Schizophrenia: Are You Aware of the Symptoms?
Schizophrenia is a challenging condition that researchers still don’t fully understand yet. For those with the condition, it can be difficult determining what is real and what is fantasy, as well as the difficulty of managing emotions, relating to other people and functioning normally in everyday life. It doesn’t mean that all hope is lost though – treatments and medications have come a long way in recent years, and it is now possible to live with schizophrenia and lead a normal life. The first step is identifying the problem and seeking a diagnosis, before getting help and sticking with the treatment. With the right treatment and support, people with schizophrenia can lead a very happy life. The condition is a brain disorder that affects the way one acts, sees the world and thinks. More often than not, those with this problem have an altered perception of reality, often with a significant loss of contact with reality. Schizophrenic people can fear general everyday life, as it causes them to withdraw and act out in confusion. This condition is more common in men than women, and the symptoms can differ from person to person, and between ages. Although there is no denying that schizophrenia is a chronic disorder, there is plenty of help available. It is absolutely possible to live a normally functioning life with support, medication and therapy.
There are a number of misconceptions about schizophrenia, such as schizophrenia being a rare condition when it is actually the case that one in 100 people have the condition. It’s also widely believed that people with schizophrenia are dangerous – while the delusions can lead to dangerous acts of violence or acting out, most people who have schizophrenia are not dangerous. Furthermore, those who manage their condition with treatments and therapies are stable and lead fully functioning lives. For some people, this problem appears without warning but for most, it develops slowly and with subtle warning signs. People begin to seem eccentric and emotionless, as well as reclusive when they begin showing signs of schizophrenic. They may abandon their hobbies and regular activities. The most common symptoms are social withdrawal, hostility, depression, inability to express emotions, deterioration of personal hygiene, odd or irrational statements, inappropriate laughter or crying and extreme reactions to criticism. These warnings may be the result of a number of problems, but they are always a cause for concern. If you suspect that someone you know is suffering or developing schizophrenia, you should seek medical advice.
One of the most common symptoms of schizophrenia is delusions, which lead the individual to have bizarre or illogical fantasies. They often believe that people are trying to poison them or are out to get them in some way. Hallucinations are also experienced, such as sounds or visual apparitions. Schizophrenic people may have fragmented speech, such as rapidly shifting topics or making up words or phrases. When left to develop, schizophrenia can be damaging to the individual and put them at risk. It is a chronic mental health problem that shouldn’t be left to self treatments and self medication. If you suspect that you may be developing schizophrenic symptoms, you should speak to your GP as soon as possible to be diagnosed properly. There are many resources to help you through this condition, from medications that have been proven to offer success to therapy that can help with your symptoms. Mental health problems are becoming more accepted but they are still difficult to come to terms with – speak to your GP about the services in your area.
Comments are closed.