, 7:52 PM UTC

qwertyFish wrote: post #27

nefitty wrote: post #9

Earlier quoted context omitted.

A simple question is, "What value would someone get from intruding on my life?" If you're not a corporate CEO, a politician, a billionaire, etc chances are that the risk someone would target you to upend your life are extremely low. Either way, it's good you are documenting your experience. This could help when describing what you're going through to a physician. Please seek medical help, you sound like you are a bri…

Thanks. I tried to keep my post somewhat objective but biased towards the more outlandish aspects of my claim. > what value would someone get People do it for the lulz. I posted a snarkey advert saying I couldn't find anything outside of Wordpress tweaks on Craigslist and included a bit about security and people asking to hack Facebook. Said it would be cool if someone in security was interested, but doubted it due t…

From what you've been going through it sounds extremely likely you are experiencing stimulant psychosis, but the best way to approach this objectively is to have your psychiatrist do the assessment.

PLEASE contact your psychiatrist / psychiatrist's office about this RIGHT NOW -- call them and make an appointment or otherwise discuss treatment options over the phone, tell them you're concerned you may be experiencing amphetamine psychosis or something else -- they are trained to make this call and have seen it thousands of times before.

Time is of the essence, it's much more effective to seek treatment before a condition worsens. This can be a dangerous state to be in, and there are treatments that will help you get through this safely.

If there's nothing going on, they will help you confirm that. If not, they may save your life.

It's possible, if not likely, you may need to briefly visit a hospital for supervised treatment -- understand that's a perfectly common thing and the most safe, smart option.

It's also worth noting that there are effective non-stimulant treatment options for ADHD now if that is what you are being treated for. So getting treated for this won't mean you can't still be treated for that -- your psychiatrist will help you find an optimal plan.

If your psychiatrist is unavailable or you do not have one, contact your primary care physician's emergency line. If you have neither of those providers, you can contact me and I can find you the right number to contact for assistance for your state/region -- my username @ gmail.

Also happy to talk through anything with you as well, same email. Wish you the best!

Re: Ask HN: How can you tell if you are insane?

#39

Post by [deleted] » Sun, Oct 11, 2015, 7:56 PM UTC

[deleted]

Re: Ask HN: How can you tell if you are insane?

#40

Post by Iamnotcrazyokay » Sun, Oct 11, 2015, 7:59 PM UTC

Is no one going to address the objective evidence? If there are emails flaunting exploits... You're not crazy. If the emails don't exist, there's probably a bigger issue. If the emails did exist and then got deleted... That's tough.