Do you often feel like you don’t fit in your world? Do you sometimes see or hear things that other people don’t? Do you often feel like you have trouble paying attention and have lost interest in things that you used to enjoy?. Do you sometimes have trouble speaking and getting organized? Do you have memory problems? If you have the first two of these symptoms along with some of the others, you may be suffering from schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is a thought disorder where you hallucinate, have emotions that don’t match the events of the moment, or have no emotions. Sometimes you may have delusions which are misperceptions of your environment, for example, you might think people want to hurt you but there is no evidence of it. These misperceptions can seem so real to you that you don’t know you have a problem. However, if you have these symptoms you could benefit by getting some help. This article is to show you what you can do to help yourself and what
People are not born with schizophrenic symptoms. They can appear as early as age 16 or as late as 40 with the typical age around 19. If you feel that you are losing your mind or if your family and friends are showing concern that you have these problems that were listed in the introduction, be open to getting help.
Most forms of schizophrenia respond well to medications. Find a qualified psychiatrist to prescribe medications by calling your insurance or google. If you do not have insurance many doctors will be willing to work a payment plan.
People with schizophrenia respond well to cognitive behavioral therapy. This is a therapy that includes examining your thoughts, choosing more appropriate and helpful thoughts and beliefs, and changing your behaviors to ones that will keep you safe and functioning well. Look online and find one in your area who treats schizophrenia. You can also call your insurance.
Your family and/or people you live with can be helpful. They can remind you to take your medications, they can guide you if you have a delusion or hallucination by gently helping you question it. You may wish to have one or more supportive people participate in a therapy session with you so the therapist can train them how to help you.
With schizophrenia you may always need to be on medication and you may need therapy or case management throughout your life. Sometimes you might be tempted to discontinue therapy or medication if you are faring well. Many people with schizophrenia lead happy and productive lives when they stay on their medication and get the help that they need.
Schizophrenia is an illness just like depression, anxiety, bipolar, the flu, etc. and it does not have to define who you are. You can look at what you are good at and what you are accomplishing in your life and see yourself as that and you happen to have an illness called schizophrenia.
When someone becomes aware that they have schizophrenia, they often think that they will never work, have a family, and do the things that others do. After receiving therapy for schizophrenia, often people can move from hospitalization to employment, marriage, and parenthood. It does not have to stop you from living a full and rewarding life.
People with schizophrenia have a behavior similar to people with depression and anxiety. They isolate themselves from the world, and from the people who could help them. Your family and friends can help you once they understand what you are going through.
Earlier in this article it mentions the ages of the onset of schizophrenia. If you are 19 years old or under 40 it is not necessary to worry about getting it. Often, people will get anxious that they have schizophrenia because they fall within the onset ages. There is no way to predict who will get it, so why worry?
Although you need medication and therapy, give yourself credit for being able to live a normal and successful life. It comes back to the idea that you are not schizophrenia, you are a person who has schizophrenia and you are also many other things.
There are many treatment options available for people with schizophrenia. You need to find a good psychiatrist and therapist and get support from the people in your life. Schizophrenia is a treatable condition that does not have to stop you from living your life to the fullest.
My website is www.phenomenalmemory.com
Frank Healy is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Certified Life Coach. He is one of about 50 people who have been classified as having Hyperthymesia by the University of California. Frank participated in their reserch studies because he remembers every day of his life since he was six years old. He is now 53. His memory of each day includes the day of the week, the weather in his locale, news events and personal experiences. Recalling so much in his life had it's advantages and disadvantages. The advantages include recall of every happy experience he had with friends, family, school, and his wife. The corollary of that is that he remembers all of the negative things. Bad days at work and school, slights from people, bad days at jobs, romantic breakups etc. Before he began his own journey he would recall bad memories with the same emotional intensity as if he was experiencing it now. He had learn to let go of the feelings. He now counsels and coaches people to heal from the ill affects of their own traumatic and unpleasant memories. This can help people be happier and move on to a successful present and future.
Frank lives with his wife in Dennisville, New Jersey. He is in private practice at Associates For Life Enhancement in Northfield, New Jersey. Frank enjoys going to the beach, reading, writing, playing quizzo with friends (It's a trivia game) and playing ball wth his grandsons.