Schizophrenia effects a young newly wed couple

schizophrenia

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Schizophrenia is truly one of the cruelest mental illnesses in existence. The illness does not discriminate, and lies dormant for almost 2 decades before surprising both the individual and their loved ones.

This week, I had a chance to work with a couple that I had seen for premarital counseling only two years ago. Chris & Rose were planning their wedding celebrations at the time, and had family flying in from all over the USA. The Las Vegas M Resort had been booked and paid for by Rose’s father, as a gift to the couple for their wedding, and their academic success. They had both completed law degrees at UNLV, and had huge goals. Both had full time employment. They both desired to have their first child by age 30.

Unfortunately, Chris, the husband, started hearing voices, and became extremely paranoid about his wife’s fidelity. His behavior became so bizarre, the wife was scared to stay in the home, and had been staying with her parents. Chris knew he had no foundation for these levitra dosage thoughts, but could not control them. Hence the reason for returning to see me for Infidelity counseling.

I recognized the change in Chris immediately, and suggested I make an urgent appointment for him with a psychiatrist colleague.

I share this post, as mental illness could effect you and your family – or friends – when you least expect it. Knowledge and early detection is key with any mental illness.

Watch this video to understand schizophrenia and share with anyone who could would benefit.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnoUKWXTcBU

What are the early warning signs of schizophrenia?

The signs of schizophrenia are different for everyone. Symptoms may develop slowly over months or years, or may appear very abruptly. The disease may come and go in cycles of relapse and remission.

Behaviors that are early warning signs of schizophrenia include:

  • Hearing or seeing something that isn’t there
  • A constant feeling of being watched
  • Peculiar or nonsensical way of speaking or writing
  • Strange body positioning
  • Feeling indifferent to very important situations
  • Deterioration of academic or work performance
  • A change in personal hygiene and appearance
  • A change in personality
  • Increasing withdrawal from social situations
  • Irrational, angry or fearful levitra dosage response to loved ones
  • Inability to sleep or concentrate
  • Inappropriate or bizarre behavior
  • Extreme preoccupation with religion or the occult

Schizophrenia affects about 1% of the world population. In the United States one in a hundred people, about 2.5 million, have this disease. It knows no racial, cultural or economic boundaries. Symptoms usually appear between the ages of 13 and 25, but often appear earlier in males than females.

If you or a loved one experience several of these symptoms for more than two weeks, seek help immediately.

What are the symptoms of schizophrenia?

A medical or mental levitra dosage health professional may use the following terms when discussing the symptoms of schizophrenia.

Positive symptoms are disturbances that are “added” to the person’s personality.

  • Delusions — false ideas–individuals may believe that someone is spying on him or her, or that they are someone famous.
  • Hallucinations –seeing, feeling, tasting, hearing or smelling something that doesn’t really exist. The most common experience is hearing imaginary voices that give commands or comments to the individual.
  • Disordered thinking and speech — moving from one topic to another, in a nonsensical fashion. Individuals may make up their own words or sounds.

Negative symptoms are capabilities that are “lost” from the person’s personality.

  • Social withdrawal
  • Extreme apathy
  • Lack of drive or initiative
  • Emotional unresponsiveness

What are the different types of schizophrenia?

  • Paranoid schizophrenia — a person feels extremely suspicious, persecuted, or grandiose, or experiences a combination of these emotions.
  • Disorganized schizophrenia — a person is often incoherent in speech and thought, but may not have delusions.
  • Catatonic schizophrenia — a person is withdrawn, mute, negative and often assumes very unusual body positions.
  • Residual schizophrenia — a person is no longer experiencing delusions or hallucinations, but has no motivation or interest in life.
  • Schizoaffective disorder–a person has symptoms of both schizophrenia and a major mood disorder such as depression.

No cure for schizophrenia has been discovered, but with proper treatment, many people with this illness can lead productive and fulfilling lives.