6 Myths and Facts about Schizophrenia, Don’t Be Mistaken!

Schizophrenia is known as a mental disorder that can affect a person’s thinking patterns. This condition makes sufferers experience delusions or hallucinations.

Often knowledge about schizophrenia is obtained through films or television series, in which the condition is not fully explained. This eventually leads many people to assume that people with schizophrenia are cruel, dangerous, or have other misperceptions.

It takes correct information to understand schizophrenia. The following facts will refute the wrong myths about mental disorders, which must be listened to!

1. Schizophrenia is a hereditary disease

Many people believe that a person with schizophrenia is born of parents who also have the condition. However, according to the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), most schizophrenia patients rarely have a family member with a mental condition.

The exact cause of schizophrenia is still unknown. However, it is thought that several factors can contribute, such as genetics, environmental factors such as malnutrition at birth, changes in brain chemistry and structure, as well as pubertal factors that can influence the development of schizophrenia.

2. People with schizophrenia are dangerous

Not as scary as the ones you see in movies or on the news.
People with schizophrenia are victims of crime. A Swedish study looking at 98,082 people with schizophrenia and other mental disorders found that only 5% of them were criminals. Use of illegal substances and alcohol can lead to more violent behavior.

3. Everyone with schizophrenia is in a mental hospital

It’s a big myth that people with schizophrenia must stay in a mental hospital or mental health institution. In fact, many of them lead a life in the community. Appropriate treatment can control symptoms and allow them to function properly in carrying out their daily activities.

4. People with Schizophrenic don’t have jobs

Many people think that people with schizophrenia will shut themselves off or isolate themselves, even if they don’t have jobs. In fact, many, you know, people with schizophrenia whose condition is controlled through medication can function normally, including for work and study.

5. People with Schizophrenic always have multiple personalities

Many people think that people with schizophrenia have multiple personalities. This mental condition does involve many symptoms but not many characters. Perhaps this is connected with the word “schizo”, which means “split”. In fact, it refers to a “gap” or “separation”, i.e. the separation of a person’s ability to think and express emotions.

Meanwhile, people who have multiple personalities are known as having dissociative identity disorder or multiple personality disorder.

6. Schizophrenic cannot be cured

Currently, there is no cure for schizophrenia. However, the disease itself is treatable and manageable. Many patients are undergoing treatment, rehabilitation, and psychosocial therapy, and it is very helpful for them to appear healthy and can lead independent and productive lives.
The key is to have a strong support system and get proper and self-supporting care for yourself.

Those are the myths surrounding schizophrenia that are widely circulated along with the facts. Having good knowledge of the facts can help people with schizophrenia or other mental conditions fight the stigma that still exists in society.