"It started carefully and gradually, and I almost didn't notice. It was like a nice summer day when the fog slowly creeps over the sky. First, as a thin veil over the sun, then gradually more, but the sun is still shining, and not until it stops, when it suddenly gets cold. The birds have stopped chirping, do you realize what is happening." —Arnhild Lauveng, "A Road Back from Schizophrenia"
It's normal for us to imagine what we hear and see, but is it still normal if your thoughts and behavior don't make sense? Based on what I read before on Wattpad titled He's into Her by Maxinejiji. Her patient doesn't eat and throws the food away; she doesn't know their illness because she's not a psychiatrist. But the story's main character, a high school student, said that based on what she read, she has paranoid schizophrenia. It does not eat the food you give because the patient thought you would poison them. "They are not dangerous as you think. Although the delusional thoughts and hallucinations of schizophrenia sometimes lead to violent behavior, most people with schizophrenia are neither violent nor dangerous to others," said Taguro.
Today, we will talk about what schizophrenia is, its symptoms, causes, and effects, and what treatment we can do if we experience its behavior when we meet people with schizophrenia.
What is Schizophrenia?
It is a complicated brain condition or severe mental illness where patients have aberrant perceptions of reality. It frequently runs in families and might present troubling signs and symptoms. These might include hearing voices, having difficulties thinking clearly, and relating to others. It also affects a person's ability to recognize the symptoms they have of this condition, making it difficult to carry out daily tasks and devastating. Based on my research, Schizophrenia often begins at various ages, depending on the sex, but men and women are typically affected equally. For men, it typically starts between the ages of 15 and 25, and for women, it typically begins between the ages of 25 and 35. Schizophrenia develops mainly in those under 18; it is conceivable but rare. However, these situations are typically difficult. Early onset frequently results in a more challenging, more severe condition to manage—people over 45 account for 20% of new schizophrenia cases. Women are more likely to experience these occurrences than men. Negative symptoms and interference with thinking and concentration are less severe in these situations, but the delusion symptoms are more intense.
Symptoms:
A difficult or emotional life event may set off a psychotic episode in some persons predisposed to schizophrenia. Different signs and symptoms may exist, but they typically entail hallucinations, delusions, or slurred speech and indicate a reduced capacity for function. Possible signs include Delusions and false beliefs that do not correspond to reality. For example, you think of yourself as being hurt or harassed; a few gestures and comments will be directed to you; you've got extraordinary ability or fame; someone loves you. Or there is some sort of disaster about to happen. Delusions occur in most people with schizophrenia. Hallucinations usually mean having seen or heard things that are not there. Yet the person with schizophrenia has the full force and impact of everyday experience. Hallucinations may be in any of our senses, but the most frequent hallucination is when we hear voices. Unorganized thinking speech disorganized thinking is inferred from incoherent speech. There may be a loss of communication effectiveness, and answers to questions are sometimes unrelated. In rare cases, our address may contain meaningless words which are not understandable. Sometimes it is referred to as a word salad. The motor behavior is extremely disorganized or abnormal; there are many ways in which this can play out, from children's ridiculousness to unpredictable agitation. Behavior's not focusing on a goal, so it's hard to do tasks. The behavior can include:- Resistance to the instructions.
- Incorrect or illogical posture.
- Complete lack of reaction.
- Excessive movement.
Negative symptoms this implies a reduction or impairment of the ability to operate normally. People may fail to exercise their hygiene or show signs of lacking emotion, such as not making eye contact, no facial expressions changing, and speaking in a monotone manner. A person's interest in daily activities, social withdrawal, or feeling of pleasure may also be reduced.
