Disclaimer: The post is developed in partnership with BetterHelp.
Mental health conditions are not only complex. But these are the most misunderstood illnesses as well. One such condition is schizophrenia. We should not take this for granted. Because many lakhs of people are affected by it. And it is very important to understand this condition well. It is essential that we know the main causes of schizophrenia, its primary symptoms, and appropriate treatment. Affected by this condition is not only for themselves but also their loved ones who are affected by their condition.
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Taking a closer look at schizophrenia
For those who do not know, schizophrenia is a psychiatric condition. This affects the cognition, behavior, and emotions of an individual. All these can cause a significant amount of stress in the affected person.
Schizophrenia is often related to episodes of psychosis. It means that for a certain period, the individual could not understand between reality and the virtual world. The classic symptoms include visual and/or auditory hallucinations, paranoid or bizarre delusions, and disorganized thinking and speech.
This condition can vary from the symptoms and can safely divided into many sub-conditions like paranoid schizophrenia, disorganized schizophrenia, catatonic schizophrenia, undifferentiated schizophrenia, and residual schizophrenia.
Common symptoms of schizophrenia in general include:
- Hallucinations, such as hearing voices or seeing things that aren’t there
- Delusions
- Thought disorders
- Movement disorders
- Reduced expression of emotions in the face or voice
- Difficulty starting and sustaining activities
- Reduced ability to experience pleasure
- Problems with memory and attention
- Difficulty planning and organizing
- Trouble understanding information and making decisions
The cause of schizophrenia is unknown. But it is said that both the environmental factor and the genetic factor play a role in this. Also if the family has a history of schizophrenia then it will most likely occur in the next generation. Certain mental stimulation can cause this problem as well. Illness malnutrition, and birth defects are all the causes of this mental illness.
Living with schizophrenia
Living with a person who has schizophrenia is not easy. But several approaches can used in this case. If a person is living with schizophrenia when they have to be very adaptable. Because the condition of the person requires adaptability. However, it is always best to approach a doctor to take consultation with the patient.
Here are some tips that you can use if you’re living with schizophrenia.
Coping strategies
Multiple approaches combination are used to deal with the schizophrenia person. Medical treatment along with lifestyle adjustments helps the person a lot. For emotional support of the person, it is essential to create a network. This network should consist of friends, family, doctors, and more.
Taking
Medications for Schizophrenia Only take the medication prescribed by your doctor. By doing this you will definitely benefit from reducing the schizophrenia problem as much as possible. Engaging in talk therapy can also help the person to reduce the symptoms and to adapt to a word a little better. The key here is to engage in regular physical activity every day. Also, a balanced diet and healthy food should be taken regularly. Apart from this, lifestyle changes like getting enough deep restful sleep play an important role in managing this condition.
Diagnosis and treatment
The only problem with schizophrenia is that there is no direct diagnosis method. There is no method to detect this. This can only be detected by a psychiatrist. It will be done through analysis, behavioral observations, and more. Hence this is the cause of it remaining undetected for a long time. The treatment involves a combination of three things medication, psychotherapy, and community support.
Medication
Anti-psychotic medications are used in the treatment of schizophrenia. These drugs affect the neurotransmitter of the brain. And hence help in relieving the symptoms. It does not cure the problem from the root. You just have to wait for a better result. For a positive result, you should follow the medicine regularly.
Psychotherapy
To manage the symptoms of schizophrenia talk therapies and Cognitive behavioral therapy for psychosis (CBT-P) are used. It helps in reducing the symptoms. These types of therapies are completely customized according to the needs of the patient, his condition, and the final goal.
Learn more about the various forms of therapy used for treating schizophrenia here: https://www.betterhelp.com/advice/therapy/does-therapy-for-schizophrenia-work/
Support systems
Community support services including the house service, office environment, and peer support are essential for the person dealing with schizophrenia. The assistance that a schizophrenic person can be given with the help of these people. So they play a very important role in the healing process.
Advocacy and raising awareness
Prevailing perceptions of schizophrenia in this community are critical. So it is very necessary to realize the importance of awareness about this and make that impact in society. Also, a demand should be made to publish more research papers related to this. And it is also necessary to emphasize the demand for a good facility for such people.
Conclusion
Schizophrenia is a very complex condition. And it requires both lifestyle modification and medication to deal with such people. The peer group, family, and others affect the condition a lot. They can able to make a necessary change in the condition of a schizophrenic person.
