Schizophrenia: Truth and Reality

At times, one encounters people who are not completely in touch with reality. Schizophrenia is sometimes found to be the cause. It is a very challenging condition to treat because of the detachment of the consciousness from reality It is also a brain disorder that affects the way a person acts, thinks and sees the world.



People with schizophrenia can see or hear things that don’t exist, believing that someone will try to hurt them and feel like there is someone who is watching them. People who aren’t affected with schizophrenia think that people with this illness are dangerous, however, most are not violent and dangerous at all. Most cases of schizophrenia appear in late teens or early adulthood. There are some rare cases of schizophrenia which appears in children but the symptoms are slightly different. It was also shown that the earlier schizophrenia develops, the more severe it is and it tends to be more severe in men than in women.



The causes of schizophrenia are not entirely recognized. Although, it shows that schizophrenia comes from the complex interaction between genetic and environmental aspects. It has a strong hereditary component but not all the families predisposed to schizophrenia develop the disorder. In environmental aspects, researchers believe that high levels of stress can trigger schizophrenia by increasing the body’s production of the hormone, cortisol. Some studies also suggest that abnormalities in the temporal lobes and hippocampus are connected to schizophrenia’s positive symptoms but even if there is an evidence of brain abnormalities, it is not true that schizophrenia is always the result of a problem in any particular region in the brain.



Sometimes schizophrenia appears suddenly and without warning but for most cases, it comes on slowly with warnings signs. The most common early signs of schizophrenia include depression, forgetfulness, inappropriate laughter or crying, deterioration of personal hygiene, suspicion, delusions, hallucinations, apathy, emotional unresponsiveness and social withdrawal. These warning signs can also results from a number of problems and not just schizophrenia. Aside from the warning signs, schizophrenia also has symptoms which vary from one person to another.



The symptoms are classified as positive symptoms, disorganized symptoms and negative symptoms. Negative symptoms refer to the absences of normal behaviors found in healthy individuals. Negative symptoms include blunted affect, catatonia and difficulties in speaking. Compared to the negative symptoms, the positive symptoms involve delusions and hallucinations, while the disorganized symptoms involve inappropriate emotional responses, lack of inhibition and a decline in overall daily functioning.



The symptoms of schizophrenia vary from one person to another and the treatment must be decided individually. Treatments include antipsychotic medications, electroconvulsive ("shock") therapy, psychotherapy, family support and rehabilitation. Antipsychotic medication has a greatly improved the outlook for people with schizophrenia. It reduces the symptoms of psychosis and usually allows a person to function more effectively. Neuroleptic is a typical antipsychotic drug that blocks the receptor in the brain of dopamine, which plays an important role in schizophrenia. However, an antipsychotic medication has side effects which include dry mouth, allergic reaction, weight gain, sexual dysfunction, menstrual irregularities and lethargy.



Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) also known as shock therapy is used to cause a low-voltage electric current and it is often suggested that it is safer than drug therapy but has falled out of favor recently. A psychotherapy session focuses on the current or past experiences, problems, thoughts and feelings. By sharing some experiences, people with schizophrenia will understand about the disorder and themselves. Rehabilitation may also be used in treating the disorder. It may aid a person regaining confidence to take care of themselves and have a productive life. Studies shows that people with schizophrenia will worsen in families who are hostile and emotional. However, it also shows that individuals improve when families are in self-help groups.



People with schizophrenia do not have split personalities rather they are split off from reality. Although it is a never-ending disorder, there is an aid available and the truth is, schizophrenia can be successfully handled. The first thing to do is to identify the signs and symptoms and seek help immediately. If the treatment is suited to the person they are more likely to stick with it. With the right treatment, therapy, medication and support from family and friends, the person with schizophrenia can have a happy and fulfilling life. Do not worry when you are feeling mental strain. There are various sources for help. Read about mental issues here: panic attacks cures where you can find information on a range of methods, see: panic away review.