Schizophrenia is a psychotic disorder. Where a person can’t tell their own thoughts, ideas, perceptions and imaginings from reality, although this can vary from person to person.
Schizophrenia is a diagnosis you may be given if you experience some of the following symptoms*:
- a lack of interest in things
- feeling disconnected from your feelings
- difficulty concentrating
- wanting to avoid people
- hallucinations
- hearing voices
- delusions
- feeling like you need to be protected.
These experiences or beliefs can start happening quite suddenly, but for others they can occur more gradually. You may become upset, anxious, confused and suspicious of other people, particularly anyone who doesn’t agree with your perceptions. You may be unaware or reluctant to believe that you need help.**
Schizophrenia and stigma*
There is more media misinformation about schizophrenia than about any other type of mental health problem. A diagnosis of schizophrenia does not mean ‘split personality’, or indicate that someone will swing wildly from being calm to being out of control.
Sensational stories in the press tend to present people with schizophrenia as dangerous, even though most people diagnosed with schizophrenia don’t commit violent crimes.
Some people think that people who hear voices are dangerous, but actually voices are more likely to suggest that you harm yourself than someone else. It’s important to remember that people also have a choice in whether they do what the voices say.
*http://www.mind.org.uk/information-support/types-of-mental-health-problems/schizophrenia/#.VZFxPRtViko
Black Cat Project 