What is it?
Schizophrenia is a serious mental health condition that affects how someone thinks, feels, and behaves. It can lead to hallucinations, delusions, and confused thinking, making it difficult to manage daily life and relationships.
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Description
Schizophrenia is a severe and complex mental health condition characterised by disruptions in thought processes, perceptions, emotional responsiveness, and social interactions. It typically manifests through symptoms such as hallucinations, delusions, and disorganised thinking.
Schizophrenia can vary greatly in its presentation and impact, often leading to significant challenges in daily life and requiring long-term treatment strategies.
Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that persists even if symptoms aren’t always present. While the condition doesn’t vanish, numerous treatment options and support resources are available. With the right support, individuals with schizophrenia can effectively manage their symptoms and lead fulfilling lives.
Symptoms
The symptoms of schizophrenia are usually classified into ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ symptoms but these do not mean good and bad. ‘Positive symptoms’ describe any change in behaviour or thoughts, such as hallucinations or delusions. ‘Negative’ symptoms are where people people appear to withdraw from the world around then, take no interest in everyday social interactions, and often appear emotionless and flat
- 'Positive' symptoms
- Hallucinations: Seeing or hearing things that aren’t really there, like hearing voices.
- Delusions: Believing things that aren’t true, like thinking you have superpowers or that people are out to get you.
- Disorganised thinking: Having trouble organising thoughts, which can make your speech confusing or hard to follow.
- Unusual behavior: Acting in strange or unpredictable ways, or sometimes not moving or responding at all.
- 'Negative' symptoms
- Lack of interest: Not feeling motivated to do things you used to enjoy.
- Reduced emotions: Showing less emotion, like not smiling or reacting much to things.
- Social withdrawal: Avoiding friends and family, and not wanting to hang out with others.
- Trouble with daily activities: Finding it hard to keep up with things like school, work, or taking care of yourself.
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Stat
About
25%
of people who suffer an episode of schizophrenia will go on to recover completely without any further problems in the future
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What causes schizophrenia?
Causes
The exact causes of schizophrenia aren’t completely understood, but a mix of different factors can make someone more likely to develop it. Genetics can play a big part, so if a family member has schizophrenia, the chances might be higher. Brain chemistry, particularly involving chemicals like dopamine, can also affect it. Differences in brain structure and activity are linked to the condition too.
Environmental factors, like going through stressful events or trauma, especially during childhood or pregnancy, can add to the risk. Using certain drugs during teenage years might trigger symptoms. All these factors can come together in various ways to cause schizophrenia.
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Voice
Although everyone should have the chance to talk about their experiences, not everyone wants formal psychological therapy. Some people prefer more informal support from friends, family or mental health workers – or some of the excellent self-help groups set up by other people who hear voices or experience paranoia.
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Getting help
If you suspect you may have schizophrenia, it’s important to consult your GP. Schizophrenia is usually treated with a mix of medication and therapy. Each person’s treatment will look different, depending on your symptoms and other factors. Your doctor will be able to support you in finding the best treatment plan for you.
- Medication
Medication is really important in treating schizophrenia and helping people feel better. Doctors often use antipsychotic drugs to manage symptoms like hearing voices or believing things that aren’t true. There are different types of these medicines and it can take a bit of time to find the one that works best. It’s important to talk to your doctor about any side effects. With the right medicine and support, many people with schizophrenia can lead happy and fulfilling lives.
- Talking therapies
Talking therapy for schizophrenia is there to help you deal with your symptoms without ignoring what you’re going through. The main type of talking therapy used to treat schizophrenia is called cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT).
It’s about understanding how your thoughts, feelings, and actions affect your life and making them better. For instance, CBT can help you manage symptoms like hearing voices, reduce stress, and handle any side effects from medication.
There are other types of therapy that might help too - like art or creative therapies, and family support.
- Hospitalisation
Hospitalisation for schizophrenia happens when someone needs extra support and care to manage their symptoms and keep safe. It’s a way to get intensive help from doctors and nurses who understand schizophrenia well. Hospitals provide a safe environment where medications can be adjusted, and therapy sessions can be more frequent. It’s a temporary stay until symptoms improve and a person feels more stable.
If you don’t want to go to hospital, your care team may need to make the decision for you. This is known as ‘sectioning’ or ‘compulsory admission.’ It’s uncommon and only occurs if your schizophrenia episode poses a risk to yourself or others.
A hospital stay can also offer a chance to rest and recover, ensuring someone gets the right treatment to feel better and manage their condition effectively.
- Looking after yourself
Seeking help for schizophrenia is vital, but there are also self-care strategies that can be beneficial.
Different things work for different people, so you’ll need to find what works for you. Some things that work for people are:
- Speak to someone you trust—whether it’s a friend, family member, teacher, or another supportive person you feel comfortable confiding in. Having schizophrenia can often feel very lonely, so you might want to seek support from others going through a similar experience. Voice Collective run weekly support groups for 16-25 year olds.
- Look after your physical health. This might include eating well, staying active, getting enough sleep, avoiding alcohol and drugs and taking care to reduce your stress levels.
- Pay attention to your warning signs, such as changes in your thoughts and feelings, like hearing voices, feeling paranoid, or having trouble focusing, and talk to someone you trust if these things start happening.
Create a crisis plan involving listing emergency contacts, such as family members or mental health professionals, and outlining steps to take if you start experiencing severe symptoms. Make sure to include coping strategies that help you feel safe and a reminder to reach out for support immediately when you notice warning signs. Mind.org have a useful page to help you plan for a crisis.
Some resources that may help
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