Mental Disorders: Schizophrenic Chat Rooms

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Schizophrenia is a branch of psychiatry. It is a long term mental disorder that involves a breakdown between thought, emotion, and behavior (Gaebel). Millions everyday struggle with this disorder as to the basic concepts are difficult to understand. Several people with this disorder explain how difficult it is to be “normal” with the schizophrenic symptoms, and how they feel like they are alone. Which is why most find themselves on schizophrenic chat rooms and forums that have become increasingly popular. In these chat rooms, they can share deep detailed experiences with others with the exact condition, so they can feel the “normalcy” they feel like they deserve (psychforum). In the chat rooms and forums, they express their day to day lives, …show more content…

There is no age limit as to when schizophrenia can appear in life, but it usually begins with unspecific symptoms in late adolescence. Symptoms, like a lack of drive or concentration problems, may lead to problems in school or in social relationships (Gaebel). Then, it progresses rapidly into more harsh and grim symptoms such as negative voices acting much like a conscience and psychosis. Psychosis is when reality is lost and thoughts and emotions have taken over. Up to 80% of schizophrenics experience psychosis on a normal basis, and soon lose track of what is reality and what is not (Gaebel). The diagnosis of schizophrenia is only made once a full clinical psychotic picture has developed. Schizophrenia has affected several families, the highest rates reported for twins is around 50%, followed by children with two parents with schizophrenia is 46%, and children with one parent having schizophrenia is 13% (Gaebel). Treatment is based on the three pillars; pharmacotherapy, psychotherapy, and social therapy, but several people suffering with this disease do not complete any of the 3 pillars because it makes them feel abnormal and less creative (2). A numerous amount say, when taking the pills prescribed it's hard to “think outside the box” so they don’t complete the course …show more content…

Voices are often one of the most difficult experiences to cope with and sometimes they can lead to dangerous behavior. They remain one of the biggest issues for people with schizophrenia and should be taken very seriously by doctors and carers. Several people explain that they are truly terrified of the voices inside their head. Sometimes the person may hear voices of people that they recognise, such as relatives or friends(psychforum). For other people the voices may have no distinct personality, being just a nondescript voice. They may also hear the voice of someone close to them who has died, which can be very confusing. I have read several stories of delusions that were attached to family (2). “I thought I was being attacked by people who knew me” (psychoticlife). Voices caused by psychosis are very different than the inner voice we all have in our mind. They are as real as hearing a person in the same room speaking (Gaebel). “I can hear the voices, I can hear them talking about me, but when I look, I can't catch them talking” (Tyler777). For some people the voices will be clear to hear, whereas for others they may appear as a constant mumbling in the background. Sometimes only one voice will be heard, but other people may hear a number of different voices at the same time. Many say that “it gets loud when nobodies talking” (psychforum). I have

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