Misconceptions about Schizophrenia We Need to Debunk

Schizophrenia is one of the most common mental illnesses with a lot of misconceptions. Because of the nature of how it’s perceived in public, schizophrenia is often seen as a mental illness shrouded in negativity and danger. As providers of mental health care, we work hard to clear this stigma.

Today, our psychiatry in Texas, Healing Souls Psychiatry, would like to share some facts about schizophrenia and how it’s far from what is perceived publicly.

• False belief: People with schizophrenia are irrational and violent.

  Factual statement: Schizophrenia does not cause violence. Unfortunately, violent stereotypes of people with schizophrenia are common in popular culture.

• False belief: Schizophrenia patients have many or split personalities.

  Not true. Schizophrenia patients do not have multiple personalities. Chronic mental illness like schizophrenia impacts your ideas, actions, and perception. Schizophrenia patients may have difficulty telling what is genuine from what is not.

• Myth: Schizophrenia is a condition that only occurs once in a lifetime.

  Factual error. A hundredth of one percent of people experiences schizophrenia. People in their late teens to mid-twenties are typically affected.

• Misconception: Delusions and hallucinations are the only signs of schizophrenia.

  Fact: Symptoms of schizophrenia are delusions, hallucinations, disorganized thinking, abnormal movement or catatonia, and negative symptoms like reduced facial expressions, low motivation, and the inability to enjoy once-like activities, as well as social withdrawal.

Schizophrenia should not be feared by many. It is a treatable and manageable condition that should be put more care and thought into. Our mental health services in Garland, Texas, would like to encourage you to be more open and positive about this illness.

Let us work together to change the negative beliefs encircling this mental condition. Get in touch with our psychiatrist anytime.