Schizophrenia generally involves hallucinations (often hearing voices not heard
by others), delusional thinking (irrational fears, plots of persons trying to harm them, someone reading their mind.) Disturbed relationships
with others. Fearful, sometimes irrational and being withdrawn, disorganized thinking, speech and behavior. Paranoid
schizophrenia is actually a subtype. Psychosis is also associated with schizophrenia.
The common treatments
for schizophrenia involve use of drugs. In past, antipsychotics such as Haldol (haloperidol) a strong tranquilizing
drug, Thorazine (cholopromazine) or Prolixin were used frequently. The side effects for these drugs are potent and debilitating.
These drugs are known as "neuroleptics").
Attention
to lifestyle issues and even more strictness and vigilance on the matenter of mental and physical hygiene for adults,
children and teenagers effected by schizophrenia, or schizoaffective disorders-a combination of schizophrenia and bipolar
disorder, can be of utmost help. Work very hard at mental hygiene, make whatever changes might be necessary. It
can make a difference.
Such adjustments as turning down the intensity and frequency of the music one listens to, especially
a child or teenager. Avoiding anything that might have spiritistic or occult overtones.
Avoiding any violence. Some persons are very sensitive emotionally, even violent sports, action
movies, any cartoons that have violence (Bugs Bunny, Disney, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers), all of these fast paced cartoons
can effect the mind of certain children and young adults. YuGiYo and Pokemon also have spiristic overtones which can contribute
to a child or teenagers difficulties in coping with reality. Of course, the movies today, R-rated and slasher, horror movies,
are much more violent, and these can also effect the minds of some sensitive persons to the point of delusional thinking.
(Even Hitchcock type movies or old horror movies can be too intense for many persons.)
The same can be said for video games. Many, if not most, can be overwhelming for the minds of
some children and young adults.
Some minds are very sensitive and in the case of schizophrenia, or schizoeffective disorder,
strict mental hygiene can be very helpful in improving symptoms. Medications do not always quiet the voices or delusions,
perhaps in less than half of those who take medicine is there positive effect. Sometimes the positive effect with medication
treatement for schizophrenia is temporary.
Any parent who tries to help a child with severe mental health disorders through attention to mental hygiene, needs
to take care to:
1. not abruptly change an already exisiting medication regimine. Gradual reduction is preferable.
2. replace any activities such as TV or movies, with positive recreational activities such as art, music lessons, music
CDs that are enjoyable but gentler in their intensity, time outdoors, camping, etc.
3.
Spirituality: There is also a spiritual side of mental health that might effect some in the case of schizophrenia and in hearing voices.
