There's a lot of incorrect info out there about schizophrenia. Some of it is spread by movies or TV shows. Or sometimes, people use stereotypes that promote stigma when talking about this mental illness.
Schizophrenia is a serious mental disorder that affects your ability to think and act clearly. When you have schizophrenia, your brain often tells you you’re seeing things or hearing voices that aren’t there. This makes it hard to tell what’s real and what isn’t. It also affects how well you think, make decisions, and manage your emotions.
Around 1% of people in the U.S. have schizophrenia. It affects men and women equally. Women tend to get schizophrenia in their 20s or 30s. Men tend to get it in their late teens to early 20s. It’s rare in kids younger than 12. And it usually doesn’t appear for the first time in adults over 40. Some studies suggest transgender people are more likely to be diagnosed with schizophrenia, but more research is needed.
If you get schizophrenia, you might have:
- Delusions, or false beliefs that don’t change, even when you’re given new ideas and facts
- A hard time remembering things
- Disordered thoughts
- Hallucinations, or hearing voices, seeing things, or smelling things others can’t
- Lack of emotion in your face or voice
- Problems focusing
- Trouble understanding information and making decisions
Commonly, people with schizophrenia don’t know they have it, which can make treatment much more challenging.
Get the real story behind some common myths.
Myth No. 1: It means you have dissociative identity disorder (DID). This is one of the biggest misunderstandings about schizophrenia. One poll found that 64% of Americans believe the condition involves DID, which means someone acts like they're two or more separate people.
Some of the most common symptoms of schizophrenia are hallucinations and delusions, which include hearing voices in your head and acting on false beliefs. This isn’t the same as DID.
Myth No. 2: Most people with schizophrenia are violent or dangerous. In movies and TV shows, who is the crazed killer? Often it's the character with this condition. That's not the case in real life.
Even though people with schizophrenia can act unpredictably at times, most aren't violent, especially if they're getting treated. People with schizophrenia are more likely to be victims of violence. They’re also more likely to harm themselves than others -- suicide rates among people with schizophrenia are high.
When people with this brain disorder do commit violent acts, they usually have another condition, like childhood conduct problems or substance abuse. But the disorder alone doesn’t make you physically aggressive.
Myth No. 3: Bad parenting is the cause. Mothers, in particular, often get blamed.
But schizophrenia is a mental illness. It has many causes, including genes, trauma, and drug abuse. Mistakes you've made as a parent won't give your child this condition.
Myth No. 4: If a parent has schizophrenia, you'll get it, too. Genes do play a role. But just because one of your parents has this mental illness doesn't mean you're destined to get it. You might have a slightly higher risk, but scientists don’t think genes are the only cause. Certain viruses, not getting enough nutrition before you’re born, and other things play a role in turning on the genes.
If one parent has schizophrenia, your risk of getting the condition is about 10%. Having more than one family member with it raises your risk.
Myth No. 5: People with schizophrenia aren’t smart. Some studies have found that people with the condition have more trouble on tests of mental skills such as attention, learning, and memory. But that doesn't mean they're not intelligent.
Many creative and smart people throughout history have had schizophrenia. Scientists are even looking into links between genes that may be related to both psychosis and creativity.
Myth No. 6: If you have schizophrenia, you belong in a mental hospital. There was a time when people with mental illnesses were sent to asylums or even prisons. But now that experts know more about this disease, fewer people need to be placed in long-term mental health facilities.
The level of care you need depends on how severe your symptoms are. Many people with schizophrenia live independently, while some live with their family or in supportive housing in their community. It’s important to be in close contact with your doctor, and to have support in place to help you continue your treatment as needed.
Myth No. 7: You can't hold a job if you have it. Schizophrenia can make it harder for you to land a job and go to work every day. But with the right treatment, many people can find a position that fits their skills and abilities.
Myth No. 8: Schizophrenia makes people lazy. The illness can make it harder for someone to take care of their daily needs, such as dressing and bathing. This doesn’t mean they're "lazy." They just need some help with their daily routine.
Myth No. 9: It comes on with a sudden psychotic break.
Fact: Some people have a big mental event that leads to a schizophrenia diagnosis. But symptoms can appear over time and are hard to notice. If you have early symptoms of schizophrenia, you might:
- Be less social
- Show less interest in normal activities
- Withdraw from everyday life
Other symptoms, like acting out delusions and hallucinating, can show up later.
Myth No. 10: I t can't be treated. While there's no known cure for schizophrenia, treatment can help you manage its symptoms and lessen its impact on your life. Antipsychotic medications can help stabilize you and lower the risk of future symptoms. Talk therapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are also helpful tools that can show you how to handle stress better and live well. But schizophrenia can sometimes get worse over time. Treatment is usually required for the rest of your life.
