While I believe it's important the 'Ask HN' poster talk to an expert or wise family/friends, I also think the grandparent 'pysch_skeptic' post has a fair perspective.
Definitively treating this as the worst thing it could be -- schizophrenia or some other issue requiring fast medical intervention -- may be unnecessarily alarming and stigmatizing. From the diversity of comments and sources cited in this thread, there are other explanations that require a long-term understanding-and-management approach, that might sometimes lean on medical experts, but don't involve simply "run to the first doctor that will see you; do what that doctor says".
I would say the most important thing no matter what course is taken is to have a local, in-person confidant who can monitor/discuss the situation daily for worsening, and who can know all the other details that can't (and shouldn't!) be shared here -- such as any other drug history (prescribed or otherwise), family history, or work and personal matters that could shed additional light on the situation.
Definitively treating this as the worst thing it could be -- schizophrenia or some other issue requiring fast medical intervention -- may be unnecessarily alarming and stigmatizing. From the diversity of comments and sources cited in this thread, there are other explanations that require a long-term understanding-and-management approach, that might sometimes lean on medical experts, but don't involve simply "run to the first doctor that will see you; do what that doctor says".
I would say the most important thing no matter what course is taken is to have a local, in-person confidant who can monitor/discuss the situation daily for worsening, and who can know all the other details that can't (and shouldn't!) be shared here -- such as any other drug history (prescribed or otherwise), family history, or work and personal matters that could shed additional light on the situation.