An Interview With a Schizophrenic Girl & Her Family
An interview with Jani and her parents. How she lives with schizophrenia and how her parents take care of her.
Schizophrenia is a group of serious brain disorders in which reality is interpreted abnormally. Schizophrenia results in hallucinations, delusions, and disordered thinking and behavior. People with schizophrenia withdraw from the people and activities in the world around them, retreating into an inner world marked by psychosis.
Contrary to popular belief, schizophrenia isn’t the same as a split personality or multiple personality. While the word “schizophrenia” does means “split-mind,” it refers to a disruption of the usual balance of emotions and thinking.
Schizophrenia is a chronic condition, requiring lifelong treatment. But thanks to new medications, schizophrenia symptoms can often be successfully managed, allowing people with the condition to lead productive, enjoyable lives.
There are several types of schizophrenia, so signs and symptoms vary. In general, schizophrenia symptoms include:
- Beliefs not based on reality (delusions), such as the belief that there’s a conspiracy against you
- Seeing or hearing things that don’t exist (hallucinations), especially voices
- Incoherent speech
- Neglect of personal hygiene
- Lack of emotions
- Emotions inappropriate to the situation
- Angry outbursts
- Catatonic behavior
- A persistent feeling of being watched
- Trouble functioning at school and work
- Social isolation
- Clumsy, uncoordinated movements
Negative signs and symptoms represent a loss or decrease in emotions or behavioral abilities. They may include:
- Loss of interest in everyday activities
- Appearing to lack emotion
- Reduced ability to plan or carry out activities
- Neglecting hygiene
- Social withdrawal
- Loss of motivation
Positive signs and symptoms are unusual thoughts and perceptions that often involve a loss of contact with reality. These symptoms may come and go. They may include:
- Hallucinations, or sensing things that aren’t real. In schizophrenia, hearing voices is a common hallucination. These voices may seem to give you instructions on how to act, and they sometimes may include harming others.
- Delusions, or beliefs that have no basis in reality. For example, you may believe that the television is directing your behavior or that outside forces are controlling your thoughts.
- Thought disorders, or difficulty speaking and organizing thoughts, such as stopping in midsentence or jumbling together meaningless words, sometimes known as “word salad.”
- Movement disorders, such as repeating movements, clumsiness or involuntary movements.
Cognitive symptoms involve problems with memory and attention. These symptoms may be the most disabling in schizophrenia because they interfere with the ability to perform routine daily tasks. They include:
- Problems making sense of information
- Difficulty paying attention
- Memory problems
If you have any symptoms of schizophrenia, seek medical help as soon as possible. Schizophrenia doesn’t get better on its own, and in fact, usually worsens without treatment. However, if you’re like some people with schizophrenia, you may not recognize that you need help or that you even have symptoms. Family and friends, or people at work or school, may be the ones who initially suggest you seek help. Try to listen to them, as they have your best interests at heart.
Getting treatment from a mental health provider with experience in schizophrenia can help you learn ways to manage your symptoms so that you have the best chance to continue on with a productive and happy life. If you’re reluctant to seek treatment, try to work up the courage to confide in someone, whether it’s a friend or loved one, a health care professional, a faith leader or someone else you trust. They can help you take the first steps to successful treatment.
(Information provided by MayoClinic.com)
