Some Facts on Schizophrenia

What is Schizophrenia ?

Understanding Schizophrenia

1. Schizophrenia often develops slowly. When the symptoms initially appear, typically in adolescence or early adulthood, they may appear to be more bewildering than serious.

2. In the early stages of the disorder, people with schizophrenia may find themselves losing the ability to relax, concentrate or sleep. They may start to shut long-time friends out of their lives. Often, work or school begins to suffer;, as does the individual’s personal appearance.

3. At the same time, there may be one or more episodes where the individual talks in ways that are difficult to understand. Additionally, he or she may report unusual perceptions.

4. Once schizophrenia has taken hold, it tends to appear in cycles of remission and relapse.

5. When in remission, a person with schizophrenia may seem relatively unaffected. Thus, they can function normally.

6. However, things are very different during a relapse. Typcially, the person will experience one or all of the following: delusions and/or hallucinations; lack of motivation; social withdrawal and thought disorders

7. Delusions are false beliefs that have no basis in reality. For example, people with schizophrenia may think that someone is spying on them, listening to their thoughts, or placing thoughts in their minds.

8. Hallucinations commonly consist of hearing voices that comment on the individual’s behaviour, are insulting or give commands. Less often, a person with schizophrenia will see or feel things that aren’t there.

9. Disorganized thinking makes some people with schizophrenia feel mixed up. In conversation, they may jump randomly from one unrelated topic to another. Depression and anxiety frequently accompany these feelings of confusion.

10. The symptoms of schizophrenia vary greatly from person to person, and from mild to severe. A specialist is needed to make the diagnosis.

Source: http://www.cmha.ca/mental_health/facts-about-schizophrenia/#.UOo3w_WwXmU (Adapted)

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