Schizophrenia is a mental disorder which impacts 20 million people across the world. Though it can vary when it comes to symptoms, this isn’t something that should be taken lightly at all. If left untreated, the individual in question can be debilitated in a very serious and scary way. This piece will speak about diagnosing the disease, potential treatment options, and also signs one can look for if they believe schizophrenia to be an issue.
Characteristics of Schizophrenia
As mentioned above, the level of one’s schizophrenia can vary from person to person. Some have much stronger symptoms, while others have more muted forms. All the same, there are some specific traits to look for. For many, primary symptoms include delusions, hallucinations, and strange way of thinking. One’s cognitive ability can be hindered — particularly when it comes to understanding social situations. Additionally, there could be present apathy in terms of wanting to finish goals as well as be expressive. The expressive part comes from lacking motor skills (such as speech). Lastly, one with schizophrenia may be suffering from poor sleep patterns and less-than-ideal hygiene.
Diagnosing
When diagnosing schizophrenia, doctors normally study the individual in question for approximately six months. They want to see the consistency in terms of displayed symptoms. If multiple symptoms continue to show, there’s a good chance the person has some sort of medical illness. The quicker doctors can find this, the faster one can be on the road to recovery. Normally, men develop schizophrenia at an earlier rater (teenage years to early 20’s). One normally won’t see schizophrenia within females until late 20’s/early 30’s. All the same, some children in adolescence have even been diagnosed.
Causes
There are a number of theories as to why someone may be diagnosed with schizophrenia. Heavy abuse of mind-altering substances can reportedly be a cause of later incidents (acid, magic mushrooms, ecstasy). One’s brain chemistry could also lead to schizophrenia — as can one’s environment. Some studies believe that malnutrition before birth could be a reason. Duly, people with autoimmune disorders reportedly may be more likely to suffer from mental illness. Lastly, there’s the genetic component. If a close relative has the disorder — whether it be a parent or a sibling — one’s approximately six times more likely to inherit schizophrenia compared to the average person.
Treatment
Treatment options for schizophrenia vary. There’s not just one specific option with a universal success rate. The base way to deal with this mental affliction usually involves a combination of intensive therapy along with medicinal treatment. Some people living with schizophrenia live in environments where care is offered 24/7. This includes teams of nurses, psychologists, psychiatrists, doctors, and other medical professionals. Additionally, the more one can educate themselves on the disease, the better.
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