Table of contents:
- At what age did the symptoms of schizophrenia first appear?
- As you get older, schizophrenia symptoms can get worse
- Going to a psychiatrist is the key
People in various parts of the world, including Indonesia, are still haunted by a negative stigma about schizophrenia. Until recently, they considered schizophrenia to be a dangerous, contagious and cursed disease, so it needed to be avoided. In fact, it is this false stigma that hinders schizophrenia treatment. Health experts agree that this actually makes schizophrenia symptoms worse over time. How can?
At what age did the symptoms of schizophrenia first appear?
Anyone, male or female, can experience schizophrenia. According to the Brain and Behavior Research Foundation, the symptoms of schizophrenia in the form of hallucinations and delusions usually first appear at the age of 16 to 30 years.
Although it often appears in adolescence, schizophrenia in children is also not impossible. But unfortunately, parents find it difficult to distinguish which are typical children's imaginations and which hallucinations are a characteristic of schizophrenia, so they are often overlooked.
Likewise in adolescents, signs of schizophrenia are often difficult to detect. This is because schizophrenia in adolescents is usually characterized by sleep disturbances, irritability, and decreased grades. All of these behaviors are very common in adolescents who are just entering puberty.
As you get older, schizophrenia symptoms can get worse
As we get older, our bodies will experience many changes. Starting from physical, cognitive, mental, and social decline. This is a sign that you are increasingly susceptible to various physical and mental illnesses.
The good news is, increasing age will not make schizophrenia symptoms worse. In fact, with proper treatment from a psychiatrist and support from those closest to you, you can control the symptoms well.
However, it should be noted that this does not mean you can take it easy even if you have schizophrenia, you know. The reason is, the symptoms of schizophrenia may develop and get worse if you continue to leave it without treatment.
Every episode or psychotic stage experienced by a schizophrenic person can cause damage to the brain if not treated quickly. Especially if your lifestyle is unhealthy, for example accustomed to smoking, drinking alcohol, hypercortisolemia, and lack of movement.
According to a study in the Journal of Psychoses and Related Disorders, an unhealthy lifestyle can reduce gray matter volume (gray matter) on the brain. The less gray matter in your brain, the harder it will be for you to calm down and trigger schizophrenia symptoms. Over time, you may experience more severe psychosis, namely delusions, hallucinations, to hearing intangible voices.
On the other hand, a geriatric neuropsychiatric expert from the University of California San Diego, Dilip Jeste, MD, revealed the opposite fact. Schizophrenia symptoms tend to improve with age. Through his research involving 1,500 middle-aged and elderly participants with schizophrenia, he found that the participants' psychosocial functioning actually improved.
As they got older, participants claimed to be better able to control the symptoms of schizophrenia that often recur. They are even more obedient to the mental health care given because they want to live a normal and healthy life. As a result, participants with schizophrenia became more confident and had a better quality of life.
Going to a psychiatrist is the key
So in short, the severity or absence of schizophrenia symptoms depends on your efforts to get mental care as soon as possible. The sooner the psychological therapy is carried out, the more controlled schizophrenia symptoms can be. That way, your life is no longer disturbed by schizophrenia in old age.
The first step you should take is to see a certified psychiatrist as soon as possible. Typically, you'll be given six months of cognitive and behavioral therapy (CBT) to improve your social functioning and help control the recurring symptoms of schizophrenia.
You may also be given schizophrenia drugs to drink regularly, if indeed the symptoms recur at certain times. Last but not least, ask for the support of your parents and closest relatives to help you through this difficult time.
