What Caused My Schizophrenia?
153.6 هزار بار بازدید -
2 سال پیش
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Hello, eveyone! My name is
Hello, eveyone! My name is Stephen. I'm documenting my journey living with schizophrenia on my YouTube channel "Surviving Schizophrenia." Today, I want to dive deeper into a question that's been on my mind for a long time: What caused my schizophrenia?
Understanding the Genesis of Schizophrenia: My Journey.
My life took an unexpected turn when I was just 12 years old. It was in 2012 when I experienced my first psychosis episode, a terrifying event that marked the beginning of my journey with childhood schizophrenia. I spent two weeks at the UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital, where I was initially diagnosed with schizophreniform disorder. However, this diagnosis soon developed into full-blown schizophrenia and an anxiety disorder. Today, as a 23-year-old, I manage my symptoms with a cocktail of medications, namely clozapine, Abilify, and Lexapro. Despite lingering negative symptoms and cognitive challenges, I am proud to say that I am surviving schizophrenia.
The Cause of My Schizophrenia
While schizophrenia is a complex, multifaceted disorder that's still not fully understood, scientists have uncovered several potential causes. It's thought to arise from genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.
Genetic Factors: Schizophrenia tends to run in families, suggesting a significant genetic component. While no one gene is believed to cause the disorder, specific genetic mutations may increase an individual's susceptibility. As far as I know, there's no family history of schizophrenia in my lineage, making me an intriguing case for many doctors.
Biological Factors: Biological aspects such as brain chemistry and structure also play a role in schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia often have an imbalance of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that can affect how the brain reacts to certain stimuli. Additionally, brain scans sometimes reveal differences in the brain structures of people with schizophrenia. It's possible that such neurobiological factors contributed to the onset of my disorder.
Environmental Factors: Certain environmental factors, particularly those encountered during critical periods of brain development, may contribute to the risk of developing schizophrenia. This includes prenatal exposure to viral infections, malnutrition, complications during birth, or psychosocial factors.
Psychological Factors: High-stress events, such as a death in the family, the end of a relationship, or the loss of a job, may trigger schizophrenia in people predisposed to the disorder. My onset came at a relatively quiet time in my childhood, making the cause even more puzzling.
Today, I manage my symptoms with a combination of medications. Clozapine is an antipsychotic medication that helps to restore the balance of certain natural substances in the brain. Abilify (aripiprazole) is another antipsychotic drug, and Lexapro (escitalopram) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that treats anxiety by helping to restore the balance of serotonin in the brain.
Living with schizophrenia hasn't been easy, and the battle with residual negative symptoms and cognitive problems continues. But I'm surviving and thriving each day with the help of my medication regimen, a strong support network, therapy, and a healthy lifestyle.
I hope sharing my story can help to educate, inspire, and challenge the stigma often associated with schizophrenia. Although it's a complex and often frightening disorder, understanding the many factors contributing to its onset can lead us toward more effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure.
Thank you for taking the time to read and participate in my journey. If you or someone you love is dealing with schizophrenia, know you're not alone. Resources and communities, both online and offline, can offer support. And remember - your diagnosis does not define you. You are so much more. Stay strong!
Your Friend,
Stephen
#schizophrenia #depression #mentalhealth #anxiety
Understanding the Genesis of Schizophrenia: My Journey.
My life took an unexpected turn when I was just 12 years old. It was in 2012 when I experienced my first psychosis episode, a terrifying event that marked the beginning of my journey with childhood schizophrenia. I spent two weeks at the UCLA Resnick Neuropsychiatric Hospital, where I was initially diagnosed with schizophreniform disorder. However, this diagnosis soon developed into full-blown schizophrenia and an anxiety disorder. Today, as a 23-year-old, I manage my symptoms with a cocktail of medications, namely clozapine, Abilify, and Lexapro. Despite lingering negative symptoms and cognitive challenges, I am proud to say that I am surviving schizophrenia.
The Cause of My Schizophrenia
While schizophrenia is a complex, multifaceted disorder that's still not fully understood, scientists have uncovered several potential causes. It's thought to arise from genetic, biological, environmental, and psychological factors.
Genetic Factors: Schizophrenia tends to run in families, suggesting a significant genetic component. While no one gene is believed to cause the disorder, specific genetic mutations may increase an individual's susceptibility. As far as I know, there's no family history of schizophrenia in my lineage, making me an intriguing case for many doctors.
Biological Factors: Biological aspects such as brain chemistry and structure also play a role in schizophrenia. People with schizophrenia often have an imbalance of dopamine, a neurotransmitter that can affect how the brain reacts to certain stimuli. Additionally, brain scans sometimes reveal differences in the brain structures of people with schizophrenia. It's possible that such neurobiological factors contributed to the onset of my disorder.
Environmental Factors: Certain environmental factors, particularly those encountered during critical periods of brain development, may contribute to the risk of developing schizophrenia. This includes prenatal exposure to viral infections, malnutrition, complications during birth, or psychosocial factors.
Psychological Factors: High-stress events, such as a death in the family, the end of a relationship, or the loss of a job, may trigger schizophrenia in people predisposed to the disorder. My onset came at a relatively quiet time in my childhood, making the cause even more puzzling.
Today, I manage my symptoms with a combination of medications. Clozapine is an antipsychotic medication that helps to restore the balance of certain natural substances in the brain. Abilify (aripiprazole) is another antipsychotic drug, and Lexapro (escitalopram) is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor (SSRI) that treats anxiety by helping to restore the balance of serotonin in the brain.
Living with schizophrenia hasn't been easy, and the battle with residual negative symptoms and cognitive problems continues. But I'm surviving and thriving each day with the help of my medication regimen, a strong support network, therapy, and a healthy lifestyle.
I hope sharing my story can help to educate, inspire, and challenge the stigma often associated with schizophrenia. Although it's a complex and often frightening disorder, understanding the many factors contributing to its onset can lead us toward more effective treatments and, ultimately, a cure.
Thank you for taking the time to read and participate in my journey. If you or someone you love is dealing with schizophrenia, know you're not alone. Resources and communities, both online and offline, can offer support. And remember - your diagnosis does not define you. You are so much more. Stay strong!
Your Friend,
Stephen
#schizophrenia #depression #mentalhealth #anxiety
2 سال پیش
در تاریخ 1401/02/23 منتشر شده
است.
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