Schizophrenia symptoms & treatments are critical to understand when you or a loved one receives a diagnosis. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that causes individuals to interpret reality abnormally. Schizophrenia is a serious disorder that can cause disordered thinking and can negatively affect daily functioning. However, a key to managing a schizophrenia diagnosis is early treatment.
Schizophrenia Symptoms
Schizophrenia can involve a variety of symptoms. All symptoms of this disorder deal with cognition, an individual’s behavior, and emotions (as a result of the disordered thinking). Symptoms of schizophrenia include:
Hallucinations
Those with schizophrenia may experience sounds, sights, or smells that don’t exist. This symptom is known as a hallucination. A person with schizophrenia may hear voices in their head, see lights or people that don’t exist, or maybe a loved one that is no longer alive, or feel things, like insects, on the body that don’t actually exist.
Delusions
Delusions are beliefs that an individual believes to be true but are easily disproven. These may range from believing the government is trying to control them or that a famous person is in love with them. To see a full list of the types of delusions that exist, check out our article on delusional disorder to see a full list of the types of delusions someone with a psychotic disorder, like schizophrenia, may experience.
Disorganized or Abnormal Motor Behavior
Those with schizophrenia may be jumpy or experience periods of being catatonic. Additionally, because an individual may feel insects or other unreal objects, an individual may move in ways that do not make sense to others. It should be clearly noted that those with schizophrenia are not violent in their behavior.
Disorganized Thinking
People with schizophrenia can have a hard time organizing their ideas. They might not be able to follow along when you talk to them. When they do speak, they may have difficulty putting sentences together and are, therefore, unable to be understood at times.
Schizophrenia Treatment
Schizophrenia is a disorder that will require treatment for the rest of the patient’s life. Care is generally coordinated between a psychologist, social worker, nurse, and case manager. This approach allows individuals to receive the care they need, but each case is different.
Medications
Those with schizophrenia are generally prescribed antipsychotic medications. These medications are aimed at helping control symptoms. Additionally, some care providers combine this with antidepressants or anti-anxiety medications.
Therapy
When the negative symptoms are under control via prescribed medications, an individual may feel the need to seek out therapy to learn how to cope with the stress associated with a diagnosis like that of schizophrenia. Additional coaching, like social skills training, may be important to give patients the skills needed to live a better life.
How Can The Mentally STRONG Method Help Us?
Through The Mentally STRONG Method, those suffering from schizophrenia can understand their condition and work towards a better life. Care at Mentally STRONG is generally coordinated between a Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner, nurse, and counselor if appropriate.
Learn More about The Mentally STRONG Method as your first step!