Schizophrenia | #mindmonsters

schizophrenia

ˌskɪtsə(ʊ)ˈfriːnɪə

1. a long-term mental disorder of a type involving a breakdown in the relation between thought, emotion, and behaviour, leading to faulty perception, inappropriate actions and feelings, withdrawal from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion, and a sense of mental fragmentation.

pinterest

Schizophrenia is a brain disorder which has symptoms like delusions, hallucinations, trouble with thinking and concentration, and lack of motivation. Someone who is diagnosed with this disorder has trouble distinguishing between what is imaginary and what is reality. And due to this they are usually withdrawn from the public and dont socialize much in fear of not knowing the difference between what they see and what we see.

The cause of schizophrenia is not known like for most mental illnesses however a few theories state that it could be genetics or abnormalities in the brain's structure.

pinterest

There are certain behaviors that are like early warning signs for someone who could develop this disorder. But it could vary from person to person.

• Hearing or seeing something that isn’t there
• A constant feeling of being watched
• Peculiar or nonsensical way of speaking or writing
• Strange body positioning
• Feeling indifferent to very important situations
• Deterioration of academic or work performance
• A change in personal hygiene and appearance
• A change in personality
• Increasing withdrawal from social situations
• Irrational, angry or fearful response to loved ones
• Inability to sleep or concentrate
• Inappropriate or bizarre behavior
• Extreme preoccupation with religion or the occult

Anyone who experiences several of these symptoms for more than two weeks should seek help immediately.

Symptoms ofcourse may develop slowly over months or years, or may appear very abruptly. The disease may come and go in cycles of relapse and remission.

pinterest

Positive symptoms are disturbances that are “added” to the person’s personality.

• Delusions –false ideas--individuals may believe that someone is spying on him or her, or that they are someone famous (or a religious figure).

• Hallucinations –seeing, feeling, tasting, hearing or smelling something that doesn’t really exist. The most common experience is hearing imaginary voices that give commands or comments to the individual.

• Disordered thinking and speech –moving from one topic to another, in a nonsensical fashion. Individuals may also make up their own words or sounds, rhyme in a way that doesn't make sense, or repeat words and ideas.

• Disorganized behavior –this can range from having problems with routine behaviors like hygiene or chosing appropriate clothing for the weather, to unprovoked outbursts, to impulsive and uninhibited actions. A person may also have movements that seem anxious, agitated, tense or constant without any apparent reason. 

Negative symptoms are capabilities that are “lost” from the person’s personality.

• Social withdrawal
• Extreme apathy (lack of interest or enthusiasm)
• Lack of drive or initiative
• Emotional flatness

While there is no definite cure there are rehabilitation programs to help a person affected to become better and live a better life. For example :

Psychosocial treatments where the patient along with the doctor after getting medication tries to regain an ability like cooking, socializing and stress management.

Coordinated specialty care (csc) where a group of people are assigned to the patient and they help with medication, psychosocial treatment and education services. This has proven to be the most effective so far. 

There are also antipsychotic medicines which help reduce the symptoms although they have side effects and so the medication should be taken under the supervision of a mental health professional.

(a video from youtube about schizophrenia)

That is all I have for now. Of course there is so much more in this field about this disorder. I just touched the tip of the iceburg.

Take care
Till next time

p.s. I realized that I havent included the websites that I usually read up from and take info from. Because all of this info isnt mine obviously, they are taken from other websites and I should be crediting them.

https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/conditions/schizophrenia

Even my other mind monster posts are from these sorta websites. Go check them out for more info than my posts.