Schizophrenia is a complex brain disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and perceives reality. It can be confusing and frightening for both the person living with it and the people who love them.
Rogers Behavioral Health’s Victoria Bronec, LPC, therapist at Rogers Outpatient in Brown Deer explains common symptoms and challenges and how mental health treatment can make a meaningful difference.
What is schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects how a person perceives reality. It’s difficult for someone with this disorder to tell the difference between what is real and false experiences created by their brain. The symptoms associated with schizophrenia can significantly impact a person’s daily living and quality of life.
What are common symptoms?
Common symptoms of schizophrenia include:
Hallucinations
False sensory perceptions: People hear, see, feel, or smell something that isn’t actually there. Audio and visual hallucinations are the most common.
Delusions
False beliefs that are firmly held and unshakeable, despite evidence that contradicts them
Thought disorders
Confused thinking, making it difficult to stay on topic, use the correct words, form complete sentences, or talk in an organized way that others can understand
Behavior changes
This can include:
- Disorganized behaviors:
- Random or purposeless behaviors with no apparent goal
- Repetitive movements or odd mannerisms
- Catatonic behavior
- Near-total stillness, lack of reaction, or long periods of staring
- Holding limbs or body in rigid, unnatural positions
- Negative behaviors
- Lack of energy, motivation, pleasure, or expressiveness
- Cognitive difficulties
- Problems with concentration, memory, and abstract reasoning
- Decline in daily functioning
- Struggling with everyday tasks like personal hygiene or meal preparation
- Withdrawing from social activities or relationships
- Trouble keeping up with school or work responsibilities
Are there early warning signs of schizophrenia to be aware of?
The initial stage of schizophrenia is called the prodromal phase where a person experiences any of the symptoms of schizophrenia, but they are more subtle and less severe. They can last from a few weeks to a few years and can be difficult to identify because they may resemble other mental health conditions, such as anxiety and depression. The best course of action is to consult with a mental health professional when any symptoms arise, as they can help assess and guide treatment options.
What challenges does someone living with schizophrenia face?
People living with schizophrenia can face many difficulties, including:
Managing daily life:
Symptoms can make it difficult to keep up with everyday tasks and responsibilities.
Asking for help:
Limited insight or communication difficulties may make it hard to recognize the need for support or to ask for it.
Staying consistent with treatment:
Disorganized thinking can lead to missed medication doses, which are an important part of managing symptoms.
Stigma and misunderstanding:
Misinformation and harmful stereotypes about psychosis in the media can cause isolation and lack of support.
Physical health concerns:
People with schizophrenia are at higher risk for experiencing homelessness and substance use. There is also a higher risk for other physical health conditions, such as obesity, cardiovascular disease, and respiratory disease, which can be caused by a combination of unhealthy lifestyle, side effects of antipsychotic medications, and barriers to accessing healthcare.
What are common stereotypes associated with schizophrenia?
Unfortunately, stigma has led to stereotypes that are often reinforced in the media. Four common ones are:
1. People with schizophrenia are dangerous.
Fact: People with mental illness have a higher chance of being the victim of a violent crime than causing harm to someone else.
2. People with schizophrenia have multiple personalities.
Fact: Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) occurs when a person has alternate identities or personality states and may also involve other symptoms. While some overlap with symptoms of schizophrenia, they are completely different disorders.
3. Schizophrenia looks the same in everyone.
Fact: There is a wide variety of symptoms people with schizophrenia can experience. Additionally, the severity of symptoms varies from person to person.
4. Schizophrenia isn’t treatable.
Fact: While there isn’t a cure for schizophrenia, symptoms can be treated and managed, enabling people to live meaningful lives.
How can mental health treatment help people with schizophrenia?
Mental health treatment for schizophrenia includes medication management and therapy. It may also involve case management, which provides resources to individuals including care coordination, supportive living options, assistance in employment and education, and peer support.
All of these help people manage symptoms so that they can engage in daily living and experience better quality of life.
What are resources for families and loved ones?
I recommend the following resources:
The National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI) is a nationwide organization that provides education programs for families and loved ones, support groups, and resources for navigating mental health care.
The Schizophrenia & Psychosis Action Alliance (S&PAA) website provides caregiver support groups, toolkits, and educational resources.
The Early Assessment and Support Alliance (EASA) provides support for young people experiencing first-episode psychosis.
Rogers offers mental health treatment
Rogers provides compassionate care that works for people living with serious and persistent mental health challenges, like schizophrenia. Specialized support includes:
- Dedicated case management
- Structured support
- Educational sessions
- Family and loved one involvement
- Social skill development
- Health and wellness education
- Experiential learning
You deserve to live a fulfilling life. Call 833-308-5887 for a free, confidential screening.
Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and understands reality.
Common symptoms include hallucinations, delusions, disorganized thinking, low motivation, and difficulty with memory, focus, or daily tasks.
Early warning signs can include social withdrawal, mood changes, trouble concentrating, and a decline in daily functioning.
Treatment often includes medication, therapy, case management, and supportive services for daily living, work, and relationships.