Cause:
According to research, a person may be more susceptible to acquiring the illness if a combination of physical, genetic, psychological, and environmental factors are present. There is no known specific cause of schizophrenia. Being abused or harassed, losing a loved one, being out of a job, feeling lonely or isolated, having financial problems, or finding yourself homeless are all examples of stressful life events that can sometimes cause schizophrenia. Traumatic events like these are also referred to as stressful life events, highly stressful events, or life-changing events. Drug and alcohol abuse, Some people may get symptoms of schizophrenia after smoking marijuana or other recreational substances. Researchers are still unsure whether consuming recreational drugs directly causes schizophrenia or whether those who develop the disorder are more likely to use them. Research suggests that consuming recreational drugs may make your schizophrenia symptoms worse if you already have it. According to several studies, those who use high-potency cannabis (often known as "skunk") in rehabilitation are also more prone to relapse. Smoking and drinking alcohol decrease the effectiveness of medication in managing your symptoms. Due to genetic inheritance, having a parent or sibling who has gone through psychosis increases your risk of developing schizophrenia. Although scientists are unsure of the exact cause, they believe certain genes may increase the likelihood. Living in specific places appears to raise your risk of developing schizophrenia as well. For instance, some studies indicate that residing in cities increases the chance of, but the reason for this is unknown. According to studies, people with brain development disturbed during pregnancy or early childhood may be more susceptible to schizophrenia due to differences in brain chemistry. Though not all people with schizophrenia experience structural changes in the brain. In the brains of those who have schizophrenia, some molecules also appear to operate differently. Dopamine, which aids in transmitting messages between brain cells, is believed to be one of these substances. One of the reasons for schizophrenia, according to some studies, may be an imbalance of specific neurotransmitters, such as dopamine and serotonin.Effects:
Schizophrenics may occasionally hear voices in their heads. They could listen to one or many speakers at once and have conversations with those voices or even obey their commands. Additionally, these recommendations can cause patients to hurt themselves unintentionally. You could occasionally find it challenging to communicate with a schizophrenic person you live with. That person may sit motionlessly and be silent for long periods. They might not answer or even glance at you if you say something. Other times, the responses you receive might not be related to what you said. You might also need to assist that person with some of the fundamentals of personal hygiene. Schizophrenia can make daily life terrifying. Patients frequently develop the belief that they are in danger or that specific persons they know are attempting to harm them. These misunderstandings can result in ranting and raving, antisocial conduct, and increased levels of negative stress. In addition, individuals with schizophrenia risk being mocked for their behavior or unintentionally starting conflicts with individuals unaware they have the illness when they enter public spaces alone. Even as all these signs and symptoms appear, most schizophrenics either won't recognize their problem or will minimize it. They may think that they need to unwind more, for instance.Treatment:
Even after the symptoms of schizophrenia have faded, treatment is still necessary for life. The illness can be managed with medical care and psychosocial counseling. Hospitalization may be required in specific situations. Typically, a psychiatrist with experience with schizophrenia directs care. The treatment team may include a psychologist, social worker, psychiatric nurse, and possibly a case manager to coordinate care. The full-team strategy might be offered in clinics with experience treating schizophrenia.Medications:
Antipsychotics are the most commonly prescribed drugs and are the mainstay of schizophrenia treatment. They are thought to affect the dopamine-regulating brain neurotransmitter. With the lowest effective dose, antipsychotic drug therapy seeks to manage signs and symptoms properly. The psychiatrist may test various drugs, dosages, or combinations over time to achieve the desired results. Antidepressants and other anxiety or depression drugs may also be helpful. Before symptoms start to improve, it can take a few weeks. Since medicines can have serious side effects, people with schizophrenia may be reluctant to take them. One's willingness to engage in therapy may impact the drugs one chooses. For instance, someone who has trouble taking their medication regularly would require it.These first-generation antipsychotics have frequent and sometimes severe neurological adverse effects, including the potential for developing a movement problem (tardive dyskinesia) that may or may not be curable. When long-term treatment is required, the cost of these antipsychotics can be a crucial factor. They are frequently less expensive than second-generation antipsychotics, especially generic ones. Some injectable antipsychotics with a long half-life can be administered intramuscularly or subcutaneously. Depending on the drug, they are often administered every two to four weeks. Inquire with your doctor for further details on injectable drugs. If a person prefers taking fewer medications, this might be an option and could improve adherence. These more recent, second-generation antipsychotic drugs are typically selected because they lower the risk of severe side effects.
Second-generation antipsychotics, these newer, second-generation medications are generally preferred because they pose a lower risk of severe side effects than first-generation antipsychotics. Psychosocial interventions after psychosis have subsided, it is crucial to continue taking medication and engage in psychological and social therapy (psychosocial interventions). They might consist of Personal counseling. Normalizing cognitive patterns may be aided by psychotherapy. People with schizophrenia may benefit from learning stress management techniques and how to spot early indications of relapse. Training in social skills. This emphasizes enhancing social interactions, communication, and participation in daily activities—family counseling. Families who have schizophrenia can use this to get assistance and information. They supported employment and vocational rehabilitation. Helping persons with schizophrenia get ready for, find, and keep work is the primary goal. Most people with schizophrenia need some assistance with daily activities. Programs are available in many regions to assist people with schizophrenia with finding employment, housing, self-help groups, and crisis circumstances. Resources can be located with assistance from a case manager or a treatment team member. Most schizophrenia sufferers can control their condition with the proper care. Hospitalization may be required to guarantee safety, appropriate nutrition, enough sleep, and fundamental cleanliness during times of crisis or when experiencing severe symptoms. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is a treatment option for schizophrenia in people who do not respond to medication therapy. When combined with depression, ECT may be beneficial.
References:
https://www.wattpad.com/amp/18065043
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizophrenia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354443
https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/4568-schizophrenia
https://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/schizophrenia/causes/
https://www.affinitytreatmentcenters.com/blog/2017/12/20/how-does-schizophrenia-affect-daily-life
https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizophrenia/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20354449