The Importance of Learning About Schizophrenia
Learning about schizophrenia is a critical part of recovery for schizophrenia patients. While medication is the only way to prevent psychotic episodes, paranoid delusions, distorted thinking and hallucinations, schizophrenia research suggests that understanding the mental illness is necessary for coping. It's important that patients never feel that it is their fault, since schizophrenia can affect anyone. Approximately 2.5 million people have been diagnosed with schizophrenia in the US and roughly 1/100 people world wide have some form of the illness. In fact, many people don't realize that schizophrenia is closely linked with social phobias or difficulty ascertaining cause-and-effect.
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Schizophrenia research reports some interesting findings. For instance, the mental illness is largely caused by a neuro-chemical imbalance of Dopamine, Seratonin and Norepenephrine. In a normal brain, the frontal lobe increases its blood flow and the "listening" part of the brain diminishes. PET scans reveal that in a schizophrenic brain, the frontal lobe is active but the "listening" part remains just as active.
The sensory overload usually causes a hallucination. People who are born with it generally have irregular brain cell patterns. Drugs and stress do not cause schizophrenia, but they can certainly exacerbate the symptoms. In some cases, family members who understand very little can agitate the symptoms by using an accusing tone of voice or reacting angrily to the sufferer.
One parent of a schizophrenic commented that she "couldn't accept the fact that he had an above average I.Q., was good looking, had a good personality--and was so ill." In order for a successful recovery, the patient's family and friends should learn more about schizophrenia so they know how to deal with the capricious nature of a schizophrenic mind. Some parents who are confused about the illness may feel they've "lost their child." Siblings may feel jealous at the extra attention given to the schizophrenia patient. Families may be riddled with shame, isolation or denial.
The most important thing to understand about schizophrenia is that it is not caused by bad parenting or personal weakness. Schizophrenics do not have "split personalities," nor are they dangerous people. Most of the time, they're introverted, anxious, frightened and depressed. Interventions include: medication, behavior therapy, job counseling, hospitalization (for severe, suicidal cases) and psychosocial rehabilitation. Parents and schizophrenia patients can check out the National Alliance of Mental Illness website for more information.
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Today's Tip On Schizophrenia
Behavior therapy and clinical psychiatry are important aspects of schizophrenia treatment too. By not only taking drugs, but by understanding the obstacles that lie ahead, many people can go on to live successful lives. Many tactics can be used by psychiatrists from: music therapy, dog therapy and facial recognition software -- to cognitive behavior therapy, a healthy diet and electro convulsive therapy.
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