Managing Schizophrenia: Addressing Symptoms of an Overactive Mind

Schizophrenia can feel overwhelming and isolating. But it is important to know that you aren’t alone.

Schizophrenia is normally characterised as having hallucinations (seeing things that aren’t there) and delusions (false beliefs) and can affect the way someone acts (they can be more jumpy than usual, or distant). There have been many theories as to what is the cause. However, scientists may now have found a cause or at least a link between the mind, and how Schizophrenia works. This article will explore this link, and how it may be caused. 

Symptoms of Schizophrenia

The symptoms of Schizophrenia, like a lot of Mental Health Conditions, can have both physical and internal symptoms. Some overlap, but some are unique to that specific condition. Schizophrenia - can overlap with a few other conditions such as Depression or Anxiety. Below are a few examples of symptoms linked to Schizophrenia.

Hallucinations - Hallucinations are the case of seeing or hearing things that are not there. This can be, for example, hearing voices around you but not the voices themselves having no source in the external world. Or it could be things such as seeing figures or animals/insects near you or on you when no one else does. 

Delusions - These can be things such as thoughts that you are being chased by someone when you are not. Or ideas that someone is persecuting you, this can be a stranger or someone you have known for a while such as a friend or family member. 

Lack of motivation - This symptom shows up in other Mental Health Conditions such as Depression, and has the same effect here as well. It affects your ability to do tasks - be they work-based or personal, such as keeping up your hygiene. 

Schizophrenia can overlap with other illnesses with symptoms. It is important to know this when seeking advice/support, as that overlap can cause things like misdiagnosis.

Schizophrenia and an Overactive Brain

Schizophrenia, in multiple studies, is affected most by an overactive brain. Bear in mind, that this does not mean that this is the only or direct cause, but that it instead can be a contributor to people who develop Schizophrenia and subsequently struggle with it. This can be due to:

Dopamine - Dopamine can be linked to symptoms such as hallucinations if it is too high and overactive. However, if it is too low, then it can be linked with symptoms such as lack of motivation, and symptoms that can align with Depression. 

Drug Misuse - This can be regarding drugs such as LSD. These can cause hallucinations, though they can differ from Schizophrenia hallucinations. Due to them not lasting as long in terms of symptoms returning.

Neurotransmitters - These are believed to be due to people with Schizophrenia having more transmitters, allowing for an overactive brain, and triggering some of the symptoms.

Dopamine has been looked at as one of the core reasons for schizophrenia. However, it is not the only one and has been debated in tests and articles since then.

Treatment for Schizophrenia 

Treatment for Schizophrenia can vary. Below are some examples of them:

Antipsychotics - these are medications that are normally given to people who struggle with Schizophrenia. They target brain chemicals such as dopamine to help reduce symptoms such as hallucinations that can be linked to dopamine and an overactive brain.

Cognitive Behavioural Therapy - Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (or CBT) is a type of therapy that works on identifying your thoughts and finding ways to work through them and shift to more realistic thoughts. In the case of Schizophrenia, it can be used to help find ways to understand when having a delusional thought. It can help with problem-solving skills, along with being able to disrupt thoughts and learn how those feelings and thoughts can impact one another.

Conclusion

Schizophrenia is a Mental Health Condition that affects people in many ways. Ranging from external to internal. And, while the root cause(s) may not be fully known, from research done on patients, there have been links (that will need to be further studied) that show the impact of an overactive brain (triggered by dopamine and drug use) and how they can be one of the causes for Schizophrenia

Written by Jamie Clarke