Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia is a mental disorder, in which patients suffer from a number of symptoms which inhibit regular human behavior and interactions in day to day life. Despite skeptics of this chronic disease the afflicted cope with irregularities of the mind.
Some symptoms of schizophrenia are very subtle, and others are symptoms for other diseases, so it's very hard to diagnose an authentic case of schizophrenia. The first symptoms of schizophrenia would be, social withdraw, depression, paranoia, or no emotions. Also there's over sleeping or insomnia, forgetfulness or extreme reactions. As the article, understanding schizophrenia said, "There are five types of symptom characteristics of schizophrenia.(Melinda Smith, M.A. and Robert Segal, M.A.)
"Delusions hallucinations, disorganizes speech, disorganized behavior, and the so called 'negative symptoms.'" Delusions may come later on in many shapes or forms but most common are delusions of being manipulated by an outside force such as the government or the CIA. Of course there's the most known symptom of schizophrenia, hallucinations. Hallucinations are when the diseased see and hear things that aren't there. Sometimes they can even feel them too. Disorganized speech may mean a few things. Usually the patient will say bits of sentences or not be able to finish a thought. This is because he or she cannot concentrate on a specific thing, skipping from one thought to another. Disorganized behavior is somewhat the same, they won't be able to keep their mind set on one thing. They'll skip around and do different things. They're also horrible at multi-tasking. Negative symptoms are symptoms that usually have to do with their personality. Their personality will get morphed enormously. A once bright and cheerful person will become dull and have no real emotional reaction.(Melinda Smith, M.A. and Robert Segal, M.A.)
Until October 2006, most medicines weren't very effective, if at all. Ly2140023 is the medicine that helped other doctors figure out better treatments for the disease. The result not only helped their treatment for schizophrenia, but also Alzheimer's, depression, and other mental illnesses. Medicine for schizophrenia was first developed accidentally around 50 years ago. Even with the help of the new medical technologies and all the scientific break throughs, we still know hardly nothing about Schizophrenia. "So far though, No medicine can help the symptoms of social withdraw,"(Berenson, Alex)
as the article, "Knowing schizophrenia." Said, "The causes of schizophrenia are not fully known, however it appears that schizophrenia usually results from a complex interaction between genetic and environmental factors, "There are three types of schizophrenia. Depending on the severity of the illness, and the type of schizophrenia, The diseased may have a higher chance of living a normal life. Sometimes their hallucinations even help them, by giving them someone to talk to and a feel that they're still connected to other people, even if it's not entirely true. It helps them deal with other people better. The first type of schizophrenia is paranoid schizophrenia. Like it sounds, the person unlucky enough to be diagnosed with this type becomes very paranoid. It gives them absurd or suspicious ideas, Like someone's out to kill them, aliens are attacking, or the government's tracking their thoughts. Then there's cationic schizophrenia, what I think to be the worst type. It's a disturbance in movement, be it decreasing or increasing movements. I could also make one have jerky or unexpected flailing. Sometimes it looks like one is having a stroke. Lastly there would be disorganized schizophrenia. This type impairs communication skills. Such as saying or doing things that are illogical or just odd. It can also mean emotional indifference or laughing and crying at strange times.(Melinda Smith, M.A. and Robert Segal, M.A.)
mental diseases are very real and very serious, It shouldn't be taken lightly. Though the mind is not an organ it can be damaged. The symptoms are that of other diseases. It's not as if someone can just make up hallucinations or multiple personalities on the spot. All though mental illnesses have gotten out of hand throughout the years due to the public's unnecessary need to diagnose any abnormalities they may have. For example, insomnia, depression, and more. People need to find reason in everything that they do, and if that means dramatizing a 'condition,' so be it. But there are some legitimate cases that need to be cared for. (Vatz, Richard E.)
"For the vast majority of untoward behaviors labeled as mental illness,…, that they are freely chosen behaviors for which the agent must take responsibility," Says the article, "The quandary over mental illness." Some people like doctor Szaz, say there is no such thing as mental illness because the mind is not an organ. Though there can be a brain dysfunction or disease, it is not the mind. The famous doctor Is known as the personified anti-psychiatry. He says if he labels one with schizophrenia, someone else with the same symptoms would have to be labeled so too, even if there were slight differences for any way.( Vatz, Richard E.)
Despite the fact it may be difficult to properly diagnose mental disorders, such a schizophrenia that have an array of different behavioral abnormalities it is a serious disease that is, as of yet untreatable and may be difficult for family and friends to cope with. However, science is always making advances and there may be one day when we can effectively manage and treat schizophrenia.
The Quandary Over Mental Illness; USA Today (Farmingdale) Vol. 133 No. 2714, Vatz, Richard E. Nov. 2004
Berenson, Alex. "Daring to think differently about schizophrenia." New your times Feb. 24, 2008, p. BU.1
P. Hunter: Melinda Smith, M.A. and Robert Segal, M.A., Understanding Schizophrenia, Helpguide, April 2010
