SCHIZOPHRENIA
SCHIZOPHRENIA SERVICES OFFERED IN NORCO, CA
Schizophrenia is a lifelong condition that causes periods of psychosis, making it one of the most challenging and severe mental health disorders you can face. With the exceptional treatment provided by Stella Tih, PMHNP, and the team at Mercy Seat Mental Health Treatment Center, you can control your psychotic episodes and may be able to keep them in remission. To schedule an in-person or telemedicine appointment, use the online booking feature or call the office in Norco, California, today.
SCHIZOPHRENIA Q&A
What is Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia causes psychotic episodes. You may have one or two episodes over your lifetime or struggle with frequent, recurrent psychosis.
During a psychotic episode, you can’t tell the difference between real life and your hallucinations and/or delusions. Psychosis causes irrational or exaggerated thoughts and unusual behaviors that make it impossible for you to maintain your relationships, go to work, or take care of yourself.
What psychotic symptoms occur due to schizophrenia?
When you have a psychotic episode, you have one or more of the following:
- Delusions
A delusion refers to believing something that’s not based in reality. For example, you may believe your thoughts are controlled by someone else or that you’re a famous person.
- Hallucinations
When you have a hallucination, you see, smell, feel, hear, or taste something that isn’t real.
- Disorganized thoughts and speech
Schizophrenia makes it hard to keep your thoughts organized. They tend to scroll through your head in a disjointed and/or illogical manner. You may also have a hard time with your memory or struggle to make decisions.
Disorganized thoughts have a profound effect on the way you speak and communicate. You may ramble, jumble your words, or say things that don’t make sense. Some people jump from one topic to another unrelated topic, or they stop talking in the middle of a word or sentence.
- Disorganized or catatonic behavior
Disorganized behavior refers to inappropriate, repetitive, or senseless behaviors. For example, you may constantly pace, laugh in response to a sad event, or get agitated for no apparent reason. You could also go to the opposite extreme and have little or no movement (catatonia).
Does schizophrenia cause other symptoms?
Schizophrenia causes negative symptoms, a term meaning the loss of typical functioning. For example, you may not show emotions, lose interest in the activities you usually enjoy, or stop socializing.
How is schizophrenia treated?
Your Mercy Seat Mental Health Treatment Center provider prescribes antipsychotic medications. These medications reduce the severity and frequency of psychotic episodes. Whether you take a daily pill or get long-acting injections, consistently taking your medication can put psychosis into remission.
Though medications treat psychosis, therapy helps you overcome negative symptoms and the daily challenges you face. Your therapist uses evidence-based therapies proven to support people with schizophrenia.
Mercy Seat Mental Health Treatment Center provides comprehensive and compassionate care for people with schizophrenia. Call the office or book an appointment online today to get prompt psychiatric treatment.