Schizophrenia is a brain condition affecting about two percent of the American population. For immediate and long-term relief, one should book an appointment with a professional psychiatrist. If you need a board-certified psychiatrist in Chicago, IL, visit Uptown Psych for a fully personalized treatment plan. Identifying symptoms of schizophrenia at early stages facilitates the delivery of long-term and highly effective results.
Symptoms of Schizophrenia
Schizophrenia refers to a chronic brain complication affecting your behavior, cognitive ability, and emotions. Symptoms may vary from one patient to the next. It involves struggling to cope and function with everyday life as you battle:
· Abnormal motor behavior (excessive, odd posture, or wasted movement)
· Disorganized speech (from disorganized thoughts)
· Hallucinations (hearing or seeing things that don’t exist)
· Delusions (beliefs that are far from reality)
Schizophrenia is quite hard to recognize in teenagers and young children. Young people with schizophrenia may report symptoms like:
- Difficulty sleeping
- Depression or irritability
- Tendency to withdraw from friends and family
- Lack of motivation manifested by a constant drop in school performance
With the right treatment, the unpleasant symptoms fade away in due time.
Causes of Schizophrenia
Despite the fact that the exact causes of schizophrenia are unknown, recent research points to genetics, brain chemistry, and environmental factors make you more vulnerable. Neuroimaging shows that a schizophrenic’s brain and central nervous system has a different makeup from that of patients without the brain condition.
Major risk factors associated with schizophrenia include:
Heavy intake of psychoactive and psychotropic drugs in the youth years
Inflammation or autoimmune conditions affecting the immune system
Family history of schizophrenia
Treatment for Schizophrenia
If left unattended, schizophrenia may get out of hand and generate side effects like suicide, depression, social isolation, and substance abuse.
Until recently, schizophrenia was ruled out as an incurable disease. Latest advances in research are creating an opportunity for the development of safer treatments for schizophrenia.
At Uptown Psych, your treatment involves certified medication. Uptown Psych believes that long-term management of schizophrenia should entail close monitoring, consistent medication, counseling, and inclusion of the patient through the journey towards recovery.
A fully personalized approach to each case of schizophrenia eases your symptoms and helps you lead a healthy and normal life. For the best experience, you should trust your psychiatrist and participate in the development of a long-term relationship best for your journey to recovery.
Other Conditions Treated at Uptown Psych
Other than schizophrenia, you may visit Uptown Psych for the treatment and management of:
Addictions
Attention deficit disorder
ADHD
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD)
Anger management
Pharmacotherapy
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Autism
Psychotherapy
Bipolar disorder
Cognitive-behavioral therapy
Depression
Sleep problems
Eating disorder
Substance abuse
Telemedicine
Major depressive disorder
Bottom Line
For holistic wellbeing, Uptown Psych grants you an opportunity to book an appointment with a psychologist, psychiatrist, and therapist to address the root cause of your schizophrenia. You can book an appointment via phone or online and make regular follow-ups through telemedicine.