Understanding Schizophrenia - a treatable & even curable disorder...
Commemorating World Schizophrenia Day, May 24.
World Schizophrenia Day is commemorated every May 24. It is a day dedicated to raising awareness of the mental illness that affects over 20 million people worldwide.
Schizophrenia is highly stigmatized since it’s not talked about and lacks accurate representation in the media. World Schizophrenia Awareness Day was created to fight against stigma and to make it easier for people to seek different resources to get help.
It lifts the lid on the challenges that thousands of people with Schizophrenia — from all over the world — have to contend with every day of their lives.
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder characterized by persistent psychotic symptoms such as
auditory and/or visual hallucinations,
delusional thinking,
dissociation from reality, and
disorganized thoughts and behavior.
It usually begins to manifest when the patient is in their early twenties, although, in rare cases, symptoms can show in early childhood. This disorder affects about 24 million people in the world.
Cases with descriptions associated with schizophrenics began to be recorded in the 1700s; this disease has been around since early civilization. It was only registered and recognized in the early 1900s when psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler coined the name schizophrenia. However, proper treatment following legitimate humane medical procedures was only adopted around 1980, when appropriate antipsychotic medication was introduced and there had already been a revolution in psychiatric treatment in general.
Schizophrenia is a treatable disorder and, in some cases, even curable.
With the proper medication and psychotherapy, patients have shown improvement. Many people still don’t reach out for help. Some who do reach out tend to suffer stigma due to their condition rather than receive care. That’s why World Schizophrenia Awareness Day was started so that patients and their families and friends, plus everyone around the world can learn more about the disorder and know how to help if necessary.
Can a person with schizophrenia live a normal life?
If they get the proper psychiatric treatment, people with schizophrenia can manage a normal life.
Are schizophrenics aware of their condition?
Usually, people with schizophrenia don’t realize they have the disorder until they are taken to a doctor who can properly diagnose them.
How do you positively cope with schizophrenia?
It’s important to leave stigma behind and follow the treatment, always making sure to communicate with the doctors and get support from your closest friends and family.
5 IMPORTANT FACTS ABOUT SCHIZOPHRENIA
It is treatable
Schizophrenia is treated with medication and psychotherapy.
It is not just hallucinations
There are many symptoms characterizing schizophrenia, not just hearing or seeing things.
It is not violent
It’s rare for people with schizophrenia to get physical. Most are secluded and introverted.
It can affect anyone
Anyone is susceptible, even famous mathematician John Nash and socialite Zelda Fitzgerald.
There are five subtypes
It’s categorized into undifferentiated, catatonic, residual, disorganized, and paranoid.