What is Schizophrenia? 🤔
- Chronic Brain Disorder: Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves.
- Misconceptions: It does not mean “split personality.” Instead, it’s characterized by a disconnection from reality (psychosis).
Common Symptoms: 📝
Positive Symptoms (Adding to usual behavior):
- Hallucinations: Hearing or seeing things that aren’t there (most commonly voices).
- Delusions: Strong, false beliefs not based in reality (e.g., thinking someone is out to harm you).
- Disorganized Speech: Talking in ways that are hard to follow or don’t make sense.
Negative Symptoms (Taking away from usual behavior):
- Emotional Flatness: Lack of facial expressions or tone of voice.
- Social Withdrawal: Avoiding interactions and activities.
- Reduced Motivation: Difficulty starting or completing tasks.
Cognitive Symptoms (Affecting thinking):
- Memory Issues: Trouble focusing or remembering things.
- Decision-Making Problems: Difficulty organizing thoughts or making plans.
Managing Schizophrenia: 🌱
- Therapy & Medication: Antipsychotic medications and psychotherapy (like CBT) are key to managing symptoms.
- Support Systems: Having family, friends, or group therapy can help with recovery and daily living.
- Emotional Intelligence (EI): Developing EI can help individuals better understand their emotions and improve communication. How Goal Heights Can Help: At Goal Heights, we offer EI coaching and counseling to support emotional regulation, interpersonal skills, and building resilience for those living with schizophrenia.
Remember: Schizophrenia is a manageable condition. With the right treatment and support, individuals can lead fulfilling lives. 💪
Sources:
- National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH): https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/schizophrenia
- Mayo Clinic: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizophrenia/symptoms-causes/syc-20354443
- MedlinePlus (NIH): https://medlineplus.gov/schizophrenia.html
- American Psychiatric Association (APA): https://www.psychiatry.org/patients-families/schizophrenia