Schizophrenia

=    = = Schizophrenia =

**What is it?**  Schizophrenia is a complex mental illness characterized by many symptoms and other various elements, including thought patterns, social problems, and overall general behavior. It is thought to be caused by chemical imbalances in the brain. ** Characteristics and Symptoms ** The symptoms of Schizophrenia are very hard to track and the illness itself is mostly an enigma to psychologists. The problem psychologists and psychiatrists have with defining and treating it, is the actual sickness and symptoms are completely dependent upon the individual. What one patient may experience may be completely different that another. This mostly depends on the persons tolerance, coping skills, and their memory for past experiences and general control over their own conscious and subconscious. Stages of this mental ailment can be very suppressed and mostly invisible at face value. Some subjects that carry this illness may not even know that it is an issue until it has grown more severe. This is because the early symptoms of schizophrenia can be relatively common in every person, like paranoia, anxiety, racing thoughts, etc. Some external and internal symptoms include, but are NOT limited to, include: - delusions- halucinations- disorganized speech/thought/behavior - loss of interest- feeling detached- apathy- inability to control emotions effectively- inappropriate social behavior- extreme paranoia- trouble

**What c**﻿**auses it?** **﻿** There is no definite reason for what causes this mental illness. However, children whose parents may carry this ailment have a higher risk of ﻿inheriting it genetically. Symptoms can evolve over time, and in some cases, a cerious tragic occurrence could spark the beginning to an episode of schizophrenia. Major use of drugs, such as herione, can also cause the early signs of schizophrenia and only worsen the symptoms if you already carry this illness.

Statistics show that 24 million people are diagnosed with schizophrenia world wide and studies show that men and women have equal susceptibility. In most cases, people who gain early signs of schizophrenia grow out of it. Most people are fully diagnosed over their 20s. The only way to know for sure if you are showing early symptoms, is to go see your doctor and get properly diagnosed. Do NOT try to diagnose yourself, because this illness can lead to psychotic episodes, which can turn violent if not under proper medication or supervision. There are plenty of medications that are available to treat this sickness, however there is no defined cure for it. For more informations and help, click the links below: [|Helpful Resources] [|Medication option (GEODON)] [|Choosing the right medication]
 * Should I be worried? **

__﻿__ Resources: -http://www.invegasustenna.com/about-schizophrenia -prior knowledge/experience -"Schizophrenia for Dummies" by Jerome Levine and Irene S. Levine **﻿** ** Glenna **