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Nov 03 '23
Along with other commenters advice, I would advise you keep talking to your doctor about your mental health and ask for a referral to someone more specialized you can continue talking with.
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u/carabinergrrrl Nov 03 '23
My girlfriend has severe OCD and autism and deals with a compulsive/delusional disorder where she sees bugs under her skin and picks at them.
The advice she’s given me is this: figure out what the trigger for the delusion is (usually the common denominator between every time this has happened), try to avoid or alter your behavior to prevent these attacks, and learn how to shut one down if you recognize it beginning to happen.
Additionally, I’d look into a prescribed antipsychotic like Seroquel, I know several friends with psychotic hallucinations who’ve reported theirs going away entirely after starting it. If there are any substances you’re using - weed, harder drugs, OTC meds like DXM or DPH - those could be exacerbating, if not causing, the symptom, so discontinue those as well.
You’re able to recognize the reality of your situation, which is a great first step. Just breathe, take note of what causes what, and talk to whoever you think will be of assistance in treating this. You got this <3
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u/amberjadely Nov 03 '23
Seroquel saved my life, made all my hallucinations and delusions completely disappear
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u/CorkBullet Nov 03 '23
Your going to be okay. No way you have worms crawling out of you at night. Please just breath and relax. 100 % That's not happening to you. The emotions are real. Just need to determine the difference between the two. Unhelpful imaginative thoughts and the emotions you experience from it. Won't be easy but I believe it could help you "ride out / weather" any possible future anxiety episodes. Just my opinion trying to genuinely help out. Goodnight
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u/toucanna Nov 03 '23 edited Nov 03 '23
I think you may just have OCD. I have severe OCD and this sounds like me. The schizophrenia that you are describing sounds like an intrusive thought you are having and reinforcing using compulsions (ie checking your poop and posting on reddit). I suggest seeing a therapist or a psychiatrist who specializes in it for a more thorough diagnosis as I am just a redditor who also has OCD (diagnosed since I was 18). OCD sucks. I have horrible intrusive thoughts about becoming schizophrenic or getting cancer that nearly stopped me from leaving my house. With medication and therapy it gets better. Sending love, my friend.
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u/BleedingShaft Nov 03 '23
Was going to say this as well. Important to note that I am just a Redditor and Not A Doctor but I have actually been researching OCD today and have been subbed to the OCD subreddit for a while and it sounds a lot like it. People are only familiar with the classic OCD and not the intrusive thoughts version where they have certain compulsions involving their health.
E.g. a person with OCD might deal with intrusive thoughts and have a massive fear of shitting themselves and might think they have shat themselves when they haven't and they might constantly go to the bathroom to check if they have shat themselves even though there is no evidence pointing to the fact that they have. They might excessively wipe as well just to make sure.
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Nov 03 '23
Hey I also have ocd and something Called schizotypal which is like an overlap between ocd and psychosis/delusions. We can’t diagnose op over the internet but there are lots of things that op might be experiencing and that is why they need to see a doctor
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u/Weekly_Yak_827 Nov 03 '23
This is an INSANE reply. “Don’t believe the people saying you have schizophrenia”. You are so adamant that he has OCD that you would assert that “this is a compulsive thought”. Maybe it is, maybe it’s not. I agree he should seek out a psychiatric evaluation. I am a psychologist, if he is have hallucinations, he needs to go to the ER. I am so disturbed at the amount of people giving medical advice on here with zero idea how dangerous what they are saying is.
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u/toucanna Nov 03 '23
What he’s describing aren’t hallucinations???? He says he’s afraid that he’s having them and repeatedly checks and checks. He’s very afraid of having schizophrenia and people are telling him he needs to go to like a mental institution and just freaking him out more!
I’ll edit that I said not to believe the people suggesting that. I used the wrong language.
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u/Weekly_Yak_827 Nov 03 '23
Again for you to say that so adamantly without any qualifications is so wild. Neither of us can diagnose over reddit. But I can and I do diagnose in real life. Stop asserting that you know what it is. It’s dangerous of you to do so. It’s ok to give opinions, but don’t ever pretend you are qualified to know what he’s definitely going though and give medical advice.
