I've been diagnosed with schizophrenia but I don't meet the DSM-5 criteria for it.

I completely understand your point and I am so sorry to hear that. Are you doing all of this through the NHS? I have heard some not so pleasant things about how they treated some of my friends who have anxiety, BPD and other neurodivergent cases.

Yes, NHS. I'm with a community mental health team and have to attend regular appointments and stuff.

The DSM-5 criteria states that you need 2 or more of the following

But it does say delusions by itself is sufficient for a diagnosis if they are "bizarre". Hallucinations by itself is also sufficient if they consist of a running commentary.
So in the past I have experienced 3 of these symptoms (voices, delusions and disorganised speech) but I have been symptom free for over 1 year now so I'm pretty sure I don't have schizophrenia.
The only symptom I still have is voices (which is caused by anxiety, not schizophrenia) but it's not running commentary, it's mostly insults trying to make me feel bad about myself. I've been discussing this with my psychiatrist but she refuses to accept that I no longer fit the criteria for a schizophrenia diagnosis.
She says I am suffering from anosognosia, which is a lack of insight... That I am refusing to accept my illness. It's not that I'm refusing, it's just that I literally don't meet the criteria.
I want to come off my medication to prove that I'm not schizophrenic but she won't approve it. She said I should continue taking it for another 6 months and we will do a med review to see about lowering the dose if I am still displaying no symptoms.
I don't understand why she is ignoring the DMS-5. I don't match the criteria anymore so therefore my diagnosis is wrong / invalid.

It feels like you are not convinced of your diagnosis. We wonder what your sympptoms were like before you started your medication? Have you considered that your medication is working as it should be in controlling your symptoms? Maybe it would be worth asking for a second opinion if you are unsure about the diagnosis you have been given? If you are experiencing any thoughts of suicide, please call Hopeline247 on 0800 168 14 14 or text 88247 and a trained suicide prevention adviser will be able to advise and support you.

The DSM-5 criteria states that you need 2 or more of the following

But it does say delusions by itself is sufficient for a diagnosis if they are "bizarre". Hallucinations by itself is also sufficient if they consist of a running commentary.
So in the past I have experienced 3 of these symptoms (voices, delusions and disorganised speech) but I have been symptom free for over 1 year now so I'm pretty sure I don't have schizophrenia.
The only symptom I still have is voices (which is caused by anxiety, not schizophrenia) but it's not running commentary, it's mostly insults trying to make me feel bad about myself. I've been discussing this with my psychiatrist but she refuses to accept that I no longer fit the criteria for a schizophrenia diagnosis.
She says I am suffering from anosognosia, which is a lack of insight... That I am refusing to accept my illness. It's not that I'm refusing, it's just that I literally don't meet the criteria.
I want to come off my medication to prove that I'm not schizophrenic but she won't approve it. She said I should continue taking it for another 6 months and we will do a med review to see about lowering the dose if I am still displaying no symptoms.
I don't understand why she is ignoring the DMS-5. I don't match the criteria anymore so therefore my diagnosis is wrong / invalid.

The DSM-5 criteria states that you need 2 or more of the following

But it does say delusions by itself is sufficient for a diagnosis if they are "bizarre". Hallucinations by itself is also sufficient if they consist of a running commentary.
So in the past I have experienced 3 of these symptoms (voices, delusions and disorganised speech) but I have been symptom free for over 1 year now so I'm pretty sure I don't have schizophrenia.
The only symptom I still have is voices (which is caused by anxiety, not schizophrenia) but it's not running commentary, it's mostly insults trying to make me feel bad about myself. I've been discussing this with my psychiatrist but she refuses to accept that I no longer fit the criteria for a schizophrenia diagnosis.
She says I am suffering from anosognosia, which is a lack of insight... That I am refusing to accept my illness. It's not that I'm refusing, it's just that I literally don't meet the criteria.
I want to come off my medication to prove that I'm not schizophrenic but she won't approve it. She said I should continue taking it for another 6 months and we will do a med review to see about lowering the dose if I am still displaying no symptoms.
I don't understand why she is ignoring the DMS-5. I don't match the criteria anymore so therefore my diagnosis is wrong / invalid.

also voices are a symptom of psychosis not anxiety. Although stress and anxiety can make
voices worse.

severe anxiety can actually cause mild hallucinations

Hello,
I am sorry to hear that you are feeling this way. I would strongly recommend that you do continue to take your medication if it does not have a negative effect on you, it may be that you are feeling better because of the medication.
Also, I am assuming that you are from the UK and if that is the case the DSM is not the main diagnostic tool used as it is more American, published by the American Psychological Association. Doctors in the UK tend to use the World Health Organisation's ICD-11 which although lists similar things to the DSM there are some differences. Therefore, it might not be that your psychiatrist is ignoring the DSM but rather she may be looking at the ICD-11 instead.
I hope this helps, if you have any further questions or want to talk about this further please feel free to let me know.
Charlie
Law LLB Student

But not hallucinations intense enough for schizophrenia diagnosis

What’s wrong with taking the meds for another 6 months then reducing as per the psychiatrists recommendations? That should reduce your risk of Relapse.
Psychosis is really bad for the brain, you want to avoid it if possible.

also voices are a symptom of psychosis not anxiety. Although stress and anxiety can makevoices worse.

Yes but my auditory hallucinations are from anxiety and anxiety can cause hallucinations

they just don't care. i have a misdiagnosis in my records too, and they don't want to change/remove it. but i don't understand why you need her 'approval' to do what you want. i just stopped taking all the prescribed medication and removed myself as a patient from the clinic. not saying this is what you should do but it's an option?

are they actually hallucinations or is it just the internal monologue voices - like, in your head, and you know they're not real? bc the amount of gen z mistaking the two on tiktok is staggering.....

They are not internal thoughts, the voices I hear are definitely not my own internal monologue. The voices have different sounding voices.