Schizophrenia 

 I personally know a schizophrenic or two and I am boldly telling you, it is the worse!. 

Though these individuals physically reside in our physical world, their minds are anywhere but. They, at certain intervals, seem to exist in a world of hallucination, an altered universe where they see a lot of  scenarios their minds have made up, which are gravely different from what is obtainable in real life.

Swipe to read up more facts on Schizophrenia, it’s symptoms, causes and treatments (if any).

-Schizophrenia is a serious and long-term mental illness that interferes with a person’s ability to think clearly, manage emotions, make decisions and relate to others.

-When the disease is in full swing and symptoms are severe, the person with schizophrenia can’t tell when certain ideas and perceptions they have are real or not. This happens less often as they get older.

 FACTS ABOUT SCHIZOPHRENIA 

-There are different types of schizophrenia.

-You may experience ‘positive’ and ‘negative’ symptoms of schizophrenia.

-Positive symptoms are when you experience things in addition to reality. For example, you might see or hear things that others don’t. Or believe things that other people do not.

-Negative symptoms are when you lose the ability to do something. For example, losing motivation to do things or becoming withdrawn. They often last longer than positive symptoms.

-Although schizophrenia can occur at any age, the average age of onset tends to be in the late teens to the early 20s for men, and the late 20s to early 30s for women. 

-It is uncommon for schizophrenia to be diagnosed in a person younger than 12 or older than 40. 

-It is possible to live well with schizophrenia.

-Only a small percentage of people with schizophrenia are violent. People with schizophrenia are far more likely to be harmed by other people than other people are to be harmed by them

SYMPTOMS 

In Teenagers:

-Drop in grades

-Change of friends 

-Irritability 

-sleep problems

-being suspicious 

-withdrawal/ isolation 

General symptoms:

-Hallucinations 

-Delusion

-Negative symptoms 

-Disorganised thinking

-Slow movement

-Poor grooming or hygiene

-Changes in body language and emotions

-Less interest in social activities

-Low sex drive

Commonly, people with schizophrenia have anosognosia or “lack of insight.” This means the person is unaware that he has the illness, which can make treating or working with him much more challenging.

CAUSES

-Genetics: Your likelihood of developing schizophrenia is more than six times higher if you have a close relative, such as a parent or sibling, with the disorder

-Environment: Exposure to viruses or malnutrition before birth, particularly in the first and second trimesters has been shown to increase the risk of schizophrenia

-Brain Chemistry 

-Substance use. Some studies have suggested that taking mind-altering drugs during teen years and young adulthood can increase the risk of schizophrenia

DIAGNOSIS

The difficulty of diagnosing this illness is compounded by the fact that many people who are diagnosed do not believe they have it.

TREATMENT

While no cure exists for schizophrenia, it is treatable and manageable with medication and behavioral therapy, especially if diagnosed early and treated continuously.

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Dissociative Personality Disorder (Split or Multiple Personality Disorder)

I first came across multiple personality disorder in a book written by Sydney Sheldon titled ‘Tell Me Your Dreams’, and later, in ‘Fight Club’. Over the years, I have come across video recordings of people who have this rare and complex psychological disorder switching between their different personalities like there is a control pad navigated by someone somewhere. 

It is very curious and frightening to see a person almost physically change as they take up a new personality. Their voices change, their eyes take up a new light, their demeanor alters, their accent becomes different, their history and gender and ideologies and habits and characteristics and the core component that makes them who they are is replaced. But they themselves, physically, remain the same. It is wonderful. 

Dissociative identity disorder is characterized by the presence of two or more distinct or split identities or personality states that continually have power over the person’s behavior.

DID is usually a coping mechanism due to a traumatic experience that has happened before (usually in childhood). In a bid to suppress the memory, the person literally shuts off or dissociates themselves from the situation or experience that’s too violent, traumatic, or painful to assimilate with their conscious self. This is the case with 99% of people living with DID.

DID can lead to gaps in memory and hallucinations (believing something is real when it isn’t).

DID affects only 1% of the population.

Women are more likely than men to have DID. (I wonder why?)

Some people with DID have up to 100 alters. (Basically many aljanu cases might be DID)

Although not everyone experiences DID the same way, for some the “alters” or different identities have their own age, sex, or race. Each has their own postures, gestures, and distinct way of talking. 

Sometimes the alters are imaginary people; sometimes they are animals.

As each personality reveals itself and controls the individuals’ behavior and thoughts, it’s called “switching.” Switching can take seconds to minutes to days. 

CAUSES

It is caused by many factors, including severe trauma during early childhood (usually extreme, repetitive physical, sexual, or emotional abuse).

HOW TO IDENTIFY 

-Two or more distinct identities that have power of the persons behavior.

-Inability to recall key personal information that is too far-reaching to be explained as mere forgetfulness. 

-Highly distinct memory variations, which may fluctuate.

OTHER SYMPTOMS ARE:

TREATMENT

DID might manifest among children between the ages 5-10. 

It might be confused with other behavioral or learning problems common in children, such as attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). For this reason, DID usually isn’t diagnosed until adulthood.