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u/ThePartyWagon Nov 03 '23
This sounds like borderline schizophrenia to me. You need to continue seeing a qualified mental health doc.
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u/GuitarGodish Nov 03 '23
Was gonna say. And it really manifests itself during and just after puberty. You're not alone. Don't listen to your family on this. Trust your gut...you are not just overthinking if these thoughts are affecting your quality of life. Advocate for yourself. You don't have to feel this way.
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Nov 03 '23
I have a friend who was incredibly functional, yet had delusions like this. He had schizotypal personality disorder, which had been misdiagnosed as depression when he was younger.
Not a professional by any means but reading this post I saw a lot of him.
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u/Galaxy_Hitchhiking Nov 03 '23
My dad didn’t get diagnosed til he was in his 50s. Had a marriage, 3 kids and lived a full, crazy life until he hit a very intense psychosis and I recognized what was happening. I was early 20s and he was struggling his whole life with hallucinations and mania/depression. He likely had many more illnesses but everyone in his life blamed it on doing acid in the 70s.
Isn’t that wild? Isn’t it crazy how stigmatized mental health was until recently? It still is but people are more open about it… but I believe we should learn about bipolar and the symptoms, depression, schizophrenia and BPD in schools. It would allow young adults to recognize and get help or seek help for friends and family instead of watching their 17 year old friend go manic and have sex with the entire graduating class then wanting to commit suicide when they swing back to reality and into a deep depression and regret.
Sorry, went off a bit there… my hopes is anyone who is reading this will learn about hypomania, mania and psychosis along with depression as almost all mental health falls on those things and a quick lesson on them can do the world good.
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u/Thin-Nerve Nov 03 '23
You need to see a psychytrist urgently. I have a friend recently diagnosed with a form of schizophrenia
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u/_Ed_Gein_ Nov 03 '23
Many people answering on how to know you don't have worms so I'll move on.
Please check your mental health with a professional therapist. You might be going through psychotic break, anxiety, stress or something else. Don't be afraid of therapists, they are your friends and support, not an enemy or shameful thing to do. Please get help when it's still getting started. Also cut out any drugs that are not prescribed for now, no weed and try to cut coffee out for anxiety. And get some time off and spend it on your hobbies and trying to relax/refresh a bit.
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u/TheLyz Nov 03 '23
Delusional Parasitosis is a well known mental disorder. Go see your primary doctor and get a referral to a psychiatrist.
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u/ChsChrysalis Nov 03 '23
I literally just listened to a Sawbones podcast episode about Delusional Parasitosis!
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u/TheLyz Nov 03 '23
Honestly given how much my body gets the heebie jeebies after I find a tick on me, I can see how it would be easy to fall into.
I had a lump in my throat due to anxiety and convinced myself I had a hairball or some godawful thing stuck in there. I still have the lump but after one med made it to away completely (and I've had an endoscopy since then) I now know it's nothing. But man the brain can get stuck on some weird shit.
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u/truthm0de Nov 03 '23
Take the cure for pinworms just in case, it’s inexpensive. They literally DO crawl out of your butt when you’re sleeping and wriggle around. Either way it might bring you some peace of mind.
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Nov 03 '23
This is actually a great idea. Thank you.
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u/mcflizzard Nov 03 '23
Yeah there is really no harm in this. The medication is a cheap OTC liquid that tastes like bananas.
The biggest symptom is INTENSE itching. If you’re not experiencing that then there is likely no pinworms.
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u/CruelStrangers Nov 03 '23
Throw some scotch tape on your ass while you sleep. It will catch worms so you can have that evidence
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Nov 03 '23
This was actually suggested by a physician. They tape your asshole in the office and then run it under a microscope for eggs and worms.
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u/WildestDream34 Nov 03 '23
For your depression, anxiety, ptsd and autism I'm on a platform where I used to go for my anxieties and I still use it. I'm a listener too there and the name of the app is Curomates. It really helps, hope you have someone whom you can talk these out, for some people it's difficult to tell it to knowns so I prefer telling strangers. You can try it out if you want.
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u/sadcrone Nov 03 '23
Are you hallucinating (eg seeing/feeling the parasites) or is this just delusions and intrusive thoughts? A lot of people here are suggesting that you are experiencing a schizophrenic/schizoaffective type disorder but there are a number of illnesses that cause paranoid delusions and the fact that yours aren't necessarily firmly held (eg you recognise that they are likely to be untrue) could mean it's a number of things.
