Schizophrenia can severely affect a patient’s mental and physical well-being. It disrupts the functioning of your brain and has negative effects on your mental and physical well-being. The condition interferes with your memory, senses, behaviors, and thoughts. Untreated schizophrenia can cause difficulty in organizing thoughts, and you might put yourself at risk of other illnesses. Read on to know about its symptoms, causes, and treatments from a reputed schizophrenia specialist in Kolkata.
Causes of schizophrenia
There is no particular cause for schizophrenia. However, the following factors can contribute to the development of this condition.
- Imbalances in the chemical signals of the brain that are responsible for cell-to-cell communication
- Lack of connectivity between different areas of the brain
- Brain development problems prior to birth
Symptoms
According to the top schizophrenia specialist in Kolkata, patients suffering from this condition might experience the following symptoms, including-
- Hallucinations: You might think that you can taste, touch, hear, see, and smell things that do not exist, such as hearing voices.
- Incoherent or disorganized speaking: You might have difficulty arranging thoughts while communicating. This might be in the form of difficulty staying on a particular topic or having jumbled thoughts that people cannot understand.
- Unusual or disorganized movements: You may move differently than the people who are around you. For instance, you might turn back a lot without any specific reason or not move at all.
- Delusions: You might start to gather certain false beliefs which you otherwise know are wrong. For instance, you might think someone is controlling your thoughts, along with what you do or say.
- Negative symptoms: You might lose your ability to do certain things as is normally expected. For instance, you might quit making facial expressions or speak with an emotionless, flat voice. A few negative symptoms also include the absence of any motivation, especially when you do not want to do things that you normally enjoy or socialize.
Treatments
As per the best psychology doctor in Kolkata, the top treatments for schizophrenia are as follows.
- Antipsychotics – These are medications that block how the brain uses some chemicals for cell-to-cell communication.
- Psychotherapy – Certain talk therapy techniques, such as CBT or Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, can help you manage schizophrenia. Long-term therapy can also help with other problems besides schizophrenia, like depression, substance use, or anxiety.
- Other medications – The psychology doctor might even prescribe some other medications to manage schizophrenia symptoms. Additionally, these medications can be prescribed to reduce the side effects of some antipsychotic medications like tremors.
Schizophrenia is a terrifying condition to live with. It can not only impact your physical well-being but also affect your emotional relationships. Hence, consult the top schizophrenia specialist in Kolkata to seek early treatment for your condition.