Schizophrenia

All mental health disorders are challenging, but few cause the severe symptoms faced by people with schizophrenia. As a psychiatric and medication management specialist, Stanley Okeyemi, PMHNP, at Brighter Light Behavioral Health Services, provides expert schizophrenia treatment. He also makes it easy to get the services you need by offering them through telemedicine, which he’s licensed to provide in Texas, Virginia, North Carolina, Washington, Idaho, Connecticut, Nebraska, Florida, Iowa, and Arizona. Don’t wait to seek help. Call or use online booking today to request a telemedicine consultation.

What is schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia is a serious mental health disorder. Its primary symptom is psychosis, which affects your ability to think and changes your sense of reality. Psychotic episodes make it impossible to function in your daily life.

Some people experience symptoms that come and go, while others develop more persistent symptoms as time passes. Between periods of active symptoms, you may experience other challenges, such as anxiety, depression, and difficulty sleeping.

What are the psychotic symptoms of schizophrenia?

During psychotic periods, you have four primary symptoms:

Delusions

Having delusions means you firmly believe something that’s not grounded in reality. Despite evidence that you’re wrong, you still stick with your delusion. A few examples include believing someone is controlling your thoughts or believing you’re a famous person.

Hallucinations

When you have a hallucination, you can feel, smell, see, hear, or taste something that doesn’t really exist.

Disorganized thoughts and speech

Psychosis affects how you think, causing chaotic, illogical, disjointed, and/or racing thoughts. You may also experience memory loss.

Your disorganized thoughts are reflected in the way you speak. You may mix up words, jump from one topic to another, or say things that don’t make sense.

Disorganized behavior

Disorganized behavior refers to bizarre, senseless, and often repetitive behaviors, ranging from harmless movements like walking in circles to dangerous behaviors like becoming aggressive. Or you might experience the opposite, become catatonic, and stop moving or speaking.

What other symptoms are caused by schizophrenia?

Schizophrenia also causes symptoms similar to depression. You may lack emotion, lose motivation, refuse to talk with people, become isolated, and neglect your hygiene.

How is schizophrenia treated?

If you have schizophrenia, it’s essential to take antipsychotic medications. Antipsychotics reduce the frequency of psychosis. Consistently taking your medication may put psychosis into remission.

Your Brighter Light Behavioral Health Services provider may also recommend other mental health services, such as therapy, vocational rehabilitation, or supported employment.

You may already be diagnosed with schizophrenia and need the convenience of getting your medication through telemedicine. Or you may need an evaluation to get a proper diagnosis and start treatment. In both cases, you receive exceptional care at Brighter Light Behavioral Health Services.

Call the office today or click the online booking feature to schedule an appointment for schizophrenia treatment.