With treatment, many people with the condition can live full, productive lives.
Kuna habari nyingi zisizo sahihi kuhusu ugonjwa wa schizophrenia. Baadhi ya habari hizo huenezwa kupitia sinema au vipindi vya televisheni. Wakati mwingine, watu hutumia mitazamo ya kawaida ambayo huendeleza uchongezi wanaposema juu ya ugonjwa huu wa akili. Schizophrenia ni ugonjwa wa akili ambao huathiri uwezo wako wa kufikiri na kutenda kwa uwazi. Unapokuwa na ugonjwa wa schizophrenia, mara nyingi ubongo wako unakuambia kwamba unaona mambo au unasikia sauti ambazo hazipo. Hii inafanya kuwa vigumu kujua ni nini halisi na ni nini si. Pia huathiri jinsi unavyofikiri, kufanya maamuzi, na kudhibiti hisia zako. Karibu asilimia 1 ya watu nchini Marekani wana ugonjwa wa schizophrenia. Inahusu wanaume na wanawake kwa usawa. Wanawake huathiriwa na ugonjwa wa schizophrenia katika miaka ya 20 na 30. Wanaume huathiriwa na ugonjwa huo katika miaka yao ya mwisho ya ujana hadi miaka ya mapema ya ishirini. Ni nadra kwa watoto chini ya umri wa miaka 12. Kwa kawaida, ugonjwa huo hauonekani kwa mara ya kwanza kwa watu wazima wenye umri wa miaka 40 na zaidi. Uchunguzi fulani unaonyesha kwamba watu wa jinsia tofauti wana uwezekano mkubwa zaidi wa kugunduliwa kuwa na ugonjwa wa akili, lakini utafiti zaidi unahitajika. Ikiwa una ugonjwa wa schizophrenia, unaweza kuwa na: - Delusions, au imani bandia ambayo haibadiliki, hata wakati unapewa mawazo mapya na ukweli - Wakati mgumu wa kukumbuka vitu - Mawazo yasiyo na utaratibu - Hallucinations, au kusikia sauti, kuona vitu, au kunusa vitu wengine hawawezi - Ukosefu wa hisia katika uso wako au sauti - Matatizo ya kuzingatia - Tatizo la kuelewa habari na kufanya maamuzi Kwa kawaida, watu wenye schizophrenia hawajui wana ugonjwa huo. Jifunze ukweli wa hadithi za kawaida. Hadithi ya uwongo Ndio. "Hii inamaanisha kuwa una ""Dissociative Identity Disorder"" (DID)." Hii ni moja ya misunderstandings kubwa kuhusu schizophrenia. Uchunguzi mmoja uligundua kwamba 64% ya Wamarekani wanaamini hali hiyo inahusisha DID, ambayo inamaanisha mtu anafanya kana kwamba ni watu wawili au zaidi tofauti. Dalili za kawaida za schizophrenia ni hallucinations na delusions, ambayo ni pamoja na kusikia sauti katika kichwa chako na kutenda juu ya imani za uongo. Hii si sawa na DID. Hadithi ya uwongo Ndio. Watu wengi wenye ugonjwa wa schizophrenia ni wenye jeuri na hatari. Katika filamu na vipindi vya televisheni, ni nani aliye muuaji mchoyo? Mara nyingi ni tabia na hali hii. Hilo si kweli katika maisha halisi. Ingawa watu wenye ugonjwa wa schizophrenia wanaweza kutenda bila kutazamwa wakati mwingine, wengi wao si wenye jeuri, hasa ikiwa wanatibiwa. Watu wenye ugonjwa wa akili huwa na uwezekano mkubwa zaidi wa kuwa waathirika wa jeuri. Pia wana uwezekano mkubwa zaidi wa kujidhuru kuliko wengine - viwango vya kujiua miongoni mwa watu wenye ugonjwa wa schizophrenia ni vya juu. Watu wenye ugonjwa huu wa ubongo mara nyingi hujifanya kuwa na tabia mbaya, lakini kwa kawaida wana hali nyingine, kama vile matatizo ya tabia ya utotoni au matumizi mabaya ya dawa za kulevya. Lakini ugonjwa huo peke yake haukufanyi uwe mkali kimwili. Hadithi ya uwongo Ndio. 3 - Utamaduni mbaya wa wazazi ndio sababu. Mara nyingi mama hasa wanashtakiwa. Schizophrenia ni ugonjwa wa akili. Kuna visababishi vingi, kutia ndani chembe za urithi, majeraha, na matumizi mabaya ya dawa za kulevya. Makosa ambayo umefanya kama mzazi hayatafanya mtoto wako awe na hali hii. Hadithi ya uwongo Ndio. Ikiwa mzazi wako ana ugonjwa wa schizophrenia, wewe pia