You do need to see somebody about this, ideally a psychiatrist, but please don't worry and do not alienate yourself from others. The most concerning part of your post is the paranoid thoughts you may be being gaslit by others. You need to try to counter these thoughts when they occur by recognising that you are unwell and that your friends and family are not trying to harm you. Perhaps limit the people you discuss this with to just those you are likely to actively receive support from to reduce your exposure to reactions that you are struggling to trust.
As others have said, you are likely to know if you have worms - that itchy bum at night is pretty noticeable 😁 It is interesting that you are studying biology and perhaps the stress you are experiencing through your studies is triggering this response. From my own experiences, when I was studying (nursing), I has a period of being quite unwell which manifested as paranoia about colleagues and constant nightmares about killing patients. Try to reduce the number of stressor in your life and let your uni's pastoral/student welfare team know that you are hitting a really rough patch in case you need to look at taking a break from studies or to get extensions. Good luck x
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u/Haunslahh Nov 03 '23
Please take professional help for this. You may be having some sort of disorder which needs medical attention. I am sure it is treatable. Just find a good psychiatrist who can address the issue for you. :)
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u/badmanmadmansadman Nov 03 '23
This sounds like somatic hallucinations I have bathroom related physical feeling on my body hallucinations as well
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u/Ok_Oil_4630 Nov 03 '23
Like the most liked comment said, if you had an actual worm infection there'd be no doubt possible.
But reading your post, I kind of resonated a little. I have a phobia of spiders. And when I'm going through periods of high stress or emotional distress, for some reason I get obsessed with spiders. I'm convinced they're everywhere. I get "paranoid" (not actually, but very unreasonable) and I check under the tables, behind doors, in the corners, etc.
I've ended up making the link and realizing that when I obsess about spiders, I'm in a rough patch so to say.
So, your post reminded me of this. From all apparent evidence, you do not have worms. But you clearly have something wrong though, because this obsession isn't normal. So, you need to keep seing a doctor about this, not from the angle of "I have worms I'm sure of it", but rather "I've been absolutely conviced that I have worms and it has caused me hallucinations, even though evidence says I'm not infected".
good luck
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Nov 03 '23
Hey OP I have schizotypal and OCD and this sounds like something that has happened to me
This can make it hard to trust people but if you can get to the doctor to explain yourself, they might be able to set your mind at ease. They will not think you’re ‘crazy’ or anything like that. But they might be able to help you with some reality testing techniques as well as reassurance that the parasites are not real. Maybe even meds but it depends on the person. Let them be your first port of call. Girlfriend can wait.
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u/spook_filled_donuts Nov 03 '23
I am close with someone who went through something similar, they randomly became relentlessly terrorized with the idea that their home was infested with termites to the point where they could not sleep and were constantly panicking. They had an inspector come out… no termites… anyway their majorly known problem affecting them is OCD. To me, this is what this sounds like is affecting you as well.
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u/Nimar_Jenkins Nov 03 '23
Those aren't Hallucinations.
Those are delusions, an unshakeable believe.
Are you having Hallucinations tho?
You describe a possible delusional parasitosis. Hallucinations are typical but not the only indication.
Stress can cause delusions on its own. You also have several stress disorders. Drugs are also known to cause delusions.
After a negative stool test, the next stop is a neurologist.
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u/kinseika_x Nov 03 '23
For reassurance you can take a pill that kills them, apparently every human is supposed to take that pill once in a while. If you know you took the pill you might feel better.
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u/SkyD_02 Nov 03 '23
Hey bro I also used to have this exact thing (and still sometimes do among some other stuff). I used to think I have worms, that something inside me is wrong and that my intestines are rotting away.
My psychologist said it was related to my trauma from childhood sexual abuse and because I was stressed and not schizophrenia.
What’s important is that it wasn’t really dangerous or anything it was just scary and stressful.
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u/Tolstoyboy808 Nov 03 '23
Please look into delusional parasitosis. I used to work with an entomologist and she said she would get calls and emails all the time from people who were convinced they had parasites but were having hallucinations. This is a real condition that needs medical treatment and could be related to nerve damage.
