Understanding Schizophrenia Essay -- Essays on Schizophrenia

In my senior year of high school, I began to experience personalitychanges. I did not realize the signifi gougece of the changes at the time, and Ithink others denied them, however looking back I outhouse see that they were the earliestsigns of indisposition. I became increasingly withdrawn and sullen. I tangle alienatedand lonely and hated everyone. I felt as if on that point were a huge gap between meand the rest of the world everybody seemed so distant from me. This excerptdescribes part of Esse Leete 20-year battle with schizophrenic psychosis. She committedherself to removeing the fullest life her malady allow everyow and to educatingothers about mental malady. schizophrenic psychosis is a very serious disease, butthrough defining schizophrenia and acquiring the patient help and treatment aschizophrenic can lead a full life.Schizophrenia is defined as whatever of a group of psychotic reactionscharacterized by withdrawal from reality with highly variable quantity a ffective,behavioral and intellectual disturbances by the American Heritage Dictionary.No commentary of schizophrenia can adequately describe all people with thisillness. Schizophrenia is an extremely complex mental illness. It is clearthat schizophrenia is a disease which makes it difficult for the person with theillness to decide what is real and what is not (Swados 5). It is to a fault clearthat this brain disease affects normal, intelligent people in all walks of life.There are six concrete phrases that describe schizophrenia it is a realdisease, has concrete and specific symptoms, is different from other mentalillnesses, is the settlement of flaws brain biochemistry, may be treated by specific neuroleptic drugs, and is more or less always treatable.Scientist are unsure of the clears of schizophrenia, although researchis progressing rapidly. Scientist are almost certain that schizophrenia hasmore than one cause. One cause could be a chemical imbalance. An imbalance ofthe brai ns chemical system has long been pretend as the main cause of theillness (Youth 2). A second cause could be stress. Most authorities disagreethat severe stress can cause the illness. Stress can however, worsen thesymptoms when the illness is already present. A third cause could possibly begenetic predisposition. Genetic infection has yet to be proven even thoughschizophrenia tends to outflow is some families(Youth 3). F... ...hould have an interest in the illness, becompetent, and has empathy with the patients. If there is any apprehensionabout the physician/psychiatrist the family has the right to get a secondopinion. Assisting the restitute/psychiatrist is the third step of gettingtreatment. Since patients with the illness may not volunteer much informationduring the assessment, the family should speak to the doctor or write a letter.In some cases, it may be necessary to send written information. Theinformation that is supplied will greatly function the physician to make ana ccurate assessment and outline a sufficient course of action.Presently schizophrenia is not a curable disease, but is controllable(Youth 15). The treatment of schizophrenia could possibly be medication. Mostpatients with schizophrenia must regularly take maintenance medication to keepthe illness under control. It is difficult for the doctor/psychiatrist to knowwhich medication will work best for a given individual. Many changes in display case ofdrug and dosage may be required. This period of trial and illusion can beextremely trying for everyone involved. Some medications have unknown anddifficult side effect