Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder characterized by distortion in thinking, perception, emotion, language, sense of self and behavior. In simple, it can be stated as loss of touch with the reality. Worldwide over 20 million people are being affected and it starts earlier among men which does not mean women are not being affected. Comparatively men are being affected more than women.
MYTHS ABOUT SCHIZOPHRENIA
CAN’T HOLD DOWN A JOB
Schizophrenia comes with considerable disability, which may affect educational and occupational performance. At the same time, research shows that people with schizophrenia can live independently, pursue higher education or hold down a job. Many do manage their illness and live their life productively.
IT IS A MULTIPLE PERSONALITY
Having a multiple or split personality is named as dissociative identity disorder, which is entirely different from schizophrenia where the individual experiences loss of touch with reality characterized with symptoms such as hallucination (hearing voices or seeing things that are not there), delusions (false fixed belief), lack of pleasure in daily activities, social withdrawal, rarely speaking, poor concentration and poor self care.
PEOPLE WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA ARE VIOLENT AND DANGEROUS
ost stigmas arise due to misprojection in televisions and movies. Not all schizophrenia patients are violent, it all depends on the severity of illness or if a patients is left untreated. They may act unpredictably at times. However, they are more likely to harm themselves than others. Suicides and suicidal ideations are high among schizophrenic patients.
IF A PARENT HAS SCHIZOPHRENIA, YOU’LL GET IT TOO
Genes do play a role but this doesn’t mean there is a 100% chance that a child will get it from the parents. If one parent suffers from schizophrenia, the risk of the child getting it may be 10%.
PEOPLE WITH SCHIZOPHRENIA ARE NOT SMART
Some studies show that people with schizophrenia have difficulty in attention, concentration, learning and memory. This doesn’t mean that they are not intelligent. There are many inspiring personalities with schizophrenia like John Nash (noble prize winner Mathematician).
FACT RELATING TO MENTAL AND PHYSICAL HEALTH
Schizophrenia associated with physical illness such as cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes etc., are 2-3 times more likely to die 10-20 years early than the general population. Some of the reasons are sedentary (inactive) lifestyle that many people with schizophrenia lead, poor diet and smoking (people with schizophrenia tend also to be heavy smokers). To prevent this, encourage physical activity, exercise, relaxation techniques, refrain alcohol and smoking.
People suffering with schizophrenia can live their life independently by seeking Professional help, medications and effective psychosocial support.
Never underestimate people with Schizophrenia. Let’s break the stigma against Schizophrenia.