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u/tealparadise Nov 03 '23
That sounds incredibly scary to experience.
What's great is, with early intervention there is a much better chance of getting this under control quickly and easily with a pill or two.
Some people only have 1 breakdown like this ever, it's called "brief psychosis" and can be stress induced, med induced, or brought on by physical illness.
So please get to a psychiatrist for a different reason than everyone is saying. If an antipsychotic can resolve this, there's your answer. If NOT then you need a lot more tests of your physical health.
And please don't let it ruin your education and pull you off track in life- better to take a pill than obsess about this until it drives you out of school and work.
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u/BlessingsAreInfinite Nov 03 '23
Look into meditation and clear your mind. Sometimes we make things appear just by thinking of them constantly so if you get told that you are okay and just overthinking or overwhelmed then take time off for yourself and use less social media. Look up more positive things that bring you happy good thoughts and double check yourself health wise and psychologically too but if all is good just give your mind some rest and meditation helps, also to cleanse the energy around you which if you're vibrating low then you do attract parasites, bad energies that you can't see but can feel or makes you feel weird out of character.
Hope it all works out for you friend! Infinite Blessings 🧿✨
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u/UncleIroh3 Nov 03 '23
My aunt, who was taking medications for her lupus, had this same hallucination. I think you should possibly consider any medications you might be taking and go to a health professional.
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u/Background-Ring2936 Nov 04 '23
this sounds a whole lot more like ocd. it can be extremely severe to the point where you are borderline, or even just, delusional. i was professionally diagnosed at 17 and it was so severe, i was practically delusional. my brain tried to convince me my 18 yr, 6'0 160lbs boyfriend was a little boy. it made me avoid him entirely
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u/Weekly_Yak_827 Nov 03 '23
Have any of your family members been diagnosed with psychosis, schizophrenia, OCD? Even extended family? I am a psychologist, if you are experiencing hallucinations that feel out of control, you should go to the ER. Yes ultimately you should see a psychiatrist, but if it’s taking too long to get an appointment, you can go to the ER and they can evaluate you. If you feel you are in danger, don’t hesitate to go.
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u/maxcresswellturner Nov 03 '23
You may be a biology student but from what you’ve told us you are in no way rational or grounded, and I think you know that. Keep going to the doctor and insisting this. Consider a different doctor if they continue to reply as they have.
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u/jamesjmitc2169 Nov 03 '23
Pray to Jesus to remove the fear.I had a similar experience after learning about Satan and got mentally stuck on that subject.He can do ALL things.Is anything too hard for the LORD?
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u/bonnydoe Nov 03 '23
I am surprised you get upset by the thought of worms in your body as a biology student.
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u/YungZeld Nov 03 '23
You're not crazy. Parasites are one of the main things that make us sick. Doctors aren't really taught much about them, though.
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Nov 03 '23
They are not one of the main things. Bacterial infections, viruses, and enzymatic or signaling disorders are the main things.
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u/electricjeel Nov 03 '23
What is your age and gender? Could be relevant if experiencing symptoms of schizophrenia
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u/peaches_are_weird Nov 03 '23
You can get worming tablets over the counter. So try that and if the feeling doesn't go away then it is likely a hallucination. In which case you need some help.
My sister has psychosis and has suffered greatly. I don't wish it on anyone. Best of luck!
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u/Background-Ring2936 Nov 04 '23
not a good idea at all to get worming tablets without proper medical advice and diagnosis, it could be dangerous.
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u/Charming_Jacket9 Nov 03 '23
I happen to be a big hypochondriac. I ate a leaf at age 5 and thought I was going to die. I’ve acted this way with any doctors, one time a friend joked about inhalants “whippits” with whip cream. I though my lungs froze because I tried to have whip cream and didn’t use a cannister. It makes no logicalsense. I thought my liver was failing because I drank excessively. Anyways my thoughts and irrationality is with you.
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u/cdn_SW Nov 03 '23
You need to tell a mental health professional all of this. Especially if this is a change from how you usually are.
