Schizophrenia is a brain disorder that affects more than 1% of the population. It changes how a person behaves and thinks, and this condition may develop slowly. At first, signs can be tricky and hard to identify as they primarily set in the teenage. Early symptoms of schizophrenia are social withdrawal, being unresponsive, or changes in sleeping patterns that can be mistaken for regular teenage habits. There is no cure for schizophrenia, but it is manageable with medication and therapy. Experts are also trying to unravel the causes of the disease by studying genetics, conducting behavioral research, and looking at the brain’s structure using advanced imaging.
Schizophrenia affects men and women equally but may have an early onset in males. People suffering from this disorder are at risk of premature death, mainly because they may get physically ill more than usual due to unhealthy habits. About 2.77 million people worldwide are diagnosed with schizophrenia, and 850 people out of every 100,000 will experience schizophrenia at some point. It is vital to consult a Psychiatrist in Islamabad to treat schizophrenia.
4 main symptoms of schizophrenia
There are some symptoms of schizophrenia:
1. Hallucinations
Hallucinations are when someone sees, hears, smell, taste, or feels things that do not exist. Most of them hallucinate about hearing voices. These hallucinations are fundamental to those with schizophrenia, but people around them cannot feel them or hear voices. Some people describe those voices as friendly and pleasant, but sometimes they can be nasty and abusive. When a person with schizophrenia hears voices, you may even witness them talking to someone who is not visible.
2. Thought disorder
A person having schizophrenia has ways of thinking that are illogical and unusual. People with thought disorders may have trouble organizing their speech and thoughts. Sometimes they stop talking and may jump from topic to topic, making up words that have no meaning. In this condition, they find concentrating on what they are saying or talking about. This condition makes their speech and thoughts confused. They feel like a misfit around people and have dark ideas, so they start avoiding people.
3. Delusions
A person with schizophrenia suffers from delusional thoughts and behaviors. A delusion is a strong belief that something is true, even if it seems strange and unrealistic. If a person is experiencing an illusion, they may believe they are being harassed or persecuted. They may think they are being chased, followed, plotted against, or poisoned. People who suffer from delusions find different meanings in everyday events, such as finding hidden messages or meanings in colors or dreams. They may feel that everyone around them has ulterior motives or plans against them.
4. Irrational and harmful behavior and thoughts
People with schizophrenia may become disorderly, and their behaviors may become challenging to predict. They may feel that their thoughts are not in their control and that someone else is putting ideas in their mind. It can happen to the extent that a person with this disorder may feel that someone else is controlling their body movements too. As the symptoms become worse, the negative symptoms may become too much. People with schizophrenia may find it hard to cope in their daily life and carry out daily activities. They may have trouble concentrating and lose interest in previously pleasurable activities.
Conclusion
Schizophrenia can disturb your life and the people around you, and it can cause various problems with cognition, behaviors, and emotions related to schizophrenia. Negative thoughts are also common in people with schizophrenia. So, if you have these symptoms and have trouble coping with them, please visit the Best psychiatrist in Lahore for proper disease management.
