A recent TikTok video has provided a glimpse into the frightening symptoms experienced by individuals with schizophrenia, prompting reactions from those who understand the condition firsthand.
Schizophrenia is a chronic mental health disorder characterized by symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganized thinking and behavior, according to the Mayo Clinic.
Hallucinations involve perceiving things that are not present, like hearing voices, while delusions involve holding strong, false beliefs.
For those living with schizophrenia, these symptoms can create a significant disconnect from reality, complicating everyday life.
The TikTok video, created by user @xoradmagical, is an 87-second simulation that captures scenes from the perspective of someone with schizophrenia. It includes settings like a beach and a forest, overlaid with swirling visuals and ghostly faces that enhance the hallucinatory effect.
In the background, voices reminiscent of the Toy Story grabber machine aliens can be heard whispering. You can watch the video here:
When the video was shared on Reddit, it sparked discussion among those with firsthand experience of the disorder.
One commenter noted, “My sister is a paranoid schizophrenic. She hears people shouting at her, calling her awful names. Last week, she told me dad stopped by her bedroom doorway and stared at her with an angry look on his face before heading off down the stairs. He had died a month earlier. Awful, awful illness.”
Another individual identified closely with the ‘auditory hallucinations’ depicted in the video.
“The dialogue I experienced was closer to full conversations taking place between different hallucinations; they all had their own personality and heavily drew from realism instead of what’s heard here,” they shared.
“The hallucinations referred to me in third person and scripted narratives about my life which weren’t real. I began believing we were in an afterlife and my hallucinations became the voices of people surrounding me. Doctors, nurses, patients, family and others.”
Another participant mentioned that the simulation closely mirrored their own experiences with schizophrenia.
Meanwhile, someone else described seeing ‘fuzzy colors’ and darting shadows during a previous episode with the condition.
“Had to sleep with a towel over my mirror cause I couldn’t stop looking to see if I still see stuff, thinking it’s some other dimensional creatures poking through my mirror,” they explained. “The worst is hearing my name or a scream when I’m going to sleep. Still see the heat wave of things that are never there, but only when I focus.
“In the corner of my eyes it’s like everyone next to me are staring daggers into my soul with distorted faces. Visuals with schizophrenia is truly terrifying.”
Another user mentioned having ‘schizoaffective disorder’, which also involves hearing similar voices as portrayed in the video.
If you or someone you know is experiencing mental health challenges, assistance is available through Mental Health America. You can reach out by calling or texting 988, or by visiting 988lifeline.org. Alternatively, the Crisis Text Line is accessible by texting MHA to 741741.