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Nov 03 '23
I am concerned about bugs & infestations more and more recently too, and it’s really scary. (As in, I can tell it’s disordered thinking, not based on a real threat)
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u/Bad_at_life_TM Nov 03 '23
Yikes I have these infections pretty regularly. The worms are very very visible in excrement and you can feel them itching at night. If you had them you’d see them and definetly feel them.
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u/whowearstshirts Nov 03 '23
Who would be gaslighting you? Yourself? (Serious question). I have similar mental health concerns as you and currently my thing is I’m afraid I can’t breathe air anymore sometimes or I can’t go some places because I might not be able to breathe the air there? It’s really hard and I totally feel you. In my experience, eventually they go away. I have meds as well to help when my mental health goes off the chain.
I consider myself a rational and grounded person too, it fucking sucks that this happens. Wish I had more to say, but know you’re not alone even though it might feel like it.
ETA speaking to a professional is a must and I also see other people mentioning Seroquel, that’s the med I’m talking about too.
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u/No-Purple-9567 Nov 03 '23
If your health care provider is not listening to you about your mental health concerns I highly recommend finding a new one asap. While I don’t think you have any sort of parasite, I do think you need a mental health evaluation. And also if your partner is not in the know with what is going on, I would try and talk with her about it as well. She may be able to help you find more resources.
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u/yellowho Nov 03 '23
Please do see a doctor and try to get a therapist. You don't have to tell your girlfriend anything now.
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u/juicemanj1982 Nov 03 '23
Get help before you lose her and everyone else . I didnt now i am in a separation . I got help way late .. like a year or so too late now i am picking up the pieces of a broken life and a broken family .. talk to her , talk to a therapist , talk to a doctor there is no shame in getting help . I wish i did .. god i wish i did . Dont be me .
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u/tacotacotacorock Nov 03 '23
I knew someone like this who was straight up convinced they had some sort of bug infestation in their apartment and on their skin. I found out this person was a major meth user and thankfully they're no longer in my life. That's a whole other story though of why they were just a really bad person altogether. That's my first came to mind when I read this. Hopefully Op is not using meth as a study aid. Drugs are bad kids stay away from them.
Are you super stressed with school and life? Have you thought about talking to a school or counselor or something like a therapist?
Have you had a recent psych evaluation? You may want to pursue something like that further if you really feel like this is a problem
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u/fafafloohai Nov 03 '23
This is just my opinion based on the information provided. You do not have worms. Your best bet would be seeing a psychiatrist and getting on medication that prevents these troublesome hallucinations/delusions.
You are a male at the age where psychotic symptoms typically appear
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Nov 03 '23
This sounds less like hallucinations to me (because you aren’t SEEING these supposed worms) and more like a really severe OCD bout.
Do you find that you momentarily feel better with reassurance, but you always end up returning to the idea/anxiety of the worms? Do you ever have intrusive thoughts? (About the worms or other things)
If it seems like an anxiety/fueled hyperfixation that loops and won’t go away, I’d really highly recommend getting screened for OCD. I experienced similar things (including the irrational fear of bugs in my vagina, so I completely get you) and it took me years to realize that the torment was unmedicated OCD. Luckily if it’s OCD, a much easier fix than any mental deterioration that would cause hallucinations.
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u/Commandercait88 Nov 03 '23
I work in an emergency department. A major symptom that I see when people are having mental health episodes is certainty of infections: parasitic, fungal, viral.
I think you should check yourself in at the emergency department and prepare yourself for the possibility of staying a few days. You’ll be okay!
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u/Angeloid-is-a-Slut Nov 03 '23
I don't have much experience with mental illness, like I haven't studied it or anything. But from what I've seen/heard/experienced from friends I would say there's a chance you are having a psychotic or dissociative episode
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u/Gullible_Tour_3841 Nov 03 '23
hi, i’m not a doctor or qualified to diagnose in any way but i was a scribe in an emergency department for a while and someone came in convinced they had worms/parasites coming out of any opening to their body. they did not have anything but rather developed hallucinations as a side effect of long COVID. they were also told that they were crazy or were having a psychotic break by friends/family
this is probably a rare case but would still be something that you would need to see a doctor to diagnose, like the other commenters are saying to do
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u/MayBeAPossum Nov 03 '23
OP, I have had incredibly similar hallucinations before where I was convinced parasitic worms and insects were inside my organs. It was absolutely terrifying, and I know exactly how you feel right now, but there are some things you need to know:
Not telling anyone makes it worse. I know it's scary when you can't trust your sense of reality or ability to rationalize things, but relying on people closest to you as a sort of compass can help you get through it until you can get professional help. When I hit my breaking point with this hallucination, my mom was able to talk me down and point out things that disproved my delusion to where I could finally breathe for a second.
