Mental health issues, such as schizophrenia, carry a lot of stigma and fear, which means it can be difficult to deal with the reactions of other people when you’re diagnosed with such a condition. For those coping with schizophrenia, the first few years with the illness can be upsetting and incredibly difficult. This can only worsen for some people, due to how it affects their relationships and lifestyle over the years. Many people are misinformed about schizophrenia, believing it to be caused by a split personality, but this isn’t true – the condition is in no way connected to multiple personality disorders. Schizophrenia affects one in every 100 people, and generally occurs between the ages of 15 or 35 – both men and women are equally affected by the illness. The symptoms for schizophrenia vary between people, so one person’s experience of the condition may be wildly different to another’s. In the early stages of diagnosis, your symptoms may be quite intense – this is referred to as acute schizophrenia. Once this is controlled with medication, you may find your symptoms are far easier to deal with and may even disappear completely. However, some people find that they experience intermittent phases of acute schizophrenia throughout their life. However, you may find that you continue to have intermittent acute phases of your condition.
There are a number of symptoms which are associated with schizophrenia, including hallucinations, delusions and strange thought processes. You may believe that people are plotting against you, or that you have special powers; you may hear voices, which is one of the most common symptoms of schizophrenia. Some people find that they struggle to hold conversations with people, as well. The negative symptoms are harder to spot, as they affect your emotional responses and your energy. If you live with other people, it may come across as laziness, but it is in actual fact a side effect of your condition. For example, you may experience memory problems, having less interest than normal in regular activities, becoming isolated and having problems communicating with other people. In addition to altering how people see you, you may start to see yourself differently as you feel as though you have a lack of insight into your own feelings and behaviour. People fear those with schizophrenia, but it’s actually extremely rare for those with the condition to become violent. Depression is common though, with one in seven people becoming depressed if they have continued symptoms of the condition. Researchers are still unsure why certain people develop schizophrenia, but it could be associated to your genetic make-up or a combination of stressful events, how your brain develops in the womb, or even taking cannabis. This condition is hereditary so it’s possible that if it runs in your family, you may be more at risk of developing it.
Depending on the severity of your condition, your treatment may vary compared to others. Most people with schizophrenia require a combination of treatments, including counselling and medication, to control their symptoms and enjoy a regular life. The medicines used to control schizophrenia are called neuroleptics and antipsychotics. These can help to slowly reduce the hallucinations and delusions, as well as increasing your motivation and helping you to speak more clearly. Unfortuately, these can also cause unpleasant side effects – these include muscle stiffness, sexual dysfunction, shaking and restlessness. There are newer medicines on the market which cause fewer side effects, but you will need to discuss these with your psychiatrist so that you can find the best course of treatment for you. There are various ways to control the condition though, with the right course of treatment and support from medical professionals, family and friends.