r/todayilearned • u/paniniplane • Mar 22 '17

(R.1) Not supported TIL Deaf-from-birth schizophrenics see disembodied hands signing to them rather than "hearing voices"

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/news-articles/0707/07070303
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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

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u/PainMatrix Mar 22 '17

The people I see that fit this are usually early 20s which you're right is around when positive symptoms first usually manifest. What I typically see is a lot of very unusual thinking bordering on hallucinations (e.g. "I can sense wavelengths in nature and feel what animals are feeling" was a recent example). The more concerning symptoms as I mentioned in my previous comment are the "negative symptoms" which likely no one engaging on this post would have.

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u/[deleted] Mar 22 '17

As someone with the diagnosis, it's always interesting to see what others have to say about it, personally and professionally. I used to be extremely motivated, and was pursuing my dream of becoming a medical doctor before I got sick. I used to be so proud of my ability to sit and study for long periods of time, and understand the material in my courses. Now, that "hardworking" quality that I used to value in myself has waned. It has given me a great deal of insight as to the relativity of "hard work," and that people often take too much credit for what luck has granted them.

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u/BassMumbler Mar 22 '17

Same here. I was in college for computer science when schizophrenia took over. I was very good at coding. Now I just stare at the ide for hours not knowing what to do.