Читать книгу Emotionally Naked - Anne Moss Rogers - Страница 31

Schizophrenia is a serious mental illness that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia experience symptoms of psychosis, which can consist of delusions (false beliefs) and hallucinations (seeing or hearing things that others do not see or hear). Experiencing psychotic symptoms is a significant risk factor for suicide, and the early stages of psychotic disorders like schizophrenia represent a particularly critical period of risk. Other symptoms of schizophrenia include incoherent or nonsense speech, and behavior that is inappropriate for the situation. People with schizophrenia may also experience depression, anxiety, sleep problems, social withdrawal, lack of motivation, and difficulty functioning overall. They may seem like they have lost touch with reality, which causes significant distress for the individual, their family members, and friends. Onset of schizophrenia is typically in young adulthood, but the initial and less severe phase of psychotic symptoms may begin in childhood or adolescence. If left untreated, the symptoms of schizophrenia can be persistent and disabling. However, effective treatments are available. When delivered in a timely, coordinated, and sustained manner, treatment can help affected individuals to engage in school or work, achieve independence, and enjoy personal relationships.²⁸