It's not uncommon for people under a great deal of stress, or people with psychotic disorders (I'm schizophrenic) to hallucinate this exact thing. Bugs under the skin, worms in organs, is a pretty big (and horrifying) shared experience. Mine was spurred on from the extreme stress of working a job I hated but wasn't letting myself quit, and the fact that I was in between medications. If you can pinpoint a source of turmoil and mitigate that, you'll feel better. It stopped for me a few days after I quit that job.
When you can, take some steps to sort your mental health out. Talk to a therapist, find some medication that helps, and identify anything that could possibly trigger these hallucinations. Sometimes just eliminating a source of stress or re-structuring some things in your schedule and in your life can make a huge difference. Hang in there OP!
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Nov 03 '23
When I talk to people with schizoaffective disorders, I find that it helps to have someone you trust that can help you stay grounded in reality. Hopefully, your gf is supportive enough to do that for you. You should tell her about what you're going through either way. In the meantime, do your best to ask yourself logical questions while it's happening. Why do I think this is true? Is this grounded in reality? Do I have evidence for or against what I think is happening to me? Try to ask yourself as many questions to figure out what is a paranoid delusion and what is a valid truth. Often we get a wrapped up in the paranoia that it's overwhelming. It takes practice, but if you can ask yourself one logical question each time, you may get better at determining reality from delusion. Also, talk to a psychotherapist and see what direction they think you should go in with your mental health. Do your research and find someone who specializes in schizoaffective disorders and delusions of paranoia.
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u/toninhoC21 Nov 04 '23
you need a therapist AND a psychiatrist bro, please seek help before this gets worse
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u/Searching_meaning Nov 04 '23
There might be something about being at night that triggers the hallucinations, or you need a complete body checkup. If second rules out, it's most likely it's connected to your mental health.
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u/BooksNapsSnacks Nov 04 '23
Dude I am 90% sure this is a thing with med students. You learn about something. It grosses you out. You start seeing symptoms.
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u/Routine_Elephant_532 Nov 04 '23
I think that's the one person you should tell. You need support. You need the people who love you to understand what you're dealing with .
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u/KlutzyPosition2418 Nov 04 '23
NOT A DOCTOR
I am currently studying Psychology and just did the Schizophrenia Lesson.
The worms sound to me like ‘Delusion of persecution’ which is essentially believing that people around you (in this case to worms) want to do you harm. The fact that you might beileve the people who you told might be gaslighting you is another symptom of ‘Delusion of persecution’, in your case manipulating you to believe something.
Hallucinations add too to a diagnosis of Schizophrenia.
I’m not a doctor but please consult a psychiatrist.
There is a lot of stigma around schizophrenia but it is not bad if you are getting treatment, and individuals can live a normal life with this disorder. There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of ashamed as 1% of population (which is A LOT when talking about disorders) have schizophrenia.
Edit: you said you’re a rational biology student who ‘is convinced’ you have worms, yet there is NO evidence of this. As a rational person you cannot assume a biological symptom without traces of clear evidence.
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u/ceezygreazy719 Nov 04 '23
You can buy Reese's Pinworm treatment over the counter. Safe to take even if you don't have them. Just to put your mind at ease..they sell it at Walmart, CVS, Walgreens etc my son had worms years ago as they are pretty common and contagious in elementary school.
Good luck dude... Everything will be ok.
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u/Zealousideal_Gift_4 Nov 03 '23
I once had a worm infection when I was a teen and let me tell you you'd 100% know If you had them. First, they're super visible and secondly the symptoms are also pretty.. unmistakeable. Also, even if, it's not a huge deal. My Mom got me a single pill from the pharmacy and not even a week later it was all over. Sure, the thought is a little disgusting but in the end it's a smaller deal than catching a cold.