utaugua. Chembe za urithi zina jukumu. Lakini kwa sababu tu mmoja wa wazazi wako ana ugonjwa huu wa akili haimaanishi kwamba umepangwa kuupata. Unaweza kuwa na hatari ya juu kidogo, lakini wanasayansi hawafikiri chembe za urithi ndizo kisababishi pekee. Virusi fulani, kutopata lishe ya kutosha kabla ya kuzaliwa, na mambo mengine huchangia kuamsha chembe za urithi. Ikiwa mzazi mmoja ana ugonjwa wa schizophrenia, hatari ya kupata ugonjwa huo ni karibu 10%. Kuwa na zaidi ya mwanachama mmoja wa familia pamoja nayo huongeza hatari yako. Hadithi ya uwongo Ndio. 5 - Watu wenye schizophrenia si wenye akili. Uchunguzi unaonyesha kwamba watu wenye ugonjwa huo wana matatizo zaidi katika vipimo vya uwezo wa akili kama vile uangalifu, kujifunza, na kukumbuka. Lakini hilo halimaanishi kwamba hawana akili. Watu wengi wenye ubunifu na wenye akili katika historia yote wamekuwa na ugonjwa wa akili. Wanasayansi hata wanachunguza uhusiano kati ya chembe za urithi ambazo huenda zikawa na uhusiano na ugonjwa wa akili na ubunifu. Hadithi ya uwongo Ndio. 6 Ikiwa una ugonjwa wa akili, unapaswa kuwa katika hospitali ya wagonjwa wa akili. Kulikuwa na wakati ambapo watu wenye magonjwa ya akili walipelekwa kwenye makao ya wagonjwa wa akili au hata gerezani. Lakini sasa kwa kuwa wataalamu wanajua mengi zaidi kuhusu ugonjwa huo, ni watu wachache zaidi wanaohitaji kuwekwa katika vituo vya matibabu ya akili kwa muda mrefu. Kiwango cha huduma unahitaji inategemea jinsi dalili zako ni kali. Watu wengi wenye ugonjwa wa schizophrenia huishi kwa kujitegemea, wakati wengine huishi na familia zao au katika nyumba za msaada katika jamii yao. Ni muhimu kuwa katika mawasiliano ya karibu na daktari wako, na kuwa na msaada mahali ili kukusaidia kuendelea na matibabu yako kama inahitajika. Hadithi ya uwongo Ndio. 7 - Huwezi kushikilia kazi ikiwa una kazi. Schizophrenia inaweza kufanya iwe vigumu kwako kupata kazi na kwenda kazini kila siku. Lakini kwa matibabu sahihi, watu wengi wanaweza kupata nafasi inayolingana na ujuzi na uwezo wao. Hadithi ya uwongo Ndio. 8 - Schizophrenia hufanya watu wawe wavivu. Ugonjwa huo unaweza kumfanya mtu awe na ugumu wa kutunza mahitaji yake ya kila siku, kama vile kuvaa na kuoga. Hilo halimaanishi kwamba wao ni "wavivu". Wanahitaji tu msaada fulani katika shughuli zao za kila siku. Hadithi ya uwongo Ndio. 9 - Ugonjwa wa akili unaanza ghafula. Ukweli: Watu fulani hupata tatizo kubwa la akili ambalo huongoza kwenye utambuzi wa ugonjwa wa akili. Lakini dalili zaweza kuonekana baada ya muda na ni vigumu kuzitambua. Ikiwa una dalili za mapema za schizophrenia, unaweza kuwa: - Kuwa na ushirika mdogo - Kuonyesha maslahi kidogo katika shughuli za kawaida - Kujiondoa katika maisha ya kila siku - Dalili nyingine, kama vile kuigiza udanganyifu na kupotea, zinaweza kuonekana baadaye. Hadithi ya uwongo Ndio. 10:10 - Siwezi kupumzika Ingawa hakuna tiba inayojulikana ya ugonjwa wa schizophrenia, matibabu yanaweza kukusaidia kudhibiti dalili zake na kupunguza athari zake kwenye maisha yako. Dawa za kuzuia ugonjwa wa akili zaweza kukusaidia kudumisha hali yako na kupunguza hatari ya dalili za wakati ujao. Matibabu ya mazungumzo na matibabu ya tabia ya utambuzi pia ni zana muhimu ambazo zinaweza kukuonyesha jinsi ya kushughulikia mkazo vizuri na kuishi vizuri. Lakini nyakati nyingine ugonjwa wa schizophrenia waweza kuzidi kuwa mbaya kadiri wakati unavyopita. Kwa kawaida matibabu huhitajiwa kwa muda wote wa maisha yako. Kwa matibabu, watu wengi walio na ugonjwa huo wanaweza kuishi maisha yenye kuridhisha na yenye matokeo.