Schizophrenia

“The schizophrenic experience can be a terrifying journey through a world of madness no one can understand, particularly the person travelling through it. It is a journey through a world that is deranged, empty and devoid of anchors to reality. You feel very much alone. You find it easier to withdraw than cope with a reality that is incongruent with your fantasy world. You feel tormented by distorted perceptions. You cannot distinguish what is real from what is unreal. Schizophrenia affects all aspects of your life. Your thoughts race and you feel fragmented and so very alone with your ‘craziness’…” – Janice Jordan

Myths Schizophrenics are dangerous Schizophrenia = split/multiple personality Once a schizophrenic, always a schizophrenic

Most severe of mental disorders Definition Most severe of mental disorders

Common Symptoms Delusions False belief based on incorrect inference about external reality

Common Symptoms Examples: Delusions of grandeur: inflated worth, power, knowledge, identity or special relationship with a deity or famous person Delusions of persecution: belief that someone or something is out to get them

Common Symptoms Hallucinations False sensory perceptions Most common is hearing voices

Common Symptoms Illogical Thought Patterns What they say is not understandable Word salad: creating sentences that don’t make sense. Putting words together that don’t go together Neologisms: creating new words

Miscellaneous Usually schizophrenics don’t know that the voices they hear are their own (created by them). Best way to get rid of the voices is to hum.