Schizophrenia

“Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality, which causes significant distress for the individual, their family members, and friends. If left untreated, the symptoms of schizophrenia can be persistent and disabling. However, effective treatments are available. When delivered in a timely, coordinated, and sustained manner, treatment can help affected individuals to engage in school or work, achieve independence, and enjoy personal relationships,” (National Institute of Mental Health).

Schizophrenia is a mental illness that is stereotyped to be something that if an individual has it, they are a scary person or abnormal. It is also common that people think that it’s having “an invisible friend” that tells them to do certain things. That’s very misleading. People can still reach their full potential with schizophrenia, it just may be slightly harder for that person. With medication and treatment, schizophrenia can be kept under control.

The NIMH states, “schizophrenia is typically diagnosed in the late teen years to the early thirties and tends to emerge earlier in males (late adolescence – early twenties) than females (early twenties – early thirties). A diagnosis of schizophrenia often follows the first episode of psychosis, when individuals first display symptoms of schizophrenia.” The first episode usually starts around mid-adolescence.

There are also three main symptoms of schizophrenia: Psychotic symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive symptoms.

Psychotic symptoms are defined by the NIMH as,

• “Hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing things that aren’t there
• Delusions, which are firmly held beliefs not supported by objective facts (e.g., paranoia – irrational fears that others are “out to get you” or believing that the television, radio, or internet are broadcasting special messages that require some response)
• Thought disorder, which includes unusual thinking or disorganized speech”

These symptoms are in some sense an alter to reality, and can be very confusing and scary for the individual.

The NIMH defines negative symptoms as,

• “Reduced motivation and difficulty planning, beginning, and sustaining activities
• Diminished feelings of pleasure in everyday life
• “Flat affect,” or reduced expression of emotions via facial expression or voice tone
• Reduced speaking”

These can make the person feel isolated and alone. Even when there are people close to them that deeply care about them, it may not feel like it. It can make the person seem very “independent.”

The NIMH defines cognitive symptoms as,

• “Difficulty processing information to make decisions
• Problems using information immediately after learning it
• Trouble focusing or paying attention”

Schizophrenia can be genetic, but it is not a guarantee that it will be passed down, but it is a possibility.

For more information on schizophrenia, visit the NIMH website.