What Is Schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is characterized by distortions in thinking, perception, emotions, language, sense of self and behaviour.

World HEalth Organization, October 2019

People who had interactions with schizophrenia sufferers mostly report how the sufferers would hear voices in their head and would seem to be talking to themselves because of it. But what exactly are the symptoms of schizophrenia? WHO defines them as:

• hallucination: hearing, seeing or feeling things that are not there;
• delusion: fixed false beliefs or suspicions not shared by others in the person’s culture and that are firmly held even when there is evidence to the contrary;
• abnormal behaviour: disorganised behaviour such as wandering aimlessly, mumbling or laughing to self, strange appearance, self-neglect or appearing unkempt;
• disorganised speech: incoherent or irrelevant speech; and/or
• disturbances of emotions: marked apathy or disconnect between reported emotion and what is observed such as facial expression or body language.

The above symptoms are a mixed of positive (present) and negative (absent) symptoms. The meaning of positive symptoms seems pretty clear but what does it mean by negative symptoms?

For years, I had been told that my family member was suffering from depression, with symptoms like severe withdrawal and lack of self care. The trigger was attributed to the family member’s marriage breakdown and and eventual dissolution.

I accepted what was told to me and didn’t think to question the validity of the condition. Back then, the internet wasn’t prevalent and we couldn’t just go online and search for information on health conditions. It was only after I took over the caregiving responsibility of the said family member recently that it was disclosed the person has been suffering from schizophrenia all along.

Symptoms of the family member’s supposed depression are actually some of the negative symptoms of schizophrenia (according to WebMD):

• Lack of pleasure. The person may not seem to enjoy anything anymore.
• Trouble with speech. They might not talk much or show any feelings.
• Withdrawal. This might include no longer making plans with friends or becoming a hermit. Talking to the person can feel like pulling teeth: If you want an answer, you have to really work to pry it out of them.
• Struggling with the basics of daily life. They may stop bathing or taking care of themselves.
• No follow-through. They have trouble staying on schedule or finishing what they start. Sometimes they can’t get started at all.

Sounds almost like depression, isn’t it?

I know people who thinks of schizophrenia sufferers as just these ‘crazy’ and/or ‘possessed’ people, with the voices in their heads and displaying of abnormal behaviour.

Schizophrenia is a lot more complicated and it is my hope that this website will help to bring awareness and a better understanding of schizophrenia and other mental health conditions. Only when properly informed are we then able to better care and provide the appropriate treatment for our loved ones suffering from such conditions.