this woman certainly sounds difficult to live with. If she has not been diagnosed with any problem it would be unfair to label her with anything. Could you and your brother move out if you find her too difficult to live with? Could you and your brother have a private talk with your dad and say how you feel. She may be depressed or stressed or have other problems. Having a lot of jobs doesn't mean anything, and when someone marries and has stepchildren there can be a lot of stress involved. It doesn't sound like a healthy living situation for you, focus on yourself and what you want. Good luck

Some common symptoms of schizotypal pd include having few close friends, lonliness, odd patterns of thinking, eccentricities, difficulty keeping focused, vague speech, and idle ways of life. All of the symptoms don't have to occur, they are just the more common ones.

Another thing you might consider is borderline pd. Some common symptoms of this are instability, mood shifts, unstable self image, impulsivity. They often show their anger outwardly-inflicting harm on others, or inwardly- inflicting harm on themselves. They often become furious when their expectations aren't met and they have intense conflict ridden relationships.
Or, perhaps she doesn't necessarily have any disorder, just maybe a lot of stress and problems. Is it at all possible to suggest "family counseling"? After all- its not just her problem. Everyone contributes.

Your compassion, today ? Or, are you like this, each and every day ? I would suggest, nursing school for you, or anything that would educate you in psych ... Somehow ! You may, try a course at the closest community college, or, do some volunteer work at a local nursing home ! If you can sing or play a guitair they will enjoy you, no matter how " off key " ! Do you get the picture ? Manicures or haircuts go over well at nursing homes ! Or, you can tell the nurses you 've got some clothes or stuffed animals to donate ! I am proud of your dad ! And, you ? You just need some exposure ! She will reflect the mood you bring in her home, and, always remember, the mother ... Is ... The heart ... Of the family ! I 'm not speaking to her ! I am speaking to you ! Peace be with you ! Laura

My mother is a diagnosed paranoid schizophrenic. She has every symptom you stated, as well as an intense paranoia about everything. She once had a bolt in her subaru come flying off from under the hood of the car. She was convinced that someone was out to get her, and that they were sabotaging her car to do so. Turns out there was a recall about that bolt, because of it's tendency to come flying off. To this day she is still convinced someone is out to get her.
By the way.... Does anyone get the impression "lollipop" is a little herself???

Have I missed something here? What does going to nursing school or working at a nursing home or donating clothes or animals have to do with what this girl is going through with her step mother? What she needs to do is try and sit down and have a heart to heart with her father and work through this not enroll in school.. I think I missed something somewhere..

Out on the fact that the only thing that makes any sense out of life here on earth is that of helping others ! Laura

Lauren630 came here to get just that - the help of others - yet instead she's being abused by one person - that is not what these forums are for.

If you want only to be abusive then find a site for that - ehealth has other purposes.

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You know it is very easy for any one of us to read symptoms & notice that they are similar to things that relate to us - but then we can get sidetracked into thinking that therefore we have that problem - medical students often find that they are "suffering" whatever illness/disease/condition they are currently studying - so be careful.

I have ocd & many of the things you describe apply to me - due to my ocd & also to certain events in my childhood. So consider alternatives & especially ones that require fewer prescribed meds etc.

Just one other thought thre may also be a number of other conditions/reasons for your behaviour/symptoms.

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That's fine we are all paranoid at times - that's just normal!! :d

Compulsive disorder ? Ocd ? Just a mean way of saying thorough ! Laura

Lollipop,

if you had suffered ocd you would know that it is in no way similar to merely being thorough & it is also nothing to make fun of, I have suffered it for most of my life so despite your personal antipathy toward me please consider the feelings of others who suffer this coindition & practise the religious tenets that you preach elsewhere.

It 's now called ... " transference " ... Coined by dr sigmund, himself ... Who observed ... That someone who is hostile himself will oft' times point the purple ( no excuse little ol' me ) point the " proverbial " finger at anyone except the right person who is, of course, his own sweet but yet hostile self ! Laura

Perhaps I should suggest a new forum - one where people such as you can attack others & so get their jollies without impacting unpleasantly & unfairly on sites where people have come for help/advice not to read personal attacks on people that someone has decided to dislike & refuses to even consider that they may have a valid point - e.G. If it's a post by me you automatically consider it to be garbage.

Whereas I happen to think about our posts & some of them are well thought out & have relevant points. The others in general are merely personal attacks on me or my posts.

My one and only son, jeff was diagnosed with schizophrenia 01 of 03 . Jeff is 22, now and lives with me . I have to live every day with the fact that if I 'd done things differently my son may not have come down with this devastating illness . Just that one thought has had me on the verge of suicide myself on several occassions . Laura

Well miracles do occur because lollipop we have something in common & a point of understanding - my daughter(16) hasn't been diagnosed with a mental illness per se but the psychiatrist believes that both she & my son (9) do have a mood disorder (so as their paternal g/mother is paranoid schizophrenic they may both be too) so I understand exactly what you mean when you say

"i have to live every day with the fact that if I 'd done things differently my son may not have come down with this devastating illness . Just that one thought has had me on the verge of suicide myself on several occassions"

i too feel this way all the time although since using the ces machine my suicidal ideation has virtually stopped & my thought processes are less weird (for want of a better word).

The thing is though that when I really seriously question what could I have done differently (hindsight is great but at the time we can only do what we think is right based on the knowledge etc we have at the time!!) I realize that there really isn't anything I could have done differently.

If I hadn't married their father (hence no input of genes from his mother) I wouldn't have had them (my children wouldn't be the same with a different father) & I wouldn't be without them for anything on earth - I love them regardless & I am sure that you love your son.

Yes we both wish they were totally healthy, just as we wish happiness & so on for them but we can not "make" it happen. So presented with them & their problems we just have to do our best to deal & to help them deal.

The same heart and soul as we are christians . I am fine with that . But what I fear the most is who in the world will take care of jeff when I am gone . I am continually plagued with that question every day of my life . Sorry if I 've offended you in the past . If we ever offend someone we are not acting in the spirit of christ . Take good care . Laura

Laura,

i know exactly what you mean, the thing that has stopped me suiciding in the past is exactly that - who would care for my children - my husband is great in many ways but he is also totally unrelaible in terms of how he'll react absolutely inconsistent & very low on patience - much worse than me & that's saying something!!

Still, I also know that only god decides when we die so I could die at any time & then they would not have me - but they would still have god! So I guess all I can say to you is what I say to myself when I fear for my children - god will care for them - even if they gave up on him he wouldn't give up on them. Nor will he give up on or desert jeff.