| Mental health problems are severe when the person | | | | because of their distressing symptoms. |
| becomes out of touch with reality. They may develop | | | | Symptoms of schizophrenia include jumbled, disordered |
| false beliefs about who they are or what is happening, | | | | thinking, paranoia, false beliefs, hearing voices, apathy, |
| feel persecuted by external forces, or believe they | | | | lack of concentration, and depression. |
| have been given special powers. They may hear | | | | Treatment |
| voices, discussing their thoughts or behavior, or telling | | | | Conventional drug treatment can help control some of |
| them what to do, or they may see things that are not | | | | the symptoms of schizophrenia (such as hallucinations) |
| there (hallucinations). | | | | but may also create many new symptoms. Alternative |
| When someone is out of touch with reality in this way, | | | | therapies can be used alongside conventional |
| they are called psychotic. Some people have only one | | | | treatment for these problems. |
| episode of psychotic illness in their life, others have | | | | Manic Depression |
| several with remission in between, and others have | | | | Manic depression involves mood swings: periods of |
| them most of the time. Alternative therapies can be | | | | deep depression and over-excited or manic behavior. |
| useful for all these people but may not be appropriate | | | | There may be periods of varying stability in between |
| in a crisis. Conventional drug medication can usually | | | | these extreme highs and lows. |
| prevent psychotic episodes, but people who are very | | | | During mania, sufferers are euphoric, feel |
| distressed or dangerous to themselves or others may | | | | selfÂimportant, excited, and extremely talkative. |
| need the shelter and protection of a hospital or | | | | They may go on spending sprees, be unable to sleep, |
| specialized care unit. | | | | be irritable, or angry. They have no awareness of |
| Schizophrenia | | | | changed behavior. During the depressive periods |
| Each sufferer's experience of schizophrenia is unique. | | | | (usually longer) they feel despair, guilt, and |
| Thoughts and feelings are dramatically disturbed and | | | | worthÂlessness. |
| the world is experienced very differently. The person's | | | | Music, which can access mood states without |
| behavior may appear bizarre to others. Schizophrenia | | | | recourse to language, may be a helpful therapeutic tool |
| does not mean "split personality"as is widely believed, | | | | in the treatment of psychotic illness. |
| but is a word used to describe a wide range of | | | | Treatment |
| symptoms and conditions. | | | | It is important to avoid stressful situations, and finding |
| It is not known what causes schizophrenia: one theory | | | | the right therapy and therapist is vital. |
| is that a person's genetic makeup makes him or her | | | | Relaxation Techniques |
| vulnerable, and that it is triggered off by stressful | | | | Meditation, visualization and relaxation exercises can all |
| events. People diagnosed as schizophrenic are rarely | | | | help. |
| violent, but they are often very frightened and isolated | | | | |