Schizophrenia affects more than 21 million individuals across the globe, according to the latest census of the World Health Organization. We should ideally know enough about the disorder, considering it isn’t a newly discovered mental illness by any means. But other than hearing about its symptoms, e.g., hallucination, movement and thought dysfunctionality, and overall lack of drive to do anything worthwhile, the fact that there are billions of inhabitants in this planet still makes the disease unfamiliar for many people.
For that reason, our aim today is to offer some truth and dispel any baseless belief about schizophrenia. Continue reading below.
Hit: It Is An Actual Mental Illness
The first thing to talk about is the validity of the psychiatric ailment. In the past, a lot of experts who didn’t have faith in psychiatry said that schizophrenia is a make-believe illness. Ronald Laing, in particular, popularized the theory that the condition is practically a sign of sanity. Despite that, schizophrenia remains a real mental disorder.
And, yes, schizophrenia is a psychosis as opposed to a neurosis. The difference is that psychotics see and hear things that aren’t there while neurotics, who can be seriously disabled, at least don’t suffer from hallucinations. — Stephen Mason Ph.D.
Miss: The Disease Is Synonymous With A Multiple Personality Disorder
The belief that schizophrenic people lead a dual life is not based on evidence. Even though they are delusional sometimes and can’t function like a regular human being when an episode happens, these folks are still aware that they have a single identity. That’s what differentiates them from patients with a split personality, so it isn’t acceptable to make both diseases synonymous with each other.
Hit: Schizophrenia Isn’t Entirely Hereditary Or Due To Poor Rearing
Since the illness occurs in the brain, there isn’t a 100% guarantee that a parent can transmit schizophrenia to their children. The probability may increase as the number of schizophrenic folks within the family rises, for sure, but that can’t be the only cause.
Similarly, the disorder isn’t a result of corrupt parenting either. An individual can have the best childhood anyone can ever dream of and still acquire schizophrenia years after because of external influences, such as drugs, trauma, etc.
Miss: Patients Can Never Be Intelligent
This myth has something to do with the conventional notion that a mental disease makes it difficult for sufferers to take regular examinations at school. The same isn’t far off for people who have schizophrenia, of course. Just like the patients with other neurological disorders, however, their smarts lie elsewhere.
To some, it makes no sense to consider why an individual might be hearing voices telling them they are worthless, smelling a poisonous gas in their home, or believing that a government agency has targeted them. If one sees these experiences as mere manifestations of biologic abnormality as opposed to a complex biopsychosocial problem, then psychotic symptoms will appear devoid of any meaning or significance. — Mark L. Ruffalo D.Psa., L.C.S.W.
Most of the time, schizophrenic individuals excel in the creativity field. They can be great at dancing, drawing, painting, or various artistic stuff. Hence, no one can say they aren’t intelligent when they’re gaining accolades through arts, right?
Hit: It Is Treatable
Due to the symptoms not being wholly caused by grief, anger, or fear, schizophrenia may be more treatable – not curable – than depression, anxiety, etc. In reality, half of the patients who receive regular treatment may improve or recover from the illness. The ones who will carry it forever are, not surprisingly, the individuals who won’t accept medical intervention.
Miss: The Disorder Makes Patients Incapable Of Living A Normal Life
Assuming that the person doesn’t deal with severe episodes, it’s not impossible for him or her to have a mundane life wherein they don’t need the assistance of a minder. It is a blessing as well that many organizations are open to hiring employees who suffer from certain mental diseases. Their goal is to bring some regularity in the patient’s life and hopefully become one of the instruments for their recuperation.
For people to live healthy, successful, socially active lives, it is necessary that a person does not “become” their disorder. — Robert T Muller Ph.D.