Photo by Elīna Arāja
When the voices in your head are louder than the truth that you matter, this might be the time to remind you:
No one is alone on their journey to dealing with schizophrenia.
Schizophrenia is a severe brain disorder often associated with having those “voices in your head.” It’s shown through the following:
· Delusions
· Hallucinations
· Unusual physical behavior
· Messy thinking and speech patterns
People who are suffering from schizophrenia tend to have unfounded paranoia and false beliefs. For instance, they might believe someone is controlling their mind and will cause them harm. When they have these psychotic episodes, it can get scary, confusing, and lonely.
Understanding schizophrenia means understanding that it is highly disruptive to someone’s life. Having those voices in your head can make socializing and living a normal life hard. However, there are ways to deal with schizophrenia in a healthy way. And these daily affirmations and consistent treatment might be able to help.
Why Understanding Schizophrenia Matters More
Whether you have schizophrenia yourself or you know someone who is, no one should feel like living an everyday life is impossible. Because it’s such a complex and often misunderstood mental health condition, there’s still a significant lack of understanding of schizophrenia. Misconceptions about this disorder have been rampant, which prevents the possibility of making them feel normal.
Moreover, understanding schizophrenia opens doors for better treatment and support for those who are living with the disorder. And when you receive the love and support of family and friends, treatment and recovery become more bearable. Even though you may be dealing with fear, guilt, anger, frustration, and helplessness, being surrounded by loved ones is better.
All About the Auditory Hallucinations
Often called the voice in your head, it is a hallmark symptom that’s crucial in understanding schizophrenia. These voices can be experienced as distinct, internally generated sounds. Auditory hallucinations could also be external voices from the environment. Their persistence, disruptiveness, and distressing nature make it hard for a person with schizophrenia. Furthermore, they also find it hard to distinguish between reality and the voices they hear.
While auditory hallucinations are commonly associated with schizophrenia, they’re also found among other mental health conditions. But here are some common signs that you might see that’s also in schizophrenia:
· Hearing voices that sound internal or external, distinct or overlapping.
· Voices speak directly to the individual, commenting on their thoughts or actions.
· Multiple voices are engaging in conversations or arguing with each other.
· Voices that are critical, derogatory, commanding, or comforting.
· Non-verbal sounds, such as music, footsteps, or noises.
Are Auditory Hallucinations Treatable?
Yes, they are, and various manageable methods reduce their severity. However, the effectiveness also depends on the person and the underlying causes of the hallucinations. Antipsychotic medications are often prescribed to reduce the intensity and frequency of auditory hallucinations. These medications work by targeting the neurochemical imbalances in the brain that contribute to hallucinations. Patients must work closely with a healthcare professional to find the proper drug and dosage that works best for them.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) is commonly used to help individuals identify and challenge distressing thoughts and beliefs associated with hallucinations. Other treatments, such as Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) or voice dialogue, may also be beneficial in helping individuals develop coping strategies and improve their quality of life.
The Impact of Schizophrenia On Daily Life
Schizophrenia puts a strain on social relationships. Additionally, this mental health condition usually emerges during adolescence or early adulthood. What makes this unfortunate is the way it can put a stop to various pursuits in life. The difficulties with concentration, memory, and cognitive processing make it a struggle.
People with schizophrenia suffer from having voices in their heads that interfere with their concentration. It also disrupts their ability to communicate, making them struggle with work and personal relationships. The distress caused by these voices will make the person feel isolated, anxious, and depressed.
Schizophrenia also makes daily tasks and other activities impossible to do. The cognitive impairments associated with the condition reduce memory retention and decrease attention span. Basic tasks such as personal hygiene, meal preparation, and medication adherence require assistance.
Furthermore, living with schizophrenia affects a person’s life expectancy and their emotional state. The symptoms might make you withdraw from others due to the falsely perceived ideas playing in your head. However, schizophrenia gets milder as you age, even though its effects are long-lasting.
When the Voices in Your Head Are Louder Than the Truth
Struggling from the stigma of schizophrenia is hard enough; how much more is its impact on your relationships with other people. Even though it might be a bit tough to live a normal life, that doesn’t mean it’s impossible. A healthy support system from people you care about can help stimulate you mentally and make the voices in your head a little less loud.
Another thing to remember is when they get the best of you, be self-aware enough about the damaging effects of schizophrenia. This diagnosis may last a lifetime, but it’s by no means a life sentence. Greg Hitchcock is an author you might also relate to, as he dealt with the same conditions, especially as a US veteran. Many others like him are suffering from it as well, so they can perfectly empathize with what people with schizophrenia are going through. Having someone like that might ease the burden of dealing with and understanding schizophrenia.