Schizophrenia A mental illness that is quite serious. People hear voices, see things other than reality. 160,000 people in the Netherlands have Schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia often occurs in people between the ages of 15 and 30. Schizophrenia means: split mind. However, this translation is not entirely correct. People who suffer from schizophrenia do not have a split personality. People who suffer from schizophrenia have psychoses and no longer see the connection between reality and thoughts. They are overloaded with emotions. People with schizophrenia go into psychoses. These are periods where they hear voices, see things that other people cannot see. Schizophrenia is a disease of the brain. The information supply has become disrupted because a certain part of the brain has not developed properly.
Signs of Schizophrenia.
It is difficult to recognize schizophrenia. Firstly, the symptoms are not always visible to the outside world and secondly, the signals are different for every person. However, there are signs that may indicate schizophrenia.
Someone who
- Is very anxious or confused
- Talking strangely can be done with words of his own making
- Claims to hear voices, or talks to non-real people
- May behave strangely in terms of walking and moving
- Failing to perform what others expect of that person
- Can have outbursts of anger at unexpected times
- Threatens to harm himself
- Claims to be someone else
- Has few friends and superficial contact
- Lying in bed all day and wandering around at night (in the house or on the street)
The treatment
Unfortunately, schizophrenia cannot be cured, but it can be treated. This mainly happens with medication. Antipsychotics. These can reduce hallucinations or delusions and help the patient think more clearly. They can break through and even prevent the patient’s psychoses.
Therapy is also an important form of treatment. This is important because one must learn to live with the disease.
- Talk therapy: Helps increase insight into and of the disease. In this way, a patient can learn to recognize the signs and symptoms of psychosis
- Cognitive behavioral therapy: This therapy helps you deal with the voices and images in your head.
- Social skills training: Teaches you to improve social functioning in society and with your environment.
What is very important for people who suffer from Schizophrenia is a large social environment. The environment can provide a lot of support and guidance. A structured and regular life is very important.