Schizophrenia is an often misunderstood brain disorder. Many people assume someone with schizophrenia has a tendency to switch between dual or multiple personalities. Although this happens in some rare cases, it is actually a popular misconception. The symptoms schizophrenia sufferers manifest are usually delusions or hallucinations or a general withdrawal from social contact and interaction.
The symptoms schizophrenia patients experience varies. Some of them can be debilitating. Unfortunately, people who have the disorder will tend to suffer from these symptoms for the rest of their lives, although there could be periods during which the symptoms will appear to be absent. Symptoms can be categorized into the following – positive, negative and disorganized.
Positive symptoms
These involve an excess or “over-stimulation” of what are usually normal functions. Typically the sufferer will experience delusions or hallucinations. For example, he or she may believe that they are being persecuted or their lives are under threat, that someone is plotting to get them. This is commonly known as paranoid delusions
He or she might believe that the radio or TV reporter is talking about them or to them in a form of delusion known as reference delusion. Another form that you might be familiar with is the delusion of grandeur where the sufferer believes he or she is someone famous or has superhuman power.
As for hallucinations, most commonly, sufferers will hear voices, or see or feel or even smell things that are not really there and which no one else can sense.
Positive symptoms can be harmless or harmful depending on how the patient reacts to his or her unfounded belief. For example, a patient who believes he can fly might actually attempt to do so off a 6 storey building.
Negative symptoms
Negative symptoms are those where an obvious reduction of normal functions occurs. Common symptoms include a lack of motivation or interest in things or matters that the sufferer use to be interested in, a general lack of desire to be in contact or to interact with others, losing the ability to feel emotion, a decrease in communicative skills, lack of facial expression or body language, and a voice that is monotone or even a lack of desire to speak at all.
Disorganized symptoms
These display various degrees of confusion within a sufferer’s mind resulting in actions that appear bizarre by normal standards of behavior. He or she might not be able to hold a conversation anymore, switching from topic to topic while mid-sentence, or holding self-conversations or talking senselessly or incoherently for no reason to no one in particular.
Some sufferers may physically behave in unpredictable ways, moving their bodies or body parts excessively or even remaining immobile for extended periods of time.
The symptoms schizophrenia patients display may appear bizarre and in some cases frightening to onlookers. They are in reality just symptoms or manifestations of the disorder. It is important that family members and friends remember this and remain supportive as the patient recovers through medication and proper treatment.
Important Fact #1: Possible Signs Of Schizophrenia
Look out for any of the following signs of schizophrenia -- paranoia, delusions, inactivity or hyperactivity, unusual/strange or lack of emotional responses, over or under sensitivity, self-imposed social isolation, hostility, lack of interest in proper personal hygiene and extreme depression. |
Important Fact #2: Mention Of Suicide
Patients with schizophrenia are more likely to try taking their lives. At all times, take any mention of suicide by them seriously and seek medical assistance. |
Important Fact #3: Curing Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia cannot be completely cured. However medical experts will tell you that 90% of people with the disorder can look forward to recovering to a degree that will enable them to function and lead happy lives. |
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