Mental Disorders: Schizophrenia

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Schizophrenia is a mental disease that affects the way a person reacts and thinks in a situation. Usually people with schizophrenia appear to fade in and out of reality; seeming a bit “mad” (National Institutes of Health). They have the mindset that everyone is out to get them, or to hurt them. This disorder also lowers the chance at handling a job, or staying employed (Schizophrenia: MedlinePlus). A person with schizophrenia tends to have a hard time concentrating. They could be super attentive and alert at one moment, then the next they are clocked out for the day. Another characteristic of schizophrenia is not being able to cope or express emotions easily (Mental Health America). Even if this disease is quite rare compared to any others, …show more content…

An article by the NAMI states: “it is a complex, long-term medical illness, affecting about 1% of Americans.” It tends to be a lower percentage than adults, but children are also at risk to develop schizophrenia (National Institutes of Health). But it is extraordinary for someone at an age lower than 12 or higher than 40, to be diagnosed with this illness (NAMI). Studies have shown that this disease is genetically common among family members, not to be confused with bad parenting or negative childhood events (Mental Health America). Someone with schizophrenia who is at the peak of development, can suffer from symptoms such as not being able to distinguish reality from imagination (What Are the Symptoms of Schizophrenia). The National Institutes of Health break down the symptoms into three groups: “positive, negative, and cognitive.” The positive symptoms include what we see on the outside looking in. This can mean extra positive behaviors or emotions that we might notice (What Are the Symptoms of Schizophrenia). Abrupt and uncommon anger or action is part of the negative group of symptoms. These are usually more damaging to the person’s condition; the worse the episodes are, the more ill they become (National Institutes of Health). The last one being cognitive, is more of a brain issue. Cognitive symptoms usually distort how a person may think in a situation, or

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