Is Schizophrenia A Mental Health Disorder - 3492 Words

Is it Possible for Somebody Diagnosed as a Schizophrenic to Live What Would be considered a ‘Normal Life’? Introduction Schizophrenia is an exceptionally challenging mental health disorder, which is synonymous with the inability to distinguish between what is real and what is unreal, creating and maintaining relations and managing ones emotions and thought processes. It is an extremely complex disability, which can restrict people form leading a normal life. This does not mean, however that they are without hope. With the right treatment through medication and support it is in my opinion very possible to live a fulfilling life. Definition and Explanation of Symptoms? The word Schizophrenia comes from the Greek skhizein meaning â€Å"to†¦show more content†¦These include but are not limited to delusions, hallucinations and hearing voices as well as disorder and disarray of thought and speech patterns. Typically these are regarded as manifestations of psychosis (described as a lack of contact with reality), these symptoms are also regarded as the most serious and threatening, however they are in generally react better to the main form of treatment to the condition; antipsychotic medication. †¢ Negative symptoms are classified as a deficiency of normal emotional responses described by many as emotional flatness. Examples of this are the lack of any facial expressions, loss of involvement and interest in life and are no longer willing to take part in activities they would have once enjoyed. †¢ Cognitive symptoms are symptoms involved with the thinking processes of the individual, they can be positive or negative in nature and include a serious lack of concentration span, difficulty understanding situations or following instructions and having generally a poor memory. Causes The exact causation of schizophrenia is not yet fully understood, since it has a very complex relation between genetics, brain chemistry and environmental factors. 1. Genetics Many falsely assume that the disease’s cause is limited to only genetic predisposition whilst this is not the whole story it is true that it does play a large part in ones chances of developing