Schizophrenia is a major disorder of the brain and is a much misunderstood mental health illness. It is often confused with bipolar disorder and split-personality disorder. Schizophrenia affects 1% of the population in the U.S. This article will explain the symptoms and clear up the myths.
What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a disorder of the brain that can be chronic and severe at times and affects 1% of people in the United States. The word schizophrenia comes from Greek and means split minds because of the fragmented thinking of those with schizophrenia. It was never meant to mean split personality, which is not a symptom or a trait of schizophrenia.
| Are schizophrenia and bipolar disorder the same? They are not the same. Bipolar disorder is more common and is a mood disorder. Schizophrenia is a disorder of the brain. |
The Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Since schizophrenia is misunderstood, it is very important to understand the symptoms of schizophrenia. According to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH),the symptoms of schizophrenia are divided into the following three categories.
Positive Category of Schizophrenia
These are the positive symptoms of schizophrenia and behavior that are not seen in a healthy person.
- Hallucinations which include seeing, hearing, smelling or tasting things no one else does with the most common symptom is hearing voices.
- Delusions which can range from false beliefs that are still believed after proven wrong to actually believing their neighbors are controlling their thought patterns.
- Thought disorders include dysfunctional thinking and disorganized thinking making it hard for a person to explain coherently what they are thinking.
- Movement disorders can include agitated movements or repeating the same body movement over and over.
Negative Category of Schizophrenia
Negative symptoms of schizophrenia are disruptions with normal behavior and emotions. These symptoms can also be depression and other mental issues.
- When a person talks in a dull monotone voice or their face does not move. This is known as the flat affect.
- Speaks little even when interacting with others.
- Lacks the ability to begin or continue planned activities.
- Lacks pleasure in daily life.
Cognitive Category of Schizophrenia
Cognitive symptoms include trouble focusing or paying attention, problems using information immediately after learning the instructions and the inability to understand information and use it to make decisions.
Since cognitive symptoms can affect anyone at various times, these symptoms along with other tests are used to diagnose schizophrenia.
Five Myths of Schizophrenia
For a complete awareness of schizophrenia, you should know the myths and facts.
- Myth: Schizophrenia is not treatable.
- Truth: At this time, there is no cure for schizophrenia, but there are treatments and medications available. With treatment, someone who suffers from schizophrenia can lead a normal life.
- Myth: People that suffer from schizophrenia are dangerous.
- Truth: With proper treatment and medication, schizophrenics are no more dangerous than anyone else.
- Myth: Schizophrenia and bipolar disorder are the same.
- Truth: They are not the same. Bipolar disorder is more common and is a mood disorder. Schizophrenia is a disorder of the brain.
- Myth: People with schizophrenia have multiple or split personalities.
- Truth: This is a common myth that is not true since those with schizophrenia do not have split personalities.
- Myth: People with schizophrenia have it because of a bad upbringing.
- Truth: This is not true and at this time is known as a complex brain disorder. It is interesting to note that 50% of those diagnosed with schizophrenia also have a drug or chemical dependency.
Books That Can Help
I Am Not Sick, I Don't Need Help! How to Help Someone with Mental Illness Accept Treatment
The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness
Surviving Schizophrenia
Conclusion
Schizophrenia will not go away by itself. Early diagnoses and treatment is very important for recovery and can help someone live a full life. If you know of someone who could be suffering from schizophrenia, urge them to seek treatment. An excellent book about schizophrenia written by someone that has suffered through it is The Center Cannot Hold: My Journey Through Madness by Elyn R. Saks.
About the Author
Sam Montana is a certified Food Over Medicine instructor from the Wellness Forum Health Center and certified in optimal nutrition from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Copyright © 2014-2019 Sam Montana
Sam Montana is a certified Food Over Medicine instructor from the Wellness Forum Health Center and certified in optimal nutrition from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Copyright © 2014-2019 Sam Montana
