How can you tell that someone suffers from Schizophrenia?
963879
My daughter has a boy friend who has a form of Schizophrenia, you can not really tell by just looking, in his case when he gets worked up, stressed he starts to panic and gets scared of every thing that is normal to him, he scared to get on a train or to go out side like normally he would, luckily for him he knows what is happening and he go himself to the hospital where he is treated mainly by rest and some calming drugs . He does not get violent. So I would say any one who has it would start to have a character change, depending on the gravity of their illness, as for the suffering I do not think you can tell how much it is , you can not tell how much some one suffers when they have a migraine but I am sure they do.
479398
Psychosis is a symptom of several mental illnesses. It is characterized by hallucinations, auditory or visual.
690160
well possession is very rare. \nDo you lose time? Do you hear voices? Do you have physical wounds that are unexplainable? \n\nIf you seriously think you may be possesed you should seek professional help, either a counselor, psychiatrist or a priest or oher clergy. \n\nA lot of those symptoms I mentioned above can be indicative of other mental illnesses such as schizophrenia.
78980
Yes, it is possible to misdiagnose a person as schizophrenic. Not all schizophrenia is chronic schizophrenia (although, alas, most cases probably are chronic and long-lasting) An acute psychotic episode is where they had psychotic symptoms in reaction to a stressor and the symptoms went away with treatment. It is also possible that he had a depressive disorder of psychotic proportion that was misdiagnosed. Major depression is usually episodic so it might be that it remitted. Finally, it is possible that he used psychoactive drugs and it precipitated a psychotic episode (for example, amphetimines--speed--can cause amphetimine psychosis that mimics paranoid schizophrenia).\n\nIt is certainly possible to hide the symptoms, but not easy. Does anyone else in his family have a depressive or psychotic disorder?\n\nAsk him about it....
154803
The word "schizophrenia" is simply a label used to categorise a list of psychosocial traits that Psychiatry considers to be improper or abnormal in society. Psychiatry defines these traits as a "mental illness", and promotes it as a "disease" that requires "treatment".\n\nIt is not a "disease", despite claims made in certain peoples answers here. There is NO credible scientific evidence that shows the existence of what constitutes "schizophrenia" as a biological/neurological disorder, brain abnormality or "chemical imbalance".\n\n"For a disease to exist there must be a tangible, objective physical abnormality that can be determined by a test such as, but not limited to, blood or urine test, X-Ray, brain scan or biopsy. All reputable doctors would agree: No physical abnormality, no disease. In psychiatry, no test or brain scan exists to prove that a 'mental disorder' is a physical disease. Disingenuous comparisons between physical and mental illness and medicine are simply part of psychiatry's orchestrated but fraudulent public relations and marketing campaign." Fred A. Baughman Jr., MD (Neurologist, Pediatric Neurology), & Fellow at the American Academy of Neurology.\n\n"Chemical imbalance…it’s a shorthand term really, it’s probably drug industry derived… We don’t have tests because to do it, you’d probably have to take a chunk of brain out of someone - not a good idea." Dr. Mark Graff, Chair of the Committee of Public Affairs for the American Psychiatric Association. July, 2005.\n\nSymptoms that psychiatry labels as "schizophrenia" (or it's related disorders), can stem from any number of variable sources. Many people have overcome disorders such as "bipolar" and "schizophrenia" through effective megavitamin therapy and effective nutrition. A growing wealth of evidence supports that underlying nutritional deficiencies can cause even the most severe mental disorders, including "schizophrenia". [1,2,3,4,5,6]\n\nYou may also be interested to know that the work undertaken by pioneers such as Dr. Lars Martensson and the late Dr. Loren Mosher show that there is also another way - far safer and more effective than psychiatric restraint, drugs and electro-shocks. For over a decade Loren R Mosher, MD, held a central position in American psychiatric research. He was the first Chief of the Center for Studies of Schizophrenia at the National Institute of Mental Health, 1969-1980. He founded the Schizophrenia Bulletin and for ten years he was its Editor-in-Chief. He also led the Soteria Project, which demonstrated that effective rehabilitation is possible without harmful antipsychotic drugs. Soteria provided a safe and sane environment where schizophrenic patients could stay, medication-free, with a young, nonprofessional staff trained to listen to and understand them and provide companionship. The idea was that schizophrenia can often be overcome with the help of meaningful relationships, rather than with drugs, and that such treatment would eventually lead to unquestionably healthier lives. The results were fantastic. Over just 6 weeks, patients recovered as quickly as those treated with medication in hospitals. [7,8]\n\nBottom line? Psychiatry is a belief-system, a "faith", not a science. Despite the huge marketing strategies, the so-called "research" and all the propaganda thrown at the world, there is not one iota of scientific evidence that proves that "schizophrenia" or ANY mental illness, in fact, exists as an actual --medical disease--.\n\nThe U.S. Surgeon General’s Report on Mental Health states: “The precise causes (etiology) of mental disorders are not known” and that “there is no definitive lesion, laboratory test, or abnormality in brain tissue that can identify the illness.”\n\nIf you have been told differently then know this: You
305299
If I were in your situation I would go seek the help of a psychiatrist who can correctly hear your story and diagnose you. Schizophrenia can come in different forms. One form being auditory hallucinations. You say that they "don't talk to you," however, so I don't really know if that is considered an hallucination. \n\nI think that you could start researching the disease by going to http://www.schizophrenia.com/ . This might help you learn a little about the disease.
21524
Be kind to them and be patient with them.  People with schizophrenia are just people who are tormented by hallucinations which are caused by a chemical imbalance.  People with schizophrenia are very rarely violent people, although sadly that's what most people are mislead to think.