Some seek treatment with hypnosis where the person’s different “alters” or identities may be very responsive to the therapist’s requests.

There is no known cure. It can only be managed.

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Narcissistic Personality Disorder

There are some people that are inherently, extremely self-involved and self-centered. To then, they are holistically the center of the world. They are vain, they think the world of themselves, they are manipulative and they are unable to understand the feelings of others and their worse enemies are criticism and knowing you can see right through them.

But beneath all that facade, they are trying to hide a crumbled self-esteem and self-doubt.

They are narcissists and from experience I am telling you that they are capable of messing you up really, really bad.

SYMPTOMS:

  • Have an exaggerated sense of self-importance
  • Have a sense of entitlement and require constant, excessive admiration (worship the ground they walk on)
  • Expect to be recognized as superior even without achievements that warrant it
  • Exaggerate achievements and talents
  • Be preoccupied with fantasies about success, power, brilliance, beauty or the perfect mate
  • Believe they are superior and can only associate with equally special people
  • Monopolize conversations and belittle or look down on people they perceive as inferior
  • Expect special favors and unquestioning compliance with their expectations
  • Take advantage of others to get what they want
  • Have an inability or unwillingness to recognize the needs and feelings of others
  • Be envious of others and believe others envy them
  • Behave in an arrogant or haughty manner, coming across as conceited, boastful and pretentious
  • Insist on having the best of everything 

TRIGGERS:

They have trouble in handling anything they perceive as criticism, and they can:

  • Become impatient or angry when they don’t receive special treatment
  • Have significant interpersonal problems and easily feel slighted
  • React with rage or contempt and try to belittle the other person to make themselves appear superior
  • Have difficulty regulating emotions and behavior
  • Experience major problems dealing with stress and adapting to change
  • Feel depressed and moody because they fall short of perfection
  • Have secret feelings of insecurity, shame, vulnerability and humiliation

Causes

The causes of personality disorders aren’t fully known, but narcissistic tendencies typically emerge as a type of self-protection.

Many people with narcissism had a narcissistic parent or experienced some type of abuse or neglect early in life. The negative messages and criticism they absorb become their internal voice.

To defend against this negative voice, they develop maladaptive coping strategies, or narcissistic defenses. Their treatment of others typically reflects how they feel about themselves. 

Narcissistic personality disorder may be linked to:

  • Environment or upbringing; extreme adoration from parents or neglect.
  • Genetics ― inherited characteristics
  • Neurobiology — the connection between the brain and behavior and thinking

TREATMENT 


People with narcissistic personality disorder are not likely to perceive anything wrong with them as they are an embodiment of ‘perfection’. Therefore they are unlikely to seek treatment.

Treatment for narcissistic personality disorder centers around talk therapy (psychotherapy) though they are unlikely to change.

RELATIONSHIP WITH A NARCISSIST 

What is a relationship with a narcissist like? Torturous at best. But before they show their true colours, they are the nicest, most accommodating people.

Here are signs you may be in a relationship (work, intimate or otherwise)

with a narcissist:

-‘Enough about me. How do YOU feel about ME’. It is always about them, even if it is about you.

-They isolate you: methodically. They bad-mouth their partners and create unnecessary arguments questioning why everything about you.

-They are masters of gaslight: Why can’t you take a joke?  I never said that! Why are you always so angry? You’re being paranoid. You are being to sensitive.

Why can’t you let go of the past? No one will ever love you like I do.

-They change from sweethearts to strangers: Before you are comfortable with them in a work relationship or you get married, they will heap flattery and praise on you. They have a goal. The moment they get you however the tables turn and you are never enough.

The switch from the charming person you fell so hard for, to someone you feel like you barely know.

That is why they may look like saints before others and monsters before. 

-They are masters of gaslight: Why can’t you take a joke? I never said that! Why are you always so angry? You’re being paranoid. You are being to sensitive.

Why can’t you let go of the past? No one will ever love you like I do.

–It Feels Like Your Partner Is Trying To Make You Jealous

Beyond praising others, a narcissist may talk glowingly about an ex or flirt with someone right in front of you. This is no accident or innocent misstep, but a strategic move designed to make you feel jealous.

-They may get jealous of you or your success or the time you assign to other things instead of them.

-They admit that they are narcissistic. And to them, that makes them the most superior beings.

-Always looping you in for a fight. It’s a bait, you fight, they gaslight and make you feel stupid, silly, small and insecure.

-They avoid responsibility 

-Very manipulative.

The reality is that narcissists are very resistant to change therefore unless they are willing to change by taking up therapy (you should encourage them), you can neither change them nor make them happy. You can only save yourself.

Complications

Complications of narcissistic personality disorder, and other conditions that can occur along with it, can include:

  • Relationship difficulties
  • Problems at work or school
  • Depression and anxiety
  • Physical health problems
  • Drug or alcohol misuse
  • Suicidal thoughts or behavior

Sources: The Mayo Clinic

Healthline.com

Psychalive.org

Psycom.net

Lifehack.org

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