Schizophrenia disorder is one of the most misunderstood mental health disorders. People often have misconceptions about this brain disorder. They may view those diagnosed with schizophrenia as someone to be afraid of or stay away from daily. Some doctors may have trouble recognizing signs of the illness when they appear. Individuals with schizophrenia often end up abusing drugs or alcohol to suppress their symptoms and develop a substance use disorder. If you’re battling substance use and schizophrenia, please contact Red Oak Recovery® today at 866.457.7590 to learn about the treatment options available.
What Is Schizophrenia Disorder?
The first thing to understand about schizophrenia is that it is not just one illness. It is a group of neurological disorders that affect the way individuals perceive reality. Many symptoms of schizophrenia disorder may seem scary to those who witness someone having an episode. People with the illness may feel they are not able to be helped.
Most people start showing signs of schizophrenia when they are in their late teens. Men tend to have symptoms appear at an earlier age than women. Mental health specialists typically diagnose schizophrenia into the following categories based on the symptoms a person shows and the level of severity:
- Paranoid: You hear things that aren’t there or find yourself continually having delusional thoughts
- Disorganized: Your speech and behavior may appear disjointed or cause you to appear “flat” when you interact with other people
- Catatonic: People in this state seem to be in a continuous seizure state or trance
- Undifferentiated: You may have symptoms from two or more different types of schizophrenia
- Residual: You no longer show apparent signs of schizophrenia, though you have been diagnosed with the disorder and had symptoms in the past
If you’re experiencing the signs of schizophrenia, it is time to get treatment at a program like the one at Red Oak Recovery®.
What Are the Symptoms of Schizophrenia Disorder?
Schizophrenia affects everything tied to your brain and personality. People with the disorder typically have symptoms from one or more of the following categories:
- Sensory: Seeing things that aren’t there or hearing voices no one else can that encourage you to perform specific actions.
- Cognitive: Having a hard time understanding or speaking in an understandable way, having trouble learning through traditional methods. You may also believe you’ve performed outlandish achievements or feel that you are under persecution by an unseen force.
- Behavioral: Symptoms from this group include pulling away from loved ones, avoiding social interactions, not looking after your personal hygiene, having irrational fears that keep you from wanting to eat or drink, or being afraid to touch things.
- Emotional: You may appear to lack empathy or have emotional responses that do not match the moment.
Some early symptoms of schizophrenia often appear when a person is in their teens. You should consult a mental health professional if you start noticing signs of schizophrenia in yourself or a loved one. They typically conduct a medical exam and perform a psychiatric evaluation to confirm whether the symptoms are caused by schizophrenia or another neurological issue.
Get Treatment at Red Oak Recovery®
Many clients diagnosed with schizophrenia are also dealing with an addiction to drugs or alcohol. Red Oak Recovery® believes in taking a holistic approach to treatment. We do a thorough evaluation upon your enrollment to gain an in-depth understanding of your problems. Our dedicated staff uses that information to create an individualized treatment plan to address and heal all aspects of your illness.
Red Oak Recovery® offers a variety of programs and therapies for schizophrenia disorder treatment and other issues, including:
Find out more about how our rehab center can help manage a schizophrenia disorder while addressing your addiction concerns. Contact Red Oak Recovery® by calling 866.457.7590.