255785
The social worker who said that you cannot be considered psychotic if you know the voices are not real is incorrect.  I am a psychologist and I have studied psychosis extensively, and worked in two different state hospitals with many psychotic individuals.  Many people who are psychotic are very aware that the voices are not real, or are at least aware that other people think they are not real.  That person is still psychotic.  Psychosis describes a state in which someone's perception of reality is altered in some way, like if they hear voices or see things that no one else around them sees.  It can also describe a delusion, which is where someone is convinced of the truth of an issue despite evidence otherwise (example:  The CIA is after me and wants to kill my family).  What you described above sounds like psychosis, and psychosis is one symptom of Schizophrenia (although it can also be part of other disorders, like Bipolar).  Hope that helps.
373763
Tell him you're worried about him and see what he says...I've come across some people who are schizophrenic, and they talk and talk and talk and make up a lot of what they say-usually schizophrenics just want people to listen to them, that's all.  Say stuff like, "I know your job sucks, man, you can do better," and things like that.  He can still change jobs; some older people stay at the same job for years and years because they're afraid nothing else is out there for them.  I know this eighty-year-old guy who works at a doughnut shop & he probably hates it, but he doesn't get all upset about it.
1180650
Good luck!!\n\nIf they are a danger to themselves or others they need to be hospitalized or given meds. Most times they can be controlled, bur like most mental health issues, they stop taking them. Meds can take a while to get up to a blood level that is helpful and may need to be monitored.  A schizophrenic usually already has a psychiatrist or is being followed by a mental health center!
292084
The fact you are asking this question suggests that you must have noticed something is different about this person. Some cues are:\nBehavioral: loss of interst in usual activities, avoidance, change in eating habits (pigging out or hardly eating at all),sleeping (most of the time or not at all), increased use of alcohol, avoidence of contact with others, absenteeism, sudden activity in risky behaviors, poor judgement and/or inability to make decisions, increase/decrease in sex drive, frequent headaches,stomach ailments, or changes in health, poor ability to cope with everyday stresses.\nMental:  poor concentration, confusion, lack of attention, forgetfullness, can't stay focused.\nEmotional: mood swings,angry outbursts, crying spells,feelings of worthlessness,helplessness and/or hopelessness, thoughts of suicide, denial of anything wrong,inability to cope with any type of change, paranoia.\nAs you can see from his list, some of these changes can be very subtle while others are very noticeable.  The key is to look for ANY changes in a person's behavior pattern.  I would approach the person with a sense of compassion, concern and avoid anything which looks/sounds judgemental.  It's o.k. to ask "Are you thinking about hurting yourself?" Share with him/her some of the changes you've noticed and your genuine interest in LISTENING with empathy. A professional should be contacted immediately if there's any active thoughts of suicide.
4725
It depends on the disorder. Schizophrenia is much more likely to develop in someone whose parent(s) had it, as is bi-polar disorder. You may want to talk to a pshychologist and get a professional opinion if it's present in a lot of family members.
498419
Social withdrawal is a common factor in schizophrenia, hence the "solitude."  Schizophrenia is a terrible disease and these people suffer a good deal more than it looks like - it is everything you imagine hell to be.\n\nGenerally, family support is best for them if they can manage to stay out of a hospital.  However, many, many people do ok in a group home situation.  It's very tough for them, and for their families, that's for sure.\n\nThey could try out the group home and see how he manages with that, and take him home if it doesn't work out, but I would suggest that he stay at home as long as he is manageable.  It also sounds like he should be monitored a bit more closely by his psychiatrist...
1139942
Well, besides the above mentioned reasons, I can think of another one and I hope it's not it.  Schizophrenia has that symptom.  People usually start having symptoms of that starting in late teenage years through the 20's.  Are hearing voices involved?  Sometimes one feels that they've heard someone talk to them and there is no one there.  It's a scary disorder! Also- my brother is bi-polar and he suffers at times when he is in his manic state.  Go to the doctor, something is going on.
23505
Yes I did.  I wish more people knew that people with schizophrenia are not violent people, not usually.  It's actually very rare.  People with schizophrenia are just people who are tormented by hallucinations that are caused by a chemical imbalance.
29316
Mental health diagnosis is often criticized because of the inability for mental health clinicians to conclusively provide empirical evidence to support a diagnosis.  In other words, while a doctor of general medicine might ask you some questions about your stomach ache, surmise that you might have a flu, then run a blood test to make a determination, a mental health clinician most often makes a determination after only asking questions.  There is usually not a "blood test" or any additional medical testing, other than observation, to determine a diagnosis.  Thus, clinicians do not always agree on diagnoses.  Additionally, stress and other factors in life will often cause a person to exhibit symptoms of a specific diagnosis.  For example, people who have had a significant loss in life, like the death of a loved one, may experience an acute episode of depression.  The symptoms of this episode may be virtually identical to the symptoms of a person diagnosed with major depressive disorder in all ways EXCEPT duration.  Even severe thought disorders, such as schizophrenia, can occur in brief, accute episodes.  So, the bottom line is yes.  We all experience symptoms of a mental disorder at some time in our life.
987084
There are many different kinds of schizophrenia and I've found everyone is a bit different.  I'm not going to bore everyone with pages of information.  Please go to the NAMI.org website and link to "inform yourself".  Their information on schizophrenia is pretty accurate.  Their emphasis is on "brain disease", and schizophrenia is a brain disease.\n\nAs opposed to personality disorders or disorders caused by abuse or trauma.  Which brings up the cute but clearly ignorant statement someone before said about which one is asking the question.  Schizophrenia is definitely not the same as multiple personality disorder (dissociative identity disorder since the latest DSM was published).  Unfortunately, there are so many people who just can't seem to understand that.  The treatment is very different for those two conditions!