Mental health is something we are all concerned about and we talk about it all the time. A mental disorder, Schizophrenia, although very rare in the United States, affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.
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The causes of Schizophrenia are complex and hard to understand. However, by finding out some symptoms and ways to help, we can learn more about it. Continue to read to learn about the facts about Schizophrenia!
Generally, Schizophrenia is a condition in which the patient loses the ability to link thoughts, emotions, and behaviors, which leads to withdrawal from reality and personal relationships. Usually starting during one's 20s or 30s, the early symptoms of Schizophrenia include changes in mood and ways of thinking, which are followed by the symptoms of psychosis. So, what is psychosis?
Psychosis is a term that can be used to describe various disorders. When certain conditions affect one’s mind and cause one to lose his/her relationship with reality, these disorders are usually referred to as Psychosis. People disturbed by Psychosis may have a difficult time understanding what is real and what is not, and they suffer from the disturbance of thoughts and perceptions. Signs and symptoms of Psychosis include a sudden drop in grades or work performance, withdrawing from society, difficulty telling fantasy from reality, etc. And as you might have noticed already, these are all symptoms of Schizophrenia.
The symptoms of schizophrenia fall into three categories - psychotic symptoms, negative symptoms, and cognitive symptoms.
Psychotic symptoms
People with Psychotic symptoms may suffer from altered perceptions, including changes in the sensations of vision, hearing, smell, touch, and taste. Additionally, they may lose the sense of reality and see themselves in a world that is distorted. Hallucinations, delusions, and thought disorder (unusual thinking or disorganized speech) can be experienced.
Negative symptoms
The negative symptoms are kind of like the symptoms of Depression. Typically, people lose motivation and show a lack of interest or enjoyment in daily activities. Additionally, people may experience difficulty showing emotions and functioning normally.
Cognitive symptoms
The cognitive symptoms have to do with attention, concentration, and memory. While learning new things, having a conversation, or trying to memorize things, people may have difficulty processing the information and intaking and using the newly absorbed information. Additionally, one with cognitive symptoms may find it hard to focus or concentrate, as well as making decisions.
The causes or risk factors of Schizophrenia vary. Specifically, genetics, environmental factors, and brain structure and function are the main three ones.
Many genes may increase the risk of getting Schizophrenia, which means that Schizophrenia is not controlled by a single gene. Therefore, the heir of a person who has Schizophrenia doesn’t necessarily have Schizophrenia, although the risk is higher.
Environmental factors contribute to the causes of Schizophrenia as well. These include living in poverty, undergoing stress, exposure to viruses, problems of nutrition intake, etc.
Besides genetic and environmental factors, scientists believe that the differences of brain structures, functions, as well as interactions between the chemical messengers, or neurotransmitters, might be a risk factor for Schizophrenia as well.
Antipsychotic medication as well as psychosocial treatments are commonly used to treat or control Schizophrenia. However, besides the healing process, support and caring of people around are important for a person that suffers from Schizophrenia. Supporting, respecting, and loving are very impactful to people who suffer, and encouraging or helping them to get treatment and stay in treatment are important, too.
Mental health is not like physical health. The pain is not physical but mental. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that is very rare but severe, so it is always important to leave kindness to people who need help, whether it is Schizophrenia or any other disorders. Let’s make the world a kinder place together!
Written by: Benetta Wang
Sources:
“NIMH » Understanding Psychosis.” NIMH, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/understanding-psychosis/index.shtml.
“NIMH » Schizophrenia.” NIMH, www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia/index.shtml#part_